UPDATED: These Chefs in the PH Are Named Among the World's Best

(SPOT.ph) These are truly exciting times for lovers of good food in the Philippines. We continue to see Filipino culinary talents recognized on a global scale—this time around, six Manila-based chefs are in the spotlight for their inclusion in the Best Chef Awards this 2025.

Also read: The Best Chefs Awards 2024 Honors These Filipino and PH-Based Talents

Listed on the Best Chef Awards 2025 are the chefs heading some of Manila's top establishments. Each chef is bestowed a number of “knives"—three for "THE BEST," two for "WORLD CLASS," and one for "EXCELLENT."

On the list with two knives is Chef Jordy Navarra of Toyo Eatery, who explores Filipino culinary traditions with more current techniques and flavor combos, as shaped by his experience working at The Fat Duck in the U.K. and Bo Innovation in Hong Kong. Similarly listed with two knives to his name is Chef Chele Gonzalez; the Cantabrian native marries technical know-how from working at top restaurants in Spain (the likes of El Bulli, El Celler de Can Roca, and Mugaritz) with a long-standing curiosity about Filipino ingredients at Gallery by Chele.

One knife each was bestowed to four Manila-based newcomers on the list. There’s Chef Aaron Isip, the Gault et Millau-awarded chef of Kasa Palma, whose resume includes stints at top Paris establishments Apicius, Senderens, and Restaurant Dix-Huit. Also listed with one knife is Chef Bruce Ricketts of iai, best known for his laser focus on Japanese cuisine—mastering it, but also expanding on it and leading it down paths largely unexplored. Last but not the least is the duo behind Hapag, who work together to present contemporary expressions of Filipino cuisine (regional cuisines included): Chef Kevin Navoa, who trained at Kuala Lumpur’s Dewakan; and Chef Thirdy Dolatre, who had staged at Benu in San Francisco. Additionally, Chef Johanne Siy, the Filipina chef of Lolla in Singapore, is also awarded with one knife.

The 2025 awarding took place in Milan on October 1 and 2 CEST, with a series of talks and a grand gala as part of the two-day program.

The Best Chef Awards was founded by Polish neuroscientist Joanna Slusarczyk and Italian gastronomist Cristian Gadau in 2015, with the aim of bringing together food enthusiasts the world over, and providing a platform to "exchange knowledge and experiences... discuss current topics, and debate on universal topics from the world of fine dining." Navarra, Gonzalez, and Siy, along with Stephan Duhesme of Metiz, were also awardees in their 2024 edition of the annual awards. And back in 2023, they named Chef Yuichi Ito of Crosta Pizzeria among the top pizzaiolo in the world.

For more information, check out the Best Chef Awards' website.

UPDATED (October 6, 2025, 1:16 p.m.): The Best Chef Awards have updated their list to include Chef Thirdy Dolatre along with Kevin Navoa for Hapag. The article has been updated to reflect this development.