Alan Yau
(1962-), RestaurateurSitter in 1 portrait
Born into a family with Hakka heritage, Yau grew up in Sha Tau Kok, in Hong's Kong's New Territories. Aged twelve he moved to England and at sixteen he worked in his father's Chinese restaurant in King's Lynn. He studied politics and philosophy at City Polytechnic, London, before returning to the restaurant business in 1986 to manage a takeaway restaurant with his father. In 1992 Yau founded Wagamama, the chain of Japanese-style noodle bars. In 2001 he opened Hakkasan, the first Michelin-starred Cantonese restaurant in Britain. Since then he has created other successful oriental restaurants including Yauatcha and Busaba Eathai. Yau was awarded the OBE in 2006 for services to the restaurant industry.
by Palani Mohan
digital R-type colour print, November 2004
NPG x128070
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