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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 >>>

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 >>>