i. Biography
Wataru Hayashi holds both Chef and Executive Chef roles at Oryori Hayashi in Kyoto, Japan, a dual assignment that keeps creative direction and daily operations under one line of authority. In a city where seasonality, precision, and restraint are part of the working standard, that structure reads as practical: one person setting the pace, the standards, and the final shape of service.
Coming Up
Today, Wataru Hayashi serves as both Chef and Executive Chef at Oryori Hayashi. The pairing is not administrative noise; it places one cook at the center of decisions, timing, and execution. With those responsibilities joined, the restaurant can move with consistency from planning to service, and Hayashi’s role is defined by that continuity in Kyoto.
Where They Are Now
At Oryori Hayashi, the Chef and Executive Chef titles sit with the same person, and Wataru Hayashi is the one carrying both. Kyoto is the setting, but it is also the working context that frames the restaurant’s identity and its daily discipline. The result is a clear line from leadership to plate: the kitchen answers to one set of standards, and the restaurant’s output reflects that unity. That arrangement gives the present tense of the operation its shape. Wataru Hayashi’s role is not split between front and back of house, or between concept and execution; it is held together as one practice at Oryori Hayashi. In a restaurant built around that kind of coherence, the title is less a description than a working structure.
Profile updated July 2026
FAQ
Asked of Wataru
What is Wataru Hayashi's current role?
As of 2026, Wataru Hayashi is Chef.
What recognition has Wataru Hayashi received?
La Liste 87 points (2025).
