Gold: Zoomak
Korean food in Vancouver tends to split into two moods: the night-out version (ssam, cocktails, group energy) and the reset version (broth, rice, quiet joy). This year’s winners cover both. Zoomak takes the top spot by pairing “good authentic Korean cuisine with vibes and cocktails,” with judges calling out highlights like the seafood soup and pork belly ssam.
52 Alexander St.
zoomakyvr.com
Silver: Nui
Silver winner Nui lands for doing something less expected and more comforting. A judge loved that it’s “not your standard Korean cuisine,” swapping the usual BBQ-and-heat playbook for subtler comfort, especially in the pork bone broth with rice, the kind of dish they said they could eat weekly.
4811 Main St.
nuivancouver.com
Bronze: Kook
Bronze winner Kook is the full K-BBQ commitment option: grills at the table, everyone suddenly invested in timing and the inevitable “one more thing” because you’re already here.
211A–2800 E 1st Ave.
kookbbq.ca
Honourable Mentions
Sumi
5628 Victoria Dr.
@sumivancouver
Keumsan
8363 Granville St.
linktr.ee/keumsanrestaurant
