Verified chef

Food Safety Certified

123 Reviews

After graduating from Le Cordon Bleu in 2012, Chef Pao turned his focus to the beautiful and delicious preparation and presentation of sushi. Previously, he worked as a sushi chef at a restaurant in St. Paul where he perfected his sushi-making techniques. Now, Chef Pao runs his own catering business for events and gatherings, and teaches Asian cooking classes with a focus on skill and high-quality ingredients.

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Cooking Classes

Private Chef Meals

Team Building Activities

Cooking Classes WITH Chef Pao

Minneapolis Cooking Class: Handmade Sushi and More

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CHEF’S PLACE

Father's Day

Private Chef Meals WITH Chef Pao

Minneapolis Private Chef Meal: Sushi and Nigiri Bar

CHEF TRAVELS TO YOU

Sushi and Nigiri Bar

$79 each

Private Chef Meal

$79

Relax and enjoy as Chef Pao creates a spectacular spread of sushi, nigiri and more! During this private chef meal, Chef Pao will prepare for you an authentic six-course Japanese menu featuring sushi and nigiri made with fresh ingredients. Along with your five-piece nigiri course, you'll also enjoy several sushi...

Serving the Minneapolis area

Next Date: Sat, Aug 16th

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Minneapolis Private Chef Meal: Handmade Chinese Takeout Favorites

CHEF TRAVELS TO YOU

Handmade Chinese Takeout Favorites

$79 each

Private Chef Meal

$79

Enjoy homemade versions of your favorite Chinese takeout dishes made from scratch by Chef Pao. Chef Pao will prepare for you a gourmet four-course Chinese takeout-inspired menu using high-quality ingredients in this private chef meal. Some of the dishes you can look forward to enjoying include your choice of...

Serving the Minneapolis area

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Minneapolis Private Chef Meal: Rice Noodles and Spring Rolls

CHEF TRAVELS TO YOU

Rice Noodles and Spring Rolls

$79 each

Private Chef Meal

$79

A culinary celebration of Asian tastes and textures awaits you in this private chef meal. Let Chef Pao introduce you to the excitement of Asian cuisine in a private chef meal that will awaken your senses. Enjoy a savory Asian rice noodle salad tossed with vegetables and sweet ginger sauce, crispy spring...

Serving the Minneapolis area

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Team Building Activities WITH Chef Pao

Minneapolis Team Building Activity: Sushi Team Building 101

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CHEF TRAVELS TO YOU

Great for Groups of 15-100

Sushi Team Building 101

$109

Team Building Activity

$109

Level up your team’s sushi-making skills in this fun team building activity. Gather your team for an exciting team building activity as they learn how to prepare sushi. They will enjoy freshly made vegetable potstickers as Chef Pao reveals tips behind the art of sushi. Your team will be split into groups to learn...

Serving the Minneapolis area

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Cooking Classes WITH Chef Pao THAT ARE CURRENTLY NOT AVAILABLE

Minneapolis Cooking Class: Wok Skills 101: Stir Frying Basics

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CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE

Wok Skills 101: Stir Frying Basics

$75

Cooking Class

$75

Get ready to learn to walk the wok and make better stir fry with Chef Pao. In this hands-on class with Chef Pao, you will learn how to prepare a flavor-forward four-course dinner menu using Asian-style ingredients and cooking techniques that take vegetables, meat, and aromatics from raw to crisp in seconds. Chef...

Serving the Minneapolis area

No dates available

Minneapolis Cooking Class: Handcrafted Ramen

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CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE

Handcrafted Ramen

$75

Cooking Class

$75

Learn how to make real ramen at home in this interactive experience with Chef Pao. In this hands-on class with Chef Pao, you'll learn how to prepare a three-course Asian menu featuring authentic ramen made completely from scratch with fresh, high-quality, easy-to-find ingredients. You will begin by learning how to...

Serving the Minneapolis area

No dates available

Minneapolis Cooking Class: Pad Thai and More

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CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE

Pad Thai and More

$75

Cooking Class

$75

Learn how to make Thailand's most popular dish and more Asian-inspired recipes completely from scratch. In this hands-on class with Chef Pao, you will learn how to prepare a three-course Asian-inspired menu using easy-to-find ingredients and easy-to-master cooking techniques. You will begin by learning how to make...

Serving the Minneapolis area

No dates available

Minneapolis Cooking Class: Amazing Omakase Sushi

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CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE

Amazing Omakase Sushi

$105

Cooking Class

$105

Let the traditions of a sushi legacy grace your home table. Omakase represents one of the most popular formats for serving sushi and this in-person cooking class is your opportunity to learn the craft. Let Chef Pao introduce you to the heritage behind these sumptuous selections in a session brimming with delicious...

REVIEWS

Chef Pao's Overall Rating

4.8 / 5

Based on 123 reviews

Reviews guests left for Chef Pao

Dylan

06/15/25

Chef Pao went above and beyond!! He was super accommodating, knowledgeable, and fabulous to work with! I would recommend anyone and everyone to take his classes!

Handmade Sushi and More Review Photo from Cooking Class in Minneapolis 5

Handmade Sushi and More Review Photo from Cooking Class in Minneapolis 6

06/15/25

Keith

06/13/25

Chef Pao was amazing! Me made us feel welcomed and comfortable upon arrival and was extremely knowledgeable in his craft. We learned a ton about the art of sushi rolling and the food was phenomenal. Would definitely recommend!!!

06/13/25

Ben

06/11/25

My wife and I took this class with Chef Pao and were absolutely blown away. He made the process of making sushi so approachable and easy to follow, even for beginners like us. We not only had a great time during the class, but we also left with the confidence and skills to recreate everything at home – and we have! Chef Pao was patient, knowledgeable, and clearly passionate about his craft. The step-by-step guidance, especially on rice prep and rolling technique, was exactly what we needed. The ingredients were fresh, the environment was fun and welcoming, and the hands-on experience was top-notch. If you’re looking to actually learn how to make sushi, this is the class for you. Highly recommend it for a date night, group activity, or just to pick up a new skill!

06/11/25

Eva

02/18/25

The class with Chef Pao was really fun and informative! It was just me and my daughter, and Chef Pao was great at explaining things to us and helping us create some delicious sushi rolls!

02/18/25

Karl

02/17/25

Chef Pao was very hospitable and taught a fun, informative sushi making class! The ingredients were fresh and tasty. It was a fun experience overall. Constructive feedback: - Include a small lesson on how to cook short grain white rice without a rice cooker. - Consider having light, background music to add to the ambiance.

02/17/25

Beth

02/16/25

Chef Pao was extremely welcoming in his home and was a wonderful teacher! My husband and I have never taken a cooking class before, let alone roll our own sushi! It was so much fun! We highly recommend Chef Pao’s class!

Seasonal Moroccan Meals Review Photo from Cooking Class in Omaha

02/16/25

Bri

05/03/24

What a fun & unique experience with Chef Pao! He invited us into his lovely home & taught us all about sushi & roll making. Loved all 3 of our rolls & enjoyed some delicious appetizers. A great idea for a date night or a fun night with a friend!

05/03/24

Bridget

03/27/24

Chef Pao was a kind and patient teacher and was clearly excited to demonstrate his knowledge on sushi-making. The class was well-organized and ran smoothly (our class of 4 people finished in about 1.5 hrs). The food that we made tasted great! One thing that I realized was that the menu mentioned mochi and we did not receive it, but I was definitely still full from the food we made. Overall I had a great time and would definitely recommend this class anyone interested in sushi!

03/27/24

Jackson

03/16/24

Chef Pao was absolutely fantastic— inviting, kind, fun and certainly knowledgeable! I bought this class for my girlfriend and I to attend as a Valentine’s Day gift and she was not disappointed (being the biggest sushi fanatic ever). I would definitely recommend any of Chef Pao’s services as our experience was fantastic. Thanks for the great time, Chef!

03/16/24

Chef Pao

Cooking Classes WITH Chef Pao

Handmade Sushi and More

Perfect Handcrafted Potstickers

Spring & Egg Rolls Feast

Private Chef Meals WITH Chef Pao

Sushi and Nigiri Bar

Handmade Chinese Takeout Favorites

Rice Noodles and Spring Rolls

Team Building Activities WITH Chef Pao

Sushi Team Building 101

Cooking Classes WITH Chef Pao THAT ARE CURRENTLY NOT AVAILABLE

Wok Skills 101: Stir Frying Basics

Handcrafted Ramen

Pad Thai and More

Amazing Omakase Sushi