A researched professional record. Inclusion does not confirm representation, availability or interest in a new project.
At a glance
Gaggan Anand’s informal Indian–Mexican concept tells a fictional love story through comfort food. The Bangkok kitchen is led by Mexican chef Hernán Villalva, working within a broader creative team.[1]
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.[1]
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.[2] [3]
Recent developments
- 2026-10-06
Announced programme: A guest night linking the chef’s Monterrey roots with his Bangkok Indian–Mexican practice.[3]
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.
Hernán Villalva / Ms. Maria & Mr. Singh × Café Laurel
Café Laurel, Distrito Armida · San Pedro / Monterrey
Scheduled date passed · announcement
Participants / partners
Hernán Villalva / Ms. Maria & Mr. Singh · Café LaurelA guest night linking the chef’s Monterrey roots with his Bangkok Indian–Mexican practice.[3]
Álvaro Clavijo / El Chato × Gaggan Anand × Hernán Villalva / Ms. Maria & Mr. Singh
Ms. Maria & Mr. Singh · Bangkok
Reported after the event
Participants / partners
Álvaro Clavijo / El Chato · Gaggan Anand · Hernán Villalva / Ms. Maria & Mr. SinghA 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.[2]
Recognition over time
Restaurant ratings and individual honours are listed separately. Editorial profiles are labelled as coverage.
- 2026
Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants · No.27[4]
Sources & dates
Public evidence reviewed through 2 November 2026. Older projects are retained; private or undated engagements may be absent.
- 50 Best · Ms. Maria & Mr. Singh · restaurant and team profile ↗Checked 2026-11-02
- finedininglovers.es · Álvaro Clavijo / El Chato × Gaggan Anand × Hernán Villalva / Ms. Maria & Mr. Singh ↗Published 2025-02-15 · Checked 2026-11-02
- residente.mx · Hernán Crispín Villalva · career ↗Published 2026-10-04 · Checked 2026-11-02
- Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants · 2026 · 1–100 list ↗Checked 2026-11-02