Chinese Restaurant Awards Reveal 2026 Asia Winners
The organization recognized culinary excellence across its Elite and Essential 25 Asia lists.
Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Chinese Food
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The Chinese Restaurant Awards has announced its 2026 Asia winners, highlighting restaurants and chefs shaping Chinese dining across the region. The recognition spans two major categories, the Elite 25 Asia and the Essential 25 Asia.
Why it matters
The awards aim to celebrate establishments and individuals who define Chinese cuisine standards beyond Mainland China. This year’s honors were selected from a group of 100 finalists spanning eight different regions.
The Elite and Essential 25 Asia lists represent the top selections from an initial pool of 100 finalists. Notable representation includes three Bangkok restaurants appearing on the Elite 25 Asia list.
The players
The Chairman
This Hong Kong establishment achieved the first-place ranking in the Elite 25 Asia list.
Sun Hon Kee Restaurant
Located in Hong Kong, this restaurant earned the top position in the Essential 25 Asia category.
Vicky Cheng
Cheng was honored with the Premier Visionary Award of the Year for contributions to the industry.
Tam Kwok Fung
Based in Macau, Fung received the Master Chef of the Year title.
Melissa Tsang
Tsang was recognized as the Rising Star Chef of the Year for her emerging influence in the field.
The details
The Chairman in Hong Kong secured the top spot on the Elite 25 Asia list, while Sun Hon Kee Restaurant, also in Hong Kong, ranked first in the Essential 25 Asia category. Individual honors were awarded to several industry leaders, including Vicky Cheng for Premier Visionary of the Year and Tam Kwok Fung for Master Chef of the Year.
Timeline
The 2026 Asia award results were announced on October 26, 2026.
Culture Shift
These awards follow the precedent set by the Chinese Restaurant Awards' regional expansion initiative, which seeks to formalize and quantify culinary quality in diverse international markets. The shift highlights a growing global focus on regional variations of Chinese cuisine as they evolve in major Asian hubs.
Diners in regions like Hong Kong, Bangkok, and Singapore can use these rankings to identify top-tier culinary destinations for their next meal. Enthusiasts of Chinese cuisine can also follow the careers of award-winning chefs like Vicky Cheng or Tam Kwok Fung to track their latest menu innovations.
The takeaway
The diverse list of honorees underscores how Chinese culinary traditions are being reinterpreted and elevated across Asia. Food enthusiasts can look for these award-winning restaurants when traveling to verify the high standards set by this year's panel of judges.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest trends and global culinary developments in Chinese Food.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Bangkok Post.
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