A MICHELIN star omakase counter on Vancouver’s Fraser Street was just named North America’s Best Japanese Cuisine Restaurant at the 2026 World Culinary Awards.
The winner is Masayoshi, the 24-seat spot from chef Masayoshi Baba.
The awards shared the news on Instagram in a joint post with the restaurant, calling this year the 7th annual World Culinary Awards.
Masayoshi was up against six other restaurants in the category.
On the American side, that list included Masa New York and KARYU in Miami.
The Canadian nominees were Shoushin in Toronto, Kaiseki Yu-zen Hashimoto, Kappo Sato and Sushi Masaki Saito.
This one comes with a little history.
Masayoshi was nominated for the same title in 2025, and Shoushin won it.
This year, the order flipped.
Winners of these awards are picked by online votes from the culinary community, industry experts and diners.
That makes it a popular vote rather than an inspector’s verdict, which is a different kind of win from the restaurant’s MICHELIN star.
Masayoshi has held One MICHELIN Star in each of the last three Vancouver guides, including the 2026 list that came out in early October.
In the joint post, the restaurant describes its omakase as one that “follows the seasons.”
It pairs Edomae-style sushi with British Columbia seafood, running from seasonal appetizers through to nigiri.
The team says each course is “prepared to highlight its natural flavour and texture.”
Diners sit at the sushi counter, where they can watch each course being made.
It wasn’t the only Metro Vancouver name on this year’s World Culinary Awards list.
Baan Lao in Steveston took North America’s Best Restaurant, and Hawksworth Restaurant downtown won North America’s Best Fine Dining Hotel Restaurant.
If you want to see the counter for yourself, reservations go through OpenTable on Masayoshi’s website.
With only 24 seats, booking ahead is the move.
The win adds to a busy fall of lists for local restaurants, after Seasons in the Park’s top spot on Tripadvisor’s Canada fine dining list, Baan Lao’s World Culinary Awards win and the 2026 Vancouver MICHELIN Guide.
Address
4376 Fraser St., Vancouver, BC
