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Elio Volpe came onto the Vancouver dining scene in spring 2024. The Cambie Village hot spot was named Best Italian and Best New Restaurant in the 36th Annual Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards, announced May 5, 2025. Lindsay William-Ross/V.I.A. photo
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.
Suyo, a modern Peruvian restaurant in Mount Pleasant, was once again named the Best Latin American spot in the 2025 Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards. Photo by Amy Ho/courtesy Suyo Modern Peruvian
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.
Premier Crew (Front of House staff)
Bobby Copiak (Giardino), Akiyo Lowey (Dosanko), Jason Ye (Chinatown BBQ)
Hall of Fame: Michel Jacob, Cioppino’s
Best African and Diaspora
Finalists: Axum; Baby Dahl Roti; Calabash; Fassil; Jambo Grill; Kilimanjaro
Chef Angus An’s Fat Mao was named Best Casual in the 36th Annual Van Mag Restaurant Awards. Lindsay William-Ross/V.I.A. photo
Best Casual
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
Vancouver’s Nook, known for its approachable, reliable pizza and pasta, was named Best Chain in the 2025 Van Mag Restaurant Awards.
Lindsay William-Ross/V.I.A. photo
Best Chain
Note: Cactus Club Cafe was added to the Hall of Fame last year and is no longer eligible.
Finalists: Big Way Hot Pot; Bufala; Joey; La Taqueria; Maruhachi Ra-men; Sula; The Greek
Best Chinese
Finalists: A. Bento; Bao Bei; Chef’s Choice; Chinatown BBQ; Landmark Hotpot; Mott 32
Best French
Finalists: Au Comptoir; Collective Goods; L’Abattoir; Le Crocodile by Rob Feenie; Café Salade de Fruits; Tableau
Raj Kachori is one of the street food dishes on the menu at Sula Indian Restaurant in Vancouver, located on Davie Street. Lindsay William-Ross/V.I.A. photo
Best Indian
Finalists: Dosa Corner; Lila; Paratha 2 Pasta; Tasty Indian Bistro; Vij’s
Best Informal Contemporary
Finalists: Bar Susu (closing); Dachi; Folke; Gary’s; Nightingale; Torafuku
Best Italian
Finalists: Ask for Luigi, Autostrada, Caffe La Tana, CinCin, Giardino, La Quercia and L’Ufficio, Savio Volpe
Best Japanese
Finalists: Dosanko; Kishimoto; Masayoshi; Sushi Masuda; Oku Izakaya; Sushi Hil; Tetsu
Best Korean
Finalists: Ju (closed); Kook Korean BBQ; So Hyang; Sooda; Sumi Korean; Sura Royal Cuisine
Best Latin American
Finalists: Baja Racing; Chancho; Cuchillo; El Gato Gab Gab; La Mezcaleria; Ophelia
Best Middle Eastern
Finalists: Bar Haifa; Tamam; Tayybeh; Yasma; Zarak
Best New Restaurant
Finalists: Casa Molina; Good Thief; Ju (closed); Le Crocodile by Rob Feenie; Lila; Meo
olke was named Best Plant Based in the 2025 awards. Lindsay William-Ross/V.I.A. photo
Best Plant Based
Finalists: The Acorn; Do Chay; Kokomo; Lila; Mila; Viet Family
Best Seafood
Finalists: Blue Water Café, Boulevard, Fanny Bay Oysters, Oddfish
Best Steakhouse
Finalists: Black and Blue; C Prime; Gotham; Hy’s; The Victor
Another Angus An venture, Maenam, took top honours for the best Thai restaurant in Vancouver. An was also named Chef of the Year. Maenam photo
Best Thai
Finalists: Bob Likes Thai Food; Song by Kin Kao; Thai Basil; Unchai; Zab Bite
Best Upscale
Finalists: Botanist, Boulevard, Elisa, L’Abattoir, Mott 32, Okeya Kyujiro, Published on Main, St. Lawrence
Best Upscale Contemporary
Finalists: AnnaLena, Boulevard, Hawksworth, Kissa Tanto, L’Abattoir, Published on Main
Best Vietnamese
Finalists: Anh and Chi, Bun Cha Ca Hoang Yen, Cafe Xu Hue, Hoi An Cafe, Lunch Lady, Mr. Red
Best Whistler
Finalists: Araxi, Bar Oso, Il Caminetto, Red Door
Best Victoria
Finalists: Brasserie L’École, Café Brio, End Dive, Stage Wine Bar, Part and Parcel, The Courtney Room, Ugly Duckling
—This story by Lindsay-William-Ross originally appeared on Vancouver is Awesome
Lindsay is the Editor in Chief of Vancouver Is Awesome. She’s also behind its Forking Awesome food & drink content, which includes a weekly newsletter, TikTok, and Instagram. A fifth-generation Vancouverite and life-long foodie, Lindsay is a Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards judge. Previously the Food Editor of Daily Hive, Senior Editor of Vancity Buzz, and Editor-in-Chief of LAist.com, in her past life in Los Angeles she earned a Master’s in English, attended cooking school, did improv, and was an English professor. Lindsay’s first published piece was in 1980 in The Province: it was her letter to Santa. When she’s not working or at a restaurant, she’s probably watching “Law & Order: SVU” or listening to Taylor Swift.
Lindsay is the Editor in Chief of Vancouver Is Awesome. She’s also behind its Forking Awesome food & drink content, which includes a weekly newsletter, TikTok, and Instagram. A fifth-generation Vancouverite and life-long foodie, Lindsay is a Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards judge. Previously the Food Editor of Daily Hive, Senior Editor of Vancity Buzz, and Editor-in-Chief of LAist.com, in her past life in Los Angeles she earned a Master’s in English, attended cooking school, did improv, and was an English professor. Lindsay’s first published piece was in 1980 in The Province: it was her letter to Santa. When she’s not working or at a restaurant, she’s probably watching “Law & Order: SVU” or listening to Taylor Swift.
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