Melbourne chef Khanh Nguyen’s shock departure from Sunda, Aru, Antara 128

A Melbourne chef has hit back at online trolls saying rumours he cultivated a toxic workplace culture were simply ‘not true’.

Rising star chef Khanh Nguyen has walked away from his Melbourne restaurants. Picture: Ian Currie

A Melbourne chef has hit back at claims he was forced to leave his restaurant empire over toxic workplace culture rumours circulated on anonymous social media accounts.

Khanh Nguyen revealed he had made the ‘difficult decision’ to step away from his award-winning restaurants Sunda, Aru and soon-to-open Antara 128 on Saturday.

Soon after the shock announcement, comments surfaced on social media accusing the chef and restaurant group of staff abuse and mistreatment.

This includes a meme posted on a satirical Instagram page notorious for trolling Melbourne chefs and figures within Melbourne’s hospitality and food scene. Nguyen was not named in the post.

The rising-talent on Monday rubbished the claims made online and told the Herald Sun “it’s not true”.

Nguyen instead said the decision was prompted by a desire to spend more time with his family.

“I had been discussing this for a while with my (business) partners and this is something we have planned over a few months,” he said.

“I went away earlier in the year and I enjoyed my time off. I was at a point in my life that I was always at work, I put a lot into my job and I think I need to spend more time with the important people in my life.

“I have read things about a toxic work environment (online) and it’s not true. The chefs work 40 to 42-hour weeks and the staff have always felt like family. Kitchen culture was always a big thing for me.”

The rising-star chef was best known for his modern takes on south east Asian cuisine. Picture Rebecca Michael.

The former Sydney chef has been in the industry for 15 years, and spent more than five working for Melbourne’s Hotel Windsor Group.

Nguyen will move back to his home city for one month to spend time with his parents, both aged in their 70s.

“It kind of broke their heart when I moved to Melbourne to open a restaurant. I have always been close to my parents. Mum cried for a week and it made me realise I need to spend more time with them.”

Nguyen said he would open a new restaurant in Melbourne in the future, but for now, was looking forward to taking some time off.

“I’ve had people offering me jobs, but I am taking a break and not going to rush into anything. I’ve always wanted to run my own restaurant.”

Nguyen also said it was a ‘massive coincidence’ Hotel Windor Group revealed it was closing minimal waste restaurant PARCS just days before he posted news of his departure.

He also said he’d been working on Antara 128 concept long before he left the group.

“Even with Antara, we had been planning that for a while. It’s been in the works for a year. After my break, I was asking myself: ‘do I want to open another restaurant?’

“So I spoke to the partners to see what the best option was.”

Nguyen has not explained why he has stepped away from his award-winning restaurants. Picture: Rebecca Michael.

Despite his successes, including having Aru rank No.10 in the delicious.100 restaurant awards last year, Nguyen said one of his greatest achievements was culivating a healthy workplace culture.

“To be honest, the awards don’t mean as much for me. The team would be excited by the awards and accolades more than me. As a chef... I have worked in the industry for a long time and in kitchens with toxic environments.”

“I’m most proud of creating a workplace where everyone can respect each other and is open.”

The MasterChef Australia regulars emotional Instragram post was met with support from industry heavy weights, including Neil Perry, Darren Robertson, Melissa Leong, Alla Wolf-Tasker and Adam D’Sylva.

Nguyen wrote on Instagram: “I’m feeling all sorts of mixed emotions knowing what I’m about to say may come as a shock. It is with a heavy heart as I announce my difficult decision to bid farewell to Sunda, Aru and Antara,” he wrote on Instagram.

“I have dedicated my life and soul to these establishments, guiltily, sometimes putting them before my family,”

“The success of the restaurants was not mine alone but a collective effort of the teams. “Together we have achieved remarkable feats, and I reflect in awe of our accomplishments as the restaurants continue to flourish.”

He also thanked his staff, customers and Hotel Windsor director Adi Halim for his support over the years.

Nguyen ended the emotional social media post with a quote from Joseph Campbell: “Sometimes you have to let go of the life you planned to find the life that’s waiting for you.”

Nguyen worked his last shift on Saturday July 1.

The rising-star chef was best known for his modern takes on South East Asian cuisine.

Aru was last year ranked No.10 in Victoria in the annual delicious.100 restaurant rankings.

In a statement, the Hotel Windsor group said: “We respect his decision to leave and genuinely wish him the very best in his future pursuits.”

Nico Koevoets has stepped up as Aru’s head chef, while the Sunda team will continue to run the kitchen.

Antara 128 is still scheduled to open later this year.