Chef Wan Biography: Age, Wife, Children, Net Worth, Height, Restaurants, Real Name, Religion

Redzuawan bin Ismail, widely known by his stage name Chef Wan, is a Malaysia celebrity chef, television host, actor, restaurateur, and entrepreneur, famed for his flamboyant personality and tireless promotion of Malaysian and Southeast Asian cuisine on the global stage.

Over three decades, he has hosted groundbreaking shows like Wanita & Chef Wan and East Bites West, authored more than a dozen bestselling cookbooks, and earned prestigious honors such as the Gourmand World Cookbook Award for Best Celebrity Television Chef.

Profile

• Full Name: Redzuawan bin Ismail
• Stage Name: Chef Wan
• Born: 6 January 1958
• Age: 67 years old
• Birthplace: Singapore
• Nationality: Malaysian
• Occupation: Chef, Television Host, Actor, Restaurateur, Entrepreneur
• Height: Unknown
• Parents: Ismail Mohd Nor and Noraini Abdullah
• Siblings: 5
• Spouse: Norhayati binti Ayub
• Children: Serina Redzuawan, Muhammad Nazri Redzuawan (Chef Riz)
• Relationship: Married
• Net Worth: $5 million

Early Life and Education

Redzuawan bin Ismail, was born on January 6, 1958, in Singapore, to Ismail Mohd Nor, a Royal Malaysian Air Force member with Riau Malay and Javanese roots from Indonesia, and Noraini Abdullah, of Peranakan Chinese and Japanese descent.

As the eldest of seven children in a modest Felda settler family, he moved to Kuala Lumpur at age three and grew up helping his mother sell traditional kuih in bustling markets, an experience that sparked his lifelong love for food.

After qualifying as an accountant, he pivoted to culinary pursuits, earning an associate degree in Professional Chef Training and Hotel Management from the California Culinary Academy in San Francisco, followed by a Ritz Escoffier Diploma from the Hôtel Ritz Paris.

While his religious beliefs align with Islam.

Career

Chef Wan, traded his accounting ledgers for kitchen knives in the late 1980s, enrolling at the California Culinary Academy after a pivotal divorce and a deep-seated passion ignited by his mother’s street-side kuih sales.

Returning to Malaysia, he honed his skills in local restaurants before landing his television debut in 1993 with Wanita & Chef Wan on RTM, a fresh format that mixed cooking demos with lively banter, quickly making him a household name.

Early breakthroughs included guest spots on Astro’s Citarasa and international demos at events like the SIAL Food Expo in Paris, where his energetic promotion of Malaysian dishes like sambal belacan earned him initial acclaim as a cultural bridge-builder in the culinary world.

Chef Wan’s ascent accelerated in the 2000s as he hosted hits like Chef Wan: The Series and Dapur Impian, blending education with entertainment to spotlight Southeast Asian staples, while his acting forays in films such as Lurah Dendam (1996) and Senario XX (2005) added a playful dimension to his persona.

Key milestones included authoring over a dozen cookbooks, starting with The Best of Malay Cooking, which snagged gold at the Salon International du Livre Gourmand, and his 2013 Fox TV venture East Bites West, broadcast in 38 countries and pitting him against the likes of Jamie Oliver.

Honors poured in, from Tourism Malaysia’s culinary ambassador role in 2010 to the 2009 Gourmand Best Celebrity Television Chef award, solidifying his influence in elevating Asian cuisine amid global food trends.

Chef Wan’s footprint expands through ventures like the De.Wan 1958 restaurant chain, which earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand in 2024, and his 2021 e-commerce platform chefwanlifestyle.com.my, offering branded kitchenware and recipes.

Recent accolades, including the World Top Gourmet Awards for Food Ambassador and Master Chef of the Year, underscore his enduring role in global expos and charity events, where he fuses Malaysian heritage with modern innovation.

His motivational speaking and collaborations, such as with Uncle Roger in 2021, continue to inspire a new generation of chefs, weaving food as a thread of unity across borders and backgrounds.

Social Media

• Instagram Handle: @chefwan_official
• Facebook Handle: Chef Wan Lifestyle
• Twitter Handle: Unknown

Personal Life

Chef Wan, has been married to Norhayati binti Ayub since the early years of his career, a partnership that provided stability during his bold shift from accounting to the unpredictable world of food media.

The couple raised two children: daughter Serina Redzuawan, an actress known for roles in Malaysian dramas, and son Muhammad Nazri Redzuawan, or Chef Riz, who carries on the family legacy as a rising culinary talent.

Filmography

• Lurah Dendam (1996)
• Senario XX (2005)
• Gangsterock: Kasi Sengat..! (2015)

Discography

• The Best of Malay Cooking (1999)
• Chef Wan’s Sweet Treats (2012)

Net Worth

Chef Wan boasts an estimated net worth of $5 million.

His fortune largely traces to decades of television hosting and international appearances, amplified by royalties from over a dozen cookbooks and the success of restaurant chains like De. Wan 1958.