Dej Kewkacha is the World's Best Pastry Chef 2026

Across the world, it was a big night for Thailand as Dej Kewkacha became the first Asian chef to be awarded the World's Best Pastry Chef 2026, at the 50 Best Restaurants 2026 list revelation in Lima, Peru. Thailand is also home to the world's No.2 best restaurant — Gaggan. 

"I am extremely honoured and humbled to receive this award," chef Dej told the Bangkok Post, this morning. "I want to take my desserts abroad to show the world how inventive Asian desserts can be. I want to change the narrative on Thai desserts and modernise traditional ones. Thai desserts have a rich, long history and could be another soft power for Thailand. Enough talk about tom yum goong or pad Thai; it is time for Thai desserts to be in the world spotlight," said the pastry chef, who is a self-taught pâtissier. Dej is a leading figure in Asia’s pastry industry, redefining the dessert experience by elevating local flavours into fine-dining omakase courses, which earned him the title of Asia’s Best Pastry Chef 2025.

Asador Etxebarri in Atxondo, Spain, was named The World’s Best Restaurant 2026 at the awards ceremony, hosted at Teatro Municipal de Lima on Nov 4, which honoured global culinary talent across 28 territories and six continents, with 14 new cities earning their place in the ranking. 

Asador Etxebarri is followed in the ranking by Gaggan (No.2) in Bangkok and Alchemist (No.3) in Copenhagen.

Other Bangkok restaurants on the list were: Sorn at No.12, Suhring at No.14, Nusara at No.18 and Potong at No.32.

Mexico City restaurant Quintonil, led by chef-owner Jorge Vallejo, was named The Best Restaurant in Latin America at No.4. Lima dominated the list for South America with three restaurants, Kjolle (No.7), Mayta (No.45) and Mérito (No.13), which showcase the dynamic Peruvian food scene within South America.

Tuju in São Paulo secured No.16 as a new entry, marking its debut alongside being recognised with the Highest New Entry Award and the Art of Hospitality Award. Nuema (No.37) in Quito entered the list for the first time, accompanied by El Chato in Bogotá, which re-entered at No.46. 

Latin America concluded the list with Boragó (No.22) in Santiago, Chile; Celele (No.31) in Cartagena, Colombia; Don Julio (No.44) in Buenos Aires, Argentina; and Lasai (No.25) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Eleven restaurants debuted on the 1-50 list this year, including Tuju (No.16) in São Paulo, Brazil; Meet the Bund (No.21) in Shanghai, China; Al Gatto Verde (No.24) in Modena, Italy; Masque (No.26) in Mumbai, India; Le Coquillage (No.34) in Saint-Méloir-des-Ondes, France; Ru Yuan (No.36) in Hangzhou, China; Nuema (No.37) in Quito, Ecuador; Onjium (No.41) in Seoul, South Korea; Bozar (No.42) in Brussels, Belgium; Naar (No.49) in Kasauli, India, and Saint Peter (No.50) in Sydney, Australia, demonstrating the ranking’s growing international reach in showcasing the world’s finest dining destinations.

A further five restaurants re-entered the 1-50 ranking: La Colombe (No.35) in Cape Town, South Africa; Schloss Schauenstein (No.39) in Fürstenau, Switzerland; Jordnær (No.40) in Copenhagen, Denmark; El Chato (No.46) in Bogotá, Colombia; and Le Louis XV – Alain Ducasse (No.47) in Monte Carlo, Monaco. Additionally, seven restaurants received top honours across key regions: the title of The Best Restaurant in Europe went to Asador Etxebarri (No.1) in Atxondo; Gaggan (No.2) in Bangkok claimed The Best Restaurant in Asia; Quintonil (No.4) in Mexico City won The Best Restaurant in Latin America; Atomix (No.11) in New York secured The Best Restaurant in North America; Trèsind Studio (No.28) in Dubai won The Best Restaurant in the Middle East; La Colombe (No.35) in Cape Town was awarded The Best Restaurant in Africa, and Saint Peter (No.50) in Sydney secured The Best Restaurant in Oceania.

In other awards announced on the night, Kadeau (No.8) in Copenhagen secured the Highest Climber Award, moving up 33 places from the 2025 list. Jessica Rosval, head chef of Al Gatto Verde (No.24), won the Best Female Chef Award, while visionary chef-restaurateur of the legendary El Bulli, Ferran Adrià, received the Icon Award. 

Junghyun Park from Atomix (No.11) in New York City received the Chefs' Choice Award. The winner of The 50 Best Restaurants Scholarship was Doris Lam. The Best Sommelier Award was presented to Lesley Liu, head sommelier at Odette in Singapore. 

Naar (No.49) in Kasauli, India, was announced the winner of the Sustainable Restaurant Award in recognition of its strong commitment to sustainability. The Champions of Change Award went to  Ghana Food Movement, a youth-led organisation transforming Ghana’s food system through education, indigenous ingredients and community; the Art of Hospitality Award is presented to Tuju in São Paulo, Brazil; and Yiaga in Melbourne, Australia received the Visa One to Watch Award.