Chef Darren MacLean is one of Canada’s most acclaimed and outspoken chef-restaurateurs, leading the country’s only restaurant group with three concepts ranked on the prestigious Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants list, all within the top 50. Eight sits at number six nationally, marking the highest placement ever for a Calgary establishment; NUPO follows at 30th for its boundary-pushing commitment to sustainable dining; and Shokunin holds the 74th spot, celebrated for redefining contemporary Japanese-inspired cuisine. MacLean was also honoured in Milan at The Best Chef Awards –  the only Calgary chef to receive this distinction – cementing his influence on the global culinary stage.

MacLean’s flagship, Shokunin, is a high-energy Japanese izakaya centred on charcoal cookery and elevated small plates. A fixture on Canada’s 100 Best for six consecutive years, it has also hosted more Michelin- and World’s 50 Best-affiliated chef collaborations than any other Canadian restaurant.

NUPO, named after MacLean’s mother, opened in 2020 in partnership with Le Germain Hotels and quickly drew national attention. The plant-forward restaurant, offering vegetarian dishes, sushi and large-format fish, features a dedicated fish dry-aging chamber and serves no meat. Its 20-course Omakase Sushi Experience propelled NUPO onto Canada’s Best New Restaurants list and secured its place on Canada’s 100 Best in its first year.

With only eight seats and eight courses, EIGHT is MacLean’s most intimate expression of Canadian cuisine. Inspired by the country’s multicultural mosaic, the menu explores Canada’s identity through its diverse culinary influences. EIGHT sells out three months of reservations within seconds and is now regarded as the most sought-after dining experience in the country. In 2025, MacLean and EIGHT were awarded One Knife – Excellent at The Best Chef Awards for their impact on the global culinary landscape.

MacLean’s vision also extends to after EIGHT, an intimate speakeasy hidden behind the restaurant and designed as a natural continuation of the EIGHT experience. Reserved first for diners and later open to the public, the eight-seat parlour offers a refined cocktail programme inspired by Satoyama, rare spirits and handcrafted glassware, cementing it as one of Canada’s most discreet and distinctive late-night destinations.

MacLean’s commitment to showcasing Canadian gastronomy to the world extends far beyond his restaurants. He represented Canada as the country’s sole contender and a finalist on Netflix’s global cooking competition The Final Table, and he has spent significant time in Japan studying the cuisine that continues to inspire his work. A firm believer in food as a cultural bridge, he frequently hosts international chefs in Calgary and travels widely to collaborate with leading culinary figures.

Deeply passionate about sustainability and community building, MacLean is also a regular speaker, educator and culinary judge at events across Canada and abroad, though he remains happiest in his kitchens, continuing to push the boundaries of Canada’s food identity.