Chef Akmal Anuar – Fire, Integrity & Innovation | Founder of 11 Woodfire | Culinary Visionary in Duba |Michelin-Starred Chef | Founder of 11 Woodfire & White Rice Co |Singapore’s Culinary Export Leading Dubai’s Modern Dining Revolution |Chef, Restaurateur & Mentor | Shaping Dubai’s Chef-Led Dining Scene
“Cook from the heart. Stay true to your craft. Don’t follow trends—create your own.”
Redefining Modern Dining in Dubai
Chef Akmal Anuar stands as one of the most innovative and respected culinary figures shaping the modern Middle Eastern gastronomic landscape. A chef, mentor, entrepreneur, and culinary philosopher, Akmal’s approach is rooted in fire, authenticity, and integrity. Born in Singapore and raised in a humble Malay hawker family, his culinary story began not in luxury kitchens, but in the heat of his parents’ food stall. Those early years ignited a passion for honest cooking—an ethos he has carried through every phase of his remarkable journey.
In a city brimming with international names and extravagant concepts, Chef Akmal took a different path. Rather than follow fleeting trends or celebrity chef theatrics, he focused on building restaurants with soul, identity, and purpose. After relocating to Dubai in 2014, he quickly became a driving force in redefining how the region perceived dining—shifting the spotlight from showmanship to substance. With 3Fils, he helped create a new benchmark for casual fine dining in Dubai, leading the restaurant to earn top honors in the MENA’s 50 Best Restaurants list and global acclaim through The World’s 50 Best Discovery platform.
His greatest personal and culinary expression came in the form of 11 Woodfire, opened in early 2022. Set in a reimagined villa along Jumeirah Beach Road, the restaurant blends minimalism with primal cooking techniques, celebrating ingredient-led, wood-fired cuisine. Within months of opening, 11 Woodfire was awarded one Michelin star, a testament to its sincerity, originality, and Akmal’s leadership.
Beyond the kitchen, Akmal is a mentor and strategist through his consultancy White Rice Co, helping launch and manage a range of successful F&B brands across the UAE and internationally. His consultancy reflects his commitment to chef-driven entrepreneurship, aiming to uplift passionate talents and build meaningful dining experiences.
Akmal’s philosophy is simple yet profound: “Cook from the heart. Stay true to your craft.” It’s a mantra that resonates across his dishes, his teams, and his legacy.
In the ever-evolving world of Dubai dining, Chef Akmal Anuar has become a symbol of bold restraint, purity, and purpose-driven gastronomy. Through fire and focus, he has redefined what it means to lead not just a kitchen—but a culinary movement.
Background & Culinary Beginnings
Raised in Singapore, Akmal Anuar grew up in a Malay family deeply entrenched in the street food culture. His earliest lessons in food weren’t learned from textbooks or television but from the flames of his parents’ hawker stall, where he began working at the age of 10. This hands-on upbringing instilled in him the values of discipline, hustle, and a profound respect for ingredients—principles that continue to define his food philosophy.
Although Akmal enrolled in culinary school, he quickly realized that academic instruction wasn’t aligned with his innate desire for real-world experience. He left after two years and dove into the fast-paced world of professional kitchens, eventually finding his stride in elite fine-dining spaces like the renowned Les Amis in Singapore around the year 2000. It was here that his understanding of refined cooking, technique, and flavor construction began to take deeper root.
Journey to Dubai & Rise in the Middle East
In 2014, Akmal made a pivotal move to Dubai, joining Zengo at Le Royal Méridien as Head Chef. This marked his formal entry into the UAE’s rapidly expanding culinary ecosystem. Seeing immense opportunity in Dubai’s evolving F&B landscape, he launched his own consultancy, White Rice Co, with a vision to develop, advise, and lead chef-driven restaurants rooted in authenticity.
Through White Rice Co, Akmal founded and shaped several successful concepts that quickly became pillars of Dubai’s gastronomic identity:
3Fils (2016–2019)
A game-changing concept in the casual fine-dining space, 3Fils earned international praise, topping the inaugural Middle East & North Africa’s 50 Best Restaurants list. It was also spotlighted in The World’s 50 Best Discovery, catapulting Akmal into the global culinary limelight.
Goldfish Sushi & Yakitori (2021)
Opened in partnership with ORF Group, this vibrant Japanese eatery received the Michelin Bib Gourmand award and acclaim from TimeOut Dubai. Its playful yet refined dishes struck a balance between comfort and sophistication.
11 Woodfire (Launched January 2022)
Akmal’s flagship concept and personal statement, 11 Woodfire is housed in a converted villa on Jumeirah Beach Road. The menu embraces a primal, wood-fired approach to cooking that celebrates pure ingredients and elemental techniques. In 2022, the restaurant was awarded 1 Michelin Star and also received recognition from Gault & Millau UAE—solidifying its place as one of Dubai’s most respected fine-dining destinations.
11 Woodfire – Culinary Signature & Philosophy
Akmal describes 11 Woodfire as “cuisine-less,” emphasizing a liberated form of cooking that’s less about categorization and more about honest expression. His method draws from ancestral fire-based cooking while leveraging modern finesse. From smoked wagyu to fire-roasted vegetables and fermented sauces, every dish reflects restraint, respect, and refinement.
The restaurant’s minimalistic yet elegant setting mirrors Akmal’s philosophy: “Substance over spectacle.” Here, dining is not a performance but a communion with carefully sourced ingredients and ancient cooking energy.
Awards & Accolades
Chef Akmal Anuar’s journey has been punctuated by major milestones that reflect both critical acclaim and cultural influence:
- ⭐ Michelin Star – 11 Woodfire, Dubai Guide 2022
- 🍽️ Bib Gourmand – Goldfish Sushi & Yakitori
- 🏅 Top Restaurant – 3Fils, MENA 50 Best Restaurants
- 🎖️ INC Award for Excellence in Gastronomy – INC Congress, 2022
- 🥢 Gault & Millau UAE Recognition – Multiple projects under White Rice Co
Beyond individual recognition, his restaurants have become training grounds and inspiration hubs for aspiring chefs across the region.
Style, Values & Vision
Akmal is not a chef of gimmicks or grandstanding. His work is defined by precision, humility, and intention. Whether grilling over wood embers or plating with tweezers, his goal remains the same: to honor the ingredient and the guest.
He is deeply passionate about mentorship, often advocating for young chefs to stay grounded:
“Cook from the heart. Stay true to your craft. Don’t follow trends—create your own.”
His ability to lead both front-of-house and kitchen teams makes him not only a chef but a restaurateur and cultural influencer. He’s built kitchens that function like families and menus that narrate his journey from hawker stalls to haute cuisine.
White Rice Co – Beyond the Pass
Through his consultancy White Rice Co, Akmal oversees concept development, team training, and operational excellence for several restaurant ventures across the UAE and New York. His goal is not just to build brands but to build leaders in hospitality.
The firm currently works on multiple projects spanning fine dining, bistros, and boutique F&B concepts—each anchored by Akmal’s ethos of sustainability, flavor clarity, and chef empowerment.
Quick Facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Akmal Anuar |
| Hometown | Singapore (Malay hawker family) |
| Moved to Dubai | 2014 |
| Signature Restaurant | 11 Woodfire |
| Previous Ventures | 3Fils, Goldfish Sushi & Yakitori, Zengo |
| Company | White Rice Co (Dubai & New York) |
| Awards | Michelin Star, Bib Gourmand, INC Award |
| Cooking Philosophy | Simplicity, Authenticity, Fire & Heart |
Legacy & Impact
Chef Akmal Anuar stands as a beacon for modern chefs seeking independence, integrity, and identity in a world dominated by trends and theatrics. By staying rooted in his values—authenticity, mentorship, and respect for food—he has redefined what it means to be a modern chef in the Middle East.
He’s not just creating meals.
He’s creating a movement.
🔗 External Links
- Michelin Interview: https://guide.michelin.com/ae-du/en/article/people/first-day-MICHELIN-star-akmal-anuar-11woodfire
- White Rice Co: https://eatwhiterice.com/akmal
- INC Award News: https://www.eatwhiterice.com/news/inc-award-akmal
- Goldfish Dubai: https://www.instagram.com/goldfishdubai
- Akmal YouTube Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7WZBN8Le30
- ProChef ME Interview: https://www.theprochefme.com/chef-akmal-anuaA Journey Forged in Fire: The Rise of Chef Akmal Anuar
- Chef Akmal Anuar’s journey from the bustling streets of Singapore to the Michelin-starred kitchens of Dubai is a story of passion, perseverance, and purpose. Born into a Malay family that ran a humble hawker stall, Akmal was introduced to the culinary world at the tender age of 10. Working alongside his parents, he learned the discipline and humility that come from serving food with heart. This early exposure to honest cooking would become the bedrock of his career.
- Although he briefly enrolled in culinary school, Akmal soon realized that his path lay beyond academic confines. He left school and entered the professional kitchen, refining his skills in elite establishments such as Les Amis, one of Singapore’s most prestigious French restaurants. These formative years sharpened his technique and deepened his understanding of culinary precision.
- In 2014, Akmal moved to Dubai, taking on the role of Head Chef at Zengo in Le Royal Méridien. Inspired by Dubai’s growing food culture, he founded White Rice Co, a consultancy dedicated to developing chef-driven dining experiences. His breakthrough came with 3Fils, a casual fine-dining concept that received international acclaim and topped the MENA 50 Best Restaurants list.
- Akmal’s creative evolution culminated in 11 Woodfire, his flagship restaurant. Launched in 2022, the concept celebrates primal wood-fire cooking and ingredient purity. The restaurant was quickly awarded a Michelin star, cementing his place among Dubai’s culinary elite.
- Today, Akmal leads multiple ventures, mentors young chefs, and continues to shape the future of dining through simplicity, authenticity, and fire. His journey reflects not just a rise in status, but a commitment to redefining excellence—one honest dish at a time.r-on-the-journey-so-far
A Journey Forged in Fire: The Rise of Chef Akmal Anuar
Chef Akmal Anuar’s journey from the bustling streets of Singapore to the Michelin-starred kitchens of Dubai is a story of passion, perseverance, and purpose. Born into a Malay family that ran a humble hawker stall, Akmal was introduced to the culinary world at the tender age of 10. Working alongside his parents, he learned the discipline and humility that come from serving food with heart. This early exposure to honest cooking would become the bedrock of his career.
Although he briefly enrolled in culinary school, Akmal soon realized that his path lay beyond academic confines. He left school and entered the professional kitchen, refining his skills in elite establishments such as Les Amis, one of Singapore’s most prestigious French restaurants. These formative years sharpened his technique and deepened his understanding of culinary precision.
In 2014, Akmal moved to Dubai, taking on the role of Head Chef at Zengo in Le Royal Méridien. Inspired by Dubai’s growing food culture, he founded White Rice Co, a consultancy dedicated to developing chef-driven dining experiences. His breakthrough came with 3Fils, a casual fine-dining concept that received international acclaim and topped the MENA 50 Best Restaurants list.
Akmal’s creative evolution culminated in 11 Woodfire, his flagship restaurant. Launched in 2022, the concept celebrates primal wood-fire cooking and ingredient purity. The restaurant was quickly awarded a Michelin star, cementing his place among Dubai’s culinary elite.
Today, Akmal leads multiple ventures, mentors young chefs, and continues to shape the future of dining through simplicity, authenticity, and fire. His journey reflects not just a rise in status, but a commitment to redefining excellence—one honest dish at a time.
