APPOINTMENT

Chrome Asia Hospitality has announced the appointment of Chef Chirag Makwana as the new Corporate Executive Chef.

Chrome Asia Hospitality has appointed Chirag Makwana as Corporate Executive Chef. In this role, he will oversee the culinary direction across the group’s outlets, including Late Checkout and Lyla BKC, while also leading the development of new dining concepts planned for 2026.

Makwana brings an internationally influenced culinary perspective, with a background that combines formal training and experience across global markets. His appointment is aligned with the group’s focus on evolving its food and beverage offerings across concepts.

At Late Checkout, he will lead the culinary strategy, introducing a Japanese-European approach that integrates with the venue’s bar-led positioning. At Lyla BKC, his focus will be on developing an all-day dining menu aligned with the restaurant’s format and target audience.

In his new role, he will focus on menu development across the portfolio, aligning culinary direction with each brand’s positioning while supporting the group’s expansion plans.

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.”

Pawan Shahri, Co-Founder of Chrome Asia Hospitality, added on Chirag’s appointment, “ At Chrome Asia Hospitality, we’ve always believed that a strong culinary voice is key to building truly memorable experiences. Chirag brings a rare combination of technical depth and intuitive creativity, which allows him to craft menus that feel both exciting and accessible. With Late Checkout and Lyla BKC, his ability to navigate distinct culinary directions while maintaining a cohesive philosophy makes him the perfect fit to lead this next phase of growth.”