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Richmond’s Baan Lao Fine Thai Cuisine has added another major accolade to its growing collection, becoming the first Canadian restaurant to be named North America’s Best Restaurant at the 2026 World Culinary Awards (WCU).
The recognition, announced October 14 at a ceremony in Montego Bay, Jamaica, comes alongside another milestone: Baan Lao, which is not eligible for Vancouver’s Michelin guide, has now been named Canada’s Best Restaurant for three consecutive years at the WCU.
Chef Nutcha Phanthoupheng wins North America’s Best Restaurant and Canada’s Best Restaurant at the World Culinary Awards 2026 in Montego Bay Courtesy World Culinary Awards
For chef-proprietor Nutcha Phanthoupheng, who opened the Steveston waterfront restaurant in 2021, the recognition is as much about her team as it is about her cooking.
“I feel very happy,” she told the Georgia Straight in a phone interview ahead of the announcement. “My team puts so much care into everything we do. These awards belong to all of us.”
The latest honour puts Baan Lao in distinguished company. Previous North American winners include celebrated American restaurants such as Le Bernardin, The French Laundry, and Atelier Crenn.
It’s another remarkable achievement for a restaurant that has steadily built an international reputation for its refined interpretation of Royal Thai cuisine. In 2025, Baan Lao debuted at No. 12 on the inaugural North America’s 50 Best Restaurants list and was named Canada’s Best Destination Restaurant by Canada’s 100 Best. In addition, it has won multiple Straight Golden Plates awards since it opened.
But Nutcha, a former nurse and cancer researcher who traded medicine for cooking, isn’t slowing down.
The chef and her husband, John Phanthoupheng, opened MaKaam at Time Out Market Vancouver in Oakridge Park earlier this year, bringing a more casual interpretation of her Thai cooking to a wider audience.
“For MaKaam, I decided it’s very casual, where the customer can enjoy my food,” Nutcha explained. “The opening was a lot of work, and we have been very busy, and I’m happy to see so many people trying it.”
More expansion is coming. The couple plans to open two restaurants on Granville Island in summer 2027: Baan Baan, Thai Farmer’s Table & Bar, specializing in northeastern Thai cuisine, and Le KaNom, Thai Desserts & Caffe, offering traditional Thai sweets.
Meanwhile, back in Steveston, Baan Lao is preparing to introduce a new tasting menu in November. The restaurant’s current 18-item experience, which I enjoyed during a visit in June 2025, is an intricate showcase of technique, presentation and flavour.
For Nutcha, the awards are encouraging, but the work of improving her cooking and creating new experiences for diners continues. “To be named the best restaurant in North America is more than we imagined,” she said. “We work very hard for this. It encourages me and my team to not stop improving quality and inventing new innovations for the menu.”
Baan Lao Fine Thai Cuisine is located at 4100 Bayview Street in Richmond.
Dining and Cooking