Chirag Makwana Appointed Corporate Executive Chef at Chrome Asia Hospitality — Driving Culinary Direction Across Flagship Concepts

A leadership shift within Chrome Asia Hospitality, a Mumbai-based experience-led restaurant group, signals its next phase of culinary evolution. The company has appointed Chef Chirag Makwana as Corporate Executive Chef, with a mandate to oversee culinary strategy across its flagship concepts including Late Checkout and Lyla BKC, while also shaping upcoming formats slated for 2026.

Career Foundation

The professional journey of Chef Chirag Makwana reflects a blend of international exposure and hands-on operational learning. Growing up in Mumbai, his early exposure to food began informally, before transitioning into structured culinary training abroad. His move to Canada provided the foundation for a disciplined approach to kitchen operations, where he engaged with global culinary standards and diverse cooking styles.

Working alongside chefs such as Massimo Capra, Michael Bonacini, and Tony De Luca, Makwana gained insights into precision-driven cooking, ingredient-led menu development, and the mechanics of high-performance kitchens. These formative experiences shaped his approach to building menus that balance technical execution with a clear flavour identity.

Most Recent Role and Key Achievements

Before taking on this corporate role at Chrome Asia Hospitality, Makwana’s career included working in environments that demanded consistency across varied service formats. His exposure to internationally benchmarked kitchens and his achievement of the Red Seal Chef Certification reflect a high level of technical proficiency.

His work has consistently focused on aligning food with the overall dining experience, particularly in concepts where culinary output is closely integrated with beverage programs and ambience. This ability to navigate both standalone dining formats and experience-driven venues has positioned him to take on a multi-brand leadership role.

Education and Professional Competencies

Makwana is a graduate of the Canadian Food and Wine Institute, where he completed his Culinary Management programme with honours. His academic training is complemented by the Red Seal Chef Certification, underscoring his proficiency in global culinary standards. His core competencies include menu engineering, cross-concept culinary planning, and executing cohesive dining narratives across varied formats.

Scope of New Role

In his new role at Chrome Asia Hospitality, Makwana will lead culinary direction across the group’s diverse portfolio. At Late Checkout, a high-energy, cocktail-driven venue, he will introduce a Japanese-European culinary approach that integrates with the bar program while maintaining a distinct food identity. At Lyla BKC, his focus shifts to curating an all-day dining experience centred on approachable yet refined dishes.

Beyond these existing formats, he will also be instrumental in conceptualising new restaurant formats planned for 2026, aligning menus with evolving consumer preferences and the group’s experience-first philosophy. This appointment reflects the company’s intent to unify its culinary voice across concepts while retaining individual brand identities in a competitive urban dining market.

Speaking on his appointment, Chef Chirag Makwana said, “For me, food is about clarity of flavour and intent—taking something simple and pushing it just enough to make it exciting. At Late Checkout, that translates into a Japanese-European direction that plays with precision and boldness, designed to sit naturally alongside the bar experience. With Lyla BKC, the idea is more about comfort and refinement, creating dishes people return to. What excites me about working with Chrome Asia Hospitality is their focus on building concepts that are experience-first, and that aligns perfectly with how I like to think about food.”

Commenting on the development, Pawan Shahri, Co-Founder, Chrome Asia Hospitality, highlighted that Makwana’s technical depth and creative instincts make him well-suited to guide the group’s next phase of culinary growth.

The appointment reinforces the group’s focus on building a cohesive culinary identity across its expanding portfolio.