Buddha Lo

Kah-wai Lo (born 20 August 1991), known professionally as Buddha Lo, is an Australian chef and television personality based in New York City. He is best known for winning two consecutive seasons of the American television series Top Chef, becoming its first two-time winner. He is the executive chef and co-owner of Huso restaurant, which earned a Michelin star in 2025.

Early life Lo was born in Australia to a Hongkonger father and Malaysian mother. He was raised in Port Douglas, where his family owns a Chinese restaurant called the Jade Inn. During his childhood, he earned the nickname "Buddha" due to becoming chubby from "eating too much of [his] dad's food." Lo started working at the family restaurant at age 12. At age 14, he began a school-based culinary apprenticeship, working at a five-star hotel and resort on his weekends.

Culinary career Lo moved to Melbourne at age 17 after graduating high school, landing a job at Matteo's Restaurant and enrolling at the William Angliss Institute. While in culinary school, Lo won a scholarship for a two-month stage at the two Michelin star restaurant Café Lavinal at the Château Cordeillan-Bages hotel in Pauillac, France. After two years with Capaldi, Lo moved to London, where he worked under Clare Smyth and Matt Abé at Restaurant Gordon Ramsay. After two years in London, Lo staged at various kitchens throughout Europe, including France, Sweden, and Copenhagen, before moving back to Melbourne. In 2019, he became the executive chef of Huso, a 12-seat, speakeasy-like tasting menu restaurant located behind Marky's Caviar retail shop on Madison Avenue. The restaurant started with little more than a single induction burner and a small oven. In February 2025, Marky's Caviar and Huso moved to Tribeca, doubling the restaurant's capacity and adding a complete kitchen. Huso was awarded its first Michelin star in November of the same year.

Television appearances In 2022, Lo was announced as a contestant on the nineteenth season of Top Chef, titled Top Chef: Houston. A longtime fan of the series, Lo started watching Top Chef at age 15, adding it to his career bucket list. He would eventually win the season, receiving its prize. With the season set in London, Lo extensively studied British cuisine during the three months between the conclusion of Season 19’s television airing and the start of filming for Season 20.

In 2026, Lo appeared as a contestant on the CBS reality competition show America's Culinary Cup, which featured a prize, finishing in fourth place.

Personal life Lo is married to pastry chef Rebekah Pedler. The two met while working at Hare & Grace. Their daughters were born in October 2023.