When Venezuelan chef Ricardo Chaneton opened Mono in December 2019, he told Tatler that his aim was “to build a bridge between Latin America and Asia” by introducing the food of his home continent to Hong Kong. To do this, he needed help and encouragement from Jia Group CEO Yenn Wong, who urged him to look to his Venezuelan roots for inspiration.

The returns have been spectacular: Mono earned a Michelin star in 2022; it is the first restaurant with a Venezuelan chef at the helm with the distinction. A year later, Mono was named Tatler Hong Kong’s Restaurant of the Year 2023. (Wong has herself been named Tatler Hong Kong’s Restaurateur of the Year twice, in 2016 and in 2022.)

“I always say a chef is like an orchestra conductor because, first, you need to [understand how to] play every single instrument,” Chaneton told Tatler in 2023. “You need to know how they sound, both the difficult and the easy parts. And then you need to compose something. You need to be very attentive to whatever is happening around you. Here, we have the techniques to build something bigger.”

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Jay Khan is an influential figure in the hospitality industry throughout Asia, largely—but not exclusively—thanks to Coa, which has been the first in the world to clinch the top spot on Asia’s Best Bars an incredible three years in a row. Launched in 2017, Coa is conceptualised around agave tequila and traditional mezcal; but more than a bar, Coa is also a place for community and education about these often overlooked spirits.

Additionally, Khan also established the charity Mezcal Mission in 2020 as a way to give back to society while also evangelising about agave. Together with fellow enthusiast Andrew Davis, Khan showcases mezcal and tequila in workshops, with all proceeds going to support the work of Habitat for Humanity.

Khan opened his newest venture, The Savory Project, with Coa co-founder Ajit Gurung in May 2023, this time focusing on cocktails with an earthy or umami character.

Read Jay Khan’s full profile on Asia’s Most Influential

The decorated chef Richard Ekkebus is best known for leading Amber for almost two decades, ever since it first opened its doors in 2005. Amber earned two Michelin stars in 2009, and has managed to hold on to them ever since, making the French restaurant one of Hong Kong’s most consistently sought-after tables. Ekkebus revamped Amber in 2019, reopening with a warm, airy look and a new menu that completely did away with dairy, refined sugar and gluten—for this bold move, Amber was given the Michelin Green Star in 2022 and 2023. Now known as much for his emphasis on sustainability as culinary excellence, Ekkebus has also helped spearhead LMO Bite-sized at The Landmark Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong; where Amber is located; it is a series of talks about the food business and its impact on the environment.

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In less than a decade, Syed Asim Hussain’s Black Sheep Restaurants has opened nearly 40 individual restaurant concepts around Hong Kong, including the Michelin-starred Belon and New Punjab Club; the latter is the first Punjabi restaurant with the distinction. The prolific hospitality entrepreneur has also set up community resources such as the Family Fund, and has partnered with local NGOs to support Hong Kong’s vulnerable populations—all in line with Black Sheep’s vision to be “community-focused and committed to doing work with a social conscience that will make a positive impact on the world.”

Read Syed Asim Hussain’s full profile on Asia’s Most Influential

Specialising in a fusion of French and Chinese cuisine, Vicky Cheng has carved out his place in Hong Kong’s busy dining scene with Vea, which was awarded a Michelin star in 2017. Both restaurants have been named to Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants, with Wing ranking number 34 on the 2023 list.

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Through The Chairman, chef and restaurateur Danny Yip has become a groundbreaking leader in Asia’s fine dining scene, an achievement that earned him the Icon Award from the Asia’s 50 Best Academy in 2024 for “changing how Cantonese cuisine is perceived on the world stage”. Under Yip’s leadership, the low-key, family-style restaurant in Sheung Wan was crowned no. 1 on the Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2021 list—the first Chinese restaurant to earn the honour. It was also the first Chinese restaurant to reach the top 10 in the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list in the same year.

Read Danny Yip’s full profile on Asia’s Most Influential

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