Honolulu, Hawaii
Lee Anne Wong is the chef and owner of Koko Head Cafe in Honolulu, Hawaii. A native of Troy, New York, Wong graduated from the International Culinary Center (ICC), formerly known as the French Culinary Institute, and began her culinary training at Marcus Samuelsson’s Aquavit before playing an integral role in the opening of Jean Georges Vongrichten’s Chinese concept, Restaurant 66. Wong went on to work as the Executive Chef of Event Operations at ICC, during which time she was prominently featured on Season One of Bravo’s Flagship Series “Top Chef,” and subsequently was hired as the series’ Supervising Culinary Producer for the next 6 seasons, helping to build the show into the powerhouse it is today.
In late 2013, Wong moved from New York City to Honolulu where in 2014, she debuted Koko Head Cafe – an island style brunch house in the Kaimuki neighborhood – to popular acclaim, with Wong recognized on the cover of Honolulu Magazine, as well as in Bon Appétit, Food & Wine, Honolulu Star-Advertiser and Huffington Post. Wong released her first cookbook, Dumplings All Day Wong, in August 2014. Chef Wong joined Hawaiian Airlines as a guest chef in 2016 and was named Executive Chef for the airline in March of 2018, leading the culinary program and menus for both domestic and international flights.
In March of 2019, Wong moved to Maui with her partner and one year old son. She also participated in Season 17 of Bravo’s Top Chef All Stars, filmed in Los Angeles and Northern Italy. Chef Wong’s Maui project, Papa’aina at the Pioneer Inn, located in historic Old Lahaina at the Harbor, showcased her culinary travels while featuring local, Maui grown and raised ingredients, and she was nominated as a semi finalist for the James Beard Foundation Outstanding Chef Pacific Northwest 2022. Papa’aina received local recognition and awards for Best Breakfast and Best New Restaurant during its lifespan. In August of 2023, Papa’aina perished in the Maui fires. Chef Wong participated in the Maui recovery efforts despite losing her own restaurant, and continues to advocate for Maui and the small business community in Hawaii.
Forging ahead, Chef Wong will be opening a second Japan outpost of Koko Head Cafe; Tokyo Station opened in April 2023, and the Osaka Umekita location opened this September 2024. Koko Head Cafe recently celebrated its 10 year anniversary, with Chef Wong planning a KHC Brunch Cookbook and continuing efforts to expand the brand locally. She continues to appear on various media platforms and looks forward to working on exciting new projects to expand her brand and culinary expertise.
In late 2013, Wong moved from New York City to Honolulu where in 2014, she debuted Koko Head Cafe – an island style brunch house in the Kaimuki neighborhood – to popular acclaim, with Wong recognized on the cover of Honolulu Magazine, as well as in Bon Appétit, Food & Wine, Honolulu Star-Advertiser and Huffington Post. Wong released her first cookbook, Dumplings All Day Wong, in August 2014. Chef Wong joined Hawaiian Airlines as a guest chef in 2016 and was named Executive Chef for the airline in March of 2018, leading the culinary program and menus for both domestic and international flights.
In March of 2019, Wong moved to Maui with her partner and one year old son. She also participated in Season 17 of Bravo’s Top Chef All Stars, filmed in Los Angeles and Northern Italy. Chef Wong’s Maui project, Papa’aina at the Pioneer Inn, located in historic Old Lahaina at the Harbor, showcased her culinary travels while featuring local, Maui grown and raised ingredients, and she was nominated as a semi finalist for the James Beard Foundation Outstanding Chef Pacific Northwest 2022. Papa’aina received local recognition and awards for Best Breakfast and Best New Restaurant during its lifespan. In August of 2023, Papa’aina perished in the Maui fires. Chef Wong participated in the Maui recovery efforts despite losing her own restaurant, and continues to advocate for Maui and the small business community in Hawaii.
Forging ahead, Chef Wong will be opening a second Japan outpost of Koko Head Cafe; Tokyo Station opened in April 2023, and the Osaka Umekita location opened this September 2024. Koko Head Cafe recently celebrated its 10 year anniversary, with Chef Wong planning a KHC Brunch Cookbook and continuing efforts to expand the brand locally. She continues to appear on various media platforms and looks forward to working on exciting new projects to expand her brand and culinary expertise.
