Alan Yau

Restauranteur Alan Yau OBE launched the Wagamama food chain in the United Kingdom.

The chain is acclaimed with re-inventing the Chinese food industry in the UK by improving traditional recipes with modern techniques. Alan Yau was awarded the OBE in the 2006 New Year Honour's List for services to the restaurant industry.

Alan Yau is also the man behind the leading London restaurants Hakkasan and more recently Yauatcha. Hakkasan was not the first UK Chinese restaurant to be awarded a Michelin Star, Lee Ho Fook was the first in 1974 and Poons of Covent Garden was the second in 1979. Yauatcha followed in their footsteps by receiving their first Michelin Star shortly after opening.

In April 2005, the British magazine Restaurant unveiled its fourth annual global ranking of the 50 Best Restaurants — Hakkasan was rated 30th and Yauatcha 43rd. (10 London restaurants were in the top 50.)