2016 Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards crown Maenam and chef David Gunawan

After a year of taste-testing, 18 judges have decided who makes Vancouver Magazine's list of best restaurants for 2016.

The restaurant awards were announced Wednesday afternoon at the Sheraton Wall Centre by CBC Radio One hosts Gloria Macarenko of B.C. Almanac and Stephen Quinn from On The Coast.

This year's top prize, restaurant of the year, went to Thai eatery Maenam  — a first for the Kitsilano favourite. The magazine has continuously named it best Thai restaurant since it opened in 2009.

"It's definitely representative of Vancouver's love of the unique, the different," said judge and food writer Joie Alvaro Kent.

The second major award went to David Gunawan for chef of the year. Gunawan opened his third venture, Royal Dinette, last year, and it also won best new restaurant.

His first restaurant, Farmer's Apprentice, won multiple marquee awards in 2014. Both focus on local ingredients and offer a farm-to-table dining experience.

Alvaro Kent said Gunawan's victories are recognition of Vancouver's growing interest in where food comes from.

"It seeks to educate its diners," said Alvaro Kent of Royal Dinette. "While offering food that's full-flavoured and approachable so people aren't intimidated by what's in front of them." 

The food writer said Vancouver's dining scene does have "phenomenal landmark restaurants," but its strength is in smaller restaurants like local neighbourhood joints and ethnic cuisine. Restaurants in those categories are the ones to watch and try, she said.

Alvaro Kent said her duties as a judge forces her to eat out at least three to four times a week. 

"It's a herculean task! I don't think anyone outside the industry realizes how many restaurants we have to eat at over the course of the calendar year."

Over the span of ten years, she estimates she's eaten at thousands of restaurants.

Although judges are paid a stipend, she said it does not come close to covering her dining expenditures — the gig is a labour of love.

With files from The Early Edition