Yesterday Oaxaca was in the spotlight, as this famous gastronomic destination was one of the venues for the Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants awards. In this edition, the highly anticipated annual ranking was replaced by an emotional list that enumerated the best 100 restaurants of the last decade. Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants 2021: Past and Future also included various special awards for those chefs and restaurants that are helping to create positive change and a better future for the restaurant industry.

The ceremony took place at Criollo, the iconic restaurant of renowned chefs Luis Arellano and Enrique Olvera, and, as expected, the award for the best restaurants was held amidst mezcales and a feast of Oaxacan cuisine. Mexico had 19 entries on the list, making it the second country in Latin America with the highest number of restaurants on the list.

The best Mexican restaurants of the last decade

Deckman’s en el Mogor

Deckman’s en el Mogor, by American chef Drew Deckman and located on the Ensenada-Tecate road in Baja California, made its debut on the list of Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants, ranking at number 98.

Pitiona

The restaurant Pitiona, by chef José Manuel Baños and located in the heart of Oaxaca, reenters the list at number 95.

Dulce Patria

Dulce Patria, by chef Martha Ortíz and located in Polanco, Mexico City, also reenters the list at number 85.

Laja

The restaurant Laja, by chef Jair Téllez and located in the Valle de Guadalupe, Baja California, is another restaurant that reenters the list at number 79.

Merotoro

Merotoro, another restaurant by chef Jair Téllez and located in the Condesa neighborhood in Mexico City, reenters the list at number 73.

Casa Oaxaca

The restaurant Casa Oaxaca, by chef Alejandro Ruíz and located in Oaxaca, also reenters the list at number 63.

Manzanilla

Manzanilla, by chefs Benito Molina and Solange Muris and located in Ensenada, Baja California, also reenters the list at number 62.

La Docena

The restaurant La Docena, by chef Tomás Bermudez and located in Guadalajara, reenters the list at number 57.

Amaranta

Amaranta, by chef Pablo Salas and located in Toluca, also reenters the list at number 44.

Corazón de Tierra

The restaurant Corazón de Tierra, by chef Diego Hernández-Baquedan and located in Valle de Guadalupe, Baja California, reenters the list at number 40.

Le Chique

Le Chique, by chef Jonatan Gómez Luna and located in Cancún, Quintana Roo, also reenters the list at number 38.

Nicos

The restaurant Nicos, by chef Gerardo Lugo and located in the Claveria neighborhood in Mexico City, drops 4 places and ranks at number 35.

Máximo Bistrot

Máximo Bistrot, by chef Eduardo García and located in the Roma neighborhood in Mexico City, rises 3 places and ranks at number 33.

Alcalde

The restaurant Alcalde, by chef Francisco Ruano and located in Guadalajara, drops 17 places and ranks at number 32.

Rosetta

The restaurant Rosetta, by chef Elena Reygadas and located in the Roma neighborhood in Mexico City, drops 18 places and ranks at number 27.

Pangea

The restaurant Pangea, by chef Guillermo González Beristáin and located in Monterrey, Nuevo León drops 1 place and ranks at number 15.

Sud 777

Sud 777, the famous restaurant of chef Edgar Nuñez, rises 5 places and ranks at number 12.

Quintonil

Quintonil, the renowned restaurant of chef Jorge Vallejo and located in Polanco, Mexico City, rises 3 places and ranks at number 8.

Pujol

Pujol, the internationally famous restaurant of chef Enrique Olvera located in Polanco, Mexico City, maintains its position at number 5.

It is worth mentioning that this edition of Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants also included various special awards for individuals and restaurants that are helping to create positive change and a better future in the restaurant industry:

Estrella Damm Chefs’ Choice Award – Best Reinvention

Chef Eduardo García was awarded this prize for the successful reinvention of his restaurant in Mexico City during the pandemic, as Máximo Bistrot changed its once intimate kitchen and dining area to a larger space for the safety, comfort, and peace of mind of its staff and diners.

Hall of Fame

Reflecting on memory, the Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants recognized various restaurants that have been awarded over the last decade but unfortunately are now closed.

Biko
Biko by chef Mikel Alonso is among the restaurants that entered the so-called Hall of Fame.

The World's 50 Best Restaurants and the pandemic

Since 2013, the ranking of Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants has been published annually to celebrate the region's gastronomy, promote collaboration, inclusion, and diversity in the culinary industry, and help drive positive change within it. However, the 50 Best was canceled last year to focus on fundraising and support for the hospitality sector during the health emergency caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. As a reflection, this edition recognizes the best 100 restaurants that have been part of the list over the past nine years.

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The award for the best restaurants was held in Oaxaca