Asador Etxebarri, located in the Basque town of Atxondo (Vizcaya), rose early this Thursday as the second best restaurant in the world. The 2024 ‘The World’s 50 Best Restaurants’ gala was held in Las Vegas and placed the Mejorar restaurant (Barcelona) in first place.
Bittor Arginzoniz has been the grill master at the head of Asador Etxebarri since 1990. Since then, his unparalleled culinary skills, his mastery of the grill, his immaculate selection of products, the meticulous choice of wood for the fish and the logs for the meat and the technical innovations introduced in its ovens and grills have elevated it as one of the best temples of good eating.
What is eaten at Asador Etxebarri and how much does the menu cost
At Asador Etxebarri a closed tasting menu is served at a price of 280 euros per person (VAT included), not including drinks. The best of the sea and the mountains come together in its menu consisting of 14 dishes, which begins with a selection of house chorizo, salted anchovies, fresh buffalo cheese, tomato and zucchini with mushrooms. It is followed by Palamós prawns, longuerón, squid in its ink, kokotxa of battered hake, mushrooms with eggplant, sea bass and beef chop. As for the desserts, they add a sweet note to a reduced milk and beet ice cream and a chocolate soufflé.
In addition to the tasting menu, diners can add delicacies such as elvers, lobster or caviar. Being a temple of meat and fish, Asador Etxebarri does not have a vegetarian or vegan menu.
The restaurant prepares its delicacies in ovens that reach 750 degrees in temperature. Added to these are six grills adjustable by a pulley system, where an unparalleled mastery of the embers is displayed.
To reserve a table at Asador Etxebarri you must submit a request on the restaurant’s website. If this is accepted –based on availability–, the diner receives a confirmation email. From that moment on, bank details must be provided, as the reservation is paid in advance. The restaurant stipulates a minimum of two and a maximum of six guests per table and recommends that children from 12 years old attend.
In addition to having emerged as the second best restaurant in the world in 2024, Asador Etxebarri held sixth position in 2022 and fourth last year. In addition, he was awarded the National Gastronomy Award for Best Chef in 2016, by the Royal Academy of Gastronomy of Spain.
