Rishi Naleendra
Affiliation
Kotuwa
Chef-owner of two-Michelin-starred Cloudstreet in Singapore, opened 2019
i. Biography
Rishi Naleendra is a Sri Lankan-born, Australian-trained chef and restaurateur based in Singapore, best known as chef-owner of the two-Michelin-starred Cloudstreet, which opened in 2019 and blends Sri Lankan and Australian cuisines. Born in Colombo, Sri Lanka in 1985, he trained at the William Anglis Institute in Melbourne and worked at acclaimed restaurants including Taxi Dining Room and two-Michelin-starred Tetsuya's before relocating to Singapore in 2014, where he became the first Sri Lankan chef to receive a Michelin star in 2017 for Cheek by Jowl. He currently operates a portfolio of three establishments: Cloudstreet, the casual Sri Lankan restaurant Kotuwa, and Station by Kotuwa, which opened in March 2025.
The Archive
Selected Works & Focus Areas
Focus 01
Chef-owner of two-Michelin-starred Cloudstreet in Singapore, opened 2019
Focus 02
First Sri Lankan chef to receive a Michelin star (2017, Cheek by Jowl)
Focus 03
Progressive cuisine blending Sri Lankan and Australian influences
Focus 04
Signature dishes including Grilled Oyster with Betel Leaf, Coconut and Finger Lime
Focus 05
Owner of casual Sri Lankan restaurant Kotuwa and Station by Kotuwa
Focus 06
Mentorship-focused leadership with long-term team retention