The World Culinary Awards named URKO the "Best Restaurant in Ecuador 2023." These awards recognize excellence in the global culinary industry and offer their winners an important marketing tool for promoting their products and establishments.

URKO is characterized by a culinary offering that offers diners the experience of tasting dishes based on the Raymis, or astral cycles. Based on the definition of the agricultural calendar, the products of each season are obtained from the diverse communities in the country's four regions: the Coast, the Andes, the Amazon, and the Galapagos. Thus, its tasting menu changes every three months, in accordance with the four Raymis.

Daniel Maldonado, owner of the establishment, who strives to remain constantly evolving, stated that "URKO is a dream of transforming our gastronomy, of discovering through our identity how the table can communicate our culture and our diversity." Regarding this, Andrés de la Torre, head chef at URKO, added that they seek to tell stories about suppliers, ingredients, spaces in the country, and national traditions through the dishes they offer.

Tourism Minister Niels Olsen congratulated URKO on the award, stating that “Every day, Ecuadorian gastronomy is gaining ground in the world thanks to its wide range of flavors and traditions., and emphasizing that the promotion of Ecuador as a destination will continue to be strongly promoted at the various international events that will be attended during 2024.