Portrait of Darren Teoh
i. Biography
Darren Teoh is the founder and head chef of Dewakan, a fine-dining restaurant in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, which he established in 2014 (initially at KDU University College in Shah Alam) and relocated to Naza Tower in 2019. Specializing in contemporary Malaysian cuisine that highlights indigenous ingredients like kulim, ketumpang air, and bunga kantan, Dewakan earned a spot at 46th on Asia's 50 Best Restaurants in 2019 as Malaysia's Best Restaurant, its first Michelin star in 2022, a second star in 2023, and Malaysia's first Green Star for sustainability in 2025. Teoh's career includes early training in French kitchens in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, a stage at Noma in Copenhagen, and an MBA from the International Management Institute in Switzerland.
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