World Cuisines • Restaurant Sector Awards
Chinese Restaurant Awards
Honouring the regional kitchens, master chefs and hospitality teams who carry one of the world's great culinary traditions onto the global stage.
A Living Culinary Tradition
Celebrating the Depth and Diversity of Chinese Dining
Few cuisines command the breadth of Chinese cooking. From the fiery numbing heat of Sichuan and the delicate steam of a Cantonese dim sum trolley to the smoke-kissed wok hei of a master's stove and the careful theatre of Peking duck carved tableside, Chinese restaurants hold a place in dining culture that is at once everyday and extraordinary. The Chinese Restaurant Awards exist to recognise the kitchens and teams who treat this heritage not as a fixed recipe but as a living craft, refined nightly across eight great regional schools and countless family traditions.
This recognition matters because excellence in Chinese dining is often hidden in plain sight. The most accomplished restaurants may be a discreet banquet hall, a generations-old noodle house, or a sleek contemporary dining room reinterpreting classic technique for a new audience. Our awards bring these establishments the considered, independent recognition they deserve, judged on the merits of cuisine, service and hospitality rather than on marketing reach or fashion.
As part of the broader restaurant sectors programme and our wider World Cuisines family, the Chinese Restaurant Awards give chefs, owners and front-of-house teams a credible benchmark of distinction, and give discerning guests a trusted compass to the finest tables.
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The Honours
What We Recognise
Six dedicated honours within the Chinese Restaurant Awards, each shaped to reflect a distinct dimension of culinary and hospitality achievement.
Chinese Restaurant of the Year
Our flagship honour, awarded to the establishment that best unites authentic regional technique, refined service and a memorable sense of place across an entire dining experience.
Best New Chinese Restaurant
For an opening within the past two years that has already established a confident identity, a precise kitchen and a clear point of view on Chinese dining.
Award for Culinary Excellence
Recognising sustained mastery of craft, where knife work, wok control, seasoning and consistency reflect the highest standards of the kitchen brigade.
Rising Star Chinese Restaurant
For an ambitious team on a clear upward trajectory, balancing respect for tradition with the energy and ideas that signal a future leader of the sector.
Best Chinese Menu
Honouring thoughtful menu craft, from a well-judged dim sum selection and balanced banquet to seasonal sourcing, regional depth and a considered tea and wine pairing.
Best Guest Experience
For the warmth, attentiveness and grace of front-of-house, where service feels both genuinely hospitable and seamlessly orchestrated from welcome to farewell.
Eligibility
Who Should Enter
The Chinese Restaurant Awards welcome establishments of every format, from intimate neighbourhood kitchens to landmark banquet halls.
Cantonese & Dim Sum Houses
Specialists in roast meats, fresh seafood and the daily ritual of yum cha and the steaming trolley.
Sichuan & Hunan Kitchens
Restaurants built on bold, layered heat, fragrant chillies and the celebrated ma-la balance.
Hot Pot & Communal Dining
Venues centred on the shared table, premium broths and theatrical, social eating.
Northern & Dumpling Specialists
Houses devoted to hand-pulled noodles, dumplings, breads and the hearty cooking of the north.
Modern & Fine-Dining Chinese
Contemporary dining rooms reinterpreting classic technique for a refined tasting-menu format.
Banquet & Celebration Venues
Grand spaces hosting weddings, festivals and multi-course banquets at scale and with ceremony.
Hotel & Resort Chinese Outlets
Signature Chinese restaurants within luxury hotels and resorts delivering destination dining.
Chef-Led & Family Restaurants
Owner-operated kitchens where personal vision and generational recipes define the table.
The Reward
Benefits of Winning
Independent, Credible Recognition
A win carries the weight of an impartial international jury, signalling to guests, critics and partners that your kitchen stands among the very best in Chinese dining.
Visibility That Drives Bookings
Featured placement across our winners' platform and press outreach puts your restaurant in front of an audience actively seeking exceptional tables.
Team Pride & Retention
Recognition is a powerful tribute to the chefs and front-of-house teams whose craft defines your reputation, strengthening morale and loyalty.
A Lasting Marketing Asset
Display the official emblem across your menus, windows, website and social channels to reinforce trust and distinction long after the ceremony.
How Entries Are Assessed
Judging Criteria
Every nomination is evaluated by our independent panel against six clear, consistently applied criteria, ensuring that recognition reflects genuine and well-rounded excellence.
- Cuisine & Craft — authenticity of technique, quality of ingredients, seasoning, wok skill and overall flavour.
- Service & Hospitality — attentiveness, knowledge, warmth and the pacing of a multi-course experience.
- Ambience & Setting — the atmosphere, design and sense of occasion that frame the meal.
- Consistency — reliable standards across the menu, across services and over time.
- Innovation — thoughtful creativity that honours tradition while moving it forward.
- Guest Experience — the complete journey from reservation and welcome through to a memorable farewell.
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Good to Know
Frequently Asked Questions
Explore related honours: Japanese Restaurant Awards, all restaurant sectors, or browse dining excellence across our awards programme and the Asia region.