Maido in Lima ranked as world's top restaurant

Maido, located in Lima and led by chef Mitsuharu Tsumura, is currently ranked as the number one restaurant in the world by The World’s 50 Best Restaurants. The establishment is celebrated for its Nikkei cuisine, which integrates Japanese techniques with Peruvian ingredients such as Amazonian raw fish and Andean corn.

Lima is scheduled to host the global ceremony for The World’s 50 Best Restaurants on November 4. This event highlights the rising global influence of Peruvian gastronomy, following previous successes by restaurants such as Central, Kjolle, Mérito, and Mayta.

Despite this prestige, the fine dining industry faces significant economic challenges. High operational costs—often between 55% and 70% of revenue—frequently result in low EBITDA margins of no more than 10%. Industry leaders, including Virgilio Martínez of Central, note the difficulty of maintaining large specialized brigades and sourcing premium local ingredients. This tension between culinary excellence and profitability has previously led to the closure of world-renowned establishments like El Bulli and Noma.