CANADA
TASTE ADVISORS 2026
The 2026 Chinese Restaurant Awards’ Canada Taste Advisors Panel brings together 21 diners from across the country, each with a strong connection to the Chinese dining scene in their own community and a broad understanding of Canada’s diverse Chinese dining landscape. They come from different backgrounds, but share a genuine passion for Chinese food and firsthand knowledge of how people dine—from Vancouver’s dim sum traditions to Toronto’s regional Chinese restaurants and Calgary’s growing dining scene.
Taste Advisors vote based on their own dining experiences, looking first at what is on the plate, then considering the wider experience, including craft, service, hospitality, setting and cultural context. They also recommend dishes that best represent each restaurant, helping diners discover what is worth ordering from often extensive Chinese menus.
The process is designed to stay independent and grounded in the diner’s perspective. Advisors disclose potential conflicts of interest and recuse themselves where appropriate. Together, their experiences offer a broad, on-the-ground view of Chinese dining across Canada.
—
With gratitude to this year’s Taste Advisors, whose participation made this list possible.
—
Vancouver
Lee Man
Chair of Judging Panel – Canada, Food Critic and Founding Judge of Chinese Restaurant Awards
Lee Man, a founding judge of the Awards and a prominent food critic in Canada, has a deep passion for Chinese cuisine and for discovering outstanding signature dishes. His regular contributions to Vancouver Magazine and Montecristo Magazine, as well as features in Wine Access, Financial Times, and Time Out, showcase his devotion to the craft of dining. He has also shared his insight in interviews with The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Seattle Times, and Eater Online.
Vancouver
Bernice Chan
Freelance Journalist
Bernice Chan is a freelance journalist covering food, drink, lifestyle, and stories of the Chinese diaspora. She was formerly a Culture writer at the South China Morning Post in Hong Kong and co-host of the award-winning podcast Eat Drink Asia. Passionate about exploring both cuisine and the people behind it, Bernice brings depth, curiosity, and cultural insight to every story she tells.
Toronto
Carmen Chan
Radio Host, Sing Tao A1 Chinese Radio
Carmen Chan is a certified sake sommelier, wine enthusiast, and cocktail connoisseur, as well as an active food writer and restaurant critic. Passionate about exploring cultures through food and travel, she brings a refined and adventurous perspective to her work. As a host on Sing Tao A1 Chinese Radio in Canada, she has become a recognized voice in the culinary and lifestyle community, known for her expertise and insightful commentary.
Vancouver
Jacob Ung
Vice President, Canadian Liver Foundation – BC Chapter
Former marketing leader for global automotive brands, Jacob Ung is a lifelong learner with a passion for people and ideas. A seasoned traveller, he views dining as a full sensory journey that reflects culture and heritage. He continues to explore the world through food while serving as Vice President of the Canadian Liver Foundation’s BC Chapter, advancing its mission in liver health.
Vancouver
Jenice Yu
CEO, Eatfish.ca
Jenice Yu is the CEO of Eatfish.ca, a restaurant judge and advocate for Canadian seafood and food culture. She is passionate about the connection between food, sustainability and local ingredients, and follows closely how Chinese and Taiwanese cuisine in Canada continues to evolve.
Toronto
Jennifer Kwan
Yelp Elite Reviewer
Jennifer Kwan is a Yelp Elite reviewer and frequent traveler who has been a prominent voice in the Greater Toronto Area dining scene. She was among the early reviewers to shape the Chinese food landscape in Markham and Scarborough, and served as a judge for the Chinese Restaurant Awards in Toronto more than a decade ago.
Toronto
John Ho
Food Enthusiast & Dining Observer
Born and raised in Taiwan, John moved to Toronto at 15 and has been passionate about food ever since. A keen explorer of Asian cuisine, he has watched Canada’s Chinese dining scene evolve since the 1990s and enjoys discovering the new restaurants and dining experiences shaping its future.
Toronto
Johnny Cheng
CPA Accountant
Johnny Cheng is a Chartered Professional Accountant whose expertise lies in financial management and strategic planning. Beyond the numbers, he is an avid food enthusiast with a discerning palate, bringing both analytical precision and genuine passion to the judging panel.
Vancouver
Leon Ng
Founder, LNG Studios
Leon Ng is a Vancouver-based entrepreneur and founder of LNG Studios, with a background spanning real estate, media and technology. A passionate diner, he has explored Chinese and Taiwanese restaurants across Metro Vancouver, from traditional Cantonese institutions to contemporary regional concepts, and is fascinated by how the cuisine continues to evolve in Canada.
Toronto
Leslie Yip
VP, Business Solutions, Singtao Media
Based in the Greater Toronto Area, Leslie Yip brings her perspective as a media and business professional and engaged diner to the Taste Advisors panel. She has a particular appreciation for the depth and diversity of Chinese dining across Canada.
Vancouver
Ling Chu
Food Critic, Fairchild Radio
Born and raised in Taiwan, Ling Chu is passionate about food, travel, and cultural exchange. With a discerning palate and extensive experience exploring diverse cuisines, she brings thoughtful insight and appreciation to her critiques. As a food critic for Fairchild Radio Vancouver, she is a recognized voice in the city’s dining scene.
Calgary
Patricia Lau
Food Writer & Influencer
Born and raised in Alberta, Patricia Lau has spent more than a decade exploring Calgary’s restaurant scene as a food writer and influencer. She has watched Chinese dining in Western Canada grow from a largely Cantonese scene into a vibrant mix of regional cuisines, and loves discovering the flavours and stories behind it.
Vancouver
Dr. Peter Chan
Dentist, Monarch Dental Centre
Raised in Canada with Hong Kong roots, Dr. Peter Chan is a passionate food enthusiast who finds joy in everything from curated fine dining to nostalgic comfort food. He has witnessed firsthand the evolution and growing influence of Chinese cuisine in Vancouver and beyond. For him, food is more than sustenance—it is a journey for the heart and soul, a bridge to culture, memory, and identity that connects people across generations.
Ottawa
Peter Hum
Restaurant Critic, Ottawa Citizen
Peter Hum is the restaurant critic at The Ottawa Citizen, the leading daily newspaper in Canada’s capital. A journalist at the paper since 1990, he has served as its restaurant critic since 2012. He has also written culinary travel features on destinations including Hong Kong, San Francisco, New Orleans, and Montreal, and is a contributor to Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants list.
Toronto
Renée Suen
Food & Travel Writer, Photographer and Restaurant Judge
Renée Suen is a Toronto-based food and travel writer and photographer and North America academy chair of World’s 50 Best with nearly two decades of experience covering Canada’s dining scene. A contributor to publications including Toronto Life, the Toronto Star, The Globe and Mail and Chatelaine, she also holds judging roles with several leading restaurant awards.
Calgary
Sam Lung
Host, CanMen
Sam Lung is the host of CanMen, a Canadian Cantonese YouTube channel, and a passionate explorer of Canada’s food scene. Over the past six years, he has travelled across nine provinces and two territories, discovering Chinese restaurants in both major cities and smaller communities and following the evolution of Chinese cuisine across the country.
Vancouver
Tat San Hui
Video Producer, Director & Host, CanMen
Tat San “Sunny” Hui is a video producer, food enthusiast and member of the CanMen team, where he works as a video director and host of food programs. He travels across Canada exploring restaurants, grocery stores and regional ingredients, with a particular interest in Cantonese, Hong Kong-style and other Asian cuisines.
Vancouver
Tony Kwan
Partner, PLLR Lawyers
Tony Kwan is a partner at Richmond’s largest law firm and an active community leader, having chaired the Richmond Chamber of Commerce and the Richmond Sunset Rotary Club. Beyond law, he shares his passion for food, wine, and travel as a lifestyle columnist for the Richmond News and as the creator of the YouTube channels Trophy Wine Hunter, Trophy Food Experiences, and Trophy Travel Experiences.
Calgary
Wingo Chan
Multimedia Producer & Digital Content Creator, CanMen
Wingo Chan is a multimedia producer and digital content creator who uses food as a way to tell stories about culture, heritage and modern Canadian life. Travelling frequently between Western and Eastern Canada, he brings a broad perspective on the regional diversity and evolution of Chinese and Taiwanese dining across the country.
Vancouver
Winston Chan
Senior Vice President, Sales, Sotheby’s International Realty Canada
Winston Chan is a lifelong food enthusiast whose appreciation for Chinese cuisine was shaped by his family and frequent trips to Hong Kong growing up. With experience in culinary operations and a passion for exploring restaurants, he brings a consumer-first perspective shaped by both his love of food and his understanding of how restaurants work behind the scenes.
Plus one Taste Advisor who choose to stay anonymous.
Wild Mushrooms, Water Chestnut Dumplings
— MOTT 32, Toronto & Vancouver —
