Chef Mei Lin

Follow her: @meilin21

Born in Guangdong, China, Mei Lin grew up in Dearborn, Michigan working alongside her mother and father at their family-owned and -operated Chinese restaurant; and where she learned the fundamentals of being a well-rounded cook and how to run a restaurant. Mei Lin is a chef and television personality known for her appearances (and victories) on Bravo’s Top Chef: Boston and the fourth season of Food Network’s Tournament of Champions. In 2019, she opened Nightshade, the menu featured a concise point of view, showcasing an elegant elevation of classic Asian dishes. With the culmination of Lin’s personal culinary history on full display, the restaurant garnered rave reviews from Food and Wine and GQ’s 2019 Best New Restaurants lists and 2020 JBF Best Chef California & Best New Restaurant Nominations. In 2021, Lin opened her fast-casual Szechuan Hot Fried Chicken restaurant, Daybird, to critical acclaim.