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Manav Tuli

Hong Kong

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A researched professional record. Inclusion does not confirm representation, availability or interest in a new project.

At a glance

Chef-founder of Leela. His route through India, Mauritius, London and Hong Kong informs a kitchen interested in regional Indian traditions and in genuine co-creation with other cuisines.[1] [2]

Cooking & identity

Regional Indian foundations, tandoor cooking and layered spice work. Collaborations with Ningbo, Singaporean and yakitori kitchens test how those foundations travel across cuisines.[3] [2] [4]

Why this profile is included

Selected for documented, repeat collaborations: Ningbo–Indian cooking, a Hong Kong–Singapore exchange and a Taipei–Hong Kong yakitori project. These show both hosting and travelling experience.[3] [5] [2] [4] [6]

Connected restaurant / chef: Leela

Recent developments

  1. 2026-09–11

    Co-developed Masala Meets Merlion with LG Han and planned the Leela–Fumée anniversary exchange.[2] [4]

Collaborations & guest appearances

10 collaboration projects · 10 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.

Show all history
  1. Four handsMixed evidence · see each date

    Leela × Fumée Yakitori · third-anniversary exchange


    • Fumée Yakitori · Taipei
      Scheduled date passed · announcement

    • Leela · Hong Kong
      Announced · upcoming

    Participants / partners
    Manav Tuli / Leela · Ryu Shunsuke / Fumée Yakitori

    Indian spice work meets Japanese yakitori. The Taipei dates precede the publication; the Hong Kong return is still upcoming as of November 2, 2026.[4]

  2. Four handsScheduled date passed · announcement

    Masala Meets Merlion · reciprocal dinners


    • Leela · Hong Kong
      Scheduled date passed · announcement

    • Labyrinth · Singapore
      Scheduled date passed · announcement

    Participants / partners
    Manav Tuli / Leela · Han Liguang / Labyrinth

    An Indian–Singaporean menu co-developed by both chefs, with the first leg in Hong Kong and the return in Singapore. Four service dates form one exchange project.[2]

  3. Multi-chef programmeScheduled date passed · announcement

    Richard Ekkebus / Amber × Junior Nadje / Mandarin Grill + Bar × Matt Abergel / ALWAYS JOY × Marc Mantovani / Cristal Room by Anne-Sophie Pic × Manav Tuli / Leela × Ryo Matsui / Torikaze × Liu Zhen / Yong Fu Hong Kong × Gagan Gurung / Tell Camellia


    • Amber, Mandarin Oriental The Landmark · Hong Kong
      Scheduled date passed · announcement

    Participants / partners
    Richard Ekkebus / Amber · Junior Nadje / Mandarin Grill + Bar · Matt Abergel / ALWAYS JOY · Marc Mantovani / Cristal Room by Anne-Sophie Pic · Manav Tuli / Leela · Ryo Matsui / Torikaze · Liu Zhen / Yong Fu Hong Kong · Gagan Gurung / Tell Camellia

    Seven restaurants and a bar announced a fundraising lunch for the Hong Kong Red Cross Nepal appeal. The announcement’s commitments are not recorded as funds received.[8] [9]

  4. Four handsScheduled date passed · announcement

    Biryani without borders


    • Leela · Hong Kong
      Scheduled date passed · announcement

    Participants / partners
    Manav Tuli / Leela · Takamasa Osawa / Biryani Osawa

    Tokyo’s biryani specialist was scheduled to join Tuli for two dinners exploring different approaches to an Indian cooking tradition.[5]

  5. Four handsReported after the event

    Leela × Indian Accent · Ayurveda-inspired menu


    • Leela · Hong Kong
      Reported after the event

    Participants / partners
    Manav Tuli / Leela · Shantanu Mehrotra / Indian Accent

    Tatler’s retrospective confirms a co-created menu with a wellness and Ayurveda theme, alongside music and cultural programming.[10]

  6. Multi-chef programmeScheduled date passed · announcement

    Leela × Sōma · India and Southeast Asia


    • 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.[11]

  7. Multi-chef programmeScheduled date passed · announcement

    Leela × Au Jardin × Dragon’s Den × KEK


    • Leela · Hong Kong
      Scheduled date passed · announcement

    Participants / partners
    Manav Tuli / Leela · Su Kim Hock / Restaurant Au Jardin · Dragon’s Den team · Wayne Liew / Keng Eng Kee Seafood

    The announced twelve-course lunch connects Indian, Cantonese, Malaysian and Singaporean zi char perspectives. Unnamed members of the visiting teams are not assigned invented chef identities.[11]

  8. Pop-upMixed evidence · see each date

    Leela × JHOL · reciprocal takeovers


    • JHOL · Bangkok
      Reported after the event

    • Leela · Hong Kong
      Scheduled date passed · announcement

    Participants / partners
    Manav Tuli / Leela · Gaurav Gupta / JHOL

    The release confirms Leela’s October Bangkok visit and announces Gaurav Gupta’s Hong Kong return. JHOL founder Hari Nayak is not assumed to have attended.[12]

  9. Four handsScheduled date passed · announcement

    Leela × Yong Fu · spring exchange


    • Yong Fu Hong Kong · Hong Kong
      Scheduled date passed · announcement

    • Leela · Hong Kong
      Scheduled date passed · announcement

    Participants / partners
    Manav Tuli / Leela · Liu Zhen / Yong Fu Hong Kong

    The second exchange was announced to connect Ningbo ingredients and techniques with Indian spices through a co-developed menu.[3]

  10. Four handsReported after the event

    Leela × Yong Fu · first exchange


    • Leela · Hong Kong
      Reported after the event

    • Yong Fu Hong Kong · Hong Kong
      Reported after the event

    Participants / partners
    Manav Tuli / Leela · Liu Zhen / Yong Fu Hong Kong

    An eleven-course Indian–Ningbo collaboration. The following spring’s official release describes the first project’s success, supporting the earlier announcement with a retrospective reference.[6] [3]

Career & milestones

  1. Early career · dates not specified

    Began in Kerala and worked at The Oberoi in Rajasthan, followed by kitchens in Mauritius.[1]

  2. Before Leela

    Worked at Chutney Mary and Tamarind in London, then led CHAAT at Rosewood Hong Kong before Leela.[1]

Recognition over time

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

  1. 2024

    SCMP 100 Top Tables · Best Chef[7]

Sources & dates

Public evidence reviewed through 2 November 2026. Historical records are retained; this is not a claim of an exhaustive private engagement history.

  1. Leela · Manav Tuli · official team biography ↗Checked 2026-11-02
  2. The Forks & Spoons · Masala Meets Merlion · Hong Kong and Singapore ↗Published 2026-08-04 · Checked 2026-11-02
  3. The Forks & Spoons · Leela × Yong Fu · second collaboration ↗Published 2025-03-10 · Checked 2026-11-02
  4. The Forks & Spoons · Leela third anniversary × Fumée Yakitori ↗Published 2026-10-21 · Checked 2026-11-02
  5. The Forks & Spoons · Leela × Biryani Osawa; restaurant accolades ↗Published 2026-05-22 · Checked 2026-11-02
  6. The Beat Asia · Leela × Yong Fu · first exchange, November 12–13 ↗Published 2024-10-25 · Checked 2026-11-02
  7. South China Morning Post · Manav Tuli · career and 2024 Best Chef recognition ↗Published 2024-07-24 · Checked 2026-11-02
  8. theforksandspoons.com.hk · amber-1 · Amber ↗Published 2026-09-03 · Checked 2026-11-02
  9. redcross.org.hk · amber nepal charity 2026 ↗Checked 2026-11-02
  10. Tatler Asia · Tatler Best Takeover · Leela × Indian Accent, April 22, 2026 ↗Checked 2026-11-02
  11. theforksandspoons.com.hk · Leela × Sōma · India and Southeast Asia ↗Checked 2026-11-02
  12. theforksandspoons.com.hk · Leela × JHOL · reciprocal takeovers ↗Published 2025-10-14 · Checked 2026-11-02
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