i. Biography
Karunesh Khanna has been Executive Chef at Tamarind in Mayfair, London, since 2018. The role sits within one of the capital’s most exacting Indian dining rooms, where consistency and control are part of the brief. A prior Executive Chef post that ended in 2018 led into this position, carrying a progression built on discipline rather than flourish.
Coming Up
Training at The Dorchester, Four Seasons, and The Ritz placed Karunesh Khanna in kitchens where timing, finish, and repetition were non-negotiable. That kind of formation is built on standards that do not relax under pressure: steady execution, close attention to detail, and the ability to keep service moving without losing control. Those early conditions still read through the way he works. At Tamarind chain of Indian restaurants, that background shows up as measured kitchen leadership. The shift from those training grounds to an executive role in modern Indian dining is not a departure from craft but an extension of it. The throughline is exactitude: food handled with restraint, balance, and a trained eye for detail.
Where They Are Now
Since 2018, Khanna has served as Executive Chef at Tamarind in Mayfair, London. The position carries the demands of a kitchen where polish and pace have to hold together, and his tenure points to continuity in that environment. In a dining room judged on both execution and finish, his role is defined by steadiness. At Tamarind, the work depends on flavour that is controlled as much as it is expressive, and Khanna’s position gives the operation a clear line of authority. Executive Chef here means more than oversight; it means directing the standard of the kitchen every day. Since 2018, that has been the shape of his contribution.
Signature
Karunesh's signature dishes include Coconut and Chilli Seabass and Tandoori Game Bird/Chicken. Read as a pair, they show two sides of the same kitchen discipline: one built on brightness and contrast, the other on the smoky structure associated with tandoori cooking. The names point to a cook who works with clarity, balance, and a firm grip on technique.
Profile updated July 2026
FAQ
Asked of Karunesh
What is Karunesh Khanna's current role?
As of 2026, Karunesh Khanna is Executive Chef.
Where did Karunesh Khanna train or study?
Karunesh Khanna trained at The Dorchester and Four Seasons.
