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. 604-974-8077It’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.Bauhaus1 W. Cordova St., 604-974-1147AnnaLena1809 W. 1st Ave., 604-379-4052Honourable Mentions: La Tab, Ancora

Read more about Royal Dinette here >>>

Best Upscale

Hawksworth

801 W. Georgia St., 604-673-7000Bauhaus1 W. Cordova St., 604-974-1147Cioppino’s1133 Hamilton St., 604-688-7466Honourable Mentions: The Pear Tree, Blue Water CafeBest Casual

Ask for Luigi

305 Alexander St., 604-428-2544Maenam1938 W. 4th Ave., 604-730-5579Bao Bei163 Keefer St., 604-688-0876Honourable Mentions: AnnaLena, La TabBest Upscale Italian

Cioppino’s

1133 Hamilton St., 604-688-7466Giardino1328 Hornby St., 604-669-2422CinCin1154 Robson St., 604-688-7338Honourable Mentions: Cinara, La QuerciaBest Casual Italian

Ask for Luigi (tie)

305 Alexander St., 604-428-2544

L’ufficio (tie)

3687 W. 4th Ave., 604-676-1007Lupo869 Hamilton St., 604-569-2535Honourable Mention: Campagnolo RomaBest Upscale French

Le Crocodile

100–909 Burrard St., 604-669-4298L’Abattoir217 Carrall St., 604-568-1701Bacchus845 Hornby St., 604-608-5319Honourable Mentions: Five Sails, ChambarBest Casual French

Au Comptoir

2278 W. 4th Ave., 604-569-2278Tableau1181 Melville St., 604-639-8692Les Faux Bourgeois663 E. 15th Ave. , 604-873-9733Honourable Mentions: Bistro Wagon Rouge, JulesBest Upscale Japanese

Zest

2775 W. 16th Ave., 604-731-9378Tojo’s1133 W. Broadway, 604-872-8050Masayoshi4376 Fraser St., 604-428-6272Honourable Mentions: Kiriri, MikuBest Casual Japanese

Kinome

2511 W. Broadway, 778-379-1925Kingyo871 Denman St., 604-608-1677Rajio3763 W. 10th Ave., 604-558-1679Honourable Mentions: Kishimoto, SuikaBest Upscale Chinese

Dynasty Seafood

108–777 W. Broadway, 604-876-8388Chef Tony101–4600 No. 3 Rd., Richmond, 604-279-0083The Jade8511 Alexandra Rd., Richmond, 604-249-0082Honourable Mentions: Hoitong, Chang’AnBest Casual Chinese

Dinesty

Various locationsLong’s4853 Main St., 604-879-7879Ningtu2130 Kingsway, 604-438-6669Honourable Mentions: Old Xian Food, Kongee DinestyBest Vietnamese

Mr. Red Cafe 

2234 E. Hastings St., 604-710-9515Hai Phong1246 Kingsway, 604-872-3828My Chau1715 Kingsway. 604-874-6880Honourable Mentions: Chau Veggie Express, Hoi An CafeBest Korean

Royal Seoul House

1215 W. Broadway, 604-739-9001Hanwoori5740 Imperial St., Burnaby, 604-439-0815Damso867 Denman St., 604-632-0022Honourable Mentions: Seoul Doogbaegi, Ma Dang GoulBest Thai

Maenam

1938 W. 4th Ave., 604-730-5579Jitlada 1459 W. Broadway, 604-738-9888Longtail116–810 Quayside Dr., New Westminster, 604-553-3855Honourable Mentions: Thai Cuisine by Montri, SalaThaiBest Indian

My Shanti

15869 Croydon Dr., Surrey, 604-560-4416Dosa Corner8248 Fraser St., 604-324-3672Sachdeva Sweets118-7500 120 St., Surrey, 604-591-6788Honourable Mentions: Rangoli, Apna ChaatBest Other Asian

Phnom Penh  

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

Dynasty

108–777 W. Broadway, 604-876-8388Chef Tony101–4600 No. 3 Rd., Richmond, 604-279-0083Golden Paramount8071 Park Rd., Richmond, 604-278-0873Honourable Mentions: Kirin, VivacityBest Noodle House

Hokkaido Ramen Santouka

1690 Robson St., Vancouver, 604-681-8121Marutama Ra-men780 Bidwell St., 604-688-8837Motomachi Shokudo740 Denman St., 604-609-0310Honourable Mentions: Congee Noodle House, Fat MaoBest of the Americas

Molli Café

1225 Burrard St., 604-336-6554D Roti Shak 808 12th St., New Westminster, 604-544-5994Las Tortas3353 Cambie St., 604-569-1402Honourable Mentions: The Mexican, Back FortyBest Steakhouse

Hy’s Encore

637 Hornby St., 604-683-7671Gotham615 Seymour St., 604-605-8282Black+Blue1032 Alberni St., 604-637-0777Honourable Mentions: Joe Fortes, Hamilton Street GrillBest Seafood

Blue Water Cafe

1095 Hamilton St., 604-688-8078Tojo’s1133 W. Broadway, 604-872-8050Ancora2–1600 Howe St., 604-681-1164Honourable Mentions: Boulevard, Landmark Hot PotBest Food Cart

Vij’s Railway Express

@vijsrailwayLa BohèmeVia Tevere@ViaTeverePizzaHonourable Mentions: Le Tigre, YolksBest Casual Chain

Kingyo 

Various locationsCactus Club CafeVarious locationsLa TaqueriaVarious locationsHonourable Mentions: Guu, EarlsBest Coffeehouse

Revolver

325 Cambie St.Timbertrain311 W Cordova St.Milano156 W 8th Ave.Honourable Mentions: The Birds & The Beets, Bump n GrindBest Pizzeria

Bufala

5395 West Blvd.Via Tevere1190 Victoria Dr.Pizzeria Farina915 Main St. The Neighbourhoods categories are brought to you by YP DineBest West End

Kingyo

871 Denman St., 604-608-1677Tavola1829 Robson St.604-606-4680Espana1118 Denman St., 604-558-4040Honourable Mentions: Gyoza King, The Fat BadgerBest Yaletown

Bistro Sakana

1123 Mainland St., 604-633-1280La Pentola350 Davie St., 604-642-0557The Flying Pig1168 Hamilton St., 604-568-1344Honourable Mentions: Provence Marinaside, Rodney’s Oyster HouseBest Gastown/Chinatown

Bao Bei

163 Keefer St., 604-688-0876Ask for Luigi305 Alexander St., 604-428-2544Bestie105 E. Pender St., 604-620-1175Honourable Mentions: Fat MaoBest Downtown

Cinara

350 W. Pender St., 604-428-9694Royal Dinette905 Dunsmuir St., 604-974-8077Gyozo Bar (TIE)622 W. Pender St., 604-336-5563Ramen Jinya (TIE)270 Robson St., 604-568-9711Honourable Mention: BaoQiBest West Side

L’ufficio

3687 W. 4th Ave.. 604-676-1007Au Comptoir2278 W. 4th Ave., 604-569-2278Maenam1938 W. 4th Ave., 604-730-5579Honourable Mentions: Rajio, Farmer’s ApprenticeBest East Side

Via Tevere

1190 Victoria Dr., 604-336-1803Burdock & Co.2702 Main St., 604-879-0077Kalvin’s5225 Victoria Dr., 604-321-2888Honourable Mentions: Mr. Red Cafe, Chau Veggie ExpressBest North Shore

Canyon

3135 Edgemont Blvd. , North Vancouver, 604-987-8812