Abu Dhabi, UAE-: Hakkasan Abu Dhabi is delighted to announce that it has been awarded a Michelin Star in the inaugural Abu Dhabi Michelin Guide. The restaurant joins Hakkasan Hanway Place, Hakkasan Mayfair, and Hakkasan Dubai in holding a Michelin star. This makes Hakkasan one of the most recognised brands by Michelin, with four individual stars held across 10 locations.
Having opened in Emirates Palace Hotel in June 2010, Hakkasan Abu Dhabi’s menus are spearheaded by Executive Chef Lee Kok Hua, with guidance from Global Executive Chef Andrew Yeo. Chef Lee started his culinary journey at the age of 16 and now brings to the kitchen over 30 years of culinary experience, including at kitchens in Johor and Singapore.
Chef Lee’s menus take inspiration from the seven years he spent at Hakkasan Hanway Place, with the year he started at the restaurant (2003) coinciding with the year it first gained a Michelin star – which it has since retained. These dishes that he has created stay true to Hakkasan’s ethos of highlighting incredible ingredients through Modern Cantonese dishes whilst also featuring specials exclusive to the location, with these reflecting his philosophy of the guest being the highest priority in the restaurant.
Hakkasan Hanway Place was the first Chinese restaurant to receive a Michelin star in the UK guide in 2003 and has now retained it for 19 years, being joined in 2011 by Hakkasan Mayfair and in 2022 by Hakkasan Dubai, which also gained a star in Dubai’s inaugural Michelin Guide. All Hakkasan locations are overseen by Chef Yeo, who now holds four Michelin stars, making him one of the most awarded Chinese chefs globally.
Hakkasan’s resilience and culinary relevance have continued to grow since its 2021 acquisition by Tao Group Hospitality. The group’s Chief Culinary Officer Ralph Scarmadella has worked closely with the Hakkasan culinary team on the brand’s expansion as seen in the forthcoming openings of Hakkasan Riyadh, which will overlook Riyadh’s Diriyah Gate whilst Hakkasan Istanbul will be on the banks of the iconic Bosphorus strait.
This prestigious accolade, gained by Hakkasan Abu Dhabi further cements the culinary credentials of the acclaimed Cantonese restaurant and Tao Group Hospitality.