Organised by presenter Gok Wan, the first ever Golden Chopsticks Awards took place last night, celebrating the best of the UK’s Oriental food industry. Celebrity chef Ken Hom led the judging panel for this years event, and also included TV chefs Ching-He Huang, Jeremy Pang and Simon Rimmer, among others. The judges whittled down the entrants to just 16 award winners. We take a look at some of the best Oriental food spots they chose!

Dragon Inn Club, based in London, won the Best Newcomer award. While the upmarket Sichuanese restaurant only opened in October 2017, the establishment evokes 8thcentury China through the décor choices, with antique wood, bamboo and antique decorations and red lanterns adorning the walls. Set across two floors, the upstairs flaunts an open kitchen, which is unusual for Chinese restaurants, while the basement provides a darker, late-night setting, perfect for the inventive cocktails they have on offer.

The Golden Chopsticks Best Resturant in England

Describing themselves as London’s top destination for Chinese cuisine, Jinli certainly pride themselves on their exquisite traditional Chinese dishes – and rightly so! Set in the heart of Central London, Jinli is a bustling and vibrant spot with a great atmosphere that draws in a varied crowd.

The Golden Chopsticks Best Restaurant in Wales

While searching for a truly authentic Chinese cuisine experience in Swansea, Gigi Gao’s decided to fill the gap, offering up authenticity that will create a truly memorable dining experience. Although on the small side, the restaurant always has a great atmosphere, made even better by the Shanghai Jazz played in the evenings.

The Golden Chopsticks Best Restaurant in Scotland

Chaophraya in Edinburgh won the award for Best Restaurant in Scotland. Serving up a mixture of classic Thai dishes, as well as some inventive, re-imagined signature dishes, the Chaophraya offers a contemporary take on the best of Thailand. With an impressive bar, private dining areas and stunning views, it is easy to see why this restaurant was voted for!

The Golden Chopsticks Best Restaurant in Ireland

Mandarin Palace, in Derry, has been open since 1989, making it a firm favourite in the community. The restaurant has a great atmosphere, with the East meeting West in both décor style and food, paired with the stunning panoramic views out onto the river Foyle.

The winner of this award was Hot Pot. While the restaurant has over 150 branches throughout Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia, this London based branch is the first of its kind in the UK. With the saying ‘if you want something done right, then do it yourself’ in mind, this restaurant is certainly different to anything you will have experienced before. After choosing your desired meat, seafood and vegetables you can boil them in the middle of your table. It’s a great sociable activity for family and friends!

With eight restaurants dotted across London, Ping Pong serves up an impressive selection of Dim Sum. From light lunches to fun evening get-togethers, Ping Pong is the perfect place for sharing food among friends!

Starting off in 1996, The Royal China has since grown into a chain of seven restaurants throughout the London area, firmly establishing itself as an award-winning chain. Renowned for its Dim Sum, the bite-sized parcels are prepared daily by their expert team, and are only cooked to order.

The Golden Chopsticks Best Fine Dining Restaurant

Yu, in Alderley Edge, is run by already award-winning chef Victor and is certainly a place of luxury. The combination of traditional and modern cooking techniques has led to an incredible fine dining experience, complete with an incredible cocktail and a la carte menu.

Andrew Wong is the winner of the Golden Chef Award, following his success at Michelin starred restaurant A. Wong. One of the hottest chefs on the London dining scene, Wong has released a cookbook, offering modern British-Chinese meals, and has recently prepared food for big events, such as the 10 Downing Street Chinese New Year celebrations.

The community award was well-earned by the Ming-Ai Institute, who are dedicated to educating people on Chinese cultural history, including how to cook healthy Chinese food.

Who else could win this award but legendary chef Ken Hom!? Ken Hom has been the face of Chinese cookery since the early 1980s, and has been appointed as an honorary Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his ‘services to culinary arts’, making him a firm favourite among food lovers around the world!

If you have been inspired to start cooking up your own Oriental food, following the Golden Chopsticks Awards, then check out the wide range of Oriental supermarket food available online and in-store at Oriental Mart!

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