Best Chain

★ CACTUS CLUB CAFE

Various locations cactusclubcafe.com

They say if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. But the team at gold winner Cactus Club Cafe continues to innovate (don’t sleep on the new rigatoni bolognese with tru ff led pecorino), despite their solid lineup of tried-and-true dishes (hello again, Szechuan chicken lettuce wraps). Our judges celebrated the test kitchen’s executive chef of culinary development, Gregory McCallum (L’Abattoir, Le Crocodile), and called the restaurant, which has over 20 B.C. locations, “undeniable in its enduring appeal.” a★ La Taqueria

La Taqueria takes the silver for delicious, traditional Mexican recipes executed in always-lively rooms, plus a rockstar brunch menu that covers the classics (enmoladas with red rice, mole sauce and queso fresco) and includes a few rulebreakers (a breakfast sandwich with maple syrup carnitas). And tied for bronze are Nuba and Guu: the former for a nourishing, vibrant menu and the latter for exciting, meticulous small plates.

Various locations lataqueria.com

★ Guu Izakaya

Various locations guu-izakaya.com

★ Nuba

Various locations nuba.ca