Metro Vancouver has again earned some big bragging rights with two restaurants making it onto the first-ever North America’s 50 Best Restaurants list.
This comes after several Vancouver spots made it to the recent Air Canada Best New Restaurant list.
Richmond’s Baan Lao ranked at number 12, while Vancouver’s Published on Main landed at number 28.
Both now stand alongside heavy hitters across the continent, with New York’s Atomix taking first place and Montreal’s Mon Lapin in second.
Baan Lao is led by Chef Nutcha Phanthoupheng, who trained with chefs from the Thai royal family before moving to Canada in 2014.
With a background as a cancer researcher and nurse, she brings a unique philosophy of food as medicine to her work.
Since opening in Steveston, her goal has been to elevate Thai cuisine in Canada beyond casual dining and showcase the precision and artistry of Royal Thai cooking.
This year, Baan Lao was also awarded Best Restaurant in West Canada 2025.
Published on Main, meanwhile, has become one of Vancouver’s most acclaimed kitchens since opening, already earning a MICHELIN star and a whole slew of accolades.
Chef Gus Stieffenhofer-Brandson draws inspiration from his Manitoba roots and European heritage, blending them into a modern Canadian approach that has captured international attention.
His work also emphasizes connections with Indigenous communities in British Columbia, which has shaped how the restaurant approaches sourcing and menu development.
Together, the two restaurants highlight how BC chefs are redefining what dining on the west coast can mean, combining personal histories with cultural depth to create something that resonates far beyond the province.
Will you be booking a table at one of BC’s newest additions to North America’s 50 Best?
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