How the Awards Are Decided

— The Chinese Restaurant Awards are guided by a distinguished panel of Taste Advisors. This group includes food critics, culinary media figures, chefs, and well-traveled diners from various industries. Each member is known for their refined taste and has the knowledge and experience that comes from regularly enjoying Chinese cuisine and the restaurants where it is best showcased. Together, they provide cultural insight and a deep appreciation for the richness of Chinese culinary traditions and modern innovation.

Each year, part of the panel is refreshed to ensure new perspectives and ongoing credibility. This strategy helps the Awards stay independent, relevant, and a trusted standard of excellence in Chinese dining across North America and Asia.

To maintain the integrity of the process, all award ballots are independently reviewed and audited by a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) in Canada. This ensures transparency, thoroughness, and the highest level of accountability.

Standards & Guidelines

To uphold the integrity and credibility of the Chinese Restaurant Awards, all Taste Advisors must adhere to the following principles:
Confidentiality
All votes remain strictly confidential until the official announcement.
Awards Voting
Each Taste Advisor may vote for a number of establishments and their dishes (depending on the awards year and region), based on their travel and dining activity. Advisors are also encouraged to recommend signature dishes to accompany their selections—shaping a trusted guide to the best flavours to taste and order.
First-Hand Experience
Taste Advisors must have personally dined at each nominated restaurant within the past 12 months and confirm the date of their most recent visit.
Authenticity of Experience
Only full dining experiences at the restaurant’s permanent location are valid. Votes based on pop-ups, sponsored experiences, off-site events, or collaborations are not permitted.
Conflict of Interest
Taste Advisors may not vote for restaurants in which they have a financial interest or ownership. Any such ties must be declared with each nomination.
Active Restaurants Only
Eligible restaurants must be open at the time of voting and not scheduled to close within six months of the Awards announcement. Temporary or pop-up concepts are ineligible.
Restaurant-Based Recognition
Nominations are for restaurants and dishes, not individual chefs or restaurateurs, unless the award category is specifically for individual recognition.
Anonymity
Taste Advisors are asked to maintain discretion regarding their participation on the Awards panel before the annual Awards announcement.

Eligibility

There are no formal entry requirements for a restaurant to be considered. Previous accolades, years in operation, or style of service are not determining factors. Restaurants cannot apply or nominate themselves; all must be discovered, experienced, and selected organically by the Awards’ panel.

This approach ensures that any restaurant—whether an established institution or an emerging talent—can earn its place solely on the strength of its culinary merit.

The Chinese Restaurant Awards reflect authentic dining experiences, cultural insight, and the discerning palates of some of the most respected voices in the Chinese culinary world. Our panel also includes individuals we have long recognized for their deep knowledge of the dining scene—those who truly know where to find the best Chinese cuisine and understand its regional traditions and craftsmanship.

Together with our Taste Advisors, the Awards have become a trusted benchmark for excellence in Chinese cuisine. We continue to refine the guide each year, with the goal of offering the dining public a thoughtful and credible reference to the finest Chinese dining experiences.

2026 Award Categories - North America

Elite 15 United States

Recommended by Taste Advisors in the United States, Elite 15 United States is a new extension of the Chinese Restaurant Awards recognizing 15 outstanding, explore-worthy Chinese restaurants across the United States.

Reflecting the rapidly growing Chinese dining scene in the United States, this trusted guide highlights notable establishments and directs diners to some of the most compelling expressions of Chinese cuisine. Each selected restaurant is accompanied by its most recommended signature dishes, showcasing the flavours and craftsmanship that define its identity.

Individual Awards – United States
Recommended by the Taste Advisors, the Chef Awards honour outstanding chefs in United States whose skill, creativity, and leadership set new benchmarks for Chinese dining. The Premier Visionary Award honours an outstanding individual in management whose leadership, innovation, and strategic vision have driven meaningful change in Chinese dining, while inspiring the next generation of industry leaders.

Elite 30 CANADA

Recommended by Taste Advisors across the country, the Elite 30 Canada recognizes 30 of the nation’s most outstanding Chinese restaurants.

This trusted guide highlights excellence across regions, directing diners to some of the very best Chinese dining experiences nationwide. Each selected restaurant is also accompanied by its most recommended signature dishes—the essential flavours that showcase its craft and identity.

Signature Dish Awards – Canada exclusive
Determined through collaborative tasting and deliberation by the Taste Advisors, the nationwide Signature Dish Awards spotlight 15 remarkable dishes—a refined list capturing some of the most defining flavours of the moment. As the Awards’ original foundation and enduring mission, it encourages diners and visitors to experience and appreciate Chinese cuisine through its most exceptional dishes.

Individual Awards – Canada
Recommended by the Taste Advisors, the Chef Awards honour outstanding chefs in Canada whose skill, creativity, and leadership set new benchmarks for Chinese dining. The Premier Visionary Award honours an outstanding individual in management whose leadership, innovation, and strategic vision have driven meaningful change in Chinese dining, while inspiring the next generation of industry leaders.

2026 Award Categories - ASIA (outside Mainland China)

Elite 25 Asia Awards

Recommended by Taste Advisors across Asia, the Elite 25 Asia (outside Mainland China) highlights 25 of the region’s most highly regarded upscale Chinese restaurants.

From heritage institutions to trailblazing innovators, the list celebrates some of the finest expressions of Chinese dining in elevated settings across Asia beyond Mainland China. Each selected restaurant is accompanied by its most recommended signature dishes, guiding diners to the flavours that best reflect its craft and character.

Essential 25 Asia Awards

Recommended by Taste Advisors across Asia, the Essential 25 Asia list highlights 25 of the region’s most respected and accessible Chinese dining establishments outside Mainland China.

From longstanding favourites to modern expressions of Chinese culinary culture, the selection reflects the richness and diversity of Asia’s everyday dining scene. Each restaurant is accompanied by its signature dishes, offering a clear path to the flavours that define its character and craft.

Chinese Inspired ASIA Awards

Selected by a panel of Taste Advisors from Asia, the Chinese Inspired Asia Awards recognizes five exceptional dining establishments across Asia outside of Mainland China. The selection focuses on non-pure Chinese restaurants that, through creativity and skill, interpret the essence of Chinese cuisine. They reimagine its ingredients and cooking style for today’s dining experience.

The award goes beyond taste and technique; it also reflects the wider cultural impact of Chinese culinary traditions. It shows how Chinese cuisine crosses geographic and stylistic lines, inspiring culinary innovation throughout Asia and beyond. Ultimately, it highlights how Chinese cuisine, as a cooking language, has become a significant and lasting influence on the global dining scene.

Individual Awards – Asia
Voted by Taste Advisors across Asia, these honours recognise exceptional chefs and talents across Asia (outside Mainland China), whose work reflects both the spirit and evolving future of Chinese cuisine. The Premier Visionary Award honours an outstanding individual in management whose leadership, innovation, and strategic vision have driven meaningful change in Chinese dining, while inspiring the next generation of industry leaders.