Hernán Crispín Villalva

At a glance

Mexican chef from Monterrey leading the Bangkok kitchen at Ms. Maria & Mr. Singh. His recorded work includes Grupo Pangea and guest collaborations linking Mexico, Colombia and Thailand.[1] [2]

Cooking & identity

Indian and Mexican flavour structures meet in a colourful, relaxed dining room above Gaggan; tasting and à la carte formats keep the experience flexible.[2]

Why this profile is included

The El Chato pop-up and Hernán’s Café Laurel guest night show real Latin American exchange, beyond the restaurant’s fictional Indian–Mexican story.[3] [1]

Connected restaurant / chef: Ms. Maria & Mr. Singh

Recent developments

1. 2026-10-06

   Announced programme: A guest night linking the chef’s Monterrey roots with his Bangkok Indian–Mexican practice.[1]

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.

1. Pop-upScheduled date passed · announcement

   Hernán Villalva / Ms. Maria & Mr. Singh × Café Laurel

   • 2026-10-06
     Café Laurel, Distrito Armida · San Pedro / Monterrey
     Scheduled date passed · announcement

   Participants / partners
   Hernán Villalva / Ms. Maria & Mr. Singh · Café Laurel

   A guest night linking the chef’s Monterrey roots with his Bangkok Indian–Mexican practice.[1]

2. Pop-upReported after the event

   Álvaro Clavijo / El Chato × Gaggan Anand × Hernán Villalva / Ms. Maria & Mr. Singh

   • 2025-01-22
     Ms. Maria & Mr. Singh · Bangkok
     Reported after the event

   Participants / partners
   Álvaro Clavijo / El Chato · Gaggan Anand · Hernán Villalva / Ms. Maria & Mr. Singh

   A retrospective report documents the Colombian team’s pop-up, including Villalva’s account of the exchange. Hosted at the sister venue, not the Gaggan dining room.[3]

Career & milestones

1. Before Bangkok

   Worked in Mexico’s Grupo Pangea before moving to the Bangkok kitchen.[1] [2]

2. 2025–2026

   Named as a chef at Ms. Maria & Mr. Singh in El Chato’s 2025 takeover report, and as head chef in the 2026 interview with Gaggan and Rydo Anton.[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 Ms. Maria & Mr. Singh 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. residente.mx · Hernán Crispín Villalva · career ↗Published 2026-10-04 · Checked 2026-11-02
2. 50 Best · Ms. Maria & Mr. Singh · restaurant and team profile ↗Checked 2026-11-02
3. finedininglovers.es · Álvaro Clavijo / El Chato × Gaggan Anand × Hernán Villalva / Ms. Maria & Mr. Singh ↗Published 2025-02-15 · Checked 2026-11-02