It's time to celebrate, Vancouver!
The 36th annual Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards were announced Monday, May 5, 2025 at a ceremony at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, recognizing the best and the brightest in the city in a broad spectrum of categories.
The awards were announced in a jam-packed ballroom; many categories featured the opportunity for the recipients to go up to the podium to give a few remarks. Additionally, the awards also featured the winners of the Readers' Choice and Editors' Choice categories, allowing for honours for everything from Coffee Shop (Nemesis) to Date Night (Casa Molina) and more.
Major awards highlights for 2025
One of the most-watched categories is always Best New Restaurant, and given the array of debuts during the qualification period (with a cut-off date of October 31, 2024) there was much to consider for the awards, with the honours going to the buzzy Elio Volpe, the breezy sibling to Savio Volpe.
Restaurant of the Year went to Elisa, the elegant Yaletown steakhouse, while Chef of the Year was bestowed upon Angus An of Maenam, Fat Mao, Sen Pad Thai, and the forthcoming Sainam, set to open in June in the West End.
The Pastry Chef of the Year is Kate Whiteman Siegel Campbell (Fairmont Pacific Rim/Botanist), Sommelier of the Year is Chris Reilly (Hawskworth), and Bartender of the Year is Tara Davies, of the newly-relocated Chupito.
The new Hall of Fame inductees are Michel Jacob, chef and founder of Le Crocodile, and Cioppino's; the long-running Italian restaurant closed at the end of 2024. Last year, Cioppino's chef/owner Pino Posteraro stunned the audience at the awards when he took his time at the podium to announce the closure; this year he focused on thanking his family.
This year saw the introduction of a new award for sustainability, which went to one of Vancouver's icons, Andrea Carlson, whose restaurant Burdock & Co. has been a trailblazer in locally-sourced dining for many years.
The Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards are chosen by a panel of industry experts comprised of predominantly food media and insiders (full disclosure: I served as a judge once again for this year's awards). You can read a detailed explanation of the judging process published ahead of a previous year's awards by Van Mag.
Here is the complete list of winners of the 2025 Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards:
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Restaurant of the Year: Elisa
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Chef of the Year: Angus An (Maenam, Fat Mao, Sen Pad Thai)
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Pastry Chef of the Year: Kate Whiteman Siegel Campbell (Botanist)
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Sommelier of the Year: Chris Reilly (Hawskworth)
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Bartender of the Year: Tara Davies (Chupito, Cantina 189)
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Sustainability: Andrea Carlson (Burdock & Co)
Premier Crew (Front of House staff)
Bobby Copiak (Giardino), Akiyo Lowey (Dosanko), Jason Ye (Chinatown BBQ)
Hall of Fame: Michel Jacob, Cioppino's
Judged categories
Best African and Diaspora
- Moltaqa
Finalists: Axum; Baby Dahl Roti; Calabash; Fassil; Jambo Grill; Kilimanjaro
Best Casual
- Fat Mao
Finalists: AJ’s Brooklyn Pizza, Casereccio Foods, Chancho Tortilleria, Chinatown BBQ, Crab Hot Lau, Downlow Chicken Shack, La Grotta del Formaggio, Skewers Souvlaki Pita Bar
Best Chain
Note: Cactus Club Cafe was added to the Hall of Fame last year and is no longer eligible.
- Nook
Finalists: Big Way Hot Pot; Bufala; Joey; La Taqueria; Maruhachi Ra-men; Sula; The Greek
Best Chinese
- Dynasty
Finalists: A. Bento; Bao Bei; Chef’s Choice; Chinatown BBQ; Landmark Hotpot; Mott 32
Best French
- St. Lawrence
Finalists: Au Comptoir; Collective Goods; L’Abattoir; Le Crocodile by Rob Feenie; Café Salade de Fruits; Tableau
Best Indian
- Sula (Davie St. Location)
Finalists: Dosa Corner; Lila; Paratha 2 Pasta; Tasty Indian Bistro; Vij’s
Best Informal Contemporary
- Bar Bravo
Finalists: Bar Susu (closing); Dachi; Folke; Gary’s; Nightingale; Torafuku
Best Italian
- Elio Volpe
Finalists: Ask for Luigi, Autostrada, Caffe La Tana, CinCin, Giardino, La Quercia and L’Ufficio, Savio Volpe
Best Japanese
- Okeya Kyujiro
Finalists: Dosanko; Kishimoto; Masayoshi; Sushi Masuda; Oku Izakaya; Sushi Hil; Tetsu
Best Korean
- Zoomak
Finalists: Ju (closed); Kook Korean BBQ; So Hyang; Sooda; Sumi Korean; Sura Royal Cuisine
Best Latin American
- Suyo
Finalists: Baja Racing; Chancho; Cuchillo; El Gato Gab Gab; La Mezcaleria; Ophelia
Best Middle Eastern
- Delara
Finalists: Bar Haifa; Tamam; Tayybeh; Yasma; Zarak
Best New Restaurant
- Elio Volpe
Finalists: Casa Molina; Good Thief; Ju (closed); Le Crocodile by Rob Feenie; Lila; Meo
Best Plant Based
- Folke
Finalists: The Acorn; Do Chay; Kokomo; Lila; Mila; Viet Family
Best Seafood
- Bar Bravo
Finalists: Blue Water Café, Boulevard, Fanny Bay Oysters, Oddfish
Best Steakhouse
- Elisa
Finalists: Black and Blue; C Prime; Gotham; Hy’s; The Victor
Best Thai
- Maenam
Finalists: Bob Likes Thai Food; Song by Kin Kao; Thai Basil; Unchai; Zab Bite
Best Upscale
- AnnaLena
Finalists: Botanist, Boulevard, Elisa, L’Abattoir, Mott 32, Okeya Kyujiro, Published on Main, St. Lawrence
Best Upscale Contemporary
- Botanist
Finalists: AnnaLena, Boulevard, Hawksworth, Kissa Tanto, L’Abattoir, Published on Main
Best Vietnamese
- Crab Hot Lau
Finalists: Anh and Chi, Bun Cha Ca Hoang Yen, Cafe Xu Hue, Hoi An Cafe, Lunch Lady, Mr. Red
Best Whistler
- Wild Blue
Finalists: Araxi, Bar Oso, Il Caminetto, Red Door
Best Victoria
- Marilena
Finalists: Brasserie L’École, Café Brio, End Dive, Stage Wine Bar, Part and Parcel, The Courtney Room, Ugly Duckling
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