Don’t confuse a lack of wrinkles with inexperience—these young chefs are leaving an indelible mark on the kitchens they run. Here are our top picks for the most promising up-and-comers to keep on your radar

Age is just a number, and that rings true for the rising stars in the culinary world. While some may associate youth with inexperience, it's important not to overlook the impressive skills and talents of the younger generation of chefs. With a fresh perspective and unwavering passion, these talents are making a name for themselves and leaving an indelible mark on the kitchens they run. Despite their lack of wrinkles, their culinary creations are no less impressive than those of their more experienced counterparts.

In fact, many of them are pushing the boundaries and taking risks that are redefining the culinary landscape. As they continue to hone their craft, we can't help but be excited about what the future holds for these promising up-and-comers. Here are our top picks for the most talented young chefs to keep on your radar, as they are sure to make waves in the culinary world for years to come.

Read more: Inglorious perfections: A deep dive into the art of fine-dining plating

Romeo Morelli, Castellana

Tatler Asia
Above Photo: Castellana
Tatler Asia
Above Cantabrico anchovies cooked in acidic butter, parsley sauce, homemade crumble (Photo: Castellana)

Romeo Morelli’s CV belies his mere 30 years: the Piedmont native has already cooked at celebrated kitchens in Italy, Germany, Singapore and Abu Dhabi, as well as holding a Master Forager accreditation from Wood*ing Wild Food Lab. In his current role as head chef at Castellana, Morelli reinterprets the rich bounty of his native Italian region to create inventive contemporary dishes that reflect a certain gastronomic pride, while incorporating tenets of zero-waste cooking into his operation.

Castellana
Italian   |   $ $ $ $

UG & 1/F, Club Lusitano, 16 Ice House St, Central

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Teya Mikhael, Maison Libanaise

Tatler Asia
Above Photo: Maison Libanaise
Tatler Asia
Above A Lebanese table spread (Photo: Maison Libanaise)

Inspired by her first waitressing job at the tender age of 14, Teya Mikhael enrolled in a bachelor’s degree in hospitality and events management, but soon found herself cooking her heart out in prominent kitchens across Beirut. While she admits that the first several years of her career were spent exploring as far outside the bounds of Lebanese cuisine as possible, today the 28-year-old head chef of Maison Libanaise has transformed the menu of her restaurant into a love letter to the rich and varied cooking traditions of her home country, from kaleidoscopic mezze to zesty salads and moreish spiced roasts.

Maison Libanaise
Middle Eastern   |   $   |  

G/F-2/F, 10 Shelley Street, Central, Hong Kong

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Terry Ho, Somm

Tatler Asia
Above Photo: Somm
Tatler Asia
Above Grilled Japanese pork belly skewer, BBQ sauce and Hakata cabbage (Photo: Somm)

Having cooked in the kitchens of Amber and Arbor here in Hong Kong and Taipei's L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon, Terry Ho brings a wealth of experience cooking haute cuisine to his role as chef de cuisine at The Landmark Mandarin Oriental’s cult favourite wine-centric bistro, Somm. There, he oversees menu development in collaboration with Amber’s Richard Ekkebus, turning out technically challenging, tantalising creations like charcoal-grilled butter fish in fermented Romanesco sauce, sea lettuce taco with amaebi, or sweet shrimp, and pâté en croûte with onion and chicken chips.

Somm
European   |   $ $ $

7/F, The Landmark Mandarin Oriental, 15 Queen's Road Central, Central, Hong Kong

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Steve Lee, Hansik Goo

Tatler Asia
Above Photo: Hansik Goo
Tatler Asia
Above Gyeoja nangchae, abalone, deodeok, pear, pine nut, mustard (Photo: Hansik Goo)

Known as much for his zany sense of humour as his finesse in remoulding traditional Korean cuisine into inspiring new dishes, 31-year-old Steve Lee is a culinary force to be reckoned with. Crediting his mother as his motivation to become a chef, Lee studied culinary arts at the same university as Mingoo Kang—his future mentor. After an initial stint cooking at Kang’s flagship Seoul restaurant Mingles, Lee furthered his career in Australia for seven years, before being enticed to Hong Kong by Kang to open Hansik Goo as its head chef. Since its 2020 opening, Hansik Goo has been a constant on the Tatler Dining 20 list, while Lee was recently honoured with the Young Chef Award in the Michelin Guide for Hong Kong and Macau 2023.

Hansik Goo
Korean   |   $ $ $ $

1/F, The Wellington, 198 Wellington Street, Central, Hong Kong

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