Vancouver, BC, July 7, 2026 - The Chinese Restaurant Awards (CRA) enters a bold new chapter for its 17th year, expanding beyond Canada to recognize Chinese culinary excellence across North America. The 2026 Awards ceremony will be held on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at Vancouver’s Fairmont Pacific Rim. To celebrate the annual list announcement, the CRA will also present its second annual Dim Sum Gala, presented by Scotia Wealth Management in the evening. Tickets are now available online.
This year’s Dim Sum Gala is themed “Pearl City Splendor,” transporting guests into the elegance of old Hong Kong and Shanghai supper clubs through a refined multi-course yum cha experience. The evening will explore both the cultural depth and contemporary evolution of dim sum — from the heritage-driven expressions of premium aged tangerine peel (“chenpi”) from Xinhui, China, presented by Chinese Executive Chef Li Chi Wai and Dim Sum Head Chef Cheuk Ka Ching of Michelin one-star The Legacy House at Rosewood Hong Kong, to the bold and personal interpretations of 2025 Dim Sum Chef of the Year Garley Leung of Dynasty Seafood Restaurant, 2025 Canadian Culinary Champion Alex Kim of Five Sails Restaurant, and 2022 & 2023 new wave talent Toby Chen of Chinese Restaurant Awards.
The evening will also feature pairings from The Dalmore whisky, Granriviera Mimosa, and Mt. Boucherie wines, creating an elevated and immersive dim sum dining experience.
“As Chinese cuisine continues to evolve across North America, we felt it was important for the Chinese Restaurant Awards to expand alongside it with the launch of our first Chinese dining guide spanning the U.S., alongside our established lists in Canada and Asia,” says Lee Man, founding judge of the Chinese Restaurant Awards. “Our priority has always been the dining public. We want to create a comprehensive dining guide shaped by Taste Advisors who deeply understand Chinese food and regional Chinese cuisines. Whether it’s helping longtime diners rediscover restaurants or guiding new audiences to where they can experience the best Chinese food, we want the Awards to remain a trusted reference for how and where to dine well, and what signature dishes to order.”
“At Scotia Wealth Management, we’re proud to support initiatives that celebrate cultural heritage and bring communities together,” says Amit Brahme, Vice President, Strategic Cultural Segments, Scotia Wealth Management. “The Dim Sum Gala continues to elevate the conversation around Chinese cuisine and its growing cultural influence, creating connections through food, culture, and shared experiences.”
Rae Kung, CEO of the Chinese Restaurant Awards, says: “Promoting and preserving Chinese culinary culture continues to be the heart of our mission. This year’s award recipients represent a new chapter in the evolving story of Chinese cuisine, bringing outstanding restaurants and culinary talent to one of the industry’s most important stages. Through Dim Sum Gala, we hope to showcase that yum cha is far more than a dining experience; it is a cultural memory, a living tradition of craftsmanship, and a platform for storytelling and connection.”
The Dim Sum Gala chefs include:
- Executive Chinese Chef Li Chi Wai of Michelin one-star The Legacy House at Rosewood Hong Kong — ranked No. 1 on The World’s 50 Best Hotels — brings more than two decades of Cantonese culinary experience, specializing in refined Shunde regional cuisine. His career includes notable tenures at MGM Macau and MGM Cotai.
- Dim Sum Head Chef Cheuk Ka Ching of Michelin one-star The Legacy House at Rosewood Hong Kong — ranked No. 1 on The World’s 50 Best Hotels — with over 25 years of experience in the industry, has crafted countless delicate dim sum creations for Hong Kong’s most discerning diners elevated the art of Cantonese dim sum to new heights.
- Chef Garley Leung, Dim Sum Head of 2025 Elite 30 CANADA No.1 restaurant Dynasty Seafood Restaurant, was named 2025 Dim Sum Chef of the Year. Born in Hong Kong, Leung began his culinary journey in the 1970s apprenticing in northern-style dim sum at Hong Kong’s Peking Garden. When he arrived in Vancouver in 1981, he became part of the city’s first wave of dim sum chefs.
- Alex Kim, Culinary Director of Five Sails Restaurant,is the 2025 Canadian Culinary Champion, BC Regional Gold Medalist, and runner-up on Top Chef Canada Season 12. Born in Seoul, Kim’s culinary foundation was shaped by his grandmother in Korea and refined through collaborations with international chefs. His cuisine highlights the richness of British Columbia through locally sourced ingredients.
- Chef Toby Chen returns to the Dim Sum Gala after being recognized as an emerging talent at the 2022 Master Chef Gala. A graduate of the Vancouver Community College Asian Culinary Arts program, Chen was formerly chef de cuisine at the now-closed Missing Chopsticks and is currently part of the culinary team at Fairmont Pacific Rim’s Botanist.
17th Annual Chinese Restaurant Awards’ Dim Sum Gala
Date: Wednesday, September 23, 2026 | Time: Reception at 6 p.m., Dinner at 7 p.m.
Location: Fairmont Pacific Rim - 1038 Canada Pl, Vancouver, BC V6C 0B9
Tickets: $450 per individual seat; $4,200 for a table of ten | Ticket Link: online (Limited to 200 seats; including The Dalmore whisky tasting and cocktail experience, and premium BC wine pairing)
The 2026 Chinese Restaurant Awards North America winners will be announced in Vancouver at the afternoon ceremony on September 23, followed by the announcement of the annual Asia list in November, marking the organization’s continued international expansion.
For more information about the Chinese Restaurant Awards & the Dim Sum Gala, please visit www.chineserestaurantawards.com.
