Chalee Kader

At a glance

Chalee Kader leads the cooking at Wana Yook. Began his culinary career in the United States, then worked as chef cuisinier at the French Embassy in Bangkok. Executive chef and co-owner of Wana Yook; his other Bangkok concepts include 100 Mahaseth and Soma.[1] [2]

Cooking & identity

Regional Thai recipes and seasonal rice varieties structure the menus, retaining assertive spice while changing the format and presentation.[2]

Why this profile is included

Included for the two-city Fire & Water collaboration with Andō and the Bombay Canteen guest-chef programme.[3] [1] [4]

Connected restaurant / chef: Wana Yook

Recent developments

1. 2026-10-06

   Announced programme: Fire & Water connects contemporary Thai spice with Balbi’s seafood-led perspective in a two-city exchange.[1]

Collaborations & guest appearances

3 collaboration projects · 3 within the two-year research window

Projects are deduplicated: multiple nights, venues or reports do not automatically become separate collaborations. Food-and-drink events and shared festival appearances are labelled by format.

1. Four handsScheduled date passed · announcement

   Agustin Balbi / Andō × Chalee Kader / Wana Yook

   • 2026-10-06 — 2026-10-07
     Andō · Hong Kong
     Scheduled date passed · announcement
   • 2026-10-15
     Wana Yook · Bangkok
     Scheduled date passed · announcement

   Participants / partners
   Agustin Balbi / Andō · Chalee Kader / Wana Yook

   Fire & Water connects contemporary Thai spice with Balbi’s seafood-led perspective in a two-city exchange.[1]

2. Multi-chef programmeScheduled date passed · announcement

   Leela × Sōma · India and Southeast Asia

   • 2026-03-23 — 2026-03-24
     Leela · Hong Kong
     Scheduled date passed · announcement

   Participants / partners
   Manav Tuli / Leela · Chalee Kader / Sōma · Num Weerawat Triyasanawat / Samuay & Sons, Sōma · Pak Yamoo / Sōma

   Tuli and the visiting Sōma team announced an eight-course programme connecting Indian and Southeast Asian cooking. The source names four participating chefs; this is not labelled a two-chef four-hands.[3]

3. Four handsScheduled date passed · announcement

   Chalee Kader / Wana Yook × Hussain Shahzad / The Bombay Canteen

   • 2025-02-22
     Wana Yook · Bangkok
     Scheduled date passed · announcement

   Participants / partners
   Chalee Kader / Wana Yook · Hussain Shahzad / The Bombay Canteen

   An announced Bombay Canteen guest night bringing contemporary Indian regional cooking to Wana Yook.[4]

Career & milestones

1. Earlier career

   Began his culinary career in the United States, then worked as chef cuisinier at the French Embassy in Bangkok.[1] [2]

2. 2021–

   Executive chef and co-owner of Wana Yook; his other Bangkok concepts include 100 Mahaseth and Soma.[1] [2]

Recognition over time

Restaurant ratings and individual honours are listed separately. Editorial profiles are labelled as coverage.

1. Profile checked 2026-11-02 · Professional coverage

   Named in the published Wana Yook restaurant/team profile. This records professional coverage; no individual award is claimed.[2]

Sources & dates

Public evidence reviewed through 2 November 2026. Older projects are retained; private or undated engagements may be absent.

1. theforksandspoons.com.hk · Chalee Kader · career ↗Published 2026-09-18 · Checked 2026-11-02
2. 50 Best · Wana Yook · restaurant and team profile ↗Checked 2026-11-02
3. theforksandspoons.com.hk · Leela × Sōma · India and Southeast Asia ↗Checked 2026-11-02
4. masalathai.com · Chalee Kader / Wana Yook × Hussain Shahzad / The Bombay Canteen ↗Published 2025-02-20 · Checked 2026-11-02