The Results: The 2016 Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards

Make your reservations quickly, as we have a feeling these rooms are about to get even busier

See our 2017 Restaurant Awards Winners ▸▸▸

  Democracy, broadly speaking, is a good thing. But when it comes to food? Well, let’s just say that’s not its most effective application. Yes, everyone with a smartphone and a spoon is free to express their opinion, but we still believe in the value of expertise—and the people who possess it, those whose palates can’t be swayed by PR or payola. Once again, those people have rendered their verdicts. Welcome to our enlightened dictatorship. Restaurant of the Year

Maenam

When asked his age, Angus An says he's 36. No, he corrects himself—35. “I feel 46, to be honest with you,” he says. It’s an understandable mix up. Age is an easy thing to forget for someone like An, who opened his first restaurant, Gastropod, when he was just 26. Maenam, his flagship restaurant, came three years later, and he’s since opened three casual eateries and won more awards for his work than most chefs twice his age. Indeed, 35 seems almost impossibly young considering the fact that, according to this year’s Restaurant Awards judges, An has been instrumental in not only putting out amazing food night after night but also transforming Vancouver’s dining scene in the process.

Read more about Maenam here >>>

  Best New Restaurant

Royal Dinette

905 Dunsmuir St. 604-974-8077 It’s probably safe to say that “business as usual” is not a concept that David Gunawan looks upon favourably. After all, his career has been defined by a seemingly relentless need for change, both in the plates he puts out and the places in which they get served. That sensibility has found its fullest expression at Royal Dinette, where the food that he and head chef Jack Chen are creating is almost defiantly—and always unapologetically—creative. Bauhaus 1 W. Cordova St., 604-974-1147 AnnaLena 1809 W. 1st Ave., 604-379-4052 Honourable Mentions: La Tab, Ancora

Read more about Royal Dinette here >>>

Best Upscale

Hawksworth

801 W. Georgia St., 604-673-7000 Bauhaus 1 W. Cordova St., 604-974-1147 Cioppino's 1133 Hamilton St., 604-688-7466 Honourable Mentions: The Pear Tree, Blue Water Cafe Best Casual

Ask for Luigi

305 Alexander St., 604-428-2544 Maenam 1938 W. 4th Ave., 604-730-5579 Bao Bei 163 Keefer St., 604-688-0876 Honourable Mentions: AnnaLena, La Tab Best Upscale Italian

Cioppino's

1133 Hamilton St., 604-688-7466 Giardino 1328 Hornby St., 604-669-2422 CinCin 1154 Robson St., 604-688-7338 Honourable Mentions: Cinara, La Quercia Best Casual Italian

Ask for Luigi (tie)

305 Alexander St., 604-428-2544

L’ufficio (tie)

3687 W. 4th Ave., 604-676-1007 Lupo 869 Hamilton St., 604-569-2535 Honourable Mention: Campagnolo Roma Best Upscale French

Le Crocodile

100–909 Burrard St., 604-669-4298 L’Abattoir 217 Carrall St., 604-568-1701 Bacchus 845 Hornby St., 604-608-5319 Honourable Mentions: Five Sails, Chambar Best Casual French

Au Comptoir

2278 W. 4th Ave., 604-569-2278 Tableau 1181 Melville St., 604-639-8692 Les Faux Bourgeois 663 E. 15th Ave. , 604-873-9733 Honourable Mentions: Bistro Wagon Rouge, Jules Best Upscale Japanese

Zest

2775 W. 16th Ave., 604-731-9378 Tojo’s 1133 W. Broadway, 604-872-8050 Masayoshi 4376 Fraser St., 604-428-6272 Honourable Mentions: Kiriri, Miku Best Casual Japanese

Kinome

2511 W. Broadway, 778-379-1925 Kingyo 871 Denman St., 604-608-1677 Rajio 3763 W. 10th Ave., 604-558-1679 Honourable Mentions: Kishimoto, Suika Best Upscale Chinese

Dynasty Seafood

108–777 W. Broadway, 604-876-8388 Chef Tony 101–4600 No. 3 Rd., Richmond, 604-279-0083 The Jade 8511 Alexandra Rd., Richmond, 604-249-0082 Honourable Mentions: Hoitong, Chang’An Best Casual Chinese

Dinesty

Various locations Long’s 4853 Main St., 604-879-7879 Ningtu 2130 Kingsway, 604-438-6669 Honourable Mentions: Old Xian Food, Kongee Dinesty Best Vietnamese

Mr. Red Cafe 

2234 E. Hastings St., 604-710-9515 Hai Phong 1246 Kingsway, 604-872-3828 My Chau 1715 Kingsway. 604-874-6880 Honourable Mentions: Chau Veggie Express, Hoi An Cafe Best Korean

Royal Seoul House

1215 W. Broadway, 604-739-9001 Hanwoori 5740 Imperial St., Burnaby, 604-439-0815 Damso 867 Denman St., 604-632-0022 Honourable Mentions: Seoul Doogbaegi, Ma Dang Goul Best Thai

Maenam

1938 W. 4th Ave., 604-730-5579 Jitlada 1459 W. Broadway, 604-738-9888 Longtail 116–810 Quayside Dr., New Westminster, 604-553-3855 Honourable Mentions: Thai Cuisine by Montri, SalaThai Best Indian

My Shanti

15869 Croydon Dr., Surrey, 604-560-4416 Dosa Corner 8248 Fraser St., 604-324-3672 Sachdeva Sweets 118-7500 120 St., Surrey, 604-591-6788 Honourable Mentions: Rangoli, Apna Chaat Best Other Asian

Phnom Penh  

244 E. Georgia St., 604-682-5777 Pidgin 350 Carrall St., 604-620-9400 Torafuku 958 Main St., 778-903-2006 Honourable Mention: The Union Best Dim Sum

Dynasty

108–777 W. Broadway, 604-876-8388 Chef Tony 101–4600 No. 3 Rd., Richmond, 604-279-0083 Golden Paramount 8071 Park Rd., Richmond, 604-278-0873 Honourable Mentions: Kirin, Vivacity Best Noodle House

Hokkaido Ramen Santouka

1690 Robson St., Vancouver, 604-681-8121 Marutama Ra-men 780 Bidwell St., 604-688-8837 Motomachi Shokudo 740 Denman St., 604-609-0310 Honourable Mentions: Congee Noodle House, Fat Mao Best of the Americas

Molli Café

1225 Burrard St., 604-336-6554 D Roti Shak 808 12th St., New Westminster, 604-544-5994 Las Tortas 3353 Cambie St., 604-569-1402 Honourable Mentions: The Mexican, Back Forty Best Steakhouse

Hy’s Encore

637 Hornby St., 604-683-7671 Gotham 615 Seymour St., 604-605-8282 Black+Blue 1032 Alberni St., 604-637-0777 Honourable Mentions: Joe Fortes, Hamilton Street Grill Best Seafood

Blue Water Cafe

1095 Hamilton St., 604-688-8078 Tojo’s 1133 W. Broadway, 604-872-8050 Ancora 2–1600 Howe St., 604-681-1164 Honourable Mentions: Boulevard, Landmark Hot Pot Best Food Cart

Vij’s Railway Express

@vijsrailway La Bohème Via Tevere @ViaTeverePizza Honourable Mentions: Le Tigre, Yolks Best Casual Chain

Kingyo 

Various locations Cactus Club Cafe Various locations La Taqueria Various locations Honourable Mentions: Guu, Earls Best Coffeehouse

Revolver

325 Cambie St. Timbertrain 311 W Cordova St. Milano 156 W 8th Ave. Honourable Mentions: The Birds & The Beets, Bump n Grind Best Pizzeria

Bufala

5395 West Blvd. Via Tevere 1190 Victoria Dr. Pizzeria Farina 915 Main St.   The Neighbourhoods categories are brought to you by YP Dine Best West End

Kingyo

871 Denman St., 604-608-1677 Tavola 1829 Robson St.604-606-4680 Espana 1118 Denman St., 604-558-4040 Honourable Mentions: Gyoza King, The Fat Badger Best Yaletown

Bistro Sakana

1123 Mainland St., 604-633-1280 La Pentola 350 Davie St., 604-642-0557 The Flying Pig 1168 Hamilton St., 604-568-1344 Honourable Mentions: Provence Marinaside, Rodney’s Oyster House Best Gastown/Chinatown

Bao Bei

163 Keefer St., 604-688-0876 Ask for Luigi 305 Alexander St., 604-428-2544 Bestie 105 E. Pender St., 604-620-1175 Honourable Mentions: Fat Mao Best Downtown

Cinara

350 W. Pender St., 604-428-9694 Royal Dinette 905 Dunsmuir St., 604-974-8077 Gyozo Bar (TIE) 622 W. Pender St., 604-336-5563 Ramen Jinya (TIE) 270 Robson St., 604-568-9711 Honourable Mention: BaoQi Best West Side

L’ufficio

3687 W. 4th Ave.. 604-676-1007 Au Comptoir 2278 W. 4th Ave., 604-569-2278 Maenam 1938 W. 4th Ave., 604-730-5579 Honourable Mentions: Rajio, Farmer’s Apprentice Best East Side

Via Tevere

1190 Victoria Dr., 604-336-1803 Burdock & Co. 2702 Main St., 604-879-0077 Kalvin’s 5225 Victoria Dr., 604-321-2888 Honourable Mentions: Mr. Red Cafe, Chau Veggie Express Best North Shore

Canyon

3135 Edgemont Blvd. , North Vancouver, 604-987-8812 Blue Eyed Marys 1735 Marine Dr., West Vancouver, 604-921-2583 Feast 2423 Marine Dr., West Vancouver, 604-922-1155 Honourable Mentions: Trattoria Park Royal Best Richmond

Kiriri

190–8780 Blundell Rd., 778-297-4330 Sushi Hachi 8888 Odlin Cres., 604-207-2882 Kongee Dinesty 165–9020 Capstan Way, 604-278-0077 Honourable Mentions: Top Shanghai, Cocoru Best Whistler

Araxi

4222 Village Sq., 604-932-4540 Alta Bistro 104–4319 Main St., 604-932-2582 Bearfoot Bistro 4121 Village Green, 604-932-3433 Honourable Mentions: The Mexican Corner, Rim Rock Cafe Best Victoria

Stage

1307 Gladstone Ave., 250-388-4222 Brasserie L’école 1715 Government St., 250-475-6260 Camille’s 45 Bastion Sq. , 250-381-3433 Honourable Mentions: Part and Parcel, Pizzeria Prima Strada Best Island

Pilgrimme

2806 Montague Rd., Galiano Island, 250-539-5392 Wolf in the Fog 150 4 St., Tofino, 250-725-9653 The Pointe 500 Osprey Ln., Tofino, 250-725-3106 Honourable Mentions: Sooke Harbour House, Sobo Best Okanagan

Waterfront Wines

1180 Sunset Dr., Kelowna, 250-979-1222 Raudz 1560 Water St., Kelowna, 250-868-8805 Salted Brick 243 Bernard Ave., Kelowna, 778-484-3234 Honourable Mentions: Local, Central Best Winery/Vineyard Dining

Miradoro

Tinhorn Creek Winery, 250-498-3742 The Vineyard Kitchen at Black Hills Estate Winery Black Hills Estate Winery, 250-493-8657 The Vanilla Pod Poplar Grove Winery , 250-493-9463 Honourable Mentions: Unsworth Vineyards, Terrace (­Mission Hill)

See more Restaurant Awards 2016 winners >>>