The 5 Best Restaurants In Vancouver, Picked By Some Of The City's Top Chefs

They know their stuff!

​A woman at Kissa Tanto. Right: Cioppino's dishes.

A woman at Kissa Tanto. Right: Cioppino's dishes.

Contributing Writer

If you're on the hunt for the best restaurant in Vancouver, look no further. Narcity spoke to five top chefs, to get all of their must-try spots for tasty eats in the city.

When they're not cooking up a storm inside their own kitchen, the pros told Narcity they like to hit up these local restaurants for a good meal and a good time.

So consider your next dinner reservation sorted because there's a little something for everyone on this list, whether you're in the mood for Japanese, Italian or some delicious French fare.

Kissa Tanto

Price: 💸 💸 💸

Address: 263 E Pender St., Vancouver, BC

Why You Need To Go: Alex Kim, the executive chef at Glowbal, told Narcity that Kissa Tanto really stands out as one of his favourite restaurants in Vancouver.

The spot specializes in Japanese-Italian fusion and Kim says the food is top-notch and pretty unique to the city, too.

The menu includes items like fried stuffed olives, octopus salad, and dandelion papperdelle.

"My friends and I really enjoy the service and the atmosphere of the restaurant," says Kim.

Website

St. Lawrence

Price: 💸 💸 💸

Address: 269 Powell St., Vancouver, BC

Why You Need To Go: Chef Behshad Zolnasr from C|PRIME Modern Italian Steak & Wine says his top bucket list restaurant in the city is St. Lawrence.

"There is a rustic French charm to the restaurant, and the country-style cooking is unbeatable," says Zolnasr.

He loves the fact that they showcase dishes from different regions across France.

You can expect to see items on the menu like beef tartare, dry-aged duck breast and cheese from Québec.

Website

Cioppino’s Mediterranean Grill

Price: 💸 💸 💸 💸

Address: 1133 Hamilton St., Vancouver, BC

Why You Need To Go: Chef Hidekazu Tojo behind Tojo's in Vancouver names Cioppino’s Mediterranean Grill as his must-try restaurant in the city.

"The ingredients are top quality and Chef Pino and his team’s attention to detail when preparing their dishes is excellent," Tojo said.

"I recommend the Chef tasting menu as there are always new and original seasonal dishes to try," he adds.

The restaurant has a huge selection of pasta dishes on its menu like fettuccine, spaghetti, and many other Italian-inspired eats to dig into.

Website

Sushi Bar Maumi

Price: 💸 💸 💸

Address: 1226 Bute St., Vancouver, BC

Why You Need To Go: Chef and owner Chris Lam from Straight and Marrow says that Sushi Bar Maumi is one of the best restaurants in the city.

"It is one of the few true sushi Omakase restaurants in the city, with an ever-changing menu," says Lam. "You sit at a small 10-seat table where the chef hands you amazing sushi piece by piece in the order the chef sees fit."

Website

Zakkushi Dining on Main

Price: 💸 💸

Address: 4075 Main St., Vancouver, BC

Why You Need To Go: This restaurant always has a vibrant and buzzing atmosphere, according to the executive chef of The Victor in Vancouver, Garett Blundell.

"It's a great place for late-night appetizers and a couple of cold beers after a long shift in the kitchen," he added.

You can expect to see dishes on their menu like seared beef with house-made sauces, sashimi, seared pickled mackerel, and more.

Website

  • Ashley Harris (she/her) is a writer from Vancouver, Canada, who is passionate about discovering the best restaurants and activities in the city. A huge foodie, she has written for multiple print and digital magazines and is also a local foodie influencer.

11 gorgeous Toronto restaurants that locals say are always worth the splurge

Remember these spots for your next special occasion! 😍

A burst of snow will bring up to 20 cm to Ontario this week before the cold snap ends

Temperatures will warm up but still be cold enough for "lingering" snow.

CSIS is hiring for these jobs and you can get paid up to $120,000 a year to be nosy

You'll help investigate threats to national security. 🔍

Costco is hiring for jobs that pay $20 to $25 an hour and some don't require any experience

Positions are available at a new unique warehouse that's opening in Canada soon.

6 cheap and safe Caribbean destinations to visit in 2026 if you're skipping Cuba

Turquoise waters, white sands, and no travel warnings. 😌🏝️

U of T is the only Canadian school in the top 10 of this new best universities ranking

It beat every Canadian university in all of these subject areas! 📚

Lotto 6/49 winners split a $5M jackpot with another ticket and didn't believe it was real

They checked the ticket online and at a store to make sure they really won the jackpot. 💸

Canada's 'most romantic town' is near Toronto and it's filled with European charm

It's the perfect place to visit with your favourite person.