What are the most exciting restaurants opening in Vancouver in the last year? Where can you get the best sushi, Indian food, or steak in Vancouver?
The 35th annual Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards were announced at a ceremony at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver on Monday, May 6, recognizing the city's best restaurants in a wide range of categories. More than 70 awards were announced to a packed ballroom. In many categories, winners had the opportunity to take to the stage and make a few comments.
This year's Van Mag Awards returned to its pre-pandemic range (and then some) with some notable changes. Primarily, the judging panel had more than 20 categories and several special designations to work with, but the awards recognize the best cuisines, cuisines, and even delicacies (like ramen and tacos) in the neighborhood. , vote in our all-new Readers' Choice poll format.
Another notable change for 2024 includes Cactus Club officially “retiring” eligibility for the Best Chain category. This year, the North Vancouver-born brand was inducted into the newly created Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards Hall of Fame. By the way, the winner of the best chain is Nook. In the chain category, he looks for locally-owned, multi-unit restaurants with at least three locations. Runners-up in 2024 include La Taqueria, Tacofino, Joey, Maruhachi Ramen, and Nuba.
Surprise announcement at the award ceremony
Additionally, to recognize that award-winning dining pricing and experiences for some cuisines can vary widely, we have broken the Chinese, Italian, and Japanese cuisine categories into two segments: fine dining and casual dining. I divided it.
Pino Postellaro, chef and owner of the iconic Cioppino restaurant, said winning the Best Italian Haute Award was “bittersweet” and the announcement of the lauded award came as a surprise after an exciting afternoon. It was one of the categories that brought about one of those moments. The facility is scheduled to close by the end of the year.
Restaurateur Shira Bluestein (The Acorn) also used her time on the podium to announce that she and Mir Daruwala (Viji's) are joining forces to open a new restaurant in the coming weeks. .
Highlights of major awards
One of the hottest categories has always been Best New Restaurant, and given the large number of debuts that emerged during the qualifying period (closing date is November 2023), this award has some things to consider. The Gold Award went to Fraser Hood. Bar Bravo is a seafood-centered gem. Restaurant of the Year went to AnnaLena for the second year in a row, while Chef of the Year went to Lee Cooper of L'Abattoir.
Pastry Chef of the Year was awarded to Kenta Takahashi (Boulevard), Sommelier of the Year was awarded to Christie Linnebo (Savio Volpe), and Bartender of the Year was awarded to Max Curzon-Price (Suyo).
The Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards are selected by a panel of industry experts comprised primarily of food media and stakeholders (full disclosure: I served as a judge for this award again this year). You can read a detailed description of the judging process published by Van Mag ahead of last year's awards.
Here is the complete list of 2024 Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Award winners:
Examination department
Restaurant of the Year: AnnaLena Chef of the Year: Lee Cooper (L'Abattoir) Pastry Chef of the Year: Kenta Takahashi (Boulevard) Sommelier of the Year: Christie Linnebo (Savio Volpe) Bartender of the Year: Max Curzon Price (Suyo) Producer of the Year: Sunrise Soybean Foods
Premier Crew (Front of House Staff)
Ashwan Lucchinariain (Como Tapelia); Shirley Fong (White Spot); Daniel Maguire (Kissa Tanto); Chris Hashimoto (Botanist). Antoine Dumont (Magari by Oca); Hannah Acton (Burdock & Co)
best new
bravo
Finalist: Gary's (Bronze); No chopsticks.Sushi Mahana (Silver); Seaport City Restaurant
Best African and Caribbean cuisine
Arike
Finalists: Baby Dahl Roti Shop; Fassil (Bronze); Gojo Little Ethiopia.Harambe; Kilimanjaro Snack House and Catering (Silver); Simba's Grill
vest casual
Ciancho Tortilleria
Finalist: Douce Diner. Fat Mao Noodles (Bronze); Hong Kong Barbecue Master; La Grotta del Formaggio. Motonobu udon. Say Hey Cafe & Deli. Street Hawker (Silver)
vest chain
Nook was named Vancouver's Best Chain Restaurant of 2024. Photo: @nookrestaurant
corner
Finalist: Earl's Kitchen and Bar. Maruhachi Ramen. Nuba; La Taqueria. Tacofino Restaurant (Silver); Joey (Bronze)
Best Chinese food (high class)
Dynasty Seafood Restaurant
Finalist: Chef's Choice Chinese Cuisine. Golden Paramount Seafood Restaurant. iDen and Quan Ju De Peking Duck House (Bronze); Mott 32 (Silver); Sea Harbor Restaurant; Seaport City Restaurant
Best Chinese food (casual)
Mermaid
Finalists: A. Bent; Bao Bei. Chinatown BBQ.Max Noodle House (Silver); Shanghai Wonderful Restaurant (Bronze); Yuan's Garden Restaurant
best contemporary
Annalena
Finalist: Bar Gobo; Botanist. Elephant; Folke. Cafe Tanto. Labatoire (Silver); Published in Main (Bronze)
best french food
st lawrence
Finalists: Eau Comptoir; Café Salad de Fruit. Collective bistro and grocery store. L'Abattoir (silver): Le Crocodile (bronze).Tableau Bar Bistro
best indian
Dhaliwal's Lounge
Finalists: Sachdeva Sweets and Restaurant (Silver); Sura Indian Restaurant. Tasty Indian Bistro (Bronze); Thatta Chulha.Viji-san
Best Italian food (Fine)
Cioppino's Mediterranean Grill and Enoteca
Finalists: Aquafarina; CinCin Ristorante and Bar (Bronze); Plaza Dario.Ruficio (Silver); Lupo Restaurant and Vinoteca
Best Italian (Casual)
Magari by Oca was named Best Casual Italian Restaurant. Photo: Lindsey William Ross/VIA
Magari by Oca
Finalist: Ask Luigi Restaurant. Autostrada. Café La Tana (Silver); Fiorino.Osteria Savio Volpe (Bronze); Livia Forno e Vino
Best Japanese food (luxury)
Kujiro Okeya
Finalists: Justice (Silver); Sushi Jin; Sushi Mahana.Tetsu Sushi Bar (Bronze); Tojo's Restaurant; Japanese Cuisine Yuwa
Best Japanese (Casual)
Japanese Cuisine Kishimoto
Finalists: Dosanko Restaurant; Miku Vancouver; Stem Japanese Eatery (Silver); Sushi Hill (Bronze); Toshi Sushi.Yuji is from Japan.
best korean
Jeju Island Restaurant
Finalists: Hanwoo Ri Korean Restaurant (Bronze); Jae Soo's Restaurant; Royal Seoul House Restaurant; Korean Restaurant Seohyang. Sula Korean Cuisine; Zoomac Korean Izakaya (Silver)
Best Latin American Cuisine
Suyo Modern Peruvian Cuisine
Finalists: Ciancho Tortilleria (Bronze); Cucillo.La Mezcaleria; Monarcha Cocina Mexicana (Silver); Ophelia
best middle eastern food
Delara
Finalist: Moltaqa Moroccan restaurant. Tamam: Fine Palestinian Cuisine (Bronze). Yasuma; Zarak (Silver)
best seafood
Boulevard Kitchen and Oyster Bar
Finalists: Blue Water Cafe (Silver); Bravo; Landmark Hot Pot House.Mott 32 (Bronze); Odd Fish Restaurant; Fishman
best steakhouse
Elisa
Finalists: Black and Blue. C Prime; Gotham Steakhouse and Bar (Bronze); Hy's Steakhouse and Cocktail Bar (Silver); Winner
best thai food
Maenam was chosen as the best tie. Lindsey William Ross/VIA
Maenam
Finalist: Baan Lao (Bronze); Long Tail Kitchen. Salatai. Song by Kin Kao (Silver). Unchai.zabu bite
best luxury goods
Published in main
Finalists: AnnaLena (Silver); Boulevard Kitchen and Oyster Bar. Elisa. Hawksworth; Labatoire; Mott 32; St. Lawrence (Bronze)
best vietnamese food
club hot lau
Finalists: Anh and Chi (Bronze). Banh mi tres bong. Hoi An Cafe; Mr. Red Cafe; Pho 37; Mokugyo (Silver)
best west coast
Annalena
Finalists: Blue Water Cafe; Botanist (Bronze); Boulevard Kitchen and Oyster Bar (Silver); Bravo; Burdock and Company
Van Mag Editor's Award
Best Date Night: Chambar Best Patio: Ancora Best Private Room: Homer Street Café Best Business Lunch: Hawksworth Best Happy Hour: Chickadee Room Best Special Occasion: Kissa Tanto Perfect for Any Occasion: Nightingale
hall of fame award
Cactus Club Chef Robert Clark Bradner Farms
Reader's Choice Category
Ann & Chi has been named a 2024 Reader's Choice for Best Mount Pleasant Restaurant. Photo Credit: Leila Kwok Best Brunch: Café Medina & Maxine's Cafe and Bar Best Food Truck: Japadog Best Coffee Shop: Nemesis Coffee Best Bar/Wine Bar: The Keefer Bar Best Brewery: 33 Acres Best Vegan/Vegetarian: The Acorn Best Burger: Between Two Buns Best Dim Sum: Dynasty Seafood Best Fried Chicken: Downlow Chicken Shack Best Hot Pot: Happy Lamb Hot Pot Best Pasta: Ask for Luigi's Best Pizza: Via Tiber Pizzeria Best Ramen: Ramen Danbo Best Sandwich: Meat and Bread Best Seafood: Blue Water Cafe Best Steak: Elisa Best Sushi: Miku Best Taco: Tacofino Best Chinatown: Kissa Tanto Best Commercial Drive: Lunch Lady Best Downtown: Elisa Best Fraserhood: Osteria Savio Volpe Best Gastown: Ask for Luigi Best Hastings Sunrise: Nigga Best Kerrisdale: Bufala Best Kitsilano: Annalena Best Mount Pleasant: Anne and Chee Best Olympic Village : Ophelia Best West End: Maxine's Cafe and Bar Best Yaletown: Homer Street Cafe & Barber Best Neighborhoods Wildcard: The Mackenzie Room (Railtown) Best North Shore: The Beach House Restaurant Best Richmond: Baan Lao Best Whistler: Wild Blue Best Vancouver Island: Wolf in the Fog Best Okanagan: Clippers Organics Row 14
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