Ian Kittichai

Chef, Restaurateur, Author, and TV Personality (Bangkok, Thailand)

Ian Kittichai has a storybook career – from street food to fine dining. As a child in Bangkok, he pushed a cart through his working-class neighborhood to sell food he made with his mother. On a scholarship, he trained in England and Australia, followed by professional experiences in France, Spain, the United States, and Japan. At just thirty, he became the first Thai national appointed executive chef of a five-star hotel.

Today he is an award-winning chef, restaurateur, cookbook author, and television personality known for his unique approach to classic Thai flavors and ingredients. He has founded restaurants around the world, including Spot Desserts Bar in New York, Issaya Siamese Club and Khum Hom in Bangkok, Anaalā in Phuket, Soi Social in Singapore, and Coast in Taipei. He also runs Cuisine Concept Co. Ltd., an international food and beverage consulting firm and appears in high-profile television shows, including the Emmy-nominated MasterChef Thailand. (Instagram: @iankittichai)