It took a year, but seven local judges have named 20 of Metro Vancouver's best Chinese dishes.
The fifth annual Chinese Restaurant Awards crowned 17 restaurants with its "Critics' Choice" honour for top signatures dishes during a ceremony at River Rock Casino on Tuesday.
Dishes were marked for choice ingredients, technique, creativity and passion.
Kirin Restaurant was the star of the afternoon, taking home three wins for their deep fried boneless chicken with minced prawn, two preparations of geoduck and a smoked live lobster with mushrooms dish.
The annual awards have picked up popularity in the past five years. They’ve even hopped across the country to sample Toronto’s sprawling Chinese restaurant scenes.
“To further raise the public’s awareness of the fine Chinese cuisine existing in Canada, we must expand beyond the borders of Vancouver,” said Craig Stowe, founding director of Chinese Restaurant Awards.
What a delicious, most honourable mission.
This year’s judges included:
- Stephen Wong, founding chair of the Chinese Restaurant Awards
- Condrea Fung, co-host on Fairchild radio’s “Leisure Hour”
- Joie Alvaro Kent, contributor to Vancouver Magazine and Montecristo
- Lee Man, food writer, contributor to Urbandiner.ca and Vancouver Magazine
- Brendon Mathews, contributor to Urbandiner.ca and Vancouver Magazine Restaurants Awards judge
- Fernando Medrano, food writer
Chinese Restaurant Awards critics' choice winners of 2013 are:
Vancouver Chinese Restaurant Awards 2013 - Critics' Choice
1. Baked Lemon BBQ Pork Pie
Dynasty Seafood Restaurant
#108-777 West Broadway, Vancouver
2. Beef Sirloin with Noodle
Pearl House Restaurant
7152 Sperling Ave., Burnaby
#170-4611 No.6 Road, Richmond
3. Deep Fried Boneless Chicken with Minced Prawn, Glutinous Rice and Chestnut Paste
Kirin Restaurant (Cambie & W. 12th Ave.)
2/F, 555 W. 12th Ave., Vancouver
4. Deep Fried Pumpkin Sticks with Egg Yolk Sauce
Sea Harbour Seafood Restaurant
8888 River Rd., Richmond
5. Double-boiled Almond Chicken & Pear Soup
Bamboo Grove
6920 No.3 Road, Richmond
6. Double-Boiled Duck & Lemon Soup
JC Kitchen
#103-11782 Hammersmith Way, Richmond
7. Geoduck 2 Ways – Pan Fried Geoduck Slices, and Deep Fried Geoduck Head in Spicy Peppery Salt
Kirin Restaurant
2/F, 555 W. 12th Ave., Vancouver
8. Oven Roasted Oysters with Port Wine
Big Chef Restaurant
#1060-8580 Alexandra Rd., Richmond
8. Pan-fried Shanghainese Buns
Top Shanghai Cuisine Restaurant
120-8100 Ackroyd Rd., Richmond
9. Pork Hock with Sour Plums
Hoi Tong Chinese Seafood Restaurant
#160-8191 Westminister Highway, Richmond
11. Sliced Beef and Beef Tripe in Special Spicy Sauce
New Spicy Chili Restaurant
#160-4200 No.3 Road
12. Si Chuan Sausage
Nine Dishes
960 Kingsway, Vancouver
13. Steamed Brown Sugar Rice Cake
The Jade Seafood Restaurant
8511 Alexandra Rd., Richmond
14. Steamed Dumplings with Crab Meat and Pork Meat
Golden Paramount Seafood Restaurant
8071 Park Rd., Richmond
15. Steamed Eggs with B.C. Dungeness Crab and Green Onions
The Jade Seafood Restaurant
8511 Alexandra Rd., Richmond
16. Smoked Live Lobster with Assorted Mushroom
Kirin Restaurant (Cambie & W. 12th Ave.)
2/F, 555 W. 12th Ave., Vancouver
17. Steamed Rice Roll with Crispy Pork Roll
Empire Seafood Restaurant
#200-5951 No.3 Road, Richmond
18. Stir Fried Sliced Pork with White Chili
Lucky Noodle Chinese Restaurant
#3-3377 Kingsway, Vancouver
19. Sweet and Sour Rock Cod
NingTu Restaurant
2130 Kingsway, Vancouver
20. Taro Root Duck
Hoi Tong Chinese Seafood Restaurant
#160-8191 Westminister Highway, Richmond