August Feature

Chef Chen Kentaro
Executive Chef

Chen Kentaro was born in Japan to an illustrious gastronomic family. His grandfather, Chen Kenmin, who arrived in Japan from Szechwan China in 1952, founded Shisen Hanten in Tokyo in 1958 and originated the cuisine known as Chūka Szechwan Ryori. Kentaro’s father, Chen Kenichi, who brought the already flourishing family business to new heights, was famed professionally as Japan’s “Szechwan Sage” (料理の鉄⼈).

In 2014, Kentaro opened Shisen Hanten by Chen Kentaro. Despite early challenges – such as the lack of ‘right’ ingredients, and having to adapt to local tastes – Shisen Hanten was lauded with two Michelin stars in 2016, making it the highest Michelin-rated Chinese restaurant in Singapore. Today, Kentaro carries forward the legacy of his father and grandfather as a third-generation chef at Shisen Hanten by Chen Kentaro in Singapore. In doing so, he honours the family brand and celebrates the cuisine of Chūka Szechwan Ryori, while inaugurating a new chapter in the restaurant’s journey.

About Shisen Hanten by Chen Kentaro

Shisen Hanten by Chen Kentaro is celebrated as Singapore’s sole specialist in Chūka Szechwan Ryori, a distinctive style of Japanese-Szechwan cuisine. At the helm is Chef Chen Kentaro, the third-generation heir of Shisen Hanten. In 2014, he established Shisen Hanten in Singapore as his own venture, carrying forward his family’s rich culinary heritage. Drawing from Chūka Szechwan Ryori, the restaurant combines Chinese Szechwan flavours with refined Japanese techniques and ingredients. To ensure authenticity, quality, and peak seasonality, ingredients are sourced from skilled artisans in China, Japan, and other regions. Premium finds translate into exquisite dishes that combine the complex flavours of Szechwan cuisine with the delicate nuances of Japanese culinary techniques. Diners enjoy hospitality embodied in the generational ethos of the Chen family, ‘The heart of cuisine is love; cook with your heart,’ in an interior of luxurious spaces adorned with stunning pieces of commissioned art.