Gault & Millau 2026: Bozar Restaurant chef Karen Torosyan leads winners of Belgium’s gastronomic guide

Chef of the Year 2026 was awarded to Karen Torosyan of Restaurant Bozar in Brussels at the Gault&Millau Belux 2026 prize ceremony at Brussels Expo.

The culinary bible highlighted 1,340 restaurants in Belgium and Luxembourg for its latest edition, including 153 new entries and 166 establishments that have risen in the prestigious listings.

Other major winners at the glitzy event were the regional Young Chefs of the Year: Kevin Graf (De Bakermat restaurant in Ninove) for Flanders; Basile De Wulf (Basile Cuisine Gourmande restaurant in Perwez) representing Wallonia; and David-Alexandre Bruno (Quartz restaurant in Ixelles) for the Brussels region.

Notable newcomers to the guide were: Est in Leuven (Heverlee) for Flanders (15/20 and 3 toques), Coquo in Bierwart for Wallonia (13.5/20 and 2 toques), and Eliane in Brussels for the Brussels region (17/20 and 4 toques).

At the top of the restaurant listings is Nick Bril, who recently relocated his restaurant The Jane to a new location in Antwerp (18.5/20 and 4 toques). It was a double celebration for Maison Colette, which moved to Westerlo, and received the award for ‘Most Beautiful Design Restaurant’ (17.5/20 and 4 toques). While in Brussels, Eliane chef Kobe Desramaults made a remarkable entry into the guide (17/20 and 4 toques).

Accolade for Karen Torosyan of Bozar Restaurant

The Chef of the Year award is one of the most prestigious in the Belgian gastronomic landscape. It recognises the chef's career, standards, technique and unique culinary vision.

"Year after year, Karen Torosyan has established himself as one of the great artisans of taste, guided by an obsessive quest for perfection, both in technique and on the plate,” says the guide.

“This chef of Armenian origin, who fell in love with Belgium, commands respect. From washing dishes in his early days to his current acclaim, each step of his journey testifies to a rare determination,” it adds.

Torosyan has helmed the restaurant with his wife and partner Nani Lee Torosyan since 2018. It is located in the cultural and architectural landmark Bozar building, an Art Deco masterpiece by Victor Horta that was inaugurated in 1928.

His signature cuisine is praised for being both accessible and contemporary. Among the dishes that have forged his reputation are his pigeon with foie gras and smoked eel, a masterful duck pithiviers and a refined and delicate marbled Bresse chicken with artichokes and pickles.

Vegetable Menu of the Year: Humus x hortense

Brussels plant-based restaurant Humus x hortense is no stranger to awards, having already garnered a Michelin star, a green star and a ranking as the ninth best vegetable restaurant in the world.

Now the Ixelles institution wins the Gault&Millau Vegetable Menu of the Year award and 16.5/20 points.

The guide praises its philosophy steeped in sustainable farming and produce. “More than just a meal, this is a unique universe where nature guides the hand of chef Nicolas Decloedt and partner Caroline Baerten, between ecological awareness and culinary emotion.”

For Decloedt and Baerten, the success of the restaurant’s tasting menu “shows that radical sustainability and success can go hand in hand.... The mise en place at humus x hortense always starts in the field and in the garden.”

Award winners by theme

Hostess of the Year: Inge Waeles (Boury, Roeselare)

Pleasure of the Year Award: Béus (Zonnebeke (Passendale)) for Flanders, Pénar for Brussels, and Le P’tit Gaby (Hannut) for Wallonia

Italian Restaurant of the Year: Mona Lisa (Yvoir)

Asian Restaurant of the Year: ENISHI by TOSHIRO (Waterloo)

Most Beautiful Terrace of the Year: Brabohoeve (Schilde)

Most Beautiful Design Restaurant: Maison Colette (Westerlo)

Brasserie of the Year: De Kruidenmolen (De Haan (Klemskerke))

Sommelier of the Year: Steven Wullaert (Vintage, Kontich)

Dessert of the Year: Le Julien (Aalter (Lotenhulle))

Gastro-bistro of the Year: Album (Antwerp)

Vegetable Menu of the Year: Humus x Hortense (Brussels)

Wine List of the Year - Belgian Wines: Hoeve de Bies (Voeren)

Wine List of the Year: La Botte (Genk)

Cheese Experience of the Year: La Grappe d’Or (Arlon)

Artisan of the Year: Stefan Jacobs (Hors-Champs, Gembloux)

The 3 Discoveries of the Year: Hēdonē (Tongeren-Borgloon) for Flanders, Kartouche (Brussels) for Brussels, and Flacon (Nivelles) for Wallonia

Lifetime Achievement Award: Roger Souvereyns

Photos: ©Gault&Millau Belux 2026