Curry Cup finale heats up
Cassandra Anderton / Lodestar Media – Mar 20, 2026 / 10:00 pm | Story: 604803
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Which Vancouver chef will claim the 2026 Curry Cup?
This is it folks. One last round.
After more than a decade of bringing Vancouver’s culinary community together, the Curry Cup is closing out with a final competition that promises serious heat, big talent and a whole lot of heart.
On March 30, the 2026 Curry Cup — Tournament of Champions takes over Main Street’s Heritage Hall, bringing back past winners for one last battle. Think bold flavours, bragging rights and a room full of chefs who know exactly how to bring it.
Hosted by the Chefs’ Table Society of British Columbia alongside the Mount Pleasant BIA, the Curry Cup has always been rooted in something simple but powerful. Family meal.
If you’ve ever worked in a restaurant, you know. That pre- or post-service meal that feeds the team and keeps everyone going. Often built around curry, always built around care. Over the years, that tradition turned into one of Vancouver’s most meaningful and fun culinary competitions.
Now it all comes full circle.
A Champion of Champions Lineup
This is not a casual cook-off. This is a greatest hits lineup of chefs who have already proven they can win.
Returning to compete:
Dixie Sunthareswaran, 2025 winner;
Balvant Ajgaonkar of Desi Lounge, People’s Choice 2025;
Katy Cheung of Burdock & Co, 2024 winner;
Curtis Luk and Laura Messinger of Farmhouse on 10th, 2023 winners;
Raj Jaganathan of Rogers Arena, 2022 winner;
Felix Zhou of Personas, 2017 winner; and
Roger Ma of Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar, 2016 winner.
Expect dishes that go far beyond comfort food. This is where technique, culture and personal story all land on the same plate.
More than just curry
What makes the Curry Cup special is not just the food. It’s the feeling in the room.
This event has always been about community over competition. Chefs showing up for each other. The industry is taking a moment to celebrate itself. That energy is part of why this finale matters.
“This final Curry Cup is both a celebration and a tribute,” says Neil Wyles of the Mount Pleasant BIA. “What started as a fun way to honour family meals became something much bigger for Vancouver’s restaurant community.”
The judging panel reflects that legacy. Taryn Wa, the very first Curry Cup winner, returns alongside chef Meeru Dhalwala, Coun. Sarah Kirby-Yung, food writer Tim Pawsey, and CBC’s Margaret Gallagher. Fred Lee is back as host, keeping the energy high all night.
Guests also get a say, with voting open for the People’s Choice award.
Come hungry and quench your thirst
Alongside the competition, there will be plenty to sip and snack on.
B.C. wine, craft beer, cider and non-alcoholic pours will be flowing, with partners including Main Street Brewing, Sea Cider Farm & Ciderhouse, Edna’s Cocktails, and Revelry Wine Imports. Fresh Start Foods will be serving something sweet to round it all out.
Yours truly will be there pouring Sea Cider and sneaking in some bites so be sure to come say hi and sample some traditional, or non-alcoholic cider. It’s a night where you come for the food and stay for the conversations.
Even better, proceeds support the Mount Pleasant Community Centre’s Food Security Program, helping provide meals to local families.
2026 Curry Cup
When: Monday, March 30, 2026, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Where: Heritage Hall, 3102 Main St., Vancouver
Tickets and more info: Chefs’ Table Society website
Editor’s note: The author is a member of the Chefs Table Society and employed by Sea Farm & Ciderhouse and will be sampling cider as part of this culinary celebration.
A fixture in Vancouver’s food and hospitality scene for decades, Cassandra Anderton tells the stories of the chefs, producers, and places that define our city. She is the publisher and editor of Good Life Vancouver and a member of the B.C. chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier and Chefs’ Table Society. Whether she’s exploring B.C.’s wine regions or scouting the best new table in town, Cassandra’s work is a love letter to the “good life” in the 604 and beyond.