Asador Etxebarri Tops 2026 50 Best Restaurants List
Asador Etxebarri in Spain's Basque Country claimed the number one spot in the 2026 50 Best Restaurants ranking, becoming the first restaurant to win the top honor twice in three years. The awards, announced in Lima on November 5, 2026, also highlighted significant global movement and 15 innovative new restaurants across America.
Asador Etxebarri claimed the number one spot in the 2026 50 Best Restaurants list. The restaurant in Atxondo, Spain's Basque Country, climbed from second place in 2025 to secure the top ranking, making it the first to win twice in three years. The awards ceremony was held in Lima on November 5, 2026.
Chef-owner Víctor Arguinzoniz's grill-focused restaurant opened in 1990. It first appeared on the list in 2008 at number 44. Its tasting menu costs €300, approximately $337 USD. Having now won the top spot, Asador Etxebarri is ineligible for future nominations. The list is compiled from anonymous nominations by over 1,100 hospitality experts, who vote on memorable dining experiences from the previous 18 months. Restaurants cannot nominate themselves, and voters cannot support establishments where they have a financial interest. Professional services consultancy Deloitte ensures the validity and fairness of the voting data.
Global Restaurant Landscape Shifts
The 2026 list reveals significant movement among top-tier restaurants. Asador Etxebarri also won the best restaurant in Europe award. Gaggan in Bangkok ranked second and again won best restaurant in Asia. Quintonil in Mexico City placed fourth and retained its title as best restaurant in Latin America. Atomix in New York, rising one place to 11th, won best restaurant in North America. Trèsind Studio in Dubai, ranked 28th, won best restaurant in the Middle East.
| Restaurant | Location | 2026 Rank | 2025 Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atomix | New York | 11 | 12 |
| Saint Peter | Sydney | 50 | Not in top 50 |
| Naar | Kasali | 49 | Not in top 50 |
| Ikoyi | London | 48 | Not in top 50 |
| Le Louis XV, Alain Ducasse | Monte Carlo | 47 | Not in top 50 |
| El Chato | Bogotá | 46 | Not in top 50 |
| Mayta | Lima | 45 | Not in top 50 |
| Don Julio | Buenos Aires | 44 | Not in top 50 |
Notable New Entrants and Regional Highlights
New additions to the extended 51-100 list highlighted expanding culinary influence. La Colombe in Cape Town, ranking 35th, won the best restaurant in Africa award. Khufu’s in Giza, Egypt, and Lamdre in Beijing, China, were new entries in the 51-100 list. Aponiente in El Puerto de Santa María, Spain, ranked 100th.
Emerging Restaurant Trends
Separately, the 2026 Eater Awards spotlighted 15 new American restaurants showing innovative concepts. These establishments demonstrate how local traditions and modern ideas are reshaping dining.
Akoya Omakase in Kansas City offers a $165 omakase experience, challenging expectations. "You went to Kansas City for sushi?" asked Missy Frederick. The restaurant sources fish just 26 hours after ordering via private buyers in Tokyo and serves $6 a la carte crab nigiri.
In Philadelphia, the revived Bomb Bomb Bar, originally opened in 1951, charges $65 per person for a seafood tasting menu. Bettina Makalintal noted, "It’s proof that classic Philly and modern culinary destination Philly can coexist." Chef Joey Baldino bought and reopened it in 2025.
Cassis in Milwaukee, a nearly 200-seat dining room led by Kyle and Meghan Knall, features Wisconsin ingredients like Pleasant Ridge Reserve cheese. Chicago's Creepies, run by chefs David and Anna Posey, applies French technique to a Chicago identity. Emelina in West Palm Beach, led by chefs Osmel González and Camila Salazar with Alvaro Perez-Miranda, offers a $275 Cuban tasting menu and earned a Michelin star shortly after opening.
Other notable openings include Maroon in Las Vegas, led by Kwame Onwuachi focusing on African and Caribbean flavors. Maydan Market in Los Angeles is a collaborative restaurant space and marketplace curated by Rose Previte, featuring Indigenous Mexican-owned businesses. OK Chicken & Khao Soi in Portland is led by Akkapong "Earl" Ninsom and Eric Nelson.
Asador Etxebarri's 2026 victory marks a historic milestone for Basque cuisine and traditional live-fire cooking in contemporary fine dining.
