Chef Khanh

Chef Khanh
Nguyen

Vietnamese-Australian Executive Chef leading King Clarence and Ashe for Brent Savage and Nick Hildebrandt's Bentley Restaurant Group. Mentored by Luke Nguyen, Dan Hong, René Redzepi, Brent Savage, and Nick Hildebrandt. Asian flavours meet native Australian ingredients and precise technique. One philosophy: cooking is architecture.

Chef Khanh Nguyen (center) smiling with two colleagues against a weathered wall

Cooking is architecture.

Ingredients are materials.

Flavor is design.

The Story

Khanh Nguyen grew up in his family's kitchen in Western Sydney, where traditional Vietnamese recipes met the Australian landscape. It was an environment where pho simmered for half a day and every spice was measured by instinct, yet those same recipes constantly adapted to new ingredients and a new audience.

That duality — tradition and adaptation — became the foundation of everything. Asian soul, modern technique, global ingredients. Precision without pretension. Fine dining without losing the street.

From apprentice at Red Lantern to Sous Chef at Mr Wong to an 11-week stage at Noma Australia — Khanh built his craft across Sydney's most demanding kitchens. In 2018, he moved to Melbourne to open Sunda, where his Vegemite curry roti became iconic. In 2023, he returned to Sydney as Executive Chef of King Clarence — earning Best New Restaurant (Gourmet Traveller 2024) and Two Hats (Good Food Guide 2025 & 2026). In 2026, he opened Ashe with Bentley Restaurant Group, bringing his most personal Southeast Asian menu to Angel Place. The mission remains: make it perfect, make it meaningful, make it yours.

The Journey

2009–2011

Red Lantern · Apprentice

Sydney · Under Luke Nguyen

2011–2012

Bécasse · Chef de Partie

Sydney · Under Justin North

2012–2015

Mr Wong · Sous Chef

Sydney · Under Dan Hong

2016–

Noma Australia Pop-up · Stage

Sydney · Under René Redzepi

2016–

Bentley Restaurant Group · Junior Sous Chef

Sydney · Under Brent Savage & Nick Hildebrandt

2016–2018

Cirrus Dining · Senior Sous Chef

Sydney

2018–2023

Sunda · Opening Head Chef → Executive Chef

Melbourne

2023–

King Clarence · Executive Chef

Sydney

2026–

Ashe · Executive Chef

Sydney

Recognition

Two Hats — SMH Good Food Guide, 2025King Clarence

Retained in 2026

Best New Restaurant — Gourmet Traveller, 2024King Clarence
16/20 Review Score — Sydney Morning Herald Good Food, 2024King Clarence

"Star chef Khanh Nguyen can really, really cook"

5/5 Stars — Time Out Sydney, 2024King Clarence

"Fun and delicious in equal measure"

Restaurant of the Year — The Age Good Food Guide, 2023Aru

Announced November 2022 for the 2023 guide

Two Hats — The Age Good Food Guide, 2023Aru
One Hat — The Age Good Food Guide, 2019Sunda

Retained in 2020

People's Choice Award — Time Out Melbourne Food Awards, 2019Sunda

Vegemite Curry Roti — Signature Searches

Host & Mentor — Golden Chef's Hat Award — Nestlé Professional, 2025King Clarence

Hosted and mentored 2025 finalists (not a personal award)

Evidence & Citations

Timeline entries use registry-backed records and public citations, including Sydney Morning Herald Good Food. For related references, see Media and Links.

Connect with Khanh

Say Hello on Instagram

Executive Chef at King Clarence and Ashe in Sydney. Khanh shares from the kitchen on Instagram. Reach out for press, collaborations, or a friendly hello. Restaurant information is available from King Clarence and Ashe.

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