What was the most exciting restaurant to open in Vancouver last year? Where can you find the best sushi, Indian food, or steak in Vancouver?
The 35th annual Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards were announced Monday, May 6 at a ceremony at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, recognizing the best and the brightest in the city in a broad spectrum of categories. Over 70 awards were announced in a jam-packed ballroom; many categories featured the opportunity for the recipients to go up to the podium to give a few remarks.
This year, the Van Mag Awards returned to its pre-pandemic scope (and then some), with a few noteworthy changes. Primarily, while the judging panel had its work cut out for them with a roster of 20+ categories and several special designations, the awards were able to bring back crowd-pleasing favourites like the best of the neighbourhoods, cuisines, and even dishes (like ramen or tacos) through a brand-new Readers' Choice voting format.
Another noteworthy change for 2024 includes Cactus Club officially "retiring" from eligibility in the Best Chain category; this year, the North Vancouver-born brand has been inducted into the newly created Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards Hall of Fame. Your winner for Best Chain is Nook, by the way. The Chain category looks for locally-based multi-unit restaurants with at least three locations; runners-up for 2024 include La Taqueria, Tacofino, Joey, Maruhachi Ra-men, and Nuba.
Surprise announcements during awards ceremony
Additionally, to recognize that award-winning dining in some cuisines can span a broad range of pricing and experiences, the Chinese, Italian, and Japanese categories have been divided into two segments: Upscale and Casual.
It was in one of those categories that brought the exciting afternoon one of its jaw-dropping moments, when Pino Posteraro, chef/owner of the iconic restaurant Cioppino's noted its win of Best Italian - Upscale was "bittersweet," as he announced the acclaimed establishment will close before the end of the year.
Restaurateur Shira Blustein (The Acorn) also used podium time to announce she and Meeru Dhalwala (Vij's) are joining forces to open a new restaurant in the coming weeks.
Major awards highlights
One of the most-watched categories is always Best New Restaurant, and given the array of debuts during the qualification period (with a cut-off date of November 2023) there was much to consider for the awards, with the Gold going to the Fraserhood's seafood-centric gem Bar Bravo. Restaurant of the Year went to AnnaLena for the second year in a row, however, Chef of the Year went to Lee Cooper of L'Abattoir.
Pastry Chef of the Year went to Kenta Takahashi (Boulevard), Sommelier of the Year to Kristi Linneboe (Savio Volpe), and Bartender of the Year to Max Curzon-Price (Suyo).
The Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards are chosen by a panel of industry experts comprised of predominantly food media and insiders (full disclosure: I served as a judge once again for this year's awards). You can read a detailed explanation of the judging process published ahead of last year's awards by Van Mag.
Here is the complete list of winners of the 2024 Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards:
Judged categories
- 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: Kristi Linneboe (Savio Volpe)
- Bartender of the Year: Max Curzon-Price (Suyo)
- Producer of the Year: Sunrise Soya Foods
Premier Crew (Front of House staff)
Ashwan Luckheenariain (Como Taperia); Shirley Fong (White Spot); Daniel Maguire (Kissa Tanto); Chris Hashimoto (Botanist); Antoine Dumont (Magari by Oca); Hannah Acton (Burdock & Co)
Best New
Bravo
Finalists: Gary’s (Bronze); Missing Chopsticks; Sushi Mahana (Silver); Seaport City Restaurant
Best African and Caribbean
Arike
Finalists: Baby Dahl Roti Shop; Fassil (Bronze); Gojo Little Ethiopia; Harambe; Kilimanjaro Snack House and Catering (Silver); Simba’s Grill
Best Casual
Chancho Tortilleria
Finalists: Douce Diner; Fat Mao Noodles (Bronze); HK BBQ Master; La Grotta Del Formaggio; Motonobu Udon; Say Hey Café and Deli; Street Hawker (Silver)
Best Chain
Nook
Finalists: Earls Kitchen and Bar; Maruhachi Ra-men; Nuba; La Taqueria; Tacofino Restaurants (Silver); Joey (Bronze)
Best Chinese (Upscale)
Dynasty Seafood Restaurant
Finalists: Chef’s Choice Chinese Cuisine; Golden Paramount Seafood Restaurant; iDen and Quan Ju De Beijing Duck House (Bronze); Mott 32 (Silver); Sea Harbour Restaurant; Seaport City Restaurant
Best Chinese (Casual)
The Fish Man
FInalists: A.Bento; Bao Bei; Chinatown BBQ; Max Noodle House (Silver); Shanghai Wonderful Restaurant (Bronze); Yuan’s Garden Restaurant
Best Contemporary
AnnaLena
Finalists: Bar Gobo; Botanist; Elephant; Folke; Kissa Tanto; L’Abattoir (Silver); Published on Main (Bronze)
Best French
St. Lawrence
Finalists: Au Comptoir; Café Salade de Fruits; Collective Goods Bistro and Grocer; L’Abattoir (Silver): Le Crocodile (Bronze); Tableau Bar Bistro
Best Indian
Dhaliwal’s Lounge
Finalists: Sachdeva Sweets and Restaurant (Silver); Sula Indian Restaurant; Tasty Indian Bistro (Bronze); Tatta Chulha; Vij’s
Best Italian (Upscale)
Cioppino’s Mediterranean Grill and Enoteca
Finalists: Acquafarina; CinCin Ristorante and Bar (Bronze); La Piazza Dario; L’Ufficio (Silver); Lupo Restaurant and Vinoteca
Best Italian (Casual)
Magari by Oca
Finalists: Ask for Luigi Restaurant; Autostrada; Caffe La Tana (Silver); Fiorino; Osteria Savio Volpe (Bronze); Livia Forno e Vino
Best Japanese (Upscale)
Okeya Kyujiro
Finalists: Masayoshi (Silver); Sushi Jin; Sushi Mahana; Tetsu Sushi Bar (Bronze); Tojo’s Restaurant; Yuwa Japanese Cuisine
Best Japanese (Casual)
Kishimoto Japanese Restaurant
Finalists: Dosanko Restaurant; Miku Vancouver; Stem Japanese Eatery (Silver); Sushi Hil (Bronze); Toshi Sushi; Yuji’s from Japan
Best Korean
Jejudo Restaurant
Finalists: Hanwoori Korean Restaurant (Bronze); Jess’ Restaurant; Royal Seoul House Restaurant; So Hyang Korean Cuisine; Sura Korean Cuisine; Zoomak Korean Tavern (Silver)
Best Latin American
Suyo Modern Peruvian
Finalists: Chancho Tortilleria (Bronze); Cuchillo; La Mezcaleria; Monarca Cocina Mexicana (Silver); Ophelia
Best Middle Eastern
Delara
Finalists: Moltaqa Moroccan Restaurant; Tamam: Fine Palestinian Cuisine (Bronze); Yasma; Zarak (Silver)
Best Seafood
Boulevard Kitchen and Oyster Bar
Finalists: Blue Water Cafe (Silver); Bravo; Landmark Hotpot House; Mott 32 (Bronze); Oddfish Restaurant; The Fish Man
Best Steakhouse
Elisa
Finalists: Black and Blue; C-Prime; Gotham Steakhouse and Bar (Bronze); Hy’s Steakhouse and Cocktail Bar (Silver); The Victor
Best Thai
Maenam
Finalists: Baan Lao (Bronze); Longtail Kitchen; Sala Thai; Song by Kin Kao (Silver); Unchai; Zab Bite
Best Upscale
Published on Main
Finalists: AnnaLena (Silver); Boulevard Kitchen and Oyster Bar; Elisa; Hawksworth; L’Abbatoir; Mott 32; St. Lawrence (Bronze)
Best Vietnamese
Crab Hot Lau
Finalists: Anh and Chi (Bronze); Bánh Mì Très Bon; Hội An Café; Mr Red Café; Pho 37; Wooden Fish (Silver)
Best West Coast
AnnaLena
Finalists: Blue Water Cafe; Botanist (Bronze); Boulevard Kitchen and Oyster Bar (Silver); Bravo; Burdock and Co.
Van Mag Editors' Awards
- Best Date Night: Chambar
- Best Patio: Ancora
- Best Private Room: Homer St Cafe
- Best Business Lunch: Hawksworth
- Best Happy Hour: The Chickadee Room
- Best Special Occasion: Kissa Tanto
- Best Any Occasion: Nightingale
Hall of Fame Awards
- Cactus Club
- Chef Robert Clark
- Bradner Farms
Reader’s Choice Division
- Best Brunch: Cafe 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 2 Buns
- Best Dim Sum: Dynasty Seafood
- Best Fried Chicken: Downlow Chicken Shack
- Best Hot Pot: Happy Lamb Hot Pot
- Best Pasta: Ask for Luigi
- Best Pizza: Via Tevere Pizzeria
- Best Ramen: Ramen Danbo
- Best Sandwich: Meat and Bread
- Best Seafood: Blue Water Cafe
- Best Steak: Elisa
- Best Sushi: Miku
- Best Tacos: 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: Dachi
- Best Kerrisdale: Bufala
- Best Kitsilano: AnnaLena
- Best Mount Pleasant: Anh and Chi
- Best Olympic Village: Ophelia
- Best West End: Maxine’s Cafe and Bar
- Best Yaletown: Homer St. Cafe and Bar
- Best Neighbourhood 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: Row Fourteen at Klippers Organics
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