Best Other Asian 2013

GOLD: SPICE ISLANDS

Silver: Café Kathmandu | Bronze: Banana Leaf | Honourable Mentions: Mui Garden, Kulinarya

Kerrisdale’s Spice Islands (Gold) has a lock on this ranging category-for good reason. “There is no mistaking the flavour of freshly hand-ground spices,” said one judge. “The resulting balance is subtle but bright. The beef-stuffed martabak, lamb curry, and coconut chicken all show great complexity.”

Abi Sharma is the charming guide to Nepalese cuisine at Café Kathmandu (Silver), where Chinese, Indian, and Tibetan influences result in addictive steamed pork momos (stuffed dumplings served with tomato-cilantro chutney) and delicate curries (including many interesting veg options).

Of the five Banana Leaf locations (Bronze), judges loved the Broadway original between Cambie and Oak for first-rate Singapore chili crab and fluffy roti canai.

Honourable Mentions to Mui Garden for “classic Chinese-Malaysian comfort food like curried beef brisket and Singapore-style fried vermicelli” and Kulinarya for the region’s best traditional Filipino food.

RETURN TO ALL RESTAURANT AWARDS 2013 RESULTS