Who is chef John Chantarasak on Great British Menu 2026?

As we approach the halfway mark of Great British Menu 2026 on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer, we find out more about chef John Chantarasak, who is competing in the Wales heat.

John is chef owner of AngloThai in London, the restaurant he runs with his wife and business partner, Desiree.

AngloThai earned its first Michelin star in the 2025 Michelin Guide just three months after opening, quickly establishing itself as one of the capital’s most exciting new restaurants.

Early influences and culinary background

Born to a Thai father and British mother and raised in the Wye Valley, John’s cooking is shaped by both sides of his heritage. That blend of Thai flavour, British produce and personal identity has become central to the AngloThai concept.

John trained at Le Cordon Bleu before working at Nahm in Bangkok under David Thompson, and later at Som Saa in London. Across those formative experiences, he built a deep understanding of Thai cuisine while also refining the technical approach that now underpins his food.

Building AngloThai

Before opening a permanent restaurant, John spent years developing AngloThai through pop-ups and residencies. That long journey eventually led to the launch of AngloThai in London, a bricks-and-mortar site created by John and Desiree together.

At AngloThai, John is known for seasonal menus that combine bold Thai flavours with the best of British ingredients. His cooking is guided by balance, locality and seasonality, taking the core principles of Thai cuisine and applying them to the British larder in a way that feels both original and deeply personal.

• Read more: John Chantarasak on AngloThai’s journey from pop-up to Michelin star

In an interview with The Staff Canteen, John said: “Once I stepped into a professional kitchen and started cooking, it felt very obvious to me that I would always want to open a restaurant of my own.

“I feel that there's a responsibility to be cooking locally and seasonally.”