In a moment of global culinary history, Maido, the famed restaurant in Lima, Peru, has been officially named the World’s Best Restaurant for 2025, according to the prestigious annual list of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants. This crowning achievement marks not only a personal victory for Chef Mitsuharu “Micha” Tsumura, but also a significant recognition of Nikkei cuisine—a dazzling fusion of Japanese and Peruvian flavors.
This milestone is a celebration of cultural heritage, precision, innovation, and storytelling—on a plate. Let’s dive into what makes Maido the culinary capital of the world in 2025.
🌍 What Are the World’s 50 Best Restaurants Awards?
The World’s 50 Best Restaurants is an internationally recognized ranking compiled by more than 1,000 food experts, chefs, restaurateurs, and critics from around the globe. The list reflects the current culinary zeitgeist, showcasing restaurants that push boundaries, blend cultures, and elevate dining to an art form.
Winning this award is considered the Oscars of the food world. For a restaurant to top the list is not just about taste—it’s about experience, culture, sustainability, and creativity.
🇵🇪 Why Maido?
Maido, which means “Welcome” in Japanese, is located in the vibrant heart of Lima and has long been one of Latin America’s top culinary gems. Under the vision of Chef Mitsuharu Tsumura, the restaurant redefines fusion dining by marrying traditional Japanese techniques with Peruvian ingredients and culinary heritage.
It’s not the first time Maido has been on the list—it has consistently ranked in the top 10 over recent years. But in 2025, Maido has taken the crown for its evolution, narrative depth, and execution, cementing its place as the best restaurant in the world.
👨🍳 About Chef Mitsuharu Tsumura
Born in Peru to Japanese parents, Chef Micha Tsumura has created a culinary identity that reflects both worlds. Trained in Osaka, Japan, and educated in the U.S., he returned to Peru with a mission to redefine Peruvian cuisine through a Nikkei lens.
His food philosophy focuses on:
- Harmony between ingredients and cultures
- Sustainability and ethical sourcing
- Storytelling through every course
- Elevating underrepresented flavors and ingredients
His mastery in blending humble Peruvian ingredients like quinoa, ají peppers, and native fish with the refinement of Japanese cooking methods like katsuobushi, dashi, and omakase service has created a global revolution.
🍣 What Is Nikkei Cuisine?
Nikkei is a culinary term referring to the fusion of Japanese and Peruvian cuisines. It emerged from the Japanese diaspora in Peru, where traditional recipes evolved using native ingredients. Nikkei cuisine:
- Combines Japanese discipline and Peruvian boldness
- Offers refined umami and punchy spice in one bite
- Features raw fish, citrus, fermented ingredients, and diverse textures
Maido has taken this style to its artistic peak.
🍽️ The Maido Dining Experience
Dining at Maido is more than just eating—it’s a journey through history, migration, identity, and flavor.
Tasting Menu Highlights Include:
- Nigiri of Amazonian Paiche with ponzu and sesame
- 50-hour slow-cooked beef short ribs with Peruvian rocoto glaze
- Octopus with purple corn reduction
- Sea urchin rice with cushuro algae pearls
- Miso ice cream with cacao nibs from the Andes
The multi-course tasting menu evolves seasonally, and every dish comes with a story about origin, culture, or sustainability. The restaurant’s minimalist decor allows the food to be the true spectacle.
🏆 Why Maido Won in 2025
Maido’s rise to #1 on the list can be attributed to several factors:
1. Authentic Innovation
Chef Micha doesn’t follow trends—he sets them. His menu celebrates forgotten ingredients, ancient traditions, and future-focused techniques.
2. Cultural Storytelling
Each dish is a chapter in a larger book of Japanese-Peruvian history and harmony.
3. Global Inspiration, Local Sourcing
Maido uses locally sourced Peruvian ingredients but presents them with international finesse and vision.
4. Exceptional Service
The staff at Maido are ambassadors of Nikkei cuisine, offering world-class hospitality with Peruvian warmth and Japanese precision.
5. Consistency and Creativity
Year after year, Maido has evolved while staying true to its roots—a balance few restaurants manage to strike.
🌎 What This Means for Latin America
Maido’s global recognition marks a historic moment for Latin American gastronomy. It brings:
- Global spotlight to Peru as a culinary powerhouse
- Increased interest in indigenous ingredients and techniques
- Recognition of culinary diversity beyond European and East Asian dominance
- Empowerment of local chefs to innovate and dream big
It’s also a proud moment for Lima, now one of the world’s leading food capitals, alongside cities like Tokyo, Paris, and Copenhagen.
🥂 Reactions from the Culinary World
Food critics, chefs, and fans have showered Maido with praise:
“Maido isn’t just a restaurant—it’s an experience that leaves you changed.”
— Anonymous judge from the 50 Best panel
“Chef Tsumura has achieved the impossible—delicate, soulful, and powerful cuisine in perfect balance.”
— Global Food Critic
Even past winners like Noma (Copenhagen) and Disfrutar (Barcelona) have applauded the win, calling Maido’s journey “inspirational for a new culinary generation.”
🔮 What’s Next for Maido?
With the world’s eyes on Maido, Chef Micha plans to:
- Expand sustainability initiatives with local farming communities
- Launch mentorship programs for young chefs in Latin America
- Explore digital storytelling of dishes through AR/VR
- Continue pushing the creative envelope while honoring Nikkei traditions
He has made it clear: “This win is not the end—it’s just the beginning.”
✅ Final Thoughts
Maido’s win at the World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2025 is more than a culinary accolade—it’s a statement that food is a universal language, capable of bridging continents, cultures, and generations.
For food lovers, it’s a bucket-list experience. For chefs, it’s a new benchmark. For Peru, it’s a shining moment of pride. And for the world, it’s a reminder that innovation, identity, and integrity still matter in the kitchen.
So, the next time you’re planning a global food journey, let Lima—and Maido—be at the top of your list.