Everything begins with something that unites us all: the search to recognize, celebrate, and share with the world the talent, creativity, and diversity that flourish on our tables. It is, therefore, a great honor and a source of pride to announce that SUMMUM crosses borders for the first time, arriving in Ecuador.
For those of us who have seen it grow in Peru, SUMMUM has always been more than a gastronomic award. It is a declaration of identity, a space that honors the work of producers, chefs, researchers, and entrepreneurs who make it possible for an entire country to express itself through its cuisine.
Today, that spirit crosses frontiers to reach a land that shares with us its mestizo soul, its biodiversity, and its calling to create proudly from its roots. Ecuador—with its Andes and its coast, its Amazon and the Galápagos Islands—holds an extraordinary pantry of products. Welcoming it into the SUMMUM family is not only a well deserved recognition; it is a vital step toward the culinary growth of our wider region.
In this first Ecuadorian edition, SUMMUM seeks to inspire and connect; to shine a light on the projects making a difference, to promote work with local ingredients, and to strengthen the bonds between producers and chefs, between ancestral knowledge and contemporary innovation.We firmly believe that this guide does more than celebrate the best restaurants. It drives an entire generation of chefs, farmers, and hospitality professionals to continue transforming their country’s gastronomy into a force for sustainable, cultural, and economic development.
From Peru, we celebrate this new chapter. May this Ecuadorian edition mark the beginning of a rich dialogue, a symphony of flavors that unites our nations under one shared conviction: that cuisine will always be an act of love, of collaboration, and of hope.
Cecilia Valenzuela
Manager of
The SUMMUM - PERÚ AWARDS
This is a defining moment for Ecuadorian cuisine. From the richness of our land’s harvest to the ingenuity of our chefs and the rising passion of diners, cuisine has become a cornerstone of national pride. With SUMMUM Ecuador, we take that pride a step further: unveiling, for the first time, a ranking that honors the country’s top restaurants and culinary experiences. We are proud to have been chosen as SUMMUM’s strategic partner in Ecuador. We have taken on this challenge with responsibility and excitement, aware that SUMMUM is more than a ranking—it is a platform that showcases the finest of our gastronomy and strengthens Ecuador’s place as a culinary destination.
The survey conducted by Focus for SUMMUM Ecuador is neither an open public vote nor the product of campaigns or chance. It is a rigorous process that combines the opinions of a carefully selected panel of experts with the participation of 794 frequent diners. To be invited, each participant had to visit restaurants of the evaluated category at least three times in the past year.
The long-awaited Top 20 ranking is the outcome of a transparent formula that weighs three essential dimensions of the dining experience: food (60%), atmosphere (20%), and service (20%). This ensures that recognition is balanced and reflects what diners truly value.
At Focus, we see SUMMUM Ecuador as a showcase of the cultural and culinary richness that defines our country. We are convinced this first edition marks the beginning of a benchmark that will grow year after year, to the benefit of everyone who believes in Ecuadorian cuisine as a source of satisfaction and national identity.
Fernando Pérez
GENERAL Manager
Focus Ecuador - Market Research & Insights
The extraordinary and unprecedented moment that Ecuadorian cuisine is experiencing today is the result of a community that has learned to look at itself with pride, recognize its diversity and transform that richness into culinary experiences that inspire. Across the country, from the high Andes to the Pacific coast, new proposals are emerging that celebrate our identity, the abundance of our ecosystems, and the dedication of those who bring them to the table.
SUMMUM Ecuador was created to accompany and amplify this movement. It serves as a celebration of shared effort of chefs, producers, sommeliers, entrepreneurs, researchers, communicators, and diners, all united by a common purpose: to project Ecuadorian gastronomy to the world with excellence and authenticity.
Our deepest gratitude goes to all who made this first edition possible: to the experts and specialists who contributed their insight, to the restaurants that opened their doors with generosity, and to the hundreds of people who participated in this initiative with enthusiasm and passion.
Celebrating Ecuador’s talent, ingredients, and hospitality is not just an act of recognition: it is a commitment. SUMMUM Ecuador exists to give thanks, to encourage, and to highlight what unites us: the passion for sharing, creating, and savoring the country we are.
BEST FEMALE CHEF, CUISINE D’AUTEUR, LIFETIME ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AWARD, TRAYECTORY AND CLASSIC RESTAURANT
Maríana Ripoll, Carolina León, Jonathan Berg, Juan Pablo Druet, Juan Pablo Malo, Iván Gallegos, José Pérez-Vargas.
SUMMUM’s Advisory Board
ICONIC PRODUCT, SUSTAINABILITY, AGRICULTURAL PRODUCER
José Sogues, Alejandro Chamorro, Alejandro Huertas, Pía Salazar, Valeria Ordoñez, Pablo Mateus, Isabella Chiriboga, Ana Lobato, Felipe Salas, Wilson Alpala.
Prestigious Chefs
BEST BARMAN AND BEST SOMMELIER
Juan Carlos Gallegos, Luca Galeotti, Rodrigo Calderón.
SUMMUM’s Advisory Board
