Henry Lu Biography – Henry Lu Wiki
Henry Lu is a Chef and Owner at JŪN and byKIN currently living in Houston, Texas.He is a contestant in the 22nd season of Top Chef.
Born and raised in the Bronx, Henry Lu developed a passion for food while working in his family’s Chinese restaurants. Despite earning a degree in art history, his love for culinary arts led him to enroll at the French Culinary Institute, where he refined his skills and prepared for a career in some of Manhattan’s top kitchens.
Lu’s journey took him to prestigious restaurants, including Pearl & Ash, where he served as a sous chef. During his time there, the restaurant earned two stars from The New York Times and was named one of Bon Appétit’s Top 10 Best New Restaurants in 2013. He later joined Llama Inn in Williamsburg, another critically acclaimed establishment that also received two stars from The New York Times.
Expanding his expertise, Henry spent three years as the executive chef at Four Happy Men Hospitality Group, where his innovative dishes earned him a spot on Eater New York’s Best Dishes of 2018 and Food & Wine’s 2019 Things You Won’t Want to Miss.
In 2020, Henry Lu moved to Houston, teaming up with Top Chef alum Evelyn Garcia to co-found JŪN, a restaurant in Houston Heights blending Southeast Asian flavors with modern techniques. Since its opening, JŪN has been recognized as a 2024 James Beard Award semi-finalist for Best New Restaurant and was named 2023 Best New Restaurant by Infatuation and Robb Report.
Beyond JŪN, Henry and Evelyn co-founded byKIN, a catering and pop-up company inspired by Southeast Asian cuisine. Their success continued in 2025, when they were both named James Beard Semi-finalists for Best Chef: Texas.
With a commitment to innovation and a deep respect for his culinary heritage, Henry Lu continues to shape the food scene in Houston and beyond.
Henry Lu Age
His hometown is The Bronx, New York.
Henry Lu Top Chef
The Bronx native is a contestant on Top Chef; Destination Canada. The cooking reality show is in its 22nd season and wil take place in Canada. It premieres on March 13, 2025.
He is competing alongside other 14 chefs who are ; Kat Turner, Anna “Anya” El-Wattar, Paula Endara, Tristen Epps, Corwin Hemming, Katianna Hong, Lana Lagomarsini, Vincenzo “Vinny” Loseto, Zubair Mohajir, César Murillo, Massimo Piedimonte, Bailey Sullivan,Shuai Wang and Mimi Weissenborn.
This season’s Top Chef will continue with host Kristen Kish and judge Tom Colicchio alongside Gail Simmons. The winner will take home the grand prize of $250,000 and a $125,000 flight credit to spend on travel with Delta Air Lines; a feature in Food & Wine magazine, and an appearance at the annual Food & Wine Classic in Aspen. They’ll also headline their own dinner at the James Beard House in New York and have the opportunity to present at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards in Chicago.
Henry Lu Ethnicity
He is of Chinese descent. Therefore, he is of Asian ethnicity.
Henry Lu Instagram
His Instagram handle is @chefhenrylu.
