Most people in Hong Kong tend to praise the veterans of the city’s restaurant scene, typically the celebrity chefs who have come to dominate conversations and kitchens with their larger-than-life personalities, stars, and impressive CVs. 

Hong Kong loves an affable chef, a character who backs up their culinary acumen with a story to tell. Beyond the cooks many know in the industry, we want to shine a light on a select few young chefs who deserve your attention. 

Here are the young chefs in the city you should get to know now!

Young Hong Kong chefs you should know

Kieran McGarrigle – junior sous chef at Roganic

Young Hong Kong chefs

Kieran McGarrigle’s career has seen him collect Michelin experience at City Social in London, El Celler de Can Roca in Girona, Spain, and L’Enclume in Cumbria, England, before arriving in Hong Kong with Roganic in 2022. He transferred to sister restaurant Aulis in 2023, before returning to the kitchen at Roganic with the re-launch of their new location in Causeway Bay in 2025.


Ardy Ferguson – sous chef at BELON

Young Hong Kong chefs
Photo credit: Instagram/@ycywhongkong

Ardy Ferguson was the Young Chef winner at Hong Kong’s Young Chef Young Waiter competition in 2023, proving to his peers his immense experience at a young age. He currently works at Black Sheep’s Michelin-starred French restaurant BELON, his first culinary gig in Hong Kong after moving here from Vancouver.


Teya Mikhael – head chef at Maison Libanaise and Artemis & Apollo

young Hong Kong chef Teya Mikhael

Born and raised in Lebanon, Teya Mikhael has called Hong Kong and Maison Libanaise home for three years, maturing the menu of the Lebanese restaurant since her arrival in 2021. She previously ran kitchens as head chef in her nation’s flavourful and spicy capital city, Beirut. In 2024, she took charge of the culinary direction of Artemis & Apollo.


Terry Ho – chef de cuisine at Amber 

Young Hong Kong chefs

Terry Ho is a success story of Hong Kong’s top fine-dining brass, landing a role as a demi chef at Amber under the tutelage of Richad Ekkebus. Maturing to junior sous chef in two years, following work at Arbor in Hong Kong and L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon in Taipei , the local chef returned to Amber as chef de cuisine.


Helene Ng – head baker at The Baker & The Bottleman

Young Hong Kong chefs

Helene Ng has seen the pastry line at restaurants dotted around Hong Kong, New York, and California. She previously assisted Karys Plaxe at VEA restaurant as pastry chef de partie, and she now crafts the British-inspired dishes and pastries at The Baker & The Bottleman


Romeo Morelli – executive chef at Castellana

Young Hong Kong chefs
Photo credit: Instagram/@romeo_morel

Romeo Morelli heads the kitchen at Central’s Castellana restaurant, sharing fresh Italian bites on the lunch and dinner tasting menus. Hailing from northern Italy’s Piedmont region, buttery, meaty, and vegetal tones are emphasised at Castellana. Hong Kong is the latest addition to chef Romeo’s CV, following culinary work in Italy, Germany, Singapore, and the UAE. 

Rubin Verebes is the Managing Editor of Foodie, the guiding force behind the magazine's delectable stories. With a knack for cooking up mouthwatering profiles, crafting immersive restaurant reviews, and dishing out tasty features, Rubin tells the great stories of Hong Kong's dining scene.

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