Checking of the New Latin America’s World 50 Best Restaurants 2018

Since I was touring the South of Latin America when the 50 best Latin American restaurants came out, I figured I would do an annotated version of the list of the great food I ate during my trip to Buenos Aires and Brazil.  At the end my thoughts of the list in general plus other great food I had!

• 1 Maido, Lima, Peru
• 2 Central, Lima, Peru
• 3 Pujol, Mexico City, Mexico
• 4 Boragó, Santiago, Chile
• 5 D.O.M., São Paulo, Brazil
• 6 Don Julio, Buenos Aires, Argentina : this new visit to Don Julio was amazing as we ate in the private dining room in the wine cellar. The space is absolutely spectacular. The food was as always amazing – perfectly cooked meat with lovely wine, how can that ever be wrong

• 7 A Casa do Porco, São Paulo, Brazil
• 8 Astrid y Gastón, Lima, Peru
• 9 Quintonil, Mexico City, Mexico
• 10 Leo Bogotá, Colombia
• 11 Tegui, Buenos Aires, Argentina
• 12 Maní, São Paulo, Brazil – a Visit to Sao Paulo is highlighted with a visit to Mani. We had the moqueca and the lamb both were absolutely beautiful. But the highlights were dessert – the egg dessert version was beautiful and the little brigadeiros are always a good idea.

• 13 Isolina, Lima, Peru
• 14 Sud 777, Mexico City, Mexico
• 15 Villanos en Bermudas, Bogotá, Colombia
• 16 Rafael, Lima, Peru
• 17 La Mar, Lima, Peru
• 18 Mishiguene, Buenos Aires, Argentina – We showed up on a randon wednesday night to the 4th anniversary of mishiguene. Amongst the cake (pictured below) and the party we had some really good food. My two favorite dishes are pictured below: The Babaganoush, which is not a traditional babaganoush but a beautiful charred eggplant with amazing flavors. And the massive, feeds 10 but is amazing, Pastron de Novillo.

• 19 Chila, Buenos Aires, Argentina
• 20 Máximo Bistrot, Mexico City, Mexico
• 21 El Chato, Bogotá Colombia (New entry)
• 22 Parador, La Huella Jose Ignacio, Uruguay
• 23 Harry Sasson, Bogotá, Colombia
• 24 Ambrosia, Santiago, Chile
• 25 Osso, Lima, Peru
• 26 Lasai, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
• 27 Olympe, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
• 28 99, Santiago, Chile
• 29 Maito, Panama City, Panama
• 30 Pangea, Monterrey, Mexico
• 31 Alcalde, Guadalajara, Mexico
• 32 Elena, Buenos Aires, Argentina – Elena is always a good bet. The meat is amazing, the dulce de leche ice cream is one of the best and the wine list is good too. This time we went more light and did a seafood grill with pumpkin risotto which was amazing.

• 33 Oteque, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (New entry)
• 34 Le Chique, Cancun, Mexico (New entry)
• 35 Corazón de Tierra, Valle de Guadalupe, Mexico
• 36 El Baqueano, Buenos Aires, Argentina
• 37 Nicos Mexico City, Mexico
• 38 Gran Dabbang, Buenos Aires, Argentina (New entry): As this is a new entry and given how interesting it is, more details below!

• 39 Malabar, Lima, Peru
• 40 La Docena, Guadalajara, Mexico
• 41 Rosetta, Mexico City, Mexico
• 42 Aramburu, Buenos Aires, Argentina
• 43 Restaurante 040, Santiago, Chile
• 44 Proper, Buenos Aires, Argentina
• 45 Mocotó, São Paulo, Brazil
• 46 Narda Comedor, Buenos Aires, Argentina (New entry) : Another new one that we tried and it was delicious. It has all the same issues that most of Argentinean restuarants, terrible service but the food was delicious. The space was airy and nice and the food, very vegetable centric was light and a great contrast to the amount of meat you usually consume. Highlights: The mashed potato with broth and onion was comfort food at its best.  The hallumi with avocado and sweet and sour sauce was also delicious! A great brunch spot

• 47 Amaz, Lima, Peru
• 48 Oro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (New entry)
• 49 Osaka, Santiago, Chile (Re-entry)
• 50, Tuju São Paulo, Brazil

The List in pictures

This list is getting a bit ridiculous in my book. Yes they are all good restaurants but some of the positioning and omission make this more a popularity contest than just their food quality. On a personal level I would have preferred Pujol to be no. 1 as it is my favorite but really amongst those top 3 its a toss up they are all amazing and worthy of the price. Other things I love about the list: The top 3 is great, Rafael is rightfully gaining spots. D on Julio at 6 amazing!.Now onto my grievances. Leo is not a top 10 restaurant (Even thought I want to stand up for my Colombian food, the experience there is still not developed enough). As for the Colombian entries it is a bit of a mixed bag. Villanos in Bermudas deserves its spot but Harry Sasson is more marketing in my book. However what i dont understand is el cHato. It is a good, sometimes really good restaurant. It is affordably pried. But is it no. 21 – No! Especially not above Aramburu, Malabar, Baqueano, Elena amongst others. As for other things i didn’t approve. Sud777 is not that great and no. 14 I just don’t get. Mishiguene is also a bit too high for me. Aramburu seems a bit low. Mani should be higher than 12. In my book it should be above D.O.M.

Gran Dabbang: This little restaurants was a revelation. Indian inspired with Argentinean ingredients its worth a visit. What was amazing? The food. So good. And go in groups so you can order a lot to share as it is tapas style. Whats not so good? the ambiance and the service. It really has no ambiance, the wine list is not amazing and the service is bad. Argentinean style bad (what is with service and that country) Below some of the dishes we tried:

Chaatt: This was delicious, a mix of sauces with the labneh and strawberries was delicious. A great way to start the meal

Topinambur a la miniparri con miso, pure de arveja partida y naranja con kirkiña, ricota de bufala y brote de arveja, aceite virgen de girasol : jerusalem aritchockes with cheese peas and orange: Not my favorite dish, but it was still delicious. A great blend of bright and earthy

Quail: beautifully cooked and pressented

This i didnt like but only beacuse I hate beetroot. The cassava bread bagel type was delicious! but the dipping sauce of strawberry and beetroot was too beetroot centric for me.

Lovely curry:

This meat was ridiculously good. Perfectly cooked great spice and lovely side complements.

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