Food Superstars

The ultimate culinary honour that awards and recognises chefs who revolutionise India’s food scene. These awards are exclusively for the person, not their restaurant!

Winners of 2025

2022 2023 2024

The Trailblazers

This tribute is to India’s culinary craftsmen of the year. Their distinctive, pioneering food philosophies, a celebration of the diverse and innovative country they cook in.

#1
Himanshu Saini - Featured Image
Himanshu Saini
Mumbai
#2
Johnson Ebenezer - Featured Image
Johnson Ebenezer
Bengaluru
#3
Manu Chandra - Featured Image
Manu Chandra
Bengaluru
#4
Gresham Fernandes - Featured Image
Gresham Fernandes
Mumbai
#5
Doma Wang - Featured Image
Doma Wang
Kolkata
#6
Prateek Sadhu - Featured Image
Prateek Sadhu
Kasauli, Himachal Pradesh
#7
Varun Totlani - Featured Image
Varun Totlani
Mumbai
#8
Naren Thimmaiah - Featured Image
Naren Thimmaiah
Bengaluru
#9
Alex Sanchez - Featured Image
Alex Sanchez
Mumbai
#10
Shantanu Mehrotra - Featured Image
Shantanu Mehrotra
New Delhi
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The Elite

The awards are the definitive homage to India’s best chefs of the year. Their culinary beliefs fostering kitchens of change and challenge. Their food opening up India to newer vistas of gourmet excellence.

#1
Himanshu Saini
Himanshu Saini
Mumbai
#2
Johnson Ebenezer
Johnson Ebenezer
Bengaluru
#3
Manu Chandra
Manu Chandra
Bengaluru
#4
Gresham Fernandes
Gresham Fernandes
Mumbai
#5
Doma Wang
Doma Wang
Kolkata
#6
Prateek Sadhu
Prateek Sadhu
Kasauli, Himachal Pradesh
#7
Varun Totlani
Varun Totlani
Mumbai
#8
Naren Thimmaiah
Naren Thimmaiah
Bengaluru
#9
Alex Sanchez
Alex Sanchez
Mumbai
#10
Shantanu Mehrotra
Shantanu Mehrotra
New Delhi
#11
Nooresha Kably
Nooresha Kably
Mumbai / Goa
#12
Nikhil Nagpal
Nikhil Nagpal
Chennai
#13
Avinash Martins
Avinash Martins
Goa
#14
Lakhan Jethani
Lakhan Jethani
Mumbai
#15
Manuel Olveira
Manuel Olveira
Mumbai
#16
Rahul Gomes Pereira
Rahul Gomes Pereira
Goa
#17
Seefah Ketchaiyo
Seefah Ketchaiyo
Mumbai
#18
⁠Will Aghajanian
⁠Will Aghajanian
Mumbai
#19
Niyati Rao
Niyati Rao
Mumbai
#20
Shubham Thakur
Shubham Thakur
New Delhi
#21
Pooja Dhingra
Pooja Dhingra
Mumbai
#22
Ralph Prazeres
Ralph Prazeres
Goa
#23
Kavan Kuttappa
Kavan Kuttappa
Bengaluru
#24
Sahil Mehta
Sahil Mehta
New Delhi
#25
Amninder Sandhu
Amninder Sandhu
New Delhi
#26
Zhang Hongsheng
Zhang Hongsheng
New Delhi
#27
Manish Sharma
Manish Sharma
New Delhi
#28
Adwait Anantwar
Adwait Anantwar
New Delhi
#29
⁠Koyel Roy Nandy
⁠Koyel Roy Nandy
Kolkata
#30
Harish Rao
Harish Rao
Goa
#31
Shri Bala
Shri Bala
Chennai
#32
Manik Magotra
Manik Magotra
Agra
#33
Chalapathi Rao
Chalapathi Rao
Hyderabad
#34
Bawmra Jap
Bawmra Jap
Goa
#35
Dhiraj Dargan
Dhiraj Dargan
New Delhi
#36
Paul Kinny
Paul Kinny
Mumbai
#37
Pallavi Menon
Pallavi Menon
Bengaluru
#38
Jatin Mallick
Jatin Mallick
New Delhi
#39
Jyoti Singh
Jyoti Singh
Goa
#40
Sushanta Sengupta
Sushanta Sengupta
Kolkata
#41
Dhruv Oberoi
Dhruv Oberoi
New Delhi
#42
Sachiko Seth
Sachiko Seth
Kolkata
#43
Girish Nayak
Girish Nayak
Mumbai
#44
Manav Khanna
Manav Khanna
New Delhi, Gurugram
#45
Aketoli Zhimomi
Aketoli Zhimomi
Dimapur
#46
Vignesh Ramachandran
Vignesh Ramachandran
Hyderabad
#47
Rijul Gulati
Rijul Gulati
Mumbai
#48
Prakriti Lama Patel
Prakriti Lama Patel
Mumbai
#49
Kayzad Sadri
Kayzad Sadri
Mumbai
#50
Shriya Shetty
Shriya Shetty
Mangalore
#51
Rajat Alve
Rajat Alve
Bengaluru
#52
Ruby Islam
Ruby Islam
Hyderabad
#53
David D'Souza
David D'Souza
Bengaluru
#54
Jamsheed Bhote
Jamsheed Bhote
New Delhi
#55
Mathew Varghese
Mathew Varghese
Mumbai
#56
Tejasvi Chandela
Tejasvi Chandela
Jaipur
#57
Vardaan Marwah
Vardaan Marwah
Pune
#58
Sandeep Namboodiry
Sandeep Namboodiry
New Delhi
#59
Varun Pereira
Varun Pereira
Bengaluru
#60
Arijit Mukherjee
Arijit Mukherjee
Kolkata
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Changemakers

Special awards for special chefs. Their outstanding accomplishments deserve Special ovation, even though they may not fit the Top 30 criteria. A freshness of culinary perspective, an endeavour to showcase Indian cuisine globally, or a kitchen that makes an exemplary social impact – all demand applause.

Hussain Shahzad
Hussain Shahzad
Mumbai
Surender Mohan
Surender Mohan
London
Vinesh Johny
Vinesh Johny
Bengaluru
Vicky Ratnani
Vicky Ratnani
New Delhi
Madhav Dayal
Madhav Dayal
Goa
Vanshika Bhatia
Vanshika Bhatia
New Delhi
Jai Prakash Singh
Jai Prakash Singh
  
ABOUT FOODSUPERSTARS - Registration
ABOUT FOODSUPERSTARS - Registration

ABOUT FOODSUPERSTARS

Eligibility

India’s annual Top 30 Chefs awards recognizes each chef’s distinctive contributions to the culinary arts. To be eligible, whether Indian or foreign national, the chef must have worked in a standalone restaurant, hotel, delivery service, or catering kitchen within India during the specified evaluation period.

ABOUT FOODSUPERSTARS

What makes a Food Superstar?

A creative chef cooks incredible food, each plate a consistent reflection of their personality. But, a chef is also a passionate social leader, who educates and inspires, with kitchens that blend concepts of sustainability and science.

ABOUT FOODSUPERSTARS

Voting:

Step 1

The voting process for the annual rankings of Food Superstars is compiled by an anonymous panel consisting of India’s most passionate foodies, who retain their independence through anonymity.

Step 2

These nominations are further distilled by Culinary Culture’s team, consisting of India’s topmost culinary experts. The final position that each chef is awarded is an absolutely independent, authentically curated ranking.

ABOUT FOODSUPERSTARS

Ethicality

Unlike many other award platforms, FoodSuperstars does not accept a penny from restaurants in any form. There is no charge for being listed. There is no advertising from restaurants. All chefs on the list are flown to the event and put up in hotels at Culinary Culture’s expense.

ABOUT FOODSUPERSTARS

The award

The Food Superstars awards are not for the best restaurants. But, the people veiled in their smoky kitchens. Uniquely, the chef is the recipient of the plaque. It is at their discretion to display at their
restaurant or hotel and carry along with them if they move locations.

  
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