Richard Chen

Who is Richard Chen?

Richard Chen is the executive chef of Wing Lei, a restaurant in the Wynn Las Vegas.

Chef Chen began his career at the age of seven, working in his parents’ restaurant in his native Taiwan. His family moved to the United States and re-established a new restaurant in suburban Chicago and Richard continued to work with them.

He graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York. In 1986, he became a chef at the La Vista International Hotel.

He then moved back to Chicago to become a chef in Euro-French cuisine at the Ritz-Carlton Chicago.

In 2002, Richard became Chef de Cuisine and Manager of the fusion restaurant Shanghai Terrace at The Peninsula Chicago. Chicago magazine named it as one of its "Best New Restaurants" in 2002 and Zagat listed it in the "Top Food, Service and Décor" category.

While at the Shanghai Terrace, Richard also became executive chef of Wing Lei starting April 28, 2005 after an extensive recruitment campaign by Steve Wynn himself. The 2008 Las Vegas Michelin Guide awarded it one star, making it the only Chinese restaurant in North America to have earned the honor. It has also received the 2008 AAA Four Diamond award. The name Wing Lei is derived from the translation of the Chinese character for Wynn and means "forever prosperous".²