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What are the best restaurants in Vancouver of 2024?
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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 Yea** r: AnnaLena
* **Chef of the Year** : Lee Cooper (L'Abattoir)
* **Pastry Chef of the Yea** r: 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 was named Vancouver's Best Chain Restaurant of 2024. Photo:
@nookrestaurant
**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 was named the Best Casual Italian Restaurant. Photo:
Lindsay William-Ross/V.I.A.
**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 was named Best Thai. Lindsay William-Ross/V.I.A.
**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
Anh and Chi was named the Readers' Choice for Best Mount Pleasant
Restaurant of 2024. Photo by Leila Kwok
* **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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