A Prodigy with a Global Lens

Zhang Zhicheng is no ordinary rising star—he is a prodigy whose career began at nineteen, when he opened his first restaurant specialising in crayfish. By twenty-four, he was leading a private kitchen in a historic Beijing siheyuan; by twenty-eight, he was Executive Chef of the two-Michelin-starred Ying Jee Club in Macau. Today, at Drunken Fish inside Wynn Macau, he has forged a culinary voice that marries technical mastery with an instinct for bold, yet unpretentious flavours.

A Seafood Feast, Reinvented
At the heart of Zhang’s cooking is seafood, sourced from across the globe and treated with a balance of refinement and restraint. At Drunken Fish—Macau’s only restaurant with a Maotai-themed bar—his menu fuses the spirit of Chinese culinary tradition with international techniques and a touch of showmanship. Whether it is crispy shallot abalone, razor clams tossed with chives, or lobster blanched in chicken oil, his creations impress not with gimmickry but with clarity. For Zhang, “true mastery is found in the ordinary”—and if guests say the food is delicious, that is the highest reward.

Innovation with Integrity
Zhang’s innovation is never about novelty for its own sake. Instead, he honours the five-thousand-year continuum of Chinese cuisine by striving to make today’s dish better than yesterday’s. From delicately incorporating Maotai into seafood dishes to reinterpreting classics with global influences, his work respects tradition while expanding its possibilities.

A Modern Voice Beyond the Kitchen
Beyond the stove, Zhang has become a trusted and outspoken voice on Chinese social media. Under the moniker “Black Qilin Reviews,” he visits restaurants, critiques food and wine with candour, and engages an ever-growing audience on Douyin and Xiaohongshu. His influence extends beyond his own dining room, helping shape how a new generation experiences gastronomy.

By honouring Zhicheng Zhang as Rising Star Chef of the Year, we recognise not just his meteoric ascent but also his vision: a chef who blends heritage with global curiosity, humility with ambition, and craft with authenticity.

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Drunken Fish
♦ Wynn Macau Rua Cidade de Sintra, NAPE, Macau
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