How the Awards Are Decided in 2026

The Chinese Restaurant Awards are guided by a distinguished panel of Taste Advisors. This group includes food critics, culinary media figures, chefs, and well-travelled 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.

INDEPENDENT OVERSIGHT

INDEPENDENTLY REVIEWED & AUDITED

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.

THE VOTING DIRECTION

GREAT TASTE LEADS

the decision

SIGNATURE DISH

what is worth ordering

OVERALL EXPERIENCE

the restaurant beyond the plate – consistency, skills, services

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

01 / CANADA

ELITE 30 CANADA

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

02 / CANADA

SIGNATURE DISH AWARDS

CANADA EXCLUSIVE

Determined through recommendation, tasting and deliberation by the Taste Advisors, the nationwide Signature Dish Awards spotlight 12 remarkable dishes—a refined list capturing some of the most defining flavours of the moment.

As the Awards’ original foundation and enduring mission, the Signature Dish Awards encourage diners and visitors to experience and appreciate Chinese cuisine through its most exceptional dishes.

03 / CANADA

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 whose contribution, leadership, innovation, and/or strategic vision has driven meaningful change in Chinese dining while inspiring the next generation of industry leaders.

04 / UNITED STATES

ELITE 12 UNITED STATES

Recommended by Taste Advisors in the United States, Elite 12 United States is a new extension of the Chinese Restaurant Awards, recognizing 12 outstanding and explore-worthy Chinese and Taiwanese restaurants across the United States.

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

05 / UNITED STATES

INDIVIDUAL AWARDS

UNITED STATES

Recommended by the Taste Advisors, the Chef Awards honour outstanding chefs in the United States whose skill, creativity, and leadership set new benchmarks for Chinese dining.

ASIA — OUTSIDE MAINLAND CHINA

01 / ASIA

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.

02 / ASIA

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, affordable eateries 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.

03 / ASIA

CHINESE INSPIRED ASIA AWARDS

Selected by a panel of Taste Advisors from across Asia, the Chinese Inspired Asia Awards recognizes three exceptional dining establishments across Asia outside Mainland China.

The selection focuses on non-Chinese restaurants and non fully-Chinese that, through creativity and skill, interpret the essence of Chinese cuisine, reimagining its ingredients and cooking techniques 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 boundaries, inspiring culinary innovation throughout Asia and beyond. Ultimately, it highlights how Chinese cuisine, as a culinary language, has become a significant and lasting influence on the global dining scene.

04 / ASIA

INDIVIDUAL AWARDS — ASIA

Voted by Taste Advisors across Asia, these honours recognize 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 whose contribution, leadership, innovation, and/or strategic vision have driven meaningful change in Chinese dining while inspiring the next generation of industry leaders.