2,200 CW readers voted for their favorite Shanghai restaurants. These are your winners.

Best Thai: Simply Thai

Simply the best Thai food. Shanghai voters made their voices clearly heard as Simply Thai took home 30 percent of the ballot box. All four locations feature a flavorful menu of classic and seasonal Thai dishes like vibrant Tom Yum soup, piquant glass noodle seafood salad and papaya salad. They frequently offer great deals on food in their inviting restaurants.
First Runner-Up: Coconut Paradise
Editor's Pick: Naam Thai

Best Wi-Fi: Element Fresh

In this close race, decided by just 30 votes, you, our always-on-the-go, plugged-in readers, have spoken on where you go to get that Wi-Fi fix. This chain keeps you connected from early in the morning to late at night, making itself a cornerstone for Wi-Fi refugees. Take note: the Kwah Centre location turns off its Wi-Fi during lunch hour (1-3pm) to keep the crowd moving.
First Runner-Up: Wagas
Editor's Pick: Citizen Café

Best Business Lunch: Jean-Georges

There’s something about dark wood, plush leather chairs, those square plates and an expansive Bund view that says "Shanghai power lunch" to 17 percent of readers. World-class food and service deserving of the Jean-Georges name for just RMB188 (noon-2:30pm) doesn’t hurt either. Get your power suit pressed–it’s time to close a deal.
First Runner-Up: Enoteca
Editor's Pick: Allure (Le Royal Meridien Shanghai)

Best Value: Wagas

This health-conscious chain secured the top spot with nearly 27 percent of the vote due to their quality food, large portions and willingness to accommodate even the pickiest eaters. With half-off breakfast and post-6pm pasta discounts, it's no wonder that Wagas gets rave reviews on our website. User strawberrysays declares: “Count me in, I'm there!”
First Runner-Up: Noodle Bull
Editor's Pick: Brasil Steakhouse

Best Spicy: Di Shui Dong

After being knocked from its spot at the top of Shanghai's spicy fare royalty last year, Di Shui Dong is back where its throngs of followers say it should be: at number one, with a solid 24 percent of the vote. In reviews you usually comment on the service and the décor, but for Di Shui Dong, those come in a far second to the food. Actually, why kid ourselves? It’s all about the ribs. User tristamarie’s comment says it all: “On a recent trip, we devoured quite possibly the best spicy Hunan spareribs around leaving nothing but bone and a few wayward cumin seeds on the plate.”
First Runner-Up: South Beauty
Editor's Pick: Sichuan Court

Best Chef: Francesco Greco (Palladio)

The Milan-born chef of the Palladio restaurant (The Portman Ritz-Carlton) still holds sway over local diners with signature dishes that people return again and again for. In the fierce battle for Chef of the Year, Greco beat out Willy Moreno (El Willy) by one percentage point.
First Runner-Up: Willy Moreno (El Willy)
Editor's Pick: Emmanuel Souliere (Leonardo’s, Hilton Shanghai)

Best Italian: Da Marco

This inconspicuous, wallet-friendly Italian stallion is back in the top spot for the third year in a row with 27 percent of the vote. Though down from its peak of 32 percent of the ballot box last year, Da Marco is still highly rated throughout Shanghai's dining world. It even gets four out of five stars from Dianping.com users too.
First Runner-Up: Otto
Editor's Pick: Danieli's (St. Regis)

Best Mexican: Cantina Agave

Although the battle for best Mexican restaurant feels like it has been raging for ages, 2009 marks the first year there have been enough restaurants in Shanghai to warrant this highly contested category. Readers have spoken and Cantina Agave, with its casual "Cali-Mex" concept, won by 54 votes over MAYA's upscale, Latin fare.
First Runner-Up: MAYA
Editor's Pick: El Mexicano

Restaurant of the Year: MAYA

Quality Mexican cuisine is all the rage in Shanghai so it’s no surprise that Shanghai readers have crowned MAYA as king of the restaurants. They captured 18.3 percent of the ballots and squeaked out a win by 24 votes. Under the culinary direction of Chef Brad Turley (who reportedly has a local farm grow hard-to-find chilies for him), MAYA’s tables are consistently packed with diners feasting on delicious tilapia fish tacos, scrumptious sopes and delicate snapper ceviches. The famous churros and well-mixed margaritas are musts.
First Runner-Up: El Willy
Editor's Pick: M on the Bund

Best American: Element Fresh

This incredibly popular expat dining institution easily dominated this category for the second year in a row, winning 31 percent of the vote. With fresh and hearty helpings of sandwiches, smoothies, salads and an American-style brunch fit for a king (we love The Big American), this über-healthy chain is a great alternative to typical American greasy spoons.
First Runner-Up: Boxing Cat Brewery
Editor's Pick: Blue Frog

Best Hotel Dining: Tables

Tables at The Portman Ritz-Carlton won this battle with its combination of intriguing décor and sumptuous food. The restaurant features table tops made of different materials–marble, mother of pearl, mosaic, bronze and gold leaf–and serves classic pan-Asian favorites like Hainan chicken rice and spicy laksa.
First Runner-Up: VUE Restaurant (Hyatt on the Bund
Editor's Pick: JW’s California Grill (JW Marriott)

Best Japanese: Haiku by Hatsune

As one of Shanghai's culinary heavy hitters, this Japanese restaurant simply will not be denied its number one spot. Last year Haiku won City Weekend Readers' Choice Awards for "Best Japanese" and “Restaurant of the Year." This year they repeat in the Japanese category, capturing 29.2 percent of the vote. After nearly three years in the business, this California-style sushi restaurant remains one of Shanghai’s "it" places for tasty, creative rolls and is consistently one of the highest buzzed restaurants on the City Weekend website. User and Haiku devotee utensils1977 explains, "I'm going back there for the hundredth time this Friday and I can't wait to sink my teeth into the Moto-rollahs." You can take utensils1977's suggestion, or opt for more traditional favorites like the Spider or Dragon rolls. Or, give your taste buds an adventure with one of our Haiku favorites: the 119 Roll–a new twist on the good old spicy tuna roll.
First Runner-Up: Shintori
Editor's Pick: Sun with AQUA

Best Wine List: Palladio

Named after renowned Italian architect Andrea Palladio (1508-1580), Palladio at The Portman Ritz-Carlton offers a wining and dining experience that is a true work of art. Palladio's wine selection includes over 450 bottles of wine from every corner of the world. Whether you’re looking for a sip of New Zealand Cloudy Bay, a casual chardonnay from Napa Valley or are planning to break the bank for a bottle of Louis Latour, you’ll find what you're looking for here. Sip your wine in peace (but don’t leave without trying the antipasti and carpaccio) while admiring the 17th and 18th century-style Palladian columns and arches as well as the romantic garden outside. It just goes to show, in the race for "Best Wines," even a great Bund view cannot beat an expansive and tasteful selection of the world’s best. Wine Spectator agrees, awarding Palladio the "Best of Award of Excellence" in 2004, 2005 and 2006 and the "Award of Excellence" in 2003 and 2002 for their wine selection.
First Runner-Up: Napa Wine Bar & Kitchen
Editor's Pick: Dining Room (Park Hyatt)

Best Family Friendly: Blue Frog

This repeat winner claimed a total of 284 votes, making it a clear favorite. Featuring a "Little Frog" menu, children’s play areas at the Jinqiao and Hongmei venues and a location in nearly every major suburban area, this highly-buzzed chain remains one of the city’s most family friendly dining destinations.
First Runner-Up: O’Malley’s Irish Pub
Editor's Pick: Bistrow by Wagas

Best Contemporary Chinese: Jade Garden

The glass panels, polished marble floors and cream-colored chairs of this top restaurant make you feel like you’ve stepped into a palace. Dianping users give the venue four and a half of five stars and high marks (23 of 30) for both taste and décor. Prepare for tea-smoked duck, wine-preserved crab and stir-fried river shrimp specialties that'll leave your taste buds singing for joy.
First Runner-Up: Crystal Jade
Editor's Pick: Southern Barbarian

Best Dessert: Whisk

With a perfect five buzz rating on the City Weekend website, it's no surprise Whisk won nearly 20 percent of the vote. This restaurant-cum-dessert café has a place in our hearts (and next to our sweet tooth). “Five stars for the quality and taste of the food and desserts," says user strawberrysays. "My personal favorite is the Chocolate Therapy. If something is getting you down, this slice of heaven will (if only temporarily) solve [the problem] for you. The cake is moist, flavorful and so rich. It comes with a generous portion of homemade whipped cream, which is just the right amount of sweetness to offset the richness of the cake and fudge." Their chocolate chip cookies are some of the best around, but that's only if you can snag one–they run out of stock quickly. The venue has developed a reputation for not tolerating loiterers, so if you're only there for a bite of dessert, keep it quick–or the staff will.
First Runner-Up: House of Flour
Editor's Pick: Bellagio

Best French: Jean-Georges

Three-star Michelin chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s outpost in Shanghai remains the restaurant to beat with 32.2 percent of the votes, despite hearty attempts by Franck and the promising Hamilton House. For another straight year, readers have been wooed by the expertly prepared, classic French fare and J-G’s reputation for excellence. Despite a change at the helm, er, in the kitchen that saw Eric Johnson pass the torch to Lam Ming Kin, his enthusiastic and affable executive sous chef, things haven't slowed down. Lam, a Hong Kong native, has been with Jean-Georges since its inception in Shanghai and has wasted no time in his new position, already putting his innovative take on the new spring menu.
First Runner-Up: Franck
Editor's Pick: Hamilton House

Best Outdoor Space: M on the Bund & New Heights

It’s poetic and statistical justice that these Bund staples which share the same iconic view, also share this award. Each earned 15.1 percent of the vote. Enjoy the view from M with a dessert platter. When at New Heights, Executive Chef Xavier Mauerhofer, suggests the crab salad with fresh basil, tomato jelly and balsamic reduction to go with your view.
Editor's Pick: Kommune

Newcomer of the Year: Cantina Agave

They came, they saw and they conquered. With 25 percent of the vote, Cantina Agave is your Newcomer of the Year. In November ‘08, Cantina Agave appeared on Shanghai’s restaurant scene with a casual "Cali-Mex" dining concept offering luscious burritos for all. People seem to have pretty strong thoughts about this venue whose CW online listing is a virtual comment war. Regardless, their delectable fish tacos, creative salsa bar and packed margarita nights are clear winners in everyone's book.

• 10: The record number of hours a group of people has stayed for Cantina Agave's brunch and all-you-can-drink margarita deal.
• Chili: Cantina Agave uses seven types of imported chilies to create their awardwinning Mexican fare.
• Fact:Kelley Lee and Raffe Ibrahamian originally planned for Cantina Agave to be half of its current size. It also took them five months to settle on their Fumin Lu location.

First Runner-Up: MAYA
Editor's Pick: Osteria

Missed Shanghai's best nightlife people and venues? Check out the City Weekend Readers' Choice Award Winners here.