Two Vancouver restaurants named among North America's 50 Best Restaurants

Two of Metro Vancouver’s restaurants have landed on the inaugural North America’s 50 Best Restaurants list.

At a lively, colorful awards ceremony—and after-party—in Las Vegas, the esteemed 50 Best organization revealed the winners of the first-ever North America’s 50 Best Restaurants list.

Canada has broken into the inaugural North America’s 50 Best Restaurants list, with 10 spots from coast to coast making the coveted list—two of them being in the Vancouver area.

Which Vancouver restaurants made North America’s 50 Best Restaurants list?

Richmond’s Baan Lao came in at number 12, while Vancouver’s Published on Main ranked number 28.

Baan Lao is helmed by Nutcha Phanthoupheng, Proprietor and Executive Chef. Hailing from the rural Isaan region of Thailand, Chef Nutcha Phanthoupheng grew up immersed in the authentic “farm-to-table” lifestyle, using only fresh, local, and organic ingredients. 

She trained privately under Michelin-starred chefs in Thailand, earned a Thai Cuisine diploma from The Blue Elephant in Bangkok, received certification from the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Bangkok Cooking School, and obtained a food carving certificate from Bussaracum Royal Thai Cuisine.

With a lifelong dedication to traditional Thai cooking, a commitment to fresh farm-to-table ingredients, and elite culinary training, Chef Nutcha Phanthoupheng delivers meals that delight the eyes, nose, and palate—continually redefining fine dining.

Chef Nutcha Phanthoupheng, long acclaimed for bringing Royal Thai cuisine to new heights in Canada, recently earned a prestigious distinction: the King Charles III Coronation Medal. 

Baan Lao was also named the best restaurant in West Canada.

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Gus Stieffenhofer-Brandson, Executive Chef at Published on Main, was born and raised in Winnipeg. Growing up surrounded by food—from tending his family garden to spending time on his grandparents’ farm—Chef Gus Stieffenhofer-Brandson honed his skills in busy local kitchens before venturing abroad. Working in Germany and staging at Michelin-starred restaurants, his experiences helped shape his culinary vision.

Back in Canada, Chef Gus Stieffenhofer-Brandson joined Vancouver’s acclaimed Pear Tree Restaurant, quickly rising to sous-chef before leading the kitchen at Perch, a 300-seat, farm-to-table concept. Further stages in Germany and a formative summer at Noma deepened his approach to seasonal, ingredient-driven cooking.

Chef Gus Stieffenhofer-Brandson has since cooked everywhere from elite heli-ski lodges to RAW:almond’s pop-up on a frozen river, and after a stint at Hawksworth, he took the helm at Published, where he continues to push Canadian cuisine forward.

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Complete list of North America’s 50 Best Restaurants 2025

1. Atomix (New York)
2. Mon Lapin (Montreal)
3. Pearl Morisette (Lincoln)
4. Smyth (Chicago)
5. Tanière3 (Quebec City)
6. Dakar NOLA (New Orleans)
7. Kalaya (Philadelphia)
8. Singlethread (Healdsburg)
9. Le Bernardin (New York)
10. Le Veau d’Or (New York)
11. Quetzal (Toronto)
12. Baan Lao (Richmond)
13. Benu (San Francisco)
14. Californios (San Francisco)
15. The Four Horsemen (New York)
16. Friday Saturday Sunday (Philadelphia)
17. Moon Rabbit (Washington DC)
18. Via Carota (New York)
19. Chubby Fish (Charleston)
20. Locust (Nashville)
21. Saison (San Francisco)
22. Montréal Plaza (Montreal)
23. Kono (New York)
24. Aska (New York)
25. Lazy Bear (San Francisco)
26. Kato (Los Angeles)
27. Kann (Portland)
28. Published on Main (Vancouver)
29. Le Violon (Montreal)
30. Emeril’s (New Orleans)
31. Kasama (Chicago)
32. Royal Sushi & Izakaya (Philadelphia)
33. Saga (New York)
34. Albi (Washington DC)
35. Jungsik (New York)
36. Corima (New York)
37. Dōgon (Washington DC)
38. César (New York)
39. Café Carmellini (New York)
40. Penn (New York)
41. Buzo Osteria Italiana (Bridgetown)
42. Holbox (Los Angeles)
43. Alma (Montreal)
44. Mhel (Toronto)
45. Alma Fonda Fina (Denver)
46. Atelier Crenn (San Francisco)
47. Providence (Los Angeles)
48. Quince (San Francisco)
49. Stush in the Bush (St. Ann)
50. Beba (Montreal)

Special awards for 2025

Best Restaurant in Western Canada: Baan Lao (Richmond)

North America’s Best Sommelier Award: Vanya Filipovic (Mon Lapin, Montreal)

LaVazza Icon Award: Normand Laprise (Toqué!, Montreal)

Art of Hospitality Award: Tanière3 (Quebec City)

Best Restaurant in East Canada: Mon Lapin (Montreal)

Best Restaurant in Central Canada: Pearl Morissette (Lincoln)

Resy One to Watch Award: Ladder (Detroit)

North America’s Best Pastry Chef Award: Susan Bae (Moon Rabbit, Washington DC)

North America’s Best Female Chef Award: Chutatip “Nok” Suntaranon (Kalaya, Philadelphia)

Champions of Change Award: Asmeret Berhe-Lumax (One Love Community Fridge, New York)

Estrella Damm Chef’s Choice Award: Michael Cimarusti (Providence, Los Angeles)

Sustainable Restaurant Award: Singlethread (Healdsburg)

Best Restaurant in the Caribbean: Buzo Osteria Italiana

Best Restaurant in West USA: Singlethread (Healdsburg)

Best Restaurant in South USA: Dakar NOLA (New Orleans)

Best Restaurant in Midwest USA: Smyth (Chicago)

Best Restaurant in Northeast USA: Atomix (New York)

For more information about North America’s 50 Best Restaurants 2025, click here. 

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