World’s No. 1 restaurant crowned as contest comes under increasing scrutiny

A photo of exterior of Asador Etxebarri in Atxondo, Spain.Press Association via AP ImagesAsador Etxebarri in Atxondo, Spain, is the world's top restaurant.That's according to The World's 50 Best Restaurants, which announced results on Wednesday evening in Lima, Peru. Asador Etxebarri, helmed by chef Bittor Arguinzoniz, sits in Basque Country and features grilled items like a charred beef chop, fresh mozzarella from the chef's buffalo, or house-made chorizo.Chef Gaggan Anand's Gaggan in Bangkok, which combines progressive Indian cuisine with French, Thai and Japanese influences, was No. 2, and Alchemist in Copenhagen, from head chef Rasmus Munk, took the third spot.India returned to the top 50 for the first time since 2004, with Masque at No. 26 and NAAR at No. 49. Mainland China made the list for the first time since 2021, with Meet the Bund in Shanghai at No. 21 and Ru Yuan in Hangzhou at No. 36.Chef-restaurateur Ferran Adrià, who achieved worldwide renown with his avant-garde techniques at his now-closed restaurant El Bulli, received the SevenRooms Icon Award. Adria continues to support culinary research and education through the nonprofit El Bulli Foundation.The 50, as the umbre...