Canada’s culinary spotlight is back on, and this year Vancouver is shining brighter than ever.
Air Canada’s Enroute Magazine just announced its Best New Restaurants 2025 finalists, and out of 31 restaurants across the country, Vancouver snagged seven spots on the list.
That means nearly a quarter of the finalists come from right here.
The local names you’ll see include:
- Sumibiyaki Arashi,
- June,
- Niwa,
- ELEM,
- Selene,
- Sushi Hyun, and
- Nero Tondo
Over on the Island, Victoria scored two mentions with Rabbit Rabbit and Janevca, further proving that the West Coast food scene is having a moment.
Launched in 2002, Air Canada’s Best New Restaurants is the longest-running national ranking dedicated to new restaurants and emerging talent.
The program celebrates “food worth flying for” and has become a career-defining platform for chefs across the country.
How are the restaurants picked?
First, the restaurants eligible for the list must have opened between May 1 and April 30.
A rotating panel of 30+ culinary experts from across Canada nominates restaurants that represent the best of Canada’s dining scene.
Vancouver’s own Chef David Hawksworth, Mijune Pak, Chef Alex Chen, Terrence Feng, and Top Chef Canada winner Chanthy Yen were part of the panel.
From there, one anonymous judge sets out on a cross-country dining tour, visiting each restaurant just as a regular guest would.
The process ended in September when roughly 30 restaurants are revealed as finalists, followed by the big reveal in November of the Top 10.
This year’s Top 10 will be announced on November 17, a moment many chefs and diners are already anticipating.
And with Vancouver’s heavy representation, locals will be watching closely to see how many of their favourites make the cut.
It’s also worth noting that several of these newly named finalists are hotly tipped to appear in the upcoming MICHELIN Guide Vancouver, set to be released October 2.
If so, this could be a double celebration for some of the city’s hottest kitchens.
For more new and upcoming food spots in Metro Vancouver, take a peek at our tracker here, and subscribe to our weekly newsletter here.