Mr Chow: the man, the myth, the legend

Of all the many fine-dining locations in Knightsbridge, Mr Chow is one of the most established. The popular Chinese restaurant opened on Valentine’s Day 1968, with the now-famous Beverly Hills location debuting across the pond in 1974, followed by several more US outposts. 

Fine Chinese cuisine may be a staple of London’s dining scene today, but in the late 1960s it was alien to many a British palate. The restaurant was the brainchild of Michael Chow, who had a desire to serve authentic Beijing cuisine, cooked by the region’s top chefs, with creative and original recipes. But being a high-profile restaurateur wasn’t his original dream…

The eponymous Mr Chow is the star of a brand-new HBO Original documentary debuting this October. He may be known as the face behind the celebrity-favourite restaurants – which in their heyday became a hangout of the Hollywood and artistic elite, welcoming everyone from Marlon Brando and Madonna to Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat and even The Beatles – but Mr Chow has an equally fascinating story. Born Zhou Yinghua in Shanghai, the son of legendary Peking Opera Grand Master Zhou Xing Fang, the young Michael Chow attended English boarding school before studying art and architecture at Central Saint Martins. After graduating he had aspirations of being a painter, but struggled to make a living, with his options limited to – as he puts it – either working in a laundrette or a restaurant. He chose the latter, but with a desire to create an empire that would serve as a bridge between East and West, and demonstrate the greatness of China. In the trailer for the documentary, he recalls the words of his famous father: ‘Wherever you go, always remember that you are Chinese.’ 

As Mr Chow reinvents himself yet again, this time returning to his passion for painting as the artist ‘M’, this fun and fascinating documentary uncovers the man behind the legend – a story of overcoming prejudice and the art of reinvention and resilience. 

aka Mr Chow premiers on October 22 at 9pm and will be available to stream on Max. Mr Chow, 151 Knightsbridge, SW1X 7PA