The Chinese Restaurant Awards (CRA) today announces the final results of its 2026 Asia Awards, naming the Elite 25 Asia, Essential 25 Asia, three Chinese-Inspired award-winning restaurants and five individual honourees. Together, the results celebrate the restaurants and people shaping Chinese dining across Asia, beyond Mainland China.
The Chairman, Hong Kong takes the No. 1 position on Elite 25 Asia, followed by Yun and WING, both in Hong Kong. Sun Hon Kee Restaurant (Hong Kong) leads Essential 25 Asia, with Ming Fu (Taipei), at No. 2 and Kamcentre Roast Goose (Hong Kong) at No. 3.
This final rankings list follows the earlier announcement of 100 Asia Honourees (the finalists) — 50 each for Elite 25 Asia and Essential 25 Asia — spanning Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, Thailand and the Philippines. These extended lists remain a guide to broader discovery.
“We started the Chinese Restaurant Awards in 2008 to bring greater attention to the variety and quality of Chinese dining. That purpose continues as we look across Asia,” says Rae Kung, CEO of the Chinese Restaurant Awards. “Chinese dining is not represented by one kind of restaurant or one idea of excellence. Because of this, Elite 25 Asia recognizes restaurants taking Chinese gastronomy forward, while Essential 25 Asia celebrates neighbourhood favourites and the everyday pleasures of Chinese dining. We want diners to discover both — and to understand the craft, the dishes, people and traditions behind a memorable meal.”
WHERE TASTE LEADS
Selected by 30 members of the Asia Taste Advisors Panel, the Awards place exceptional taste above all else. Advisors first assess the taste and quality of the food, before considering consistency, hospitality and the overall dining experience.
The results reflect the many expressions of Chinese cuisine across the region: Cantonese, Hakka, Ningbo, Taizhou, Teochew, Shunde and Taiwanese cooking, alongside the distinctive Chinese dining traditions that have developed in Singapore, Malaysia and Japan.
ASIA
Premier Visionary Award of the Year
The Premier Visionary Award recognizes an individual whose contribution, leadership, innovation, or strategic vision has driven meaningful change in Chinese dining — inspiring the next generation of industry leaders.
Vicky Cheng – WING and VEA Restaurants, Hong Kong, and K by Vicky Cheng, Bangkok
Rising Star Chef of the Year
Melissa Tsang – Summer Pavilion, The Ritz-Carlton, Millennia Singapore, Singapore
Cantonese Barbeque Chef of the Year
Fung Ho Tong – Kamcentre Roast Goose, Hong Kong
Dim Sum Chef of the Year
Lam Kwok Wai – Forum Restaurant, Hong Kong
Master Chef of the Year
Tam Kwok Fung – Chef Tam’s Seasons, Wynn Palace, Macau
“These honours also bring attention to the people behind the food,” adds Kung. “Chinese dining depends on skills developed over years, as well as the willingness to pass them on to the next generation. In addition, to have the confidence to bring new ideas to the table.”
Chinese-Inspired Awards
Three award-winning restaurants (ranked)
The Chinese-Inspired Awards recognize restaurants whose identities extend beyond traditional Chinese cuisine, yet whose cooking draws meaningfully on its ingredients, techniques and food traditions. Through creativity and skill, these restaurants interpret Chinese culinary heritage within a broader, contemporary dining experience.
The three winners demonstrate how Chinese culinary influences can take on new forms, opening another avenue for diners to explore their reach and relevance.
Essential 25 ASIA (Final ranked list)
Essential 25 Asia celebrates neighbourhood institutions, local favourites and distinctive restaurants whose food makes them an essential part of a city’s dining landscape.
At No. 1, Sun Hon Kee Restaurant in Hong Kong celebrates Hakka cooking. Ming Fu Taiwanese Cuisine & Seafood in Taipei takes No. 2 with its modern Chinese cuisine, followed by Kamcentre Roast Goose at No. 3. Din Tai Fung’s Xinyi Road location in Taipei and Leung Shun Hing in Hong Kong round out the top five.
The list highlights dishes from a diverse selection of restaurants that serve dishes such as roast goose,seafood to beef noodles, braised pork rice, and sesame oil kidney. It recognizes the regional character of Chinese dining through restaurants including Gerai Makanan Sai Kee and Hai Kah Lang in Malaysia, and Sosakumenkobo NAKIRYU in Tokyo.
Elite 25 ASIA (Final ranked list)
Elite 25 Asia recognizes restaurants distinguished by exceptional cooking. It is Chinese gastronomy at its highest level.
The Chairman leads the ranking, with Chinese omakase Yun at No. 2 and modern Chinese restaurant WING at No. 3. Macau’s Jade Dragon and Hong Kong’s Yong Fu complete the top five.
The list brings established masters and contemporary voices together, from Chef Tam’s Seasons in Macau and Silks House in Taipei to Sazenka in Tokyo, Summer Pavilion in Singapore and The China House by Chef Fei in Bangkok.
All ballots underwent a final conflict-of-interest review after voting closed. Taste Advisors declared any relationships with restaurants under consideration and recused themselves from related votes. For more details, see How the Awards Are Decided.
The Asia results follow the announcement of the Chinese Restaurant Awards’ Canada and United States honours in September 2026. Co-created with Taste Advisors who know their local dining scenes intimately, the Awards offer the dining public a guide to exploring Chinese cuisine in greater depth across two continents — Asia and North America. Together, these selections introduce diners to regional flavours, everyday favourites and exceptional restaurants, alongside the people behind them.
“As the Chinese Restaurant Awards continues to grow internationally, our founding mission remains unchanged: to celebrate culinary excellence, give chefs and restaurateurs the recognition they deserve, and help diners discover outstanding Chinese restaurants and the dishes worth discovering,” adds Kung.
For more information, Winners’ Profiles, Awards Standards and introductions to the Asia Taste Advisors, please visit www.chineserestaurantawards.com