Junda Khoo is a Malaysian chef and owner of successful and accoladed chain eatery Ho Jiak in Sydney. Born in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Junda spent most of his formative childhood years under the care of his paternal grandmother. His fondest memories of her were of the times he spent observing and learning from her in the kitchen, being her little helper as she prepared meals for the family. In his teenage years, Junda?s parents sent him and his brother to continue their schooling in Australia. The independence led to countless nights of experimentation of recipes as Junda sought ways to make the most, and the best, meals out of what he could get as a college student. That fueled his passion for cooking. Despite graduating with a degree in banking, Junda left the industry after a year to pursue a career in the kitchen. Shortly after, Ho Jiak Strathfield was where Junda would spent hours after hours, laboriously refining recipes and elevating them from a home and hawker standard to a dining experience. His success grew, and since then, Junda has opened Ho Jiak Haymarket, Ho Jiak Town Hall and Amah by Ho Jiak in Chatswood, each branch with a different focus and specialty. In 2022, Junda?s innovative creations led to him being nominated as a finalist for Chef of the Year by Sydney Morning Herald?s Good Food Guide. Ho Jiak Town Hall was also named as one of the top 80 restaurants in Australia by Gourmet Traveler and was awarded one Chef?s Hat in recognition of the dedication and excellence of dining experiences delivered.