Two Vancouver Restaurants in 50 Best North America List

North America's 50 Best Restaurants were unveiled last night

Last night was the inaugural North America's 50 Best Restaurants 2025, and two Vancouver restaurants made it on this prestigious list -- fine dining Thai Baan Lao at No. 12, which was also named Best Restaurant in West Canada, and Published on Main at No. 28.

"We are very happy and blessed," says Baan Lao executive chef and owner Nutcha Phanthoupheng. "We are profoundly grateful to our loyal guests for their support and thank North America's 50 Best Restaurants for the recognition. I am immensely proud to showcase authentic Royal Thai cuisine."

Also thrilled to land on the list was Gus Stieffenhofer-Brandson, executive chef of Published on Main.

Fine dining Thai Baan Lao was ranked No. 12

"I am so proud of our team. Accolades like this are so validating for all the hard work our team puts in, day in and day out. Being recognised amongst our peers as one of the Top 50 restaurants in North America is a bit surreal. The topic of World's 50 often comes up when we're sitting and eating staff meals before service, and now for us to be included amongst such highly regarded restaurants is really a dream come true."

The unveiling of the list was held at a live ceremony at Wynn Las Vegas, where Atomix of New York which serves 12-course refined Korean dishes reigned in top spot. No. 2 was Mon Lapin of Montreal, and Restaurant Pearl Morissette, near St Catherine's Ontario was No. 3. 

William Drew, director of content for North America's 50 Best Restaurants says, "We are thrilled to unveil the inaugural list of North America's 50 Best Restaurants, celebrating the extraordinary diversity, creativity and excellence that define the region's dining scene. From pioneering fine-dining institutions to bold new voices, this list reflects the rich culinary landscape of the US, Canada and the Caribbean. We're proud to honour these exceptional restaurants and the individuals who bring them to life."

In total 20 North American cities were highlighted, featuring 11 restaurants in Canada, 37 in the United States and two in the Caribbean.

Junghyun and Ellia Park's Atomix was No. 1

Susan Bae of Moon Rabbit in Washington DC was named North America's Best Pastry Chef, and Chutatip "Nok" Suntaranon, chef-owner of Kalaya in Philadelphia won the Best Female Chef award.

The restaurants were chosen by 300 anonymous experts made up of chefs, restaurateurs, food and restaurant journalists and gourmets, led by a group of industry Academy Chairs.

However, surprised not to see restaurants like Burdock & Co. on the list for its emphasis on local and sustainable produce, or Botanist for its creative dishes as well, and its drinks have landed its bar on the North America 50 Best Bars list. 

Nevertheless, with the establishment of North America's 50 Best, restaurants may choose to pursue this path or Michelin as a way to market themselves. However, 50 Best is more of a popularity contest (in other words deep pockets), whereas anonymous Michelin inspectors go under cover to dining establishments to grade them.

It will be interesting to see which direction these fine dining restaurants gravitate towards, and more importantly, figure out how to survive in these difficult economic times with fewer people willing or able to pay to dine out.