The Chinese Restaurant Awards just released their first-ever ranked list of Chinese restaurants across Canada — and, maybe unsurprisingly, Vancouver came out on top.

Announced on Wednesday, October 29th at The Vancouver Club, the Elite 30 Canada marks a new chapter for the Awards, which have spent the past 16 years deep in the thick of Metro Vancouver’s dining scene. With that much time spent eating through the city’s dim sum palaces, noodle houses and seafood rooms, it makes sense that Vancouver’s restaurants led the pack. There’s real depth here; strength in numbers, sure, but also a level of craft that’s tough to beat anywhere else in the country.

This year, though, the Awards went national, recognising chefs and restaurants shaping the next chapter of Chinese cuisine across Canada.

Dynasty Seafood Restaurant and Chang’An (both located in Vancouver) took the top two spots, followed by Flavourful House in Richmond Hill, Ontario. In total, B.C. landed 18 out of 30 rankings; Ontario, ten; and Quebec, two – proof of just how deep and diverse Canada’s Chinese food culture runs, from old-school seafood banquets to restaurants rethinking what fine dining looks like through a Chinese lens.

The new Canada Taste Advisors Panel, chaired by Vancouver writer Lee Man, spent months eating their way across the country to determine the winners. The 15-member group includes food enthusiasts and writers who grew up eating Chinese food and know its regional languages. The group brings together people with different backgrounds and a shared belief that great Chinese dining isn’t defined by a restaurant’s name — it’s about the dishes that tell its story through flavour. These aren’t just critics, they’re insiders who can tell when a dish hits the right notes. According to Managing Director Rae Kung, that’s what makes this list less about “hype” and more about real craftsmanship. It’s a dream assignment, sure, but also serious work. Credit to the panel for taking it on with care and turning out such a thoughtful roundup.

The Awards also introduced new honours: Carol Lee of the Vancouver Chinatown Foundation was named Cultural Ambassador of the Year; Andersen Lee, of Montreal’s Oncle Lee and Oncle Lee Kăo restaurants, earned Rising Star Chef; Dynasty’s Garley Leung took Dim Sum Chef; and Samuel Su of Flavourful House was recognised as Master Chef.

Founded in 2008, the Chinese Restaurant Awards began as a local guide to the best roast ducks, dim sum and noodle bowls. Sixteen years later, the project has grown into something bigger: a country-wide snapshot of how Chinese cuisine continues to lead, evolve, and define the way Canada eats.

Here is the list, a solid guide to eating very tasty Chinese food in Canada:

Elite 30 Canada Awards  – RANKED 

1. Dynasty Seafood Restaurant – Vancouver, B.C. | Cantonese
2. Chang’ An – Vancouver, B.C. | Shaanxi / Northern Chinese
3. Flavourful House – Richmond Hill, Ontario | Cantonese
4. Landmark Hotpot House – Vancouver, B.C. | Hong Kong Style Hotpot
5. MOTT 32 – Vancouver, B.C.  & Toronto, Ontario | Peking Duck / Modern Chinese
6. Sea Harbour Restaurant – Richmond, B.C. | Cantonese
7. Jumbo Lobster Restaurant – Richmond Hill, Ontario | Cantonese Seafood
8. Bamboo Grove Restaurant – Richmond, B.C. | Cantonese
9. The Fish Man – Richmond, B.C. | Sichuan / Cantonese Seafood
10. aKin – Toronto, Ontario | Modern Asian
11. Jiangnan Wok – Richmond, B.C. | Jiangnan
12. Mimi Chinese – Toronto, Ontario | Modern Chinese
13. R&D – Toronto, Ontario | Modern Canadian Asian
14. Golden Paramount Seafood Restaurant – Richmond, B.C. | Cantonese / Shunde
15. iDen & Quan Ju De Beijing Duck House – Vancouver, B.C. | Peking Duck / Northern Chinese
16. Fishman Lobster Clubhouse Restaurant – Scarborough, Ontario | Cantonese Seafood
17. Miss Qu Barbecue & Restaurant – Markham / Scarborough, Ontario | Sichuan
18. Din Tai Fung – Vancouver, B.C. | Taiwanese / Shanghainese Dim Sum
19. Osmanthus Chinese Fusion Restaurant – Richmond, B.C. | Jiangnan
20. Max Noodle House – Richmond, B.C. | Cantonese Noodles & Congee
21. Lanxuan Restaurant – Richmond, B.C. | Cantonese
22. The Jade Seafood Restaurant – Richmond, B.C. | Cantonese
23. Nian Yi Kuai Zi – Markham / Scarborough, Ontario | Sichuan
24. Oncle Lee Kǎo – Montreal, Quebec | Modern Chinese
25. Kalvin’s Szechuan Restaurant – Vancouver, B.C. | Taiwanese / Sichuan
26. Loon Fong Hot Pot – Richmond Hill, Ontario | Hong Kong Style Hotpot
27. Xi’An Flavour – Richmond, B.C. | Shaanxi / Xi’an
28. Chinatown BBQ – Vancouver, B.C. | Cantonese BBQ
29. HK BBQ Master – Richmond, B.C. | Cantonese BBQ
30. Nouilles de Lan Zhou – Montreal, Quebec | Lanzhou Beef Noodles

Rising Star Chef of the Year
Andersen Lee – Oncle Lee & Oncle Lee Kǎo, Montreal, Quebec

Dim Sum Chef of the Year
Garley Leung – Dynasty Seafood Restaurant, Vancouver, B.C.

Master Chef of the Year
Samuel Su – Flavourful House, Richmond Hill, Ontario

Cultural Ambassador of the Year
This inaugural award honours an individual whose vision, leadership, and dedication have made a lasting impact in preserving and celebrating Chinese culture within their community.
Carol Lee – Vancouver Chinatown Foundation, Vancouver, B.C.

SPECIAL AWARDS

DoorDash Diners’ Choice Awards (three winners) 
House of Gourmet  – Toronto, Ontario
Perfect Chinese Restaurant – Scarborough, Ontario
Szechuan Chili – Vancouver, B.C.

VANCOUVER Exclusive Awards

Critics’ Choice Signature Dish Awards (13 winning dishes) 

Boiled Beef Brisket with Rice Noodle in Soup – New Town Bakery & Restaurant, Vancouver.
Chayote in Light Vinegar Dressing – Chef Tian’s, Richmond
Crab & Kurobuta Pork Xiao Long Bao – Din Tai Fung, Vancouver
Green Pepper Chicken – Xi’An Flavour, Richmond
Hainanese Chicken with Yellow Rice – Mamalee Malaysian Delight, Vancouver
Live Abalone with Ginger and Scallion – The Fish Man, Richmond
Luffa Squash with Clams in Broth – Chang’ An, Vancouver
Nanjing Big Bowl Noodle – Yuan’s Garden, Richmond
Pan Fried Bun – Long’s Noodle, Richmond
Sauteed Bitter Melon with Pine Nuts and Egg White – Sea Harbour Restaurant, Richmond
Scallion Oil Noodle – Mama’s Dumpling, Richmond
Signature Lobster “Ma Po Tofu” – MOTT 32, Vancouver
Wenshi Tofu Soup – Jiangnan Wok, Richmond