From hamburgers made by René Redzepi to cannelloni from Niko Romito, you can expect elite-level quality at these great value, chef-backed spots.
1. ThepNakorn, Bangkok
Chef Ton is one of the brightest stars among Thailand's gastronomic firmament, known for weaving heritage ingredients into elegant, modern-inflected dishes. At Bangkok's Le Du and Nusara – ranked No.30 and No.35 respectively on The World's 50 Best Restaurants 2025 – he shows off two sides of the same coin: sleek, forward-looking fare on one and a reverence for tradition on the other. In 2024, Ton opened noodle soup stall ThepNakorn, honouring the traditional Sino-Thai cuisine he grew up with, like kuay teow neua noodle soup with slow-cooked beef cuts. Each bowl is enormous and made to your liking, from the type of broth and noodle to toppings such as meatballs, raw beef slices and brisket.
What to order: If you're indecisive, go for the tuk yang, which means 'everything'. You'll enjoy a blend of flavours and textures.
2. Cantinho do Avillez, Lisbon
@cantinho_do_avillez
José Avillez is not far off culinary royalty. He's the chef who put Portugal's fine dining on the map with the elegant Belcanto, currently No.42 on The World's 50 Best Restaurants 2025. Cantinho do Avillez is a departure from Belcanto's poise, dishing up canteen-style Portuguese comfort food, such as beef croquettes with truffle mustard sauce and cod loin with sweet onions, roast potatoes and rich bell pepper cream. The wine list is also ample and local, with some standout Portuguese sparkling at inviting prices.
What to order: The prawns, doused in a garlicky and malagueta chilli sauce, followed by the rump steak with rice and fries, topped with a fried egg.
3. Hungry Club, Madrid
@wearehungryclub
Dabiz Muñoz has long been the spiky crown prince of Spanish gastronomy, with his fever-dream flagship DiverXO (No.4 on The World's 50 Best Restaurants 2025) where bookings are gold dust, while the more casual StreetXO and dumpling-inspired RavioXO generate no less interest. Another offshoot of note is Hungry Club in Madrid airport, which brings Muñoz's favourite street food eats to jet-setters with a menu made up of pinchos de tortilla, bikini toast (otherwise known as a Spanish grilled sandwich), hot dogs, ramen and loaded pizzas, all of which can be boxed up to take on the plane.
What to order: The Korean Pyzza, strewn with kimchi, potato chips, basil and a jammy, just-cooked egg.
4. Tori Pollería, Lima
@toripolleria
Best known as the man behind Maido – The World's Best Restaurant 2025 – Mitsuharu 'Micha' Tsumura took a turn from tasting menus to tray service with Tori Pollería. The restaurant's tagline translates to 'passionate about chicken', so no prizes for guessing what the staple is. Here you'll find beautiful renditions of pollo a la brasa, a Peruvian favourite of rotisserie chicken marinated in a blend of herbs and spices, wok-fried chicken, chicken dumplings... you get the picture. The kicker comes in the form of Micha's own line of ají chilli sauces which have become a national sensation, sold throughout the country.
What to order: Tori's crunchy and comforting Latin-style Milanese.
5. Miznon, New York
@miznonusa
Chef Eyal Shani is best known for the award-winning Shmoné in Greenwich Village, where the food reflects Shani's upbringing in Jerusalem. His deftness in blending east Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine has been transplanted to the budget-friendly Miznon, where a number of his best-loved dishes are served in warm pita, from lamb kebab with grilled tomato and onion drizzled in tahini to the 'folded cheeseburger' filled with cheddar, aioli, sour cream and pickles. The chain now spans major international hubs with outlets in Paris, London, Vienna and Melbourne.
What to order: The vegan Lavan, made with Shani's golden roasted cauliflower and topped with tomato salsa and spicy green peppers.
6. Alt, Rome
@alt_stazionedelgusto
Niko Romito of the award-winning Reale – No.18 on The World's 50 Best Restaurants 2025 – set in the medieval Italian town of Castel del Sangro in Abruzzo, is known for his democratic approach to high-quality food. He started Alt in 2018 as a reimagining of service station fodder, offering everything from sourdough focaccia and freshly fried chips to juicy fried chicken, all cooked by the grads of his fine-dining cooking school. The restaurants are dotted across Italy, with the Roman edition offering a 24/7 menu, including an aperitivo deal that features a spritz, beer or drink paired with small bites.
What to order: The hefty beef meatballs, served in an unctuous tomato sauce and sprinkled with fresh basil.
7. Popl, Copenhagen
@poplburger
Copenhagen's gastronomic glow-up can be traced to the opening of Noma in 2003. Fast-forward to 2025 and the city is littered with the icon's alumni, producing foraged brilliance across the city. Casual burger joint Popl came out of the ashes of the pandemic, opened by René Redzepi in a bid to get people eating out again. The project eventually found its permanent home in Christianshavn, offering a seasonal set menu including a range of next-level burgers and sides such as oysters with Jasmine amazake, kimchi with mushroom garum and rose oil and beer battered cod collar with mussel caramel. Pair with Slovakian orange wine for maximum flavour.
What to order: The classic cheeseburger, made with Danish organic beef: upgrade with black truffle for extra decadence.
8. Gucci Osteria, Los Angeles
@gucciosteria
The mastermind behind Osteria Francescana, Massimo Bottura is a powerhouse on the world's culinary stage, so it was natural for him to join forces with another Italian powerhouse. Gucci Osteria has quickly become a global sensation, with venues in Tokyo, Seoul and Beverly Hills. The LA branch, helmed by chef Mattia Agazzi, is a riot of near-poetic flavour combinations, ranging from the Dungeness crab soup to lemon ricotta ravioli with bottarga, accompanied by a wine list that zeroes in on some of Europe's greats.
What to order: The Risotto Camouflaged as Pizza: what looks like a thin-crust pizza fresh is, in fact, a brilliantly disguised risotto.
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