Asador Etxebarri
No.2 World's 50 Best 2025 — elite chef
Veronica's Take
In the Basque Country village of Atxondo, Spain, Asador Etxebarri has soared to the No. 2 spot on the World's 50 Best Restaurants 2025 list, driven by chef and founder Victor Arguinzoniz's relentless dedication to grilling. Arguinzoniz, who meticulously cooks every dish over an open flame, has elevated the grill to an art form, using ingredients selected with exacting precision. His minimalist approach—eschewing elaborate sauces and focusing on the pure interaction between fire and ingredient—has made Etxebarri a pilgrimage site for food enthusiasts seeking a meal that balances rustic tradition with refined technique.
Key Facts
The people behind Asador Etxebarri
Victor Arguinzoniz
profileChef & Founder, Asador Etxebarri
Victor Arguinzoniz is the owner and chef of Asador Etxebarri in Atxondo, Spain, a village in the Basque Country. He cooks everything over a grill, giving even dessert a distinctive smoky, fire-kissed taste. He taught himself to cook and built his own kitchen with manual grilling contraptions using multiple types of wood. Born and raised in the same village as the restaurant, he worked in a flag factory for many years before buying the restaurant with his father and uncle. Source: Wikipedia (Asador Etxebarri restaurant page)
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