Chef Micha Tsumura: Peru's Food Scene Outshines Machu Picchu, Maido Ranks World No. 1
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Forbes India•25-09-2026, 12:14
Chef Micha Tsumura: Peru's Food Scene Outshines Machu Picchu, Maido Ranks World No. 1
- •Chef Mitsuharu 'Micha' Tsumura's restaurant Maido in Lima, Peru, was voted No. 1 on the World's 50 Best List in 2025, highlighting Peru's strong gastronomic identity where food is considered more important than even Machu Picchu.
- •Tsumura's first visit to India included a sold-out 12-course pop-up in Mumbai and a taster tour, where he explored local cuisine and noted similarities between India and Peru, particularly in traffic.
- •Maido achieved its top ranking by focusing exclusively on Nikkei cuisine (Peruvian-Japanese fusion) after three to four years, incorporating Amazonian ingredients and Japanese techniques to create a unique identity.
- •Despite being a luxury dining destination with a 10-course menu priced between PEN 1,295 and 2,525, Maido maintains profitability through its dedicated staff (127 for 48 seats), continuous R&D, and a "fun dining" approach that attracts repeat customers.
- •Tsumura also runs Tori, a successful $7 grilled chicken place, demonstrating his belief that simple, well-executed food can be as challenging and rewarding as fine dining, aiming to make his food accessible to millions.
Key Questions Answered
Maido features Nikkei cuisine, which blends Japanese techniques and ingredients with Peruvian flavors, including unique additions from the Amazon region.
The 10-course menu at Maido is priced between Peruvian Sol (PEN) 1,295 and 2,525, which translates to approximately Rs36,700 and 71,500.
Chef Tsumura wanted to serve popular wood-fired rotisserie chicken to millions of people, noting that mastering simple foods like chicken can be just as difficult as fine dining.
