Celebrating a decade of Cuisine, Culture, and Co-Creation
*For high resolution images of the winning dishes, Elite 10 restaurants, and awards ceremony photos, please contact the PR Michelle Lan mlan@michellelanpr.com
This year marked the 10th anniversary of the Chinese Restaurant Awards and a decade of celebrating Chinese and Taiwanese culinary heritage. The 2018 award-winning restaurants were announced earlier this afternoon at the annual awards ceremony.
Each year the Chinese Restaurant Awards showcase the best Chinese and Taiwanese cuisine available in Metro Vancouver. From small scale eateries to legacy establishments, the Chinese Restaurant Awards have chronicled how the local food scene has evolved and expanded. With each passing year, Chinese culinary culture in Vancouver has become stronger and the cuisine more vibrant and diverse.
The winners of the 2018 Chinese Restaurant Awards represent both culinary excellence, but also the way in which Chinese cuisine can build community and bring together food lovers from around the world. During the 2010 Winter Olympics Games, Conde Nast Traveller celebrated Vancouver as one of the best destinations in the world for Chinese food. Several past award-winners were included as recommended restaurants.
The Chinese Restaurant Awards have also pursued new opportunities to bring awareness to Chinese cuisine outside of Metro Vancouver. In 2014 and 2016, the Awards hosted collaborative dinners with Michelin starred chefs in Paris and Hong Kong. More recently, the #Taste City Series offered social media influencers the opportunity to explore the culinary landscapes of Hong Kong, Hangzhou, and Shanghai. These initiatives seek to inspire diners and highlight the culinary visionaries at the forefront of Chinese cuisine.
New Awards for the 10th Anniversary
Exclusive to the 10th anniversary celebration are the Hennessy The Elite 10 Awards, which honour the ten most outstanding restaurants of the last decade. An all new judging panel was formed to assess the contestants which included renowned food critics William Ho, Leila Kwok, Lee Man, Brendon Mathews, and Chloe Wang. The primary judging criteria was the consistency of food quality over the years, however restaurants did not have to be in business for ten years to be eligible.
This year the Awards gave special recognition to Bamboo Grove in Richmond for presenting an excellent wine list, expertly curated for diners’ enjoyment.
Bandao Pearl Restaurant at Marine Gateway was honoured with the special Hennessy’s Top Service and Sales Award for their outstanding service and sales.
Also new to the 10th anniversary awards season is the Ocean Wise Sustainable Seafood Award. Heritage Asian Eatery, which recently became an Ocean Wise member, took home this top honour for their creative menu of Chinese/Asian inspired seafood dishes. Head Chef Felix Zhou, a former Top Chef Canada contestant, crafted the award-winning dishes using Ocean Wise certified oysters, urchin, black cod, and prawns.
Sustainable seafood ambassador and Ocean Wise Chef Ned Bell was in attendance at the awards ceremony to present a Peking duck-inspired northern sturgeon dish during the tasting reception.
Critics’ Choice Signature Dish Awards
Presented by Alberta Canola Growers, the Critics’ Choice Signature Dish Awards were judged by acclaimed local food critics Alexandra Gill, Lee Man, and Brendon Mathews. They scoured the city in search of the top ten must-taste dishes of the year.
Five of the winning restaurants are first time award recipients in this category. 1886, Chinatown BBQ, Geng Shi Ji, Mott32, and Too Two Chinese Sauerkraut Fish won over the hearts and palettes of the judges with their signature dish. Interestingly, each of these restaurants has been open for less than two years. The remaining five restaurants are past winners, a testament to the enduring excellence of their cuisine.
The 21 winners of the Diners’ Choice Awards, presented by Hong Kong Airlines, were announced on March 5.
The 2018 Chinese Restaurant Awards ceremony was held earlier today, April 17, at the River Rock Show Theatre. Fred Lee of the CBC and The Province, and Mary Lo and William Ho of Fairchild Media were the masters of ceremony. Over 250 restaurateurs, industry leaders, partners, and members of the media gathered to celebrate the 10th anniversary. See enclosed for the complete list of winners.
The Chinese Restaurant Awards wish to thank the following partners: Alberta Canola Growers, Hennessy, Möet and Chandon, Hong Kong Airlines, Fraser Valley Specialty Poultry, Underwater Harvesters Association, Ocean Wise, Northern Divine, Twiisted Media, Singtao Daily Canada, Summer City, Vandiary.com and Fantuan Delivery.
The Chinese Restaurant Awards were launched in 2008 on two founding principles: to raise awareness for the exceptional Chinese and Taiwanese cuisine available in Metro Vancouver and to create a platform for cross-cultural culinary exchange, to support the development of a more vibrant and dynamic dining scene. The Awards are organized into three sections: Diners’ Choice Awards, Social Media Choice Awards, and Critics’ Choice Signature Dish Awards. The annual selections are widely recognized as the authority on Chinese food and serve as the go-to restaurant guide for visiting and local food lovers. The Chinese Restaurant Awards are celebrating their 10th anniversary this year and are now the longest running Chinese culinary awards event in the world. Since their founding, the Awards have distinguished themselves as pioneers of the Vancouver Chinese food scene, striving to always inspire, excite, and engage diners.
2018 Chinese Restaurant Awards – Metro Vancouver: Winners List
Diners’ Choice Awards result was already announced on March 5
Hennessy the Elite 10 Awards, exclusive for the 10th annual (10 winners; in alphabetic order)
1. Chef Tony Seafood Restaurant
#101–4600 No. 3 Road, Richmond (604) 279-0083
2. Congee Noodle House
141 E Broadway, Vancouver (604) 879-8821
3. Dynasty Seafood Restaurant
#108–777 West Broadway, Vancouver (604) 876-8388
4. Golden Paramount Seafood Restaurant
8071 Park Road, Richmond (604) 278-0873
5. HK BBQ Master
#145-4651 No. 3 Road, Richmond (604) 272-6568
6. Hoi Tong Chinese Seafood Restaurant
8191 Westminster Hwy, Richmond (604) 276-9229
7. Kalvin’s Szechuan Restaurant
5225 Victoria Drive, Vancouver (604) 321-2888
8. Landmark Hotpot House
4023 Cambie Street, Vancouver (604) 872-2868
9. Long’s Noodle House
4853 Main St., Vancouver (604) 879-7879
10. The Jade Seafood Restaurant
8511 Alexandra Road, Richmond (604) 249-0082 (Close at mid of April; Moving to new location in June/July)
The Elite – Wine Program Excellence Award, exclusive for the 10th annual (One winner)
Bamboo Grove Restaurant
6920 No 3 Rd, Richmond, BC (604) 278-9585
Special Awards of the Year (Two winners)
HENNESSY’S TOP SERVICE AND SALES AWARD
Bandao Pearl Seafood Restaurant
#308 – 470 SW Marine Drive, Vancouver (604) 620-8808
OCEAN WISE SUSTAINABLE SEAFOOD AWARD
Heritage Asian Eatery
1108 West Pender Street Vancouver (778) 737-1108
Critics’ Choice Signature Dish Awards, presented by Alberta Canola Growers
10 award-winning dishes in total | *first time winners of the award component
1. Minced Prawn Steamed with Fish Maw
Kirin Restaurant (Richmond branch)
7900 Westminister Hwy, Richmond (604) 303-8833
2. STEAMED BUN FILLED WITH SALTY EGG YOLK LAVA
Chef Tony Seafood Restaurant
#101–4600 No. 3 Road, Richmond (604) 279-0083
3. HONEY GLAZED BBQ IBERICO PORK, STEAMED RICE ROLL
Mott32*
1161 West Georgia Street, Vancouver (604) 979-8886
4. PAN SEARED OYSTERS IN SUPREME SOY SAUCE
Red Star Seafood Restaurant
8298 Granville Street, Vancouver (604) 261-8389
#2200-8181 Cambie Road, Richmond (604) 270-3003
5. CHINESE SAUERKRAUT FISH
Too Two Chinese Sauerkraut Fish Restaurant*
#101-4940 No.3 Road, Richmond (604) 303-0490
6. CLAYPOT CHICKEN WITH TROTTERS
Geng Shi Ji*
#1211-8388 Capstan Way, Richmond (604) 370-6899
7. SQUID PASTE-STUFFED CHINESE DOUGHNUT WITH MOUNTAIN YAM IN GOLDEN SAUCE
The Jade Seafood Restaurant
8511 Alexandra Road, Richmond (604) 249-0082 (Close at mid of April; Moving to new location in June/July)
8. SZECHUAN STYLE BRAISED B.C. STURGEON IN SPICY CHILI, CLAY POT
1886*
39 Smithe Street, Vancouver (778) 370-8500
9. TOFU WITH CRAB CREAM SAUCE
Dynasty Seafood Restaurant
#108–777 West Broadway, Vancouver (604) 876-8388
10. BEEF BRISKET CURRY
Chinatown BBQ*
130 E Pender St., Vancouver (604) 428-2626
