Ava GabouryI’ll admit it: I once thought “fine dining” meant splurging on extra cocktails on a night out at one of Vancouver’s best restaurants.
But then, I ate out with some friends at a Michelin-starred restaurant. I honestly didn’t know whether to eat my dinner or frame it. After a few more splurges (all in the name of research, of course), I’ve picked up some insights.
So if you’re curious about Vancouver’s Michelin-star scene, or just want to know where to find a meal that’ll make your taste buds do a happy dance, here’s what you need to know before you book that coveted table.
1. AnnaLena
– Media credit: annalenayvr
Address: 1809 W 1st Ave
Hours: Tuesday to Sunday – 5 PM to 9 PM
Phone: +17783794052
Price: $$$
If you love a dining experience that surprises you at every turn, AnnaLena should be at the top of your list. Chef Michael Robbins and his team never play it safe—their ever-changing tasting menu is full of unexpected flavors.
Take their playful “cheeseburger 2050,” for example. It’s a clever nod to the classic burger, but every bite tastes like pure luxury.
Silky wagyu tartare, a rich mimolette velouté, and tallow-caramelized onions melt together in your mouth. It turns a familiar favorite into something unforgettable.
The charcoal pork secreto is just as delicious —smoky, tender, and packed with bold flavor. Even the vegetables impress: farm-fresh and simply dressed with an oyster emulsion, proving that sometimes less really is more.
| Pro Tip: Dessert here is always top-tier. If you’re lucky enough to try the goat cheesecake with yuzu and white chocolate, you’re in for a treat that’s both refreshing and just a little bit bougie. |
2. Sushi Masuda
– Media credit: sushi_masuda
Address: 1066 W Hastings St
Hours:
- Wednesday & Thursday & Saturday & Sunday – 5:30 PM to 10 PM
- Friday – 7 PM to 10 PM
Phone: +16048163312
Price: $$$
Sushi Masuda is perfect for sushi lovers looking for a cozy omakase experience. With only a few seats, you’ll find Chef Yoji Masuda right there behind the counter, ready to share a taste of Japanese tradition.
The omakase menu costs $260 per person: starting with light appetizers to tease your taste buds, followed by a beautiful selection of nigiri, and wrapping up with a simple soup.
The standout here is the rice. Each nigiri uses Masuda’s special mix of top-quality Koshihikari and Sasanishiki rice, seasoned with three kinds of aged red vinegar.
It’s subtle and savoury—great alongside the fish, which comes fresh from Tokyo’s Toyosu Market. You can truly taste the freshness; every bite practically melts in your mouth.
| Pro Tip: The nori is amazing—crispy, flavorful, and packed with umami, sourced from a small shop in Tsukiji. |
3. iDen & Quan Ju De Beijing Duck House
– Media credit: idenquanjude
Address: 2808 Cambie St
Hours: Monday to Sunday – 11 AM to 10:30 PM
Phone: +12364777777
Price: $$$
iDen & Quan Ju De Beijing Duck House is best for people who love world-class Chinese cuisine. They are the only Chinese restaurant in Canada with a Michelin Star—and it’s held that honour for three years in a row.
The main dish to get here is the Quanjude Signature Beijing Duck. It’s roasted the traditional way, hanging in a special oven, and then carved right at your table.
Watching the chef work is half the fun. The duck comes with soft steamed crepes, crisp scallions, cool cucumber, and sweet soybean paste. Every bite is rich, savoury, and a little bit sweet.
| Pro Tip: If you’re planning a private party, ask about their VIP rooms. They fit up to 16 people. If you become a VIP member, you get perks like free private room upgrades and booking priority. |
4. Published on Main
– Media credit: published.on.main
Address: 3593 Main St
Hours: Monday to Sunday – 5 PM to 11 PM
Phone: +16044234840
Price: $$$
Published on Main is best for food lovers who crave inventive, elegant Canadian cuisine with a global twist. It’s the kind of place that makes you excited about food again.
Chef Gus Stieffenhofer-Brandson and his team have a knack for surprising you. Take the beef tartare, for example.
It arrives looking almost too pretty to eat, topped with currants and a sprinkle of malted barley. The first bite is bright, a little tangy, and it’s the kind of dish that makes you pause and smile.
If you’re in the mood for something richer, the crown-roasted Fraser Valley duck is a must. The skin is crisp, the meat is juicy, and the elderberry sauce ties it all together with just the right touch of sweetness.
| Pro Tip: Whatever you do, give the black pepper beef striploin at least once. It’s pure luxury—tender beef, earthy truffle, rich foie gras, and a little salsify for crunch. |
5. Kissa Tanto
– Media credit: kissatanto
Address: 263 E Pender St
Hours:
- Wednesday, Thursday & Sunday – 5:30 PM to 11 PM
- Friday & Saturday – 5:30 PM to 12 AM
Phone: +17783798078
Price: $$$
Kissa Tanto is for anyone who wants a fusion of Japanese and Italian food. Chef Joël Watanabe blends Japanese and Italian flavours in ways that shouldn’t work, but do.
The bluefin starter is a perfect example: silky slices of Canadian bluefin, nestled in an umami-rich acqua pazza broth with mushrooms and kelp, and sweet-glazed turnips that practically melt in your mouth. It’s delicate and addictive.
Then there’s the 24hr Coppa. The pork is so tender that it falls apart at the touch of your fork. It’s glazed in a sweet-salty sukiyaki sauce and topped with a bright, creamy saffron salsa tonnata.
But the dish I can’t stop thinking about is the Spaghettoni. The thick noodles are tangled up in a ragu of Wagyu and nut-fed pork, simmered with tomato and a hint of Japanese curry.
| Pro Tip: If you’re with a group, order the Quintessential Omakase and let the kitchen surprise you. You’ll get a parade of their best dishes, plus a few off-menu treats. |
6. Okeya Kyujiro
– Media credit: okeyakyujiro
Address: 1038 Mainland St
Hours:
Phone: +17789991038
Price: $$$
Okeya Kyujiro is for Sushi lovers and anyone who wants to be wowed by a truly immersive, theatrical omakase. The lights dim, the chefs move with quiet confidence, and every detail feels almost ceremonial.
The omakase here ($150 per person) is a whirlwind of flavours and textures—about 20 courses, each one a tiny work of art. Some ingredients are flown in straight from Japan.
Watching the chefs slice, torch, and shape each piece of sushi right in front of you is mesmerizing. The umami is dialled up, the rice is perfectly seasoned, and the fish just melts. It’s as close as you’ll get to a Tokyo sushi bar without leaving Vancouver.
The meal wraps up with a delicate dessert and a traditional tea ceremony—quiet, calming, and the perfect way to end the night.
| Pro Tip: If you’re looking for something a little different, try the Ochakase. It’s a guided tasting of five incredible Japanese teas, each paired with gluten-free sweets and savoury bites. |
7. Burdock & Co
– Media credit: burdockandco
Address: 2702 Main St
Hours: Monday & Thursday to Sunday – 5 PM to 10 PM
Phone: +16048790077
Price: $$$
Burdock & Co is best for anyone who loves hyper-local, botanical-driven cuisine. Chef Andrea Carlson (Canada’s first female chef to earn a MICHELIN Star!) can turn foraged ingredients and local botanicals into something your tastebuds will remember for days.
The menu changes with the seasons, each theme inspired by what’s growing and blooming right now.
One night, you might dig into charcoal-grilled morel mushrooms stuffed with tender braised burdock. Another evening, it could be a Cottonwood Bud raviolo: a single, soft pillow bursting with nettle and ricotta and swimming in a creamy poplar stem sauce.
| Pro Tip: Don’t skip the wine list. Ask your server about the foraged, low-intervention bottles—they’re made in tiny batches. |
8. Barbara
– Media credit: barbararestaurant
Address: 305 E Pender St
Hours: Tuesday to Friday – 5:30 PM to 10 PM
Price: $$$
Barbara is for food lovers craving a refined, reservation-only tasting menu experience. With just a handful of seats and a tasting menu that changes with the seasons, it’s the perfect spot for a special night out or a quiet celebration.
I personally like their beef tartare. It comes with cassis and espelette and is topped with pickled radish and crispy shallots. It’s also served alongside spelt rye crisps that shatter just so. Every bite is tangy, spicy, crunchy, and rich.
The lamb schnitzel is another favorite of mine. It’s golden and crisp, nestled next to smoky baba ghanoush and a fresh, herby tabbouleh.
| Pro Tip: Barbara only seats up to four guests at a time. So, make sure you book those reservations before they are all filled up. |
9. Masayoshi
– Media credit: masayoshisushi
Address: 4376 Fraser St
Hours: Tuesday to Saturday – 6 PM to 10 PM
Price: $$$
Masayoshi is the spot for sushi lovers and anyone looking for a cozy, chef-led omakase experience. Chef Masayoshi Baba creates a dining experience that’s all about trust and flavor.
Grab a seat at the sushi bar for the full show. You’ll get to see Chef Masayoshi work his magic: perfectly shaping each piece of nigiri, slicing sashimi, and putting together seasonal treats right in front of you.
The menu changes every time—one evening you might enjoy some rich toro, and the next, a delicious piece of uni. Everything is carefully thought out, from the rice temperature to the freshly grated wasabi served for each guest.
| Pro Tip: If you want to make your meal even better, try the sake flight. The staff will help you pick out pours that complement each dish perfectly. |
10. St Lawrence
– Media credit: stlawrencerestaurant
Address: 269 Powell St
Hours: Tuesday to Sunday – 5 PM to 10:30 PM
Phone: +16046203800
Price: $$$
St. Lawrence is for Francophiles or anyone longing to try French and Québécois cuisine. Chef Jean-Christophe Poirier pours his heart into every dish, weaving together classic French techniques and the rustic flavours of his Québécois heritage.
Most diners go for the four-course table d’hôte ($135 per person), which showcases the season’s best ingredients. Each plate arrives with such care and finesse that it makes you want to linger over every bite.
You might begin with a dish of beef tongue so tender it nearly melts, balanced by crisp radish and a chilled, ultra-savoury beef consommé.
For mains, the poached halibut is lush and aromatic. It’s bathed in golden saffron butter and nestled among briny mussels and tender artichokes—a taste of the French coast in every forkful.
| Pro Tip: For dessert, try the mille-feuille. It comes with a crackling layer of pastry, tart rhubarb, and subtle herbal Labrador Tea cream. It’s the kind of dessert you’ll be thinking about long after the last crumb is gone. |
