A CHESTER restaurant is in the running to be crowned the best Asian restaurant in the UK.

Buffet restaurant Panda Mami, located on Newgate Street, has made the shortlist for this year’s Asian Restaurant Awards.

The annual ceremony will this year be held in Manchester at the end of August. These national awards are open to restaurants of all Asian and Oriental cuisines.

Over 100,000 online votes from members of the spice-loving community determined the finalists.

Judges from the Asian Catering Federation (ACF), which hosts the event, are now visiting the candidates to determine the overall category winners.

Panda Mami opened its doors in Chester in November 2016 and offers a range of international cuisines, with more than 120 authentic dishes.

The winners will be announced at a gala dinner and presentation ceremony organised at the Mercure Piccadilly in Manchester on Tuesday, August 31.

Commenting on this year’s awards, ACF chairman Yawar Khan said: “The pandemic has been devastating for many hospitality businesses and its workers.

“These awards will acknowledge the sector’s resilience, innovation and generosity in the face of such adversity.”

In order to survive, some Michelin-starred fine dining Indian restaurants began offering takeaways for the first time. Others sold finish-at-home meal kits, containing pre measured ingredients and recipe instructions. Another operated pop-up delivery kitchens, based in locked-down pubs.