Chinese Restaurant Awards

Chinese Restaurant Awards Navigate the borderless vision of North America and the world's Chinese cuisine.

Discover the new visionaries of Chinese culinary excellence in Vancouver and across the globe. Since 2008, the Chinese Restaurant Awards have proudly held the title of the world’s longest-running Chinese culinary awards event, dedicated to celebrating exceptional Chinese cuisine in Vancouver. Our mission goes beyond merely acknowledging excellence; we strive to foster cross-cultural culinary dialo

gue and enhance the appreciation of Chinese gastronomy’s global influence. Our team, composed of passionate professionals from the food, media, and marketing sectors, is deeply committed to supporting the Chinese culinary scene and its talented chefs. We have achieved notable milestones through initiatives such as the DINING by the Awards series in 2019, 2022, and 2023, the Chinese Master Chefs Master Finale Gala in 2022, the 2016 East Meets West: Paris x Vancouver dining event, and the 2014 Chinese Master Chefs Gold Medal Dinner. Additionally, we have led impactful culinary tourism campaigns, including the city series in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Suzhou, Hangzhou, and Taipei.

MEET 4 OF OUR 12 U.S. TASTE ADVISORSVivien Sin Vivien Sin Entrepreneur & Community Builder · San FranciscoDrawn to resta...
08/31/2026

MEET 4 OF OUR 12 U.S. TASTE ADVISORS

Vivien Sin Vivien Sin
Entrepreneur & Community Builder · San Francisco
Drawn to restaurants that illuminate—and push the boundaries of—Chinese culinary techniques, especially those whose work has yet to receive the recognition it deserves.

Bolun Yao Bolun Yao
Founder & CEO, August Hospitality Group · New York
A restaurateur exploring how memory, identity and cultural heritage can shape the evolving language of modern Chinese dining.

Mei Lin Mei Lin 林美华
Chef · Los Angeles
A bold culinary voice championing greater nuance, regional specificity and pride in how Chinese and Taiwanese cuisines are represented in America.

David R. Chan David R. Chan
Chinese Food Historian & “Celebrity Diner” · Los Angeles
A lifelong observer of Chinese food in America who has documented its growth and evolution through thousands of restaurant visits.

WHY CHINESE RESTAURANT AWARDS IS GOING TO THE U.S.?

Because Chinese dining in America deserves to be explored in its full depth.

Longstanding family-run restaurants, regional specialists and a new generation of chefs and restaurateurs are all shaping the story—preserving traditions, reconnecting with their roots and creating personal expressions of Chinese cuisine.

Our U.S. guide is shaped by people who know and care deeply about the cuisine: chefs, restaurateurs, entrepreneurs, writers, cultural observers and serious diners bringing local knowledge and lived experience to the table.

It is another chapter in the Chinese migration story—one of food travelling across oceans, finding new homes and evolving with the communities that carried it forward.

We are proud to have these voices guiding our first U.S. awards.

The remaining four U.S. Taste Advisors chose to stay anonymous.

SEPTEMBER 1 - tomorrow!
TOP 20 HONOUREES REVEALED

SEPTEMBER 23
ELITE 12 & INDIVIDUAL HONOURS

08/30/2026

— Montreal

Sharing time.

This time, it’s Chef Andersen Lee of Oncle Lee and Oncle Lee Kăo — our 2025 Rising Star Chef of the Year, and someone who also travelled through Asia with us this past April. Andersen Lee Oncle Lee Kăo Oncle Lee

Andersen has become part of the new energy in Montreal’s Chinese dining scene. His cooking is very much his own — Chinese at heart, but also Montreal, with smoked meat, grilling, plenty of wok, and his own way of bringing everything together.

We asked him a simple question:

Why should people come to Montreal for Chinese food?

Andersen’s answer is really about the people. There’s a growing community of Chinese restaurants and chefs here, each doing something a little different, in a city with its own history and food culture.

A couple of places he wants to give a shoutout to:

🥢 J’ai Feng — now moving into a new chapter, including its seasonal takeout window and noodle pop-up, Nouilles Sauvette

🥢 Flamme du Sichuan

There’s more happening in Montreal Chinese food than many people outside the city might know.

So when you’re in Montreal, go eat. And keep exploring.

Fourth stop, Montreal.

This September 23, DIM SUM GALA 2026, presented by Scotia Wealth Management, welcomes The Legacy House at Rosewood Hon...
08/25/2026

This September 23, DIM SUM GALA 2026, presented by Scotia Wealth Management, welcomes The Legacy House at Rosewood Hong Kong to Vancouver for an evening celebrating the artistry, heritage and future of dim sum. Scotiabank

Rosewood Hong Kong The Legacy House 彤福軒

Hong Kong takes dim sum seriously. It is a joy to discover the best bites — a craft built on precision, instinct and generations of knowledge. This year, we’re bringing that spirit to Vancouver for a culinary exchange with local chefs, while offering food connoisseurs a fresh perspective on the art of dim sum.

Chef Kanny Cheuk Ka Ching, Dim Sum Head Chef at The Legacy House at Rosewood Hong Kong, will fly from Hong Kong to Vancouver alongside Executive Chinese Chef Li Chi Wai for a special presentation at the Dim Sum Gala.

Together, they will share the art of making dim sum and explore Chef Li’s lifelong passion for aged Xinhui dried tangerine peel (chenpi) — a prized ingredient shaped by time, patience and heritage, and one that can be worth more than gold.

Their presentation will be supported by Lee K*m Kee Canada 🇨🇦 Golden Eagle Black Cod and Kiu Yik Trading.

Reception 6PM | Gala 7PM
Fairmont Pacific Rim · Star Sapphire Ballroom
1038 Canada Place, Vancouver, BC

— Where Dim Sum Becomes a Bond.

Reservation closes. Waiting list only. PM for inquiries.

CantoneseCuisine

Jiangnan Wok has become one of Richmond’s tables to know. Lunch and dinner often bring lines out the door—a clear sign o...
08/20/2026

Jiangnan Wok has become one of Richmond’s tables to know. Lunch and dinner often bring lines out the door—a clear sign of how deeply the restaurant has resonated with diners. 江南小灶 JiangNan Wok Visit Richmond BC

Ranked No. 11 on the 2025 Elite 25 Canada list and named Best New Restaurant in 2024, Jiangnan Wok continues to evolve under Chef Allen Guo, a leading voice for Jiangnan cuisine in Canada.

The restaurant’s signature favourites remain, while new dishes are introduced regularly to keep the menu fresh and give returning diners something new to discover.

Judging by the line outside, diners don’t need much convincing.

What really decides the Chinese Restaurant Awards?It starts with taste.But it’s also about the experience of dining ther...
08/18/2026

What really decides the Chinese Restaurant Awards?

It starts with taste.

But it’s also about the experience of dining there — from a diner’s perspective. How do our Taste Advisors experience a restaurant? What do they look for, how do they rate, and how do we keep the process independent?

We’re pulling back the curtain on how the Awards are decided — and why taste leads the way.

Swipe through to see how it works

MEET 4 OF OUR 30 ASIA TASTE ADVISORSGenta Maulana Mansyur Genta Founder, Sourmimosa Media • Hong KongA luxury travel and...
08/17/2026

MEET 4 OF OUR 30 ASIA TASTE ADVISORS

Genta Maulana Mansyur Genta
Founder, Sourmimosa Media • Hong Kong
A luxury travel and hospitality content creator whose work takes him across Asia, with countless opportunities to explore the region’s diverse culinary landscape.

Hei Kiu Au Hei Kiu Au
Yenching Scholar, Peking University • Hong Kong
Her work explores European-Asian culinary heritage and has been published by South China Morning Post, Tatler and the MICHELIN Guide.

Liya Su The Tastopia Liya Su
Founder, The Tastopia • Shanghai
A dedicated explorer of regional Chinese cuisines, with years of writing, research and travel spent understanding the traditions, stories and flavours behind China’s diverse food culture.

Pin Yen Tan Tan Pin Yen
Freelance Contributor • Singapore
With 25 years in media and nearly two decades writing about gastronomy, she previously served as Content Director of MICHELIN Guide Digital Asia, giving her a close view of the region’s evolving dining scene.

WHY ASIA, outside Chinese Mainland?

Because Chinese cuisine takes on different meanings in different places.

From Hong Kong and Singapore to Southeast Asia and beyond, generations have shaped, preserved and reimagined Chinese food in their own ways.

Our 30 Asia Taste Advisors bring together writers, chefs, cultural voices, media professionals and passionate diners who know the region from different perspectives.

Together, they help us see these connections from within the region itself.

That is the Asia we want to discover.

More Asia Taste Advisor introductions to come.

OCTOBER 6
HONOUREES REVEALED

OCTOBER 26
ELITE 25
ESSENTIAL 25
CHINESE-INSPIRED
INDIVIDUAL HONOURS

MEET 4 OF OUR 21 CANADA TASTE ADVISORSJenice Yu Jenice Yu CEO, Eatfish.ca • VancouverA second-generation family seafood ...
08/14/2026

MEET 4 OF OUR 21 CANADA TASTE ADVISORS

Jenice Yu Jenice Yu
CEO, Eatfish.ca • Vancouver
A second-generation family seafood business leader with decades of industry experience. She knows seafood—and when a seafood dish is done right.

Leon Ng Leon Ng
Founder, LNG Studios • Vancouver
An innovative entrepreneur shaping the future of proptech and robotics. Away from business, he is an enthusiastic explorer of Chinese and Taiwanese cuisine.

Renée Suen Renée Suen
Food Writer & Photographer • Toronto
An internationally recognised food writer and photographer who has helped put Canada’s culinary scene on the global map.

Winston Chan Winston Chan - Vancouver BC Canada
Senior Vice President of Sales, Sotheby’s International Realty Canada • Vancouver
A passionate believer in building community. While his career is outside the food industry, food has always been a meaningful part of his life and connection to others.

WHY CANADA?

Because Canada is where the Chinese Restaurant Awards began.

For nearly two decades, we have witnessed Chinese cuisine take deep root in this country and evolve alongside the communities that shaped it.

Our Canada Taste Advisors bring together writers, cultural voices, industry leaders, entrepreneurs and passionate diners who understand the depth and diversity of Chinese cuisine.

Together, they reflect a dining landscape that has grown far beyond its immigrant roots.

From Cantonese and Shanghainese to Sichuan, Taiwanese and beyond, Chinese cuisine in Canada continues to evolve—while staying connected to its heritage.

This is our home.
This is where our story began.

SEPTEMBER 8
HONOUREES REVEALED

SEPTEMBER 23
ELITE 30
12 SIGNATURE DISHES
INDIVIDUAL HONOURS

MEET 4 OF OUR 12 U.S. TASTE ADVISORSAlbert Law A L B E R T L A W Commercial Photographer · San FranciscoSeeing food...
08/14/2026

MEET 4 OF OUR 12 U.S. TASTE ADVISORS

Albert Law A L B E R T L A W
Commercial Photographer · San Francisco
Seeing food with clarity and a precise lens.

Brandon Jew Brandon Jew 周英卓
Chef-Owner, Mister Jiu’s · San Francisco
A strong torchbearer for the next chapter of San Francisco Chinatown.

Lucas Sin lucas sin 冼諾揚
Chef, Lok Kee · New York
A captivating storyteller who makes you want to keep listening — bringing Chinese food, its people and its stories to life for a new generation.

Virginia Miller Virginia Miller
Dining & Drink Writer · San Francisco
A passionate global diner and global awards judge who has visited more than 30,000 restaurants, with a deep knowledge of the history and evolution of Chinese food in America.

WHY THE CHINESE RESTAURANT AWARDS IS GOING TO THE U.S.?

Because there is a growing audience looking for a deeper guide to Chinese dining.

One shaped by people who know and love the cuisine.

Chefs, writers, cultural voices and frequent diners — bringing local knowledge, lived experience and a shared love of Chinese cuisine to the table.

This is why we are here.

And in many ways, it is another chapter in the Chinese migration story.

Chinese cuisine travelled across oceans, found new homes and evolved with the communities that carried it forward.

We are blessed to have these voices with us.

More U.S. Taste Advisor introductions to come.

SEPTEMBER 1
HONOUREES REVEALED

SEPTEMBER 23
ELITE 12 & INDIVIDUAL HONOURS

THE 17TH ANNUAL CHINESE RESTAURANT AWARDS - North America September 23, 2026 · WednesdayFairmont Pacific Rim, Be among ...
08/11/2026

THE 17TH ANNUAL CHINESE RESTAURANT AWARDS - North America

September 23, 2026 · Wednesday
Fairmont Pacific Rim,

Be among the first to witness the unveiling of North America’s most anticipated Chinese dining honours and meet the award-winning chefs and restaurateurs shaping the future of Chinese dining.

For the first time, the Chinese Restaurant Awards is offering a limited number of public tickets to the 17th Annual Awards Ceremony, in support of the future of Chinese cuisine.

100% of ticket proceeds will be donated to Vancouver Community College’s Asian Culinary Arts program, helping nurture the next generation of culinary talent. VCC Culinary Arts Vancouver Community College
(The Asian Culinary Arts program was founded by the Awards’ founding judge Conrad Leung 50 years ago - it’s now sole professional program of its kind in North America that enrolls full-time students)

Public Ticket · CAD $68
Donation receipt eligible

BUY tickets on VCC website 📍 link in profile Chinese Restaurant Awards

ATTIRE
Business or Cocktail

MASTERS OF CEREMONY
Lien Yeung · CBC Vancouver
Manica Ng · Fairchild Media

⚡️2:00 PM · TASTING RECEPTION

A curated culinary experience featuring:

Lee K*m Kee × VCC Asian Culinary Arts alumnus Chef Toby Chen
Chinatown BBQ
Executive Chef Leo Wang of Chang’An Restaurant
Executive Chef Damon Campbell of Fairmont Pacific Rim

Whisky tasting by The Dalmore
Wines by Mt. Boucherie
The Dalmore whisky cocktails by Botanist, ranked No. 38 on North America’s 50 Best Bars

⚡️3:00–4:30 PM · AWARDS PRESENTATION

VENUE
Fairmont Pacific Rim · Star Sapphire Ballroom
1038 Canada Place, Vancouver, BC V6C 0B9

An afternoon celebrating the chefs, restaurants and culinary leaders defining the next chapter of Chinese cuisine in North America — while investing in the next generation.

Fairmont Pacific Rim Lee K*m Kee Canada 🇨🇦 Chinatown BBQ Chang'an Restaurant Mt. Boucherie Estate Winery Botanist Dining

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+12368680998

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