Other
Ivan Li
Relais & Châteaux Grand Chef
- Discipline
- Other
i. Biography
Ivan Li received the Diners Club® Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014, a marker of the long, methodical work behind Family Li Imperial Cuisine. His link to the house goes back to 1985, when he helped establish the first Family Li Imperial Cuisine restaurant in Beijing. He is Executive Chef and co-owner at Family Li Imperial Cuisine (Shanghai and Tianjin), where the standard is continuity: holding the line on tradition while keeping the operation fit for the present.
Coming Up
Training at Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology gave Ivan Li a formal base before he moved into the trade. In 2006, he became Technical Consultant at Family Li Imperial Cuisine Shanghai and Tianjin branch, a post that placed him close to the kitchen’s working core, where consistency, precision, and respect for lineage matter as much as output. That role set the terms of his practice: technical, disciplined, and tied to the maintenance of a specific house style. What followed was less a shift in direction than a tightening of responsibility. The same grounding carried through his later work, where Ivan’s focus remained on preserving the house’s methods while meeting the demands of service. He now serves as Executive Chef and co-owner at Family Li Imperial Cuisine, bringing that early technical discipline into daily decisions across the brand.
Where They Are Now
He is Executive Chef and co-owner at the restaurant, guiding Family Li Imperial Cuisine (Shanghai and Tianjin) with direct knowledge of the brand’s earliest period. The position links present-day operations to the work that began in 1985, keeping the restaurant’s identity connected to its own history.
Honors
Ivan's honors include Diners Club® Lifetime Achievement Award Winner (2014). The award recognizes a career that began with helping establish the first Family Li Imperial Cuisine restaurant in Beijing in 1985 and continued through his leadership at Family Li Imperial Cuisine (Shanghai and Tianjin).
Profile updated July 2026
FAQ
Asked of Ivan
What is Ivan Li's current role?
As of 2026, Ivan Li is Executive Chef and co-owner of Family Li Imperial Cuisine.
Where did Ivan Li train or study?
Ivan Li trained at Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology.
What recognition has Ivan Li received?
Diners Club® Lifetime Achievement Award Winner (2014).
