Maido Lima – The World’s Best Restaurant 2025 — Traveler’s Guide

The World’s Best Restaurant Is in Lima — And It’s Unlike Anything Else

When Maido was crowned the World’s Best Restaurant in June 2025, it wasn’t a surprise to anyone who had already eaten there. Chef Mitsuharu ‘Micha’ Tsumura has been quietly building one of the world’s most singular dining experiences for over 15 years — a Nikkei tasting menu that weaves together Peru’s Amazonian ingredients, coastal seafood, and Andean produce with Japanese precision and technique.

Nikkei cuisine is the product of Japanese immigration to Peru that began in the late 19th century. Over generations, Japanese culinary tradition merged with Peruvian ingredients and culture to create something entirely new. Tsumura, the son of Japanese immigrants, grew up in this blended world, trained at culinary school in Rhode Island, apprenticed at a sushi restaurant in Osaka, and returned to Lima to open Maido in 2009. The name itself — まいど — is the Japanese word used to welcome returning regulars.

What to Expect: The Maido Experience

Maido offers a single tasting menu of 10+ courses called the Maido Experience. There is no à la carte order — you come for the full journey. The space is intimate (just 52 seats) and the atmosphere is warm rather than stiff; this is fine dining with the soul of a neighborhood restaurant.

Signature dishes have included: the 50-hour short rib, so tender it requires only a spoon; squid ramen with Amazonian chorizo; sea snails with yellow chilli foam and Nikkei sauce; and flamed toro nigiri. The menu rotates seasonally and draws ingredients from the Amazon, the Andes, and Peru’s northern coast.

Practical Information for Visitors

How to Visit Maido: Everything You Need to Know Before You Go

Maido has 52 seats and the world’s attention. Since being named the World’s Best Restaurant in 2025, demand has surged — so timing your visit requires planning, but it’s entirely possible for independent travellers.

Book as early as you can. The reservation page at maido.pe opens slots weeks in advance. Aim for a midweek lunch slot if you want a slightly calmer atmosphere. Arrive on time — the team greets each table together with ‘maido’ (the Japanese welcome that gives the restaurant its name), and you don’t want to miss it.

Come hungry but not starving. The tasting menu is substantial — 10 courses plus snacks, with wines if you opt for pairing. A long, slow lunch or dinner here is part of the experience; block off three to four hours. Wear smart casual — the atmosphere is refined but not rigid.

What makes Maido different from the other world-class Lima restaurants (and there are several — Central, Kjolle, and Mérito are all nearby) is the personal story behind the food. Every dish is a product of Tsumura’s dual inheritance: Japanese techniques applied to ingredients most Japanese chefs have never worked with. The result feels genuinely unrepeatable.

FAQ Section (People Also Ask)

How do I make a reservation at Maido in Lima?

Reservations at Maido can be made via the official website maido.pe or by calling +51 (01) 313-5100. Given its status as the World’s Best Restaurant 2025, bookings fill up weeks in advance. Check availability early, especially for weekend dinner slots.

How much does dinner at Maido cost?

The Maido Experience tasting menu starts at S/ 1,295 per person (approximately $331 USD) without a wine pairing. Pairing options range from S/ 1,985 to S/ 2,525 per person. Prices include tax and a service charge.

What kind of food does Maido serve?

Maido specialises in Nikkei cuisine — a fusion of Peruvian and Japanese culinary traditions developed over generations of Japanese immigration to Peru. Signature dishes include a 50-hour braised short rib, squid ramen with Amazonian chorizo, flamed toro nigiri, and sea snails with yellow chilli foam.

Where is Maido restaurant located?

Maido is located at Calle San Martín 399, in the Miraflores district of Lima, Peru — one of the city’s most accessible and upscale neighbourhoods, a short walk from the Pacific clifftops.

Why is Maido considered the world’s best restaurant?

Maido was named #1 on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list in June 2025. Chef Mitsuharu Tsumura has spent over 15 years perfecting Nikkei cuisine — blending Japanese technique with Peru’s extraordinary larder of Amazonian, Andean, and coastal ingredients to create a dining experience that exists nowhere else on earth.

What are the Maido Lima Monday Lunch Hours?

Answer: 1 PM – 3:00 PM

Good to Know

• Address: San Martín 399, Miraflores, Lima, Peru
• Hours: Monday–Saturday: 1 PM – 3:00 PM (lunch), 7:00 PM – 10:30 PM (dinner); closed on Sundays
• Maido Lima Monday Lunch Hours: 1 PM – 3:00 PM
• Reservations: Essential — tables often book weeks in advance
• Dress Code: Smart casual recommended