A researched professional record. Inclusion does not confirm representation, availability or interest in a new project.
At a glance
David Lai, chef-owner at Neighborhood. Studied art and art history at Berkeley, drew inspiration from Chez Panisse and Alice Waters, then worked with Sylvain Portay at the Ritz-Carlton in San Francisco.[1] [1]
Cooking & identity
French foundations meet daily local fish-market produce in sharing dishes with restrained presentation and an ingredient-first approach.[2]
Why this profile is included
Included for named work with Last Spring and Tam Kwok Fung, where a market-led Hong Kong bistro meets Korean and Cantonese kitchens.[3] [4] [5]
Recent developments
- 2026-03-23
Announced programme: A lunch connecting Hong Kong market seafood with Jeju ingredients and Korean fermentation.[5]
Collaborations & guest appearances
2 collaboration projects · 2 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.
David Lai / Neighborhood × Kang Byung-wook / Last Spring
Neighborhood · Hong Kong
Scheduled date passed · announcement
Participants / partners
David Lai / Neighborhood · Kang Byung-wook / Last SpringA lunch connecting Hong Kong market seafood with Jeju ingredients and Korean fermentation.[5]
Tam × Neighborhood × Angela Lai
Chef Tam’s Seasons, Wynn Palace · Macau
Reported after the event
Participants / partners
Tam Kwok Fung / Chef Tam’s Seasons · David Lai / Neighborhood · Angela LaiTam, David Lai and Angela Lai combined Cantonese cooking, Western technique and pastry around Yunnan mushrooms and wines.[3] [4]
Career & milestones
- Early career
Studied art and art history at Berkeley, drew inspiration from Chez Panisse and Alice Waters, then worked with Sylvain Portay at the Ritz-Carlton in San Francisco.[1]
- Before 2014; 2014–
Returned to Hong Kong for Spoon by Alain Ducasse and developed projects including Bistronomique and On Lot 10 before opening Neighborhood in 2014.[1]
Recognition over time
Restaurant ratings and individual honours are listed separately. Editorial profiles are labelled as coverage.
- 2022
Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants · Inedit Damm Chefs’ Choice Award.[1]
Sources & dates
Public evidence reviewed through 2 November 2026. Older projects are retained; private or undated engagements may be absent.
- 50 Best · neighborhood-1 · Neighborhood ↗Published 2022-05-09 · Checked 2026-11-02
- 50 Best · neighborhood-2 · Neighborhood ↗Checked 2026-11-02
- drinkcollectiv.com · Tam collaboration · 2025-09-neighborhood-angela ↗Published 2025-09-18 · Checked 2026-11-02
- laotiantimes.com · Tam collaboration · 2025-05-nusara ↗Published 2025-11-20 · Checked 2026-11-02
- mrem.bernama.com · Davide Garavaglia / Côte × Mitsuru Konishi / Plaisance × Mauro Colagreco · special appearance 26 March ↗Published 2026-03-06 · Checked 2026-11-02