Raised outside of Detroit, Michigan, Chinese American chef Mei Lin is a fierce competitor. She’s famous for her cuisine that combines her heritage with sharp fine-dining techniques. Beyond being named a James Beard Award semifinalist, she’s competed on Top Chef, Guy’s Grocery Games: All-Star Invitational, Wildcard Kitchen, Alex vs. America, Bobby’s Triple Threat, Chef Grudge Match and Tournament of Champions, among many others. She’s also been known to swap out her apron for a judging cap, lending her expert taste to Guy's Grocery Games and Tournament of Champions.

Keep reading to discover Mei’s beginnings, her competitive spirit and what she’s got cooking.

History and Background

Mei was born in China, but immigrated to the United States at 3 months old. Her family settled in Dearborn, Michigan, where she grew up working alongside her parents at their Chinese restaurant. After graduating from Schoolcraft College, Mei went on to cook for the home team, the Detroit Lions, and then began her run working with bold-name chefs.

Mei helped fellow Midwesterner Michael Symon open up Roast in Downtown Detroit, she told Eater in 2014, then continued on to Marcus Samuelsson’s Chicago resto C-House, Wolfgang Puck’s Spago in Las Vegas and Top Chef Season 6 winner Michael Voltaggio’s ink. in Los Angeles. Mei ultimately left LA to compete on, and win, the 12th season of the Bravo cooking competition series. Following her Top Chef win, Mei went on to be a personal chef for Oprah Winfrey, who asked her to contribute to her cookbook, Food, Health & Happiness.

Just two years later, she opened her first restaurant, Nightshade, in the LA Arts District. It was named a Best New Restaurant semifinalist in 2020 by the James Beard Foundation, with Mei herself garnering a nom for Best Chef: California. Nightshade closed the same year, but she opened her second eatery, fast-casual Daybird, in LA in 2021. Its continued success led her to return to fine dining with Beverly Hills’ 88 Club in 2025.

Family Life

Mei's family inspired her to become the culinary competitor she is today. While the profession wasn’t exactly what her parents envisioned for their daughter, she found her way back to the kitchen after realizing she wasn’t happy during her second year of college. Mei traded nursing scrubs for a chef’s apron and never looked back.

Mei got engaged to longtime love and fellow chef Andrew Skala in early 2023 after 10 years of dating. The following year, the couple adopted a mini Cavapoo and named her Katsu.

Mei’s Shows

Mei won Season 4 of Tournament of Champions. She bested the Titans on Bobby’s Triple Threat, served up sandos on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, and has competed on Guy’s Grocery Games: All-Star Invitational, Wildcard Kitchen, Beat Bobby Flay: Holiday Throwdown, Tournament of Champions: All-Star Christmas, Alex vs. America and Chef Grudge Match.

Top Chef

Before becoming a well-known competitor and judge on Food Network, Mei competed in the 12th season of Top Chef. Her final dish — strawberry-lime curd with toasted yogurt, milk crumble, bee pollen and yogurt-lime ice — left judge Tom Colicchio calling it one of the best desserts he’d ever tasted in his life. “When he said that, my jaw just dropped,” Mei told the Detroit Free Press. She recently headed back to the show to guest judge a similar challenge: pick a flavor of gelato, cook a savory dish inspired by its region and pair with a scoop.

Tournament of Champions

After being chosen by Guy Fieri for TOC IV, Mei went after the $100,000 and the coveted belt — and took it home after battling 31 chefs. She outcooked Jet Tila to move on to the final two, where she went up against Season 2 champ Maneet Chauhan. Mei’s score of 91 topped Maneet’s 89.

The chef headed back to the ring to judge dishes on Seasons 6 and 7. This marked a major transition for Mei, who told Food Network Obsessed, “It was a little shocking at first because I didn’t know what to expect.” She was able to overcome the feeling and appreciate the opportunity, saying, “I think judging is an honor because you get to judge your peers and you’re purely judging from what the actual randomizer is giving you and how that competitor does on all those different elements.”

Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives

Just six months after taking the TOC title, Guy Fieri decided to make a pit stop in LA at Mei’s fast-casual chicken resto Daybird in Season 38 of his show Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. Along with fellow chefs Nate Appleman, Stephanie Izard and Aaron May, the mayor of Flavortown tasted Mei’s Szechaun Hot Chicken Sando and called it “one of the best chicken crunches” he’d had.

Bobby’s Triple Threat

Mei took on Bobby Flay’s Titans on Season 2 of Bobby’s Triple Threat. She cooked against Brooke Williamson, her former TOC competitor Tiffany Derry and her former boss and fellow Top Chef winner Michael Voltaggio. In Mei’s first round against Michael, guest judge Stephanie Izard awarded her six points to Michael’s five, leading him to say, “She’s an incredible cook. I trained her to beat me.” Mei led in points in two of the three rounds, ultimately clinching the $25,000.

Mei’s Restaurants

Mei has added quite a few notches to her culinary tool belt since working in her parents’ Chinese restaurant in Dearborn, Michigan. The James Beard Award-nominated chef owns two California eateries, serving up her signature style and flavors.

Nightshade

In January 2019, Mei opened Nightshade in Los Angeles’ Arts District. While it was met with rave reviews, the restaurant couldn’t withstand the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and never officially reopened. Nightshade’s short stint earned it and Mei two James Beard Awards nominations: Best New Restaurant and Best Chef: California.

Daybird

While Nightshade’s fate was still uncertain, Mei opened Daybird in March 2021 following months of delays. It calls itself the first fast-casual Szechuan Hot Chicken restaurant and had Guy Fieri sweating over Mei’s “really dynamite sandwich” when he stopped by in late 2023. Limited hours ensure it’s a hot ticket, so plan accordingly.

88 Club

With Daybird running as a well-oiled machine, Mei decided to return to her fine-dining roots in 2025 with Beverly Hills’ 88 Club. She wanted to offer the nostalgic flavors she grew up eating, but, according to an interview with Food Network Obsessed, the restaurant is “very different than what I’ve made in the past, it’s a vibe.” Try the Nam Yu Roasted Chicken, which was inspired by Mei’s dad.

After five years at Daybird and just one at 88 Club, Mei announced that she was stepping away from both of her restaurants. "This wasn’t an easy decision, but it feels like the right moment for me to focus on the next chapter of my journey," she wrote in an Instagram post marking the departure. "I’m excited to put my energy into new projects and continue exploring what food, craft, and excellence mean to me."

Mei’s Philanthropic Work

Mei has been an avid supporter of No Kid Hungry and has worked with the campaign since 2014. In an interview with the child hunger organization, she said, “There are a lot of hungry kids out there that need nourishment. A little goes a long way.”

Fun Facts About Mei

• Birthday: November 29
• Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius
• Miracle Whip or Mayo?: She’s a Miracle Whip gal, calling it a “childhood favorite.”
• Competing or Judging?: She enjoys both but has more fun as a competitor. “Coming out as a judge and coming out as a competitor are two completely different feelings,” she told Food Network Obsessed.
• Umami or Uma-Mei?: She owns her own small-batch sauce company, Umamei.