Two Toronto Chefs Bring Korean Flavours to Canada’s Great Kitchen Party 2026
Two Toronto chefs whose menus start with Korean flavours will meet on a larger stage this November. Myeongseok ‘MJ’ Jeong of 156 ONEFIVESIX and Brian Kang of No Vacancy are competing at Canada’s Great Kitchen Party in Toronto on Thursday, November 5.
The event takes place at The Carlu and will pit eight chefs against each other. Only one will earn a place at the Canadian Culinary Championship in Ottawa, joining Toronto’s appointed Chef of Distinction, Lorenzo Loseto.
Jeong and Kang share a connection to Korean cooking, but they take it in different directions. One works from a Queen West restaurant with European influences; the other leads a Korean-Italian kitchen on Ossington.
Canada’s Great Kitchen Party Toronto 2026: Quick Details
- Date: Thursday, November 5, 2026
- Venue: The Carlu, 444 Yonge Street, Toronto
- Admission: $600 for an individual ticket; tables of eight are also offered
- At the event: Chef tastings, Canadian drinks, and performances by Jim Cuddy and Steven Page
- Host: Shaun Majumder
- Dietary restrictions: The organizer cannot accommodate them; common allergens and ingredients will be listed
MJ Jeong Brings 156 ONEFIVESIX to the Competition
Jeong is head chef and partner at 156 ONEFIVESIX, which relocated from Yorkville to 1100 Queen Street West. The 26-seat restaurant reopened in September 2025 with Korean cooking shaped by contemporary European techniques.
Before opening 156 ONEFIVESIX, Jeong studied at George Brown College and worked in Toronto kitchens including Canoe, R&D and Canis. His food draws on Korean ingredients while leaving room for methods he learned in those restaurants.
The restaurant’s current menu gives diners a sense of that crossover. Its sujebi pasta includes scallops, perilla butter and guanciale. Another dish pairs a potato pancake with mussels, myeongran aioli and jamon.
156 ONEFIVESIX appears in the MICHELIN Guide’s 2026 Toronto selection as a recommended Korean restaurant. In September, the guide also recognised general manager Sharon Chan for her cocktail program in its 2026 special awards.
Jeong will team with The Organized Crime Winery for the Toronto competition. His entry dish and exact wine pairing have not been announced, so the regular restaurant menu is not a competition preview.
Brian Kang Brings Korean-Italian Cooking From No Vacancy
At 74 Ossington Avenue, No Vacancy has developed a food program alongside its cocktails. Kang’s kitchen combines Korean flavours with Italian ingredients and techniques, taking the bar beyond the usual small-plates approach.
The venue’s website lists dishes such as bulgogi arancini and abalone spaghetti. Those are examples of Kang’s work at No Vacancy, not confirmed dishes for the November contest.
Kang previously worked at Don Alfonso 1890 and DaNico. No Vacancy was named Canada’s Best New Bar for 2026 and placed No. 14 on Canada’s 100 Best Bars list.
It also ranked No. 82 on North America’s 50 Best Bars extended list for 2026. At Great Kitchen Party, Kang will work with The Grange of Prince Edward Winery.
The two chefs show how Korean ingredients can take different routes through Toronto kitchens. Their plates will now compete alongside dishes from restaurants with their own culinary approaches.
One Toronto Winner Will Advance to Ottawa
Six other chefs round out the Toronto lineup. They include Davide Ciavattella of Don Alfonso 1890, Stuart Cameron of Bocado, and Adam Ryan of Azura. Marco Zandona, Vedangi Rane and Robbie Robinson will also compete.
The winner will join Lorenzo Loseto, the city’s Chef of Distinction and the 2014 Canadian Culinary Champion. That two-person Toronto team will head to Ottawa for the Canadian Culinary Championship on January 29 and 30, 2027.
The 20th-anniversary All-Star format spans 10 Canadian cities. Each sends one regional winner and one appointed chef to Ottawa. At the national event, the 20 chefs will also compete on East and West teams.
What Guests Can Expect at The Carlu
Guests can sample dishes from the competing chefs while Canadian wines, beers and spirits round out the evening. The program also includes live sets from Jim Cuddy and Steven Page, with comedian Shaun Majumder handling hosting duties.
Part of the ticket proceeds support MusiCounts, Spirit North and FoodShare. The three organizations focus on opportunities for young people through music education, sport and access to food.
How to Find Tickets and Event Updates
For current ticket options and booking details, visit Canada’s Great Kitchen Party’s Toronto page. Confirm the arrival schedule directly with the organizer before attending. The winner will move on to Ottawa in January.
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