Vancouver, B.C.,  September 8, 2026 — The 2026 Chinese Restaurant Awards (CRA) North America today unveiled its Top 50 Honourees, the finalists for this year's Elite 30 Canada Awards. The ranked Elite 30 Canada — recognizing the country's finest Chinese and Taiwanese restaurants — will be announced at the CRA's 17th Annual Awards Ceremony on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, at the Fairmont Pacific Rim in Vancouver.

This is a milestone year for the Chinese Restaurant Awards. Following the launch of its Canada and Asia Guide in 2025, the CRA expands into the United States in 2026, extending a mission that began in Vancouver and now celebrates world-class Chinese and Taiwanese cuisine across North America and Asia.

"The Chinese Restaurant Awards have never been about ranking restaurants for the sake of ranking," says Rae Kung, Managing Director of the Chinese Restaurant Awards. "Our goal is to help diners discover truly exceptional Chinese and Taiwanese restaurants, while recognizing the people whose passion and craftsmanship continue to elevate the cuisine around the world."

Elite 30 Canada Awards

The Elite 30 Canada Awards are selected by the Canada Taste Advisors Panel, chaired by founding judge Lee Man. Expanded from 15 to 21 advisors this year, the diverse panel has enjoyed meals at restaurants that represent a variety of regional cuisines at cities across Canada.

"Our advisors have a great understanding of Chinese cuisine because they've spent a lifetime experiencing its flavours, the unique traditions, and regional nuances and complexities," says Lee Man.

The Awards place exceptional taste above all else. Advisors first evaluate the quality and execution of the food before considering consistency, hospitality, and the overall dining experience. This creates a guide designed first and foremost for diners.

This year, 12 of the Top 50 Honourees are first-time finalists, reflecting the continued evolution of Chinese and Taiwanese dining across Canada. Metro Vancouver leads with 31 Honourees, while the Greater Toronto Area has 15. Calgary has two Honourees, Montreal returns with Oncle Lee Kăo, and Ottawa is represented by Bite & Bite Shanghai Fried Bun.

As the Chinese Restaurant Awards continues to grow internationally, its purpose remains unchanged: to celebrate culinary excellence, give greater recognition to chefs and restaurateurs, and help diners discover the best Chinese and Taiwanese dining experiences.

Top 50 Honourees — Finalists for the Elite 30 Canada Awards   (alphabetic order)
*12 new restaurants are listed for the first time

aKin — Toronto ｜ Modern Asian, Tasting Menu

Bamboo Grove — Richmond ｜ Cantonese

Belle Isle — Toronto ｜ Chinese-inspired *new

Bite & Bite Shanghai Fried Bun — Ottawa ｜ Shanghainese *new

Car's Dessert — Richmond ｜ Hong Kong-Style Desserts

Cha Kee — Richmond｜ Hong Kong-Style Café

Chang'An Restaurant — Vancouver ｜ Shaanxi / Xi'an

Chef's Choice Seafood Restaurant — Vancouver ｜ Cantonese *new

Chinatown BBQ — Vancouver ｜ Cantonese BBQ

Day&Night Angus Beef · King Crab — Scarborough ｜ Cantonese *new

Din Tai Fung — Vancouver ｜ Taiwanese / Shanghainese Dim Sum

Dynasty Seafood Restaurant — Vancouver ｜ Cantonese, Dim Sum

Fishman Lobster Clubhouse — Scarborough ｜ Cantonese Seafood

Flavourful House — Richmond Hill ｜ Cantonese

Geng Shi Ji — Richmond ｜ Hunan

Golden Paramount Seafood Restaurant — Richmond ｜ Cantonese / Shunde & Dim Sum

Gol's Lanzhou Noodle — North York ｜ Lanzhou Hand-Pulled Noodles

Happy Family Restaurant — Vancouver ｜ Cantonese *new

HK BBQ Master — Richmond ｜ Cantonese BBQ

iDen & Quan Ju De Beijing Duck House — Vancouver ｜ Northern Chinese / Peking Duck

Jiangnan Wok — Richmond ｜ Jiangnan / Huaiyang

Jumbo Lobster Restaurant — Richmond Hill ｜ Cantonese Seafood

Kalvin's Szechuan Restaurant — Vancouver ｜ Taiwanese / Szechuan

Kingwell Roasted BBQ — Calgary ｜ Cantonese BBQ *new

Lady 3 Kitchen — Vancouver ｜ Hong Kong style  Rice Pot / Cantonese Home-style *new

Lai Wah Heen — Toronto ｜ Contemporary Cantonese / Dim Sum

Landmark Hotpot House — Vancouver ｜ Hong Kong-Style Hotpot

Lanxuan Restaurant — Richmond ｜ Cantonese and Dim Sum 

Long's Noodle — Richmond ｜ Shanghainese

Loon Fong Hot Pot — Richmond and Richmond Hill ｜ Hong Kong-Style Hotpot

Master Beef Hot Pot — Calgary ｜ Hot Pot (Alberta Beef Specialty)

Master Hung BBQ Restaurant — Richmond ｜ Cantonese BBQ / Cantonese *new

Max Noodle House — Richmond ｜ Cantonese Noodles & Congee

Memory Corner — Richmond and Burquitlam ｜ Taiwanese

Mimi Chinese — Toronto ｜ Modern Chinese 

Miss Qu Barbecue & Restaurant — Scarborough and Richmond Hill ｜ Sichuan / Chongqing Jianghu BBQ

MOTT 32 — Vancouver and Toronto｜ Modern Chinese & Dim Sum

Nian Yi Kuai Zi — Markham and Scarborough ｜ Sichuan

Northern Dumpling Kitchen — Richmond Hill ｜ Northern Chinese (Dumplings & Noodles) *new

Oncle Lee Kăo — Montreal ｜ Modern Chinese

Osmanthus Chinese Fusion Restaurant — Richmond ｜ Jiangnan / Shanghainese Fusion

R&D — Toronto ｜ Modern Canadian Asian

Sea Harbour Restaurant — Richmond ｜ Cantonese & Dim Sum

Southern Delicacy — Vancouver ｜ Cantonese *new

Sunnys Chinese — Toronto ｜ Modern Chinese *new

The Fish Man — Richmond ｜ Sichuan / Cantonese Seafood

The Jade Seafood Restaurant — Richmond ｜ Cantonese & Dim Sum

Wonton Hut — Markham ｜ Hong Kong-Style Wonton Noodle House

Xi'an Flavour — Richmond ｜ Shaanxi / Xi'an

Yuan's Garden Restaurant — Richmond ｜ Shanghainese / Nanjinese / Huaiyang *new

The 21 Canada Taste Advisors (Listed in alphabetic order)
Note: All ballots underwent a final conflict-of-interest review after voting closed. Advisors declared any relationships with restaurants under consideration and recused themselves from related votes. See “How the Awards are Decided” for more details.

Lee Man — Chair of Judging Panel

Bernice Chan, freelance journalist and cultural writer of South China Morning Post - Vancouver

Carmen Chan, Singtao A1 Chinese Radio Host and sake sommelier - Toronto 

Jennifer Kwan, Yelp Elite Reviewer - Toronto

Leslie Yip, VP Business Solutions of Singtao Media - Toronto

Ling Chu, Restaurant Critic - Fairchild Radio - Vancouver

Peter Hum, Restaurant Critic - Ottawa Citizen - Ottawa

Renée Suen, Restaurant Critic - Toronto

Influencers and frequent diners: 

Canmen (Sam Lung, Tat San Hui, Wingo Chan), Youtuber - Vancouver and Calgary

Dr. Peter Chan, Monarch Dental Centre - Vancouver 

Jacob Ung, Vice-President of Liver Canada’s BC Region  - Vancouver

Jenice Yu, CEO of eatFish.ca - Vancouver

John Ho, F&B logistic specialist - Toronto

Johnny Cheng, CPA accountant - Toronto

Leon Ng, Founder of LNG Studios - Vancouver

Patricia Lau, Content Creator  - Calgary - @miss.foodie 

Tony Kwan, Partner of PLLR Lawyers - Vancouver

Plus one Taste Advisor who chooses to stay anonymous.

The Elite 30 Canada Awards, the top 30 ranked restaurants drawn from Canada's Top 50 Honourees list, will be unveiled at Fairmont Pacific Rim in Vancouver, Canada on Wednesday, September 23, 2026. This year also marks the expansion of the Signature Dish Awards to cover all of Canada, presented as the 12 Signature Dish Awards. They will be presented alongside the US distinctions, including the Elite 12 United States and a slate of individual awards. These include the Premier Visionary Award, Rising Star Chef of the Year, Dim Sum Chef of the Year, and Master Chef of the Year, each conferred separately in the Canada and US regions.

For more information, the Awards Standards and introduction of the Taste Advisors, please visitwww.chineserestaurantawards.com.

TORONTO — A Canadian-first is coming to Toronto with the launch of Renso Pho-Potle, a new fast-casual restaurant concept that combines the bold, aromatic flavours of Vietnamese pho cuisine with a fully customizable, build-your-own dining experience.

Opening in October at 506 Queen Street West in Toronto, Renso Pho-Potle reimagines pho for a modern, urban crowd, combining speed, an individualized approach and bold flavours in a format designed for today’s diner. Pho is at the heart of the meal, but re-imagined. Renso Pho-Potle is introducing dry pho alongside traditional broth-based bowls, with a bold, flavour-forward take that respects the spirit of pho in a new format.

“We saw an opportunity to bring something new to Canada, taking a dish people already love and making it more accessible, customizable and fast,” says Linda Vu, founder of Renso Pho-Potle. “This is just the beginning. Our goal is to build Renso Pho-Potle into a concept that can grow in communities across the country.”

Renso Pho-Potle is the latest food and service innovation from Renso Group, one of North America’s leading providers of authentic Asian foods and food products, specializing in Vietnamese agriculture. The introduction of the “pho-potle” model to Toronto is a concept years in the making, starting with Renso preparing low-margin food products that are premium in a high-cost industry.

This newest take on fast-casual dining creates a tailored dining experience that is designed to be intuitive and approachable. The “pho-potle” approach puts the customer in complete control of their dish, choosing their broth, protein, rice and flavourful toppings for a truly unique and bespoke dish.

“We’ve worked carefully to honour the flavours that make pho so distinctive, while adapting them into a format that fits modern lifestyles,” says Chef Bich Nguyen.  “It’s about balancing the integrity of the ingredients while making the experience simple and engaging for guests.”

Adding to the unique element of Renso Pho-Potle is a gathering space in the restaurant for hosting events, pop-ups, tastings and community nights — including special event nights lead by Renso Pho-Potle chefs to educate people on pho.

For more information, please visit www.rensophopotle.ca.

DALLAS, Sept. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- TGI Fridays™, the iconic global restaurant and bar brand, today announced the signing of a landmark development agreement with Devolli Group, one of the Balkans' leading diversified business groups, marking the brand's first-ever expansion into Kosovo, Albania and North Macedonia.

The agreement represents a significant milestone in TGI Fridays' international growth strategy and reinforces the brand's global momentum as it continues to scale through its franchise-first development model. As part of the partnership, Devolli Group will develop 10 TGI Fridays™ restaurants across the three markets and has secured exclusive rights to sub-franchise the brand throughout the territory, creating a platform for long-term expansion across Southeast Europe. The partnership lays the foundation for long-term growth across the Balkans, bringing TGI Fridays'™ bar-forward atmosphere, bold and craveable menu, and high-energy dining experience to guests across Kosovo, Albania and North Macedonia.

This development agreement is the latest milestone in TGI Fridays'™ ambitious 1-2-3 Strategic Vision to operate more than 1,000 restaurants worldwide by 2030. Over the past nine months alone, TGI Fridays™ has accelerated its international expansion by signing new development agreements in Kenya and the Maldives, while extending strategic partnerships to drive continued growth across Peru, Japan, Mexico, the Philippines, Greece, Cyprus and Spain. Collectively, these agreements have added more than 150 restaurants to the brand's global development pipeline, reinforcing the strength of TGI Fridays'™ international franchise network and demonstrating the continued global demand for one of the world's most iconic casual dining brands.

For more than 60 years, TGI Fridays™ has been bringing people together through great food, handcrafted drinks and unforgettable celebrations. The Balkans, with its rich tradition of hospitality, vibrant social culture and strong sense of community, represents a natural next chapter for the brand's international growth.

As one of Europe's fastest-growing tourism and hospitality regions, fueled by increasing international investment, modern retail developments and evolving consumer demand, the Balkans presents an exciting opportunity to introduce the iconic TGI Fridays™ experience to a new generation of guests across Kosovo, Albania and North Macedonia. Beyond expanding consumer choice, the partnership is expected to create new employment opportunities, invest in local hospitality talent and contribute to the continued growth of the region's foodservice, tourism and visitor economy while bringing the unmistakable Fridays spirit to one of Europe's most dynamic emerging markets.

"The Balkans represent one of Europe's most exciting growth opportunities, combining entrepreneurial energy, a thriving hospitality sector and a culture that values gathering around the table. Those qualities align perfectly with what TGI Fridays™ has stood for since day one," said Phil Broad, Global President, TGI Fridays™. "Devolli Group is the right partner to introduce TGI Fridays™ to the Balkans. Their market expertise, operational excellence and long-term vision give us tremendous confidence in what we can build together. This partnership not only expands our international footprint, but also advances our 1-2-3 Strategic Vision as we continue bringing the Fridays experience to new guests around the world."

Blerim Devolli, President of Devolli Group, added:

"We are proud to bring TGI Fridays, one of the world's most recognized American casual dining restaurant brands, to Albania, Kosovo, and North Macedonia. This partnership reflects our commitment to investing in world-class brands and delivering exceptional hospitality experiences across the region. We look forward to building a strong, long-term business that creates new opportunities, develops local talent, and brings a globally recognized dining experience to our customers and communities."

The addition of the Balkans further strengthens TGI Fridays'™ European footprint, complementing its established operations in Greece, Cyprus, Spain, Norway and the United Kingdom. The agreement reflects the continued momentum of TGI Fridays'™ franchise-first growth strategy, expanding into high-potential markets through experienced local partners. Guided by its "1-2-3 Strategic Vision," the brand remains focused on accelerating global expansion while delivering the iconic Fridays experience with consistency, quality and local relevance.

As TGI Fridays™ enters the Balkans for the first time, the partnership with Devolli Group marks more than expansion into a new region, it begins a long-term commitment to investing in local communities, creating opportunities and bringing the unmistakable Fridays spirit to a new generation of guests across Southeast Europe. Because wherever TGI Fridays goes, every day should feel a little more like Friday.

For more information: www.tgifridays.com/franchise/

SUMMERLAND, B.C. – September 2, 2026 – Chopped Leaf is donating $20,000 to the Canadian Red Cross B.C. Wildfire Appeal following a weeklong fundraising campaign that saw customers across Canada and the U.S. come together to support communities affected by wildfires. The campaign was especially meaningful for the brand’s B.C. franchisees, employees and customers, many of whom have been directly affected by the fires.

“It’s been an incredibly difficult few weeks, and there are still so many people who are dealing with uncertainty about their homes, their businesses and what comes next,” said Lara Scarfo, Chopped Leaf franchisee in Summerland. “Coming back to the restaurant and getting ready to reopen feels like an important step toward normal, but we know many people are still in a very different place. I’m so grateful to everyone who bought a Chopped Water and helped us raise this money. Sometimes, a small gesture can make a meaningful difference.”

Scarfo knows that uncertainty firsthand. Summerland was evacuated as wildfires threatened the community, temporarily forcing her from her home. Now back in Summerland, she has reopened her restaurant as the community begins to recover.

“We saw an opportunity to turn something as simple as buying a Chopped Water into meaningful support,” said Nick Veloce, President & COO, Chopped Leaf. “As a Canadian brand that started in Kelowna, supporting our B.C. communities is especially close to our hearts. Chopped Water gave our guests an easy way to make a difference and seeing that support come together across our restaurants has been incredibly meaningful. We’re grateful that we can turn that generosity into $20,000 for wildfire relief.”

From August 17–23, Chopped Leaf donated 100% of proceeds from Chopped Water sales at its more than 120 restaurants to wildfire relief efforts. The donation will support the Canadian Red Cross and its wildfire relief efforts, helping communities and individuals affected by the fires.