Cover Alan Lo and Yenn Wong at the Tatler Dining Awards on January 30, 2023

Last held in person in 2019, the Tatler Dining Awards marked a spirited return to normality this year with an awards ceremony that took place on January 30 at the Hong Kong Ocean Park Marriott Hotel

When?: January 30, 2022

Where?: Hong Kong Ocean Park Marriott Hotel

Who?: Syed Asim Hussain, Uwe Opocensky, Shane Osborn, Lindsay Jang, Elva Ni, Yenn Wong, Alan Lo

Here's what you missed:

Delivering glamour and camaraderie in a way that only a once-a-year gathering of industry’s best could, the ninth edition of the event celebrated the achievements of Hong Kong’s culinary community in a pivotal moment in the city’s history.

“[The pandemic] has really driven home the importance of community and togetherness,” said Gavin Yeung, Tatler’s senior dining editor, on stage. “After all, what sets the best restaurants apart is their unique ability to gather, nourish and restore at the best of times and the worst of times.”    

Since the first edition of the Tatler Dining Awards in 2013, Hong Kong and its restaurant scene have undergone seismic shifts. The awards ceremony honoured those who have thrived during times of great unpredictability and transformed the city’s food culture.

“While we will be recognising those who have excelled at their craft tonight, I want to make it clear that everyone here is a winner for the sheer amount of tenacity and determination that you’ve shown to overcome the hurdles of the pandemic. Give yourselves a round of applause,” said Yeung. Tatler’s dining editor Fontaine Cheng then proceeded to announce the Tatler Dining 20 list, an unranked collection of the city's most impactful restaurants, as well as the Best of the Year awards, which are given to those who have reigned supreme in their field in the past year. The awardees were selected from a pool of more than 160 restaurants that were reviewed and vetted by Tatler, along with industry leaders and tastemakers, as part of the Tatler Dining Guide, which is now in its 39th edition.

Shim Jung Taek of Korean fine-dining restaurant Mosu was presented with the Rising Star Award, and Ashley Salmon of farm-to-table concept Roganic was named the Sustainability Champion. The food bank and charitable organisation Feeding Hong Kong won the Impact Award, ArChan Chan of Black Sheep Restaurant Ho Lee Fook was voted Local Champion, while Vicky Lau was crowned Chef of the Year. New to this year’s awards is the Restaurant of the Year accolade, given to the highest scoring restaurant—which went to Jia Group restaurant Mono.

Mono’s general manager Mauricio Rodriguez, its chef-owner Ricardo Chaneton and Jia Group CEO Yenn Wong took to the stage to accept the award. “To open a Latin American restaurant in Asia is quite challenging—thank you for all your support,” said Rodriguez to deafening cheers from the ballroom. “It’s been a very tough year, and this is the first time that we’re seeing so many people from the industry all together. It’s a very special night.”

With hugs and smiles all around, chefs, sommeliers and restaurateurs caught up with friends and cheered in their seats as members of the community took to the stage. Throughout the evening, guests dined on a buffet of delights prepared by the hotel, including a cross-section of Asian cuisine, a sushi counter and a carving station. The Royal Caviar Club, which offered a selection of premium caviar, also proved to be a hit. Guests were kept well hydrated with rosé from the Minuty Prestige Bar, cognac from the centrepiece Hennessy Bar, botanical-infused sparkling DASH Water, and—after all the awards had been handed out— Moët champagne. With Asia's Most Stylish 2022 honouree Arthur Bray on the DJ decks, guests stayed behind to party long after the ceremony had wrapped up. The evening served as a reminder of just how far the industry has come—and why the dining community is now more united than ever.

Find the complete list of winners here.  The Tatler Dining Guide 2023 is now available at all good bookstores across Hong Kong.

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Photo 1 of 28 Winners of the 2023 Tatler Dining Awards
Photo 2 of 28 Vicky Lau and Romain Herbreteau
Photo 3 of 28 Lindsay Jang and Betty Richardson
Photo 4 of 28 Wil Fang
Photo 5 of 28 Marisa Yiu and Eric Schuldenfrei
Photo 6 of 28 Elva Ni
Photo 7 of 28 Ankie Beilke and Simon Van Damme
Photo 8 of 28 Abby Cadman and Tegan Waters
Photo 9 of 28 Jenny Fung and Alex Jiaravanont
Photo 10 of 28 Alan Lo and Yenn Wong
Photo 11 of 28 May Chow
Photo 12 of 28 Eleanor Lam
Photo 13 of 28 Elizabeth Chu and Steve Lee
Photo 14 of 28 Shim Jung Taek
Photo 15 of 28 Uwe Opocensky
Photo 16 of 28 Mario Tolentino and Amy Stott
Photo 17 of 28 Palash Mitra, Sidhu Chhabil, Manav Tuli and Giovanni Galeota
Photo 18 of 28 Mauricio Rodriguez, Yenn Wong, Ricardo Chaneton and Michel Lamunière
Photo 19 of 28 Ashley Salmon and Sean Fitzpatrick
Photo 20 of 28 Syed Asim Hussain and Michel Lamunière
Photo 21 of 28 ArChan Chan and Jiaen Koh
Photo 22 of 28 Oxana Dragun of the Royal Caviar Club
Photo 23 of 28 DASH Water
Photo 24 of 28 Minuty rosé wine
Photo 25 of 28 Inside the 2023 Tatler Dining Awards
Photo 26 of 28 The Hennessy bar
Photo 27 of 28 Celebrating with glasses of Moet & Chandon
Photo 28 of 28 Arthur Bray