A Japanese-Peruvian Restaurant Has Been Crowned the Best in Latin America

The relatively young culinary tradition called Nikkei is having its moment in the spotlight. Maido—a Japanese and Peruvian restaurant in Lima, Peru led by Nikkei advocate chef Mitsuharu Tsumura—has been named the best restaurant in Latin America by the World’s 50 Best Restaurants organization.

Nikkei cuisine was born after Japanese immigrants came to Peru in the late 1800s, with some of them eventually opened restaurants. They cooked Peruvian food for the locals, but Japanese technique began to seep into their cooking. The cuisine advanced further when more Japanese immigrants arrived in Peru. However, when they arrived they wanted food from their homeland, but were forced to use Peruvian ingredients. The result was a cuisine that featured potatoes, yellow pepper, wasabi, miso, and ginger, built upon a base of lime with chili and soy sauce. “It’s a mixture of citrus, spice, and soy,” Tsumara told Fine Dining Lovers.

At Maido, Tsumura serves a changing 13-course menu that may include ceviche, sushi, pork belly, and octopus. There’s also a menu devoted to sushi as well.

The restaurant displaces the reigning champ, Central, which is also in Lima, and fell to No. 2 on the list ahead of D.O.M. of Sao Paolo, Brazil at No. 3, Pujol in Mexico City, and Boragó in Santiago, Chile. Here is the complete list:

1. Maido, Lima, Peru
2. Central, Lima, Peru
3. D.O.M., São Paulo, Brazil
4. Pujol, Mexico City, Mexico
5. Boragó, Santiago, Chile
6. Quintonil, Mexico City, Mexico
7. Astrid y Gastón, Lima, Peru
8. A Casa do Porco, São Paulo, Brazil
9. Maní, São Paulo, Brazil
10. Tegui, Buenos Aires, Argentina
11. Sud 777, Mexico City, Mexico
12. Osso Carnicería y Salumería, Lima, Peru
13. Don Julio, Buenos Aires, Argentina
14. 99, Santiago, Chile
15. La Mar, Lima, Peru
16. Lasai, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
17. Harry Sasson, Bogotá, Colombia
18. Leo, Bogotá, Colombia
19. El Baqueano, Buenos Aires, Argentina
20. Maito, Panama City, Panama
21. Isolina, Lima, Peru
22. Parador La Huella, José Ignacio, Uruguay
23. Olympe, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
24. Rafael, Lima, Peru
25. Pangea, Monterrey, Mexico
26. Chila, Buenos Aires, Argentina
27. Mocotó, São Paulo, Brazil
28. Gustu, La Paz, Bolivia
29. Nicos, Mexico City, Mexico
30. Malabar, Lima, Peru
31. Biko, Mexico City, Mexico
32. Amaranta, Toluca, Mexico
33. Ambrosia, Santiago, Chile
34. Corazón de Tierra, Valle de Guadalupe, Mexico
35. Rosetta, Mexico City, Mexico (Re-entry)
36. Alcalde, Guadalajara, Mexico (New)
37. Elena, Buenos Aires, Argentina
38. Restaurante 040, Santiago, Chile (New)
39. Máximo Bistrot, Mexico City, Mexico (Re-entry)
40. Villanos en Bermudas, Bogotá, Colombia (New)
41. Esquina Mocotó, São Paulo, Brazil (New)
42. Laja, Valle de Guadalupe, Mexico (Re-entry)
43. La Docena Oyster Bar & Grill, Guadalajara, Mexico (New)
44. Aramburu, Buenos Aires, Argentina
45. Tuju, São Paulo, Brazil
46. Fiesta, Lima, Peru
47. Amaz, Lima, Peru (New)
48. Crizia, Buenos Aires, Argentina (New)
49. Proper, Buenos Aires, Argentina (New)
50. Mishiguene, Buenos Aires, Argentina (New)