May is Asian Heritage Month in Canada, a time to celebrate the rich cultural heritage and contributions of Asian Canadians to our country. Here in Halifax, plenty of events and activities are happening to mark the occasion. From cultural festivals to art exhibits to culinary experiences, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Here are just a few of the highlights:

Calendar of City Events (May 1st – May 31st): The comprehensive calendar on the city’s website (Halifax.ca) provides a one-stop resource for residents and visitors to explore and participate in the multitude of engaging activities taking place for Asian Heritage Month.

Asian Heritage Month at the Library (May 1st- May 31st): Halifax Public Libraries is hosting a series of exciting events for Asian Heritage Month, including engaging origami workshops, captivating traditional Chinese dance performances, beautiful henna art sessions, immersive scavenger hunts, and much more. It’s a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the rich cultural traditions and diversity of the Asian community.

Dumpling Summit  (May 17th): To mark the launch of Season 4 of the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21’s Countless Journeys Podcast, they will be hosting “The Dumpling Summit”, a celebration of one of the world’s most ubiquitous and ingenious wrapped foods, the dumpling.

JJ Lee In my Yesterday Exhibit (May 13th – July 23rd): As part of Pier 21’s Asian Heritage Month they are presenting a new exhibition, In My Yesterday is a solo exhibition by artist JJ Lee. This exhibition reflects on a Chinese Maritime family’s immigration experience through artwork, historical objects and documents.

Cultural Artisan Market (May 20th- 21st):This is an event to celebrate the diversity and cultural richness of Halifax with movies, traditional dances, vendors, performances, workshops and so much more.

Asian Food Festival (May 26th-28th): Celebrate Asian Heritage Month with delicious meals during the Asian Food Festival! Sample specially priced food and beverages at participating businesses throughout the Festival weekend.

And of course, no celebration of Asian culture would be complete without more delicious food. Halifax has no shortage of great Asian food restaurants, and while we could share our personal recommendations, why not jump over to The Coast’s “The Best of” series for 2022 and listen to what all of Halifax has to say? Below, you will find the gold, silver and bronze winners of the best Asian food-themed restaurants in the city. Click each link to see more information about each top three:

Best Thai Restaurants: GOLD: Cha Baa Thai Restaurant | SILVER: Talay Thai | BRONZE: Blue Elephant

Best Sushi Restaurants: GOLD: Sushi Nami Royale | SILVER: Wasabi House| BRONZE: Doraku Dartmouth

Best Ramen: GOLD: Buta Ramen| SILVER:  Truly Tasty| BRONZE: Tako Sushi & Ramen

Best Korean: GOLD: Backoos Korean Food | SILVER: Kor-B-Q Korean Grill | BRONZE: Busan Korean BBQ

Best Indian: GOLD: Naan n Curry | SILVER: Rasa: Flavours of India| BRONZE: Dhaba Casual Fine Dining

Best Chinese: GOLD: Look Ho Ho Restaurant| SILVER: May Garden Chinese Restaurant | BRONZE: Jean’s Chinese Restaurant

No matter how you choose to celebrate Asian Heritage Month in Halifax, be sure to take some time to appreciate the rich cultural traditions and contributions of Asian Canadians to our community.