A self-taught pâtissier from Bangkok has just become the first Asian chef ever to be named World's Best Pastry Chef. Dej Kewkacha picked up the title at the World's 50 Best Restaurants awards, held at the Teatro Municipal de Lima in Peru on November 4 — the same night Spain's Asador Etxebarri in Atxondo was crowned the world's best restaurant.
Dej has built his reputation on treating Thai desserts as serious fine dining. Rather than serving them as an afterthought, he works local flavours into omakase-style dessert courses, an approach that already earned him Asia's Best Pastry Chef 2025. Speaking to Bangkok Post after the win, he said he wants to modernise traditional Thai sweets and give them global recognition. In his words, it's time to move beyond tom yum goong and pad Thai and let desserts become a soft-power export for Thailand.
The night was a strong one for Bangkok across the board. Gaggan came in at No.2 on the world list and took the Best Restaurant in Asia title, while four other city restaurants made the top 50: Sorn (No.12), Suhring (No.14), Nusara (No.18) and Potong (No.32). That's six world-top-50 restaurants in one city — a serious argument for putting Bangkok at the top of any food-focused travel list.
The 2026 ranking itself stretched further than ever, covering 28 territories across six continents, with 14 new cities represented. Latin America had a big showing: Quintonil in Mexico City was named Best Restaurant in Latin America at No.4, Lima landed three entries (Kjolle at No.7, Mérito at No.13, Mayta at No.45), and São Paulo's Tuju debuted at No.16 while also winning the Art of Hospitality Award.
Eleven restaurants entered the 1-50 list for the first time, including Meet the Bund in Shanghai (No.21), Masque in Mumbai (No.26), Ru Yuan in Hangzhou (No.36), Onjium in Seoul (No.41), Bozar in Brussels (No.42) and Saint Peter in Sydney (No.50), which also took the Oceania title. Copenhagen had a strong night too: Kadeau jumped 33 places to No.8 to win the Highest Climber Award, and Alchemist held No.3.
Other honours worth knowing if you plan dinners around awards: Jessica Rosval of Al Gatto Verde in Modena won Best Female Chef, Ferran Adrià of El Bulli fame received the Icon Award, Naar in Kasauli, India took the Sustainable Restaurant Award, and Lesley Liu of Odette in Singapore was named Best Sommelier.
For travellers, this list doubles as a dining itinerary. Bangkok is the obvious headline — book well ahead for Gaggan, and consider pairing a meal there with Sorn or Potong. Lima, Copenhagen, Mexico City and Modena all now hold multiple reasons to visit, from world-top-50 tasting menus to pastry worth crossing a city for.
