Chefs’ go-to after-service meals, revealed

The days of the hard-partying chef portrayed by the late Anthony Bourdain in his bestselling memoir Kitchen Confidential are, it seems, declining. However, chefs still need to wind down after a gruelling day in the kitchen. Here, seven acclaimed chefs share their favourite after-service meals, drinks and rituals. 

1. May Chow, Chef-Owner, Little Bao, Hong Kong 

I used to party a lot more after work. Now, I just want to eat good food and spend quality time with my wife, family and friends. I like vibey, loungey places where you can relax and have conversations, such as Bar Leone , Bar Butler , The Diplomat and The Savory Project . Rakuen and Kyoto-Oden Masa are my favourite late-night Japanese spots. If I’m craving Chinese food, I’ll head to Juxing Home for the superior stock shrimp with crispy vermicelli, ginger scallion poached sliced fresh beef, and steamed egg with clams. And if I’m with a rowdy group, we’d go to Canton Pot for high-end hot pot and karaoke.

2. Ryogo Tahara, Head Chef, Logy, Taipei 

Our restaurant closes at 11pm and, if I’m in the mood, I’ll head to Tei by Obond to unwind with a Taiwanese tea-based cocktail. Xiao Pin Ya Chu is my favourite place for a post-service meal. It’s famous for homestyle Taiwanese food, and you can order a few small plates like shredded potato, and sweet and sour pork ribs to enjoy with a bowl of congee. I rarely go to nightclubs but there’s always an excuse to visit Kor , an upmarket “super lounge” with delicious cocktails and bar snacks.

3. Santiago Fernandez, Head Chef, Maz, Tokyo

My team and I finish before midnight and, once a week, we grab a quick drink before the metro closes. Some of my favourite bars in Tokyo are Bar Trench , where I always order the Mezcal Milk Punch, and Folklore , which uses shochu in creative ways. For late-night eats, I love going to Goni 52 in Roppongi for amazing dumplings, mapo tofu and spring rolls, and Sobamae Isshin in Akasaka for soba noodles.

4. Tam Chudaree Debhakam, Chef-Owner, Baan Tepa, Bangkok 

A few times a month, the team and I go to a local roadside larb (ground meat salad) stall after work. I also enjoy going to Modern-Day Culture , a vinyl bar in Ekkamai, for small bites and cocktails and to enjoy the music, and then to Thaipioka for DJ beats and a few more rounds of drinks. Thai Chinese restaurant Lerdtip serves excellent wok-fried dishes like oyster omelette until midnight, and 55 Pochana ’s rice porridge, spicy century egg salad and stir-fried white chives with tofu are my ideal after-work treats.

5. Josh Niland, Chef-Owner, Saint Peter, Sydney 

As a dad, my day-to-day life is now more lullabies than rock ballads. A venue that I’d happily unwind in, however, is Restaurant Hubert in Sydney, where I can sit down with a glass of wine, or maybe a martini, and some live jazz. Sydney is spoiled for incredible Thai food so, if I finish early, I’ll head to Porkfat or Chat Thai in Chinatown for grilled meats, sticky rice, larb and papaya salad.

6. Santiago Lastra, Chef-Owner, Kol, London

I normally finish before 11pm. If I’m in West London, I’ll enjoy music and negronis with friends at Chiltern Firehouse . It’s good if you don’t want a full-on nightclub, as is Soho House . Eastside, I would hit A Bar With Shapes for a Name ; Remy Savage and his team create such incredible cocktails and it’s full of really cool people. If I can make it before 10.30pm, then a great British dinner at St John is a treat. One of the best pizzas in town is at The Connaught Bar , but for a more casual dining experience, Chinatown is great for late-night dumplings.

7. Mory Sacko, Chef-Owner, MoSuke, Paris

I’m quite a homebody, but the last shift before the weekend is an excuse to go out with the team. Combat in Belleville serves excellent cocktails but, if I’m looking for some me time, I’d go to places like Fréquence or Bambino , which are inspired by Japanese listening bars, where you can listen to vinyl records while eating, drinking and dancing. I’m often hungry after service. For a late-night snack, my go-to menu items at Kurdish grill shop Urfa Durum in Strasbourg Saint-Denis are the lamb skewers and chicken in bread pancakes.