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India has been a place where many different kinds of food have been made for a very long time. From the busy streets of Mumbai to the peaceful valleys of Jammu and Kashmir, you can find delicious food everywhere. And the people who make this food are very special. They are like legends who know how to cook amazing foods. In this article, we will get to know about the best chefs in India along with their accomplishments and for what they are known. Without having any delay let’s start our journey to know about these chefs who are gems for us.
Table of Contents
List of Best Chefs in India
Below given list will provide you with an insight into the names of the best chefs in India with their notable accomplishments and reasons for what they are known.
| Name of the Best Chefs in India | Notable Accomplishments | Known For |
| Vikas Khanna | Michelin-starred restaurant in New York City, multiple television shows | Modern Indian cuisine, Michelin-starred restaurant |
| Sanjeev Kapoor | The iconic television show “Khana Khazana,” numerous cookbooks | Television personality, author, restaurateur |
| Ranveer Brar | Television shows, restaurants, innovative fusion dishes | Indian street food, fusion cuisine |
| Madhur Jaffrey | Award-winning author, culinary expert, television personality | Indian and international cuisine, author |
| Vineet Bhatia | Michelin-starred restaurants in London and Dubai, innovative Indian cuisine | Modern Indian cuisine, Michelin-starred restaurant |
| Saransh Goila | Television shows, restaurants, popular street food dishes | Indian street food, television personality |
| Nita Mehta | Award-winning cookbooks, culinary expert, television personality | Indian vegetarian cuisine, author |
Also Read – Mastering The Kitchen: Cooking Hacks for Study Abroad Students
Know All About the Best Chefs in India
Let’s explore the journey of some best chefs in India from Vikas Khanna to Nita Mehta. Here you will get to know their notable achievements, their best-known restaurants and many more things. Let’s get started.
Vikas Khanna
Vikas Khanna who is a renowned Indian chef is from Amritsar. He is well known for judging Master Chef India. His culinary journey started in his grandmother’s kitchen due to a childhood leg deformity that limited his mobility until he was 13. After completing his education in hotel management he opened Junoon an Indian restaurant which earned a Michelin Star for six consecutive years. His culinary expertise has also led him to collaborate with world-renowned chefs such as Gordon Ramsay and Bobby Flay.
| About Vikas Khanna | |
| Name | Vikas Khanna |
| Born | 14 November 1971 (age 52) Amritsar, Punjab, India |
| Education | Manipal Academy of Higher Education GD Goenka University |
| Works | Ayurveda – The Science of Food and Life Mango Mia The Spice Story of India Cuisine of GandhiNew York Chefs Cooking for Life – Cookbook |
Sanjeev Kapoor
Sanjeev Kapoor who was born in April 1964 in Ambala is an Indian celebrity chef, television presenter and entrepreneur. He is well recognised for hosting Khana Khazana, Asia’s longest-running cooking show. Kapoor’s culinary career started after earning a diploma in hotel management in 1984. His accolades include the prestigious Padma Shri award in 2017 and a Guinness World Record for cooking 918 kg khichdi live at World Food India 2017. Till now he has authored numerous cookbooks and his own culinary channel “Food Food”.
| About Sanjeev Kapoor | |
| Name | Sanjeev Kapoor |
| Born | 10 April 1964 (age 60) Ambala, Haryana, India |
| Education | Institute of Hotel Management, New Delhi |
| Occupation(s) | Chef, television presenter & entrepreneur |
| Known for | Creating the Shaam Savera dish |
| Cooking style | Indian cuisine |
| Television show(s) | Signature, Khazana, The Yellow Chilli, Pin yin Café, Gold Leaf Banquets, Sura Vie |
| Award(s) won | Padma Shri (2017) |
Ranveer Brar
Ranveer Brar is an Indian celebrity chef, restaurateur, television host and author. He rose to fame as a judge on Master Chef India. After graduating from the Institute of Hotel Management in Lucknow, Brar began his career with the Taj Group of Hotels and quickly became India’s youngest executive chef at just 25. Brar’s Culinary Journey includes opening acclaimed restaurants like “Banq” in Boston, which was named Best New Restaurant in the world by Wallpaper magazine.
| About Ranveer Brar | |
| Name | Ranveer Brarvitation to Indian |
| Born | 8 February 1978 (age 46) Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India |
| Education | Institute of Hotel Management, Lucknow |
| Occupation(s) | Chef, television host |
Madhur Jaffrey
Madhur Jaffrey, CBE born on August 13, 1933, in Delhi, India is a renowned British-American actress, author and television personality celebrated for popularising Indian cuisine in the West. Her groundbreaking cookbook An Invitation to Indian Cooking was instrumental in introducing Indian flavors to a broader audience and earned a place in the James Beard Foundation’s Cookbook Hall of Fame in 2006.
| About Madhur Jaffrey | |
| Name | Madhur Jaffrey |
| Born | Madhur Bahadur 13 August 1933 (age 91) Civil Lines, Delhi, British India (present-day India) |
| Alma mater | Miranda House, University of Delhi (BA) Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (Dip) |
| Cooking style | Indian and South Asian |
| Current restaurant(s) | Dawat, New York City (1986 to present) |
| Television show(s) | Madhur Jaffrey’s Indian Cookery (1982), Far Eastern Cookery (1989), Listening To Volcanoes (1990), From Manna to Microwave (1990), Madhur Jaffrey’s Flavours of India (1995), Friends for Dinner (2001), Ready, Steady Cook (2001), Cooking Live (2001) |
| Award(s) won | James Beard Foundation Award 2006: Cookbook Hall of Fame An Invitation to Indian Cooking 2004: International Cookbook From Curries to Kebabs 2002: International Cookbook Madhur Jaffrey’s Step-by-Step Cooking 2000: International Cookbook Madhur Jaffrey’s World Vegetarian 1994: Cookbook of the Year Madhur Jaffrey’s A Taste of the Far East 1994: International Cookbook Madhur Jaffrey’s A Taste of the Far East 1982: Natural Foods/Special Diet Madhur Jaffrey’s World of the East Vegetarian Cooking Guild of Food Writers Award 2004: Cookery Book of the Year The Curry Bible 1999: Cookery Book of the Year Madhur Jaffrey’s World Vegetarian International Association of Culinary Professionals Bert Greene Award 2003: Best Food Journalism in a Magazine Passage to Pakistan, SaveurNew York Women in Film & Television Muse Award 2000: Outstanding Vision and Achievement Governor’s New York State Division of Women Award for Excellence 1999: Food Arts magazine Silver Spoon Award 1998: Taraknath Das Foundation Award 1993 |
Vineet Bhatia
Indian Chef, restaurateur and author Vineet Bhatia is renowned for his modern approach to Indian cuisine. He made history as the first Indian chef to receive a Michelin star in 2001 for his restaurant Zaika in London. He also appeared as a judge on popular shows like Master Chef India and Netflix’s The Final Table, further amplifying his influence in the culinary world.
| About Vineet Bhatia | |
| Name | Vineet Bhatia |
| Born | 9 December 1967 (age 56) Mumbai, India |
| Education | The Oberoi School of Hotel Management |
| Cooking style | Modern Indian |
Saransh Goila
Saransh Golia known for his innovative intake of traditional Indian cuisine was born on February 17, 1987. He gained prominence after winning the Food Food Maha Challenge, where he showcased his culinary skills to a national audience. Goila is the founder of the popular restaurant Goila Butter Chicken in Mumbai, which has become a go-to destination for food lovers seeking his signature dish. He is also recognized for hosting food travelogue shows such as Roti Rasta aur India, where he explored India’s diverse culinary spaces.
| About Saransh Goila | |
| Name | Saransh Goila |
| Born | February 17, 1987 (age 37) Delhi, India |
| Education | Institute of Hotel Management Worldwide – Aurangabad (The Taj Group of Hotels) |
| Cooking style | Indian cuisine |
Nita Mehta
Nita Mehta is an Indian chef, author, restaurateur and media personality celebrated for her extensive contributions to Indian cuisine. With over 400 cookbooks to her name, she has sold more than 6 million copies. She has earned accolades such as the Best Asian Cookbook Award for flavours of Indian cooking at the World Cookbook Fair in Paris in 1999.
| About Nita Mehta | |
| Name | Nita Mehta |
| Cooking style | Indian |
| Award(s) won | Best Asian Cookbook Award (1999) |
FAQs
There are many Indian Chefs and the list starts with – Sanjeev Kapoor, Ranveer Brar, Kunal Kapoor etc.
Some of the highest-paid chefs in India are Sanjeev Kapoor, Ranveer Brar, Vikas Khanna and Viky Ratnani.
Determining who is “better” depends on the criteria used. Sanjeev Kapoor excels in mass appeal and accessibility through television and cookbooks, making him a beloved figure in Indian households. Vikas Khanna, on the other hand, represents fine dining and global culinary excellence with his Michelin-starred restaurant and humanitarian initiatives. Each chef has made significant contributions to Indian cuisine but appeals to different audiences and culinary experiences.
Relevant Reads
This was all about the best chefs in India and their achievements. If you want to know more about other Famous Personalities then visit our General Knowledge page!