AKIRA BACK

Founder, Akira Back Group of Restaurants

Chef Akira Back’s restaurants are renowned wherever they open, featuring innovative dishes inspired by Japanese and Korean cuisines, as well as his global travels. His namesake brand, Akira Back Restaurants, is expanding globally and Akira Back Jakarta has won recognition from World Luxury Restaurant Awards for Best Japanese Cuisine in Asia and Best Luxury Family Restaurant. Individual concepts include AB Steak in Jakarta

– a Korean barbecue meets Western steakhouse with culturally innovative cuisine; ABar in Bangkok with unique cocktails and cutting-edge masterpiece libations; and DOSA in Seoul, South Korea, which was awarded one Michelin star in 2018. DOSA is close to his family’s Seoul home, and is where he serves innovative cuisine with a Korean essence.

Chef Back has an unusual background, having been a professional, well-recognised snowboarder and appearing in extreme sport movies. He worked in kitchens to supplement his income and fell in love with cooking, deciding to study at the International Culinary School at The Art Institute in Colorado. Combining his passions for adventure, travel and culinary exploration, he has travelled extensively, studying with top celebrity chefs and industry leaders, including Masaharu Morimoto and Brian Nagao, who taught him the value of using rare and exotic ingredients.

To be recognized and awarded one Michelin Star is an amazing honour for me, and to be given such a prestigious honour in my hometown is truly an incredible achievement. Korean cuisine has constantly been my inspiration as I open restaurants around the world, so to receive this award is very special.