Private Chef - Handmade Chinese Takeout Favorites

116 reviews

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$ 79 Per person

All inclusive: 4-course meal, ingredients, cooking, service & clean up.

This private chef experience does not have any dates.

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What You’ll Do

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 experience. Some of the dishes you can look forward to enjoying include your choice of chicken, shrimp or vegetable fried rice, pork or vegetable egg rolls, lo mein with savory noodles and crisp vegetables tossed in a rich, umami sauce, and lastly, a refreshing mango ice cream.

Guests are welcome to provide wine and beer to accompany the menu, and may request pairing recommendations from the chef upon booking.

Your Menu

Fried Rice

Choose one

Carrots, cabbage, peas, onion, bean sprouts and scallions
Chicken and vegetables
Shrimp and vegetables

Egg Rolls

Choose one

Carrots, onion, cabbage, scallions, garlic and noodles
Pork, carrots, cabbage, scallions, garlic and noodles

Lo Mein

With noodles, cabbage, water chestnuts, carrots, onion, bean sprouts and scallions

Mango Ice Cream

Most dietary restrictions can be accommodated if noted prior to the event. Please mention this in the message field when you submit your booking request as adjustments cannot be made during the event.

Details

Minimum Guests 2
Maximum Guests 25
Meal Courses 4
Event Duration 2.5 hours
Chef Arrival Time 30 minutes prior to the selected serving time

What's included

The ingredients

The cooking

The service

The washing up

Meet your chef

Chef Pao

Food safety certified

116 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.

View all of Chef Pao's Experiences

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Concierge

Cancellation Policy

Flexible booking: Cancel or reschedule this event's reservation for free up to 48 hours before the event.

Chef Pao will travel to guests within Minneapolis for this experience.

What You’ll Do

Enjoy homemade versions of your favorite Chinese takeout dishes made from scratch by Chef Pao.

Your Menu

Fried Rice

Choose one

Carrots, cabbage, peas, onion, bean sprouts and scallions
Chicken and vegetables
Shrimp and vegetables

Egg Rolls

Choose one

Carrots, onion, cabbage, scallions, garlic and noodles
Pork, carrots, cabbage, scallions, garlic and noodles

Lo Mein

With noodles, cabbage, water chestnuts, carrots, onion, bean sprouts and scallions

Mango Ice Cream

Details

Minimum Guests 2
Maximum Guests 25
Meal Courses 4
Event Duration 2.5 hours
Chef Arrival Time 30 minutes prior to the selected serving time

What's included

The ingredients

The cooking

The service

The washing up

Reviews

Reviews guests left for this experience

Penny

20 Mar 2023

We booked a hybrid class for my daughters 12th birthday party - great food, great experience, and Chef Pao was excellent with the kids! Highly reccomend!!!

Reviews guests left for other experiences with Chef Pao

Valerie

29 Apr 2025

Had a great class with chef pao. Learned a lot about making sushi and where to buy ingredients, very fun and approachable class

Julie

13 Apr 2025

We enjoyed our evening with Chef Pao. He was welcoming and patient as a teacher, and the sushi we made was delicious! I would highly recommend a class with Chef Pao!

Bill

08 Apr 2025

Chef Pao was friendly and easy to work with. We’d definitely take another class!

Cala

29 Mar 2025

We had a great time and Chef Pao was a patient and kind teacher. Thank you!

Brent

21 Mar 2025

Really enjoyed this class! Chef Pao is a very good instructor and did a nice job of walking us through the steps of making sushi. Feel like I can start making some at home now!

Mark

17 Mar 2025

Great fun! Thoroughly enjoyed learning how to prepare potstickers and fried rice. Chef Pao is an excellent teacher - relaxed, knowledgeable, and a serious foodie.

Perfect Handcrafted Potstickers Review Photo from Cooking Class in Minneapolis

Aida

16 Mar 2025

Had an amazing time with Chef Pao! He talks through all the steps at your pace and the appetizer and dessert were great too. Very good host. Highly recommend !

Jaimie

16 Mar 2025

Chef Pao was very knowledgeable and a great host.

Matt

09 Mar 2025

We loved the experience with Chef Pao. Learning the tricks of making sushi, especially the rice, was fun! I would recommend Chef Pao to anyone interested in making sushi at home. Plus, it was a fun date night activity.

Steve

09 Mar 2025

We had a great time with Chef Pao. He is an excellent teacher and the sushi that we made was incredible. Loved the cozy setting. Would definitely recommend this class.

Justine

26 Feb 2025

Chef Pao was a patient teacher who graciously hosted us in his home for a sushi-making class. He included step-by-step instructions, a lot of great tips, and provided fresh ingredients for us so our first experience making sushi was low-pressure. The rolls were delicious!

Eva

18 Feb 2025

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!

Karl

17 Feb 2025

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.

Beth

16 Feb 2025

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!

Max Moroz

12 Feb 2025

It was great, now I know how to cook the best rolls.

Holly

10 Feb 2025

This was such a great experience! My entire family enjoyed it. Chef Pao was a really welcoming host and great instructor. We are excited to make more sushi!

Colin

07 Feb 2025

Chef pao was a great teacher and the class was super fun!

Michael

07 Feb 2025

Very enjoyable experience and good food! Chef Pao is a good teacher and created a fun environment for our evening out.

Abigail

03 Feb 2025

Chef Pao was a joy to learn from! He took his time explaining the steps and gave plenty of time for questions.

Mary Ann

02 Feb 2025

I highly recommend Chef Pao and his classes! His teaching made sushi-making easy and fun, and he shared his favorite local spots for purchasing sushi-grade fish and supplies. My husband and I had a great time, and we left feeling confident that we could indeed make ourselves sushi at home -- and the food was delicious! Pao's home was warm and inviting, as was the chef himself. We're definitely planning to take Pao's other sushi course later this year! Excellent experience overall.

Erin

31 Jan 2025

Chef Pao was excellent, professional and entertaining. We had such a great time learning about the history of sushi and tips and tricks on how to make sushi at home.

Mitch

29 Jan 2025

Chef Pao was amazing. He was thorough, patient, and gave a great class while intertwining fun. We left confident (and full) in our abilities to try making sushi on our own.

Brittney

19 Jan 2025

The best class ever! We had a blast and chef pao was amazing and so welcoming. We learned so much. Don’t hesitate to try this class!

Heather

18 Jan 2025

Highly reccomended this class! The environment was welcoming and relaxing and Chef Pao was an incredible host and teacher! I left feeling so much confidence to start my sushi making journey at home. Take the class, learn the skills, ask your questions, enjoy your creations!

Jenna

05 Jan 2025

Chef Pao was great, an awesome date night in his home, very knowledgeable and a good teacher.

Blake

04 Jan 2025

Awesome experience!

William

04 Jan 2025

Very relaxing and approachable experience! Chef Pao was welcoming and ran a smooth, enjoyable sushi making class. We would recommend for a casual, relaxing way to learn a new skill. He was also able to answer our questions about techniques and tips for making a healthy/tasty sushi roll.

Charles

04 Jan 2025

Personable and welcoming. What a great time and teacher!

William

26 Dec 2024

This was one of the best experiences of my life. Chef Pao does a great job.

Mike

26 Dec 2024

Loved this guy! Thank you for a great meal. 6 hours later, I’m still full!!

Cheryl Stearns

22 Dec 2024

Chef Pao is a natural teacher who really knows his craft. I felt welcome in his home and had a lot of fun.

kristi

15 Dec 2024

Pao was great! He was kind, informative and very welcoming. We will be booking a class with him again! Highly recommend.

Tucker

09 Dec 2024

Chef Pao was very welcoming to his home and provided very helpful information.

Michelle Livingston thorstad

07 Dec 2024

Pau was amazing! We had so much fun and learned so much. Highly recommend him and his classes

Mariah

27 Nov 2024

He was very kind and patient. The atmosphere is very clean and the food was very good! We had a blast!

Kirk Guillaume

11 Nov 2024

Chef Pao answered all of our questions, provided great explanations, and the food we made was delicious.

Sarah

10 Nov 2024

Chef Pao was awesome! Very personable and patient. I’d take an another class from him in a heartbeat!

Una Rae

10 Nov 2024

It was a delight to meet Chef Pao. He is so knowledgeable, easy to talk with, great teacher. Had a wonderful experience!

Samantha

09 Nov 2024

This was a great experience! Chef Pao was very welcoming, the class was great and the food was delicious.

Joshua

27 Oct 2024

We had a great time with Chef Pao celebrating my mom's birthday! We would definitely recommend this class.

Hailey

20 Oct 2024

Booked this class for my boyfriend for his birthday and we absolutely LOVED it! So much fun and Chef Pao was super knowledgeable and made it super easy for us to learn. We want to come back and do the advanced class!

Mary

17 Oct 2024

We had the class for our leadership team. It was a great activity, and Chef did a fabulous job walking us throughout the entire experience! We had a blast and would definitely do it again!

Michelle

13 Oct 2024

This was a fun and engaging experience for us. The class was informative and iastructions were easy to understand. Thanks, Chef Pao!

Erin

12 Oct 2024

I think we were a little disappointed, paid for 2 hour class - but it was probably 20 minutes of instruction and our sushi does not look like the photos listed in the description.

Benjamin

12 Oct 2024

Great experience! Pao is very professional and knowledgeable.

Laura

04 Oct 2024

Chef Pao was very knowledgeable, kind, and fun! We enjoyed our time with him, learned a lot, and will definitely return for more classes. Highly recommend Chef Pao!

Noah

29 Sep 2024

Chef Pao was extremely welcoming and had a good flow to his class. The sushi was better than what I find at nearby shops, and the knowledge I learned I look forward to using in my own home!

Steve

19 Sep 2024

The class was fun and yummy but I would say pretty basic. I am not new to sushi making and was hoping to learn some new technics or recipes. Otherwise it was enjoyable experience.

Lauren

18 Sep 2024

Chef Pao was very welcoming and knowledgeable! Great experience.

Monica

17 Sep 2024

We had a really great time attending Chef Pao's class. He was welcoming and provided clear instructions and tips on how to make delicious sushi. It's a great experience and might try some of his other classes in the future.

Casandra

06 Sep 2024

Chef Pao was the best! He has a warm personality which is amazing when we are cooking in the home. He was so informative and made my husband and I anniversary the best!!!

Nancy

14 Aug 2024

Excellent class. Chef Pao was a very good teacher. So much fun to make our own sushi rolls then have a wonderful dinner.

Nicole

07 Aug 2024

Our group enjoyed this experience a lot. Great presentation and instruction.

Grace

04 Aug 2024

Chef Pao did a great job with teaching everyone how to make sushi and the specific ingredients necessary. If you get a chance to take his class you will love it!!

Beckett

03 Aug 2024

Chef Pao was very welcoming and very informative. Great class- would recommend! You should know it is in his house but the space is great!

cheryl

03 Aug 2024

My granddaughter and I attended Pao’s Sushi class. He is a cheerful, fun and excellent at teaching his skill. We made 3 types of rolls and then had the enjoyment of eating what we made along with a lovely salad he made for us and some Mochi ice cream for desert. I always thought making Sushi was a difficult task but with Paos instruction we were able to make very nice rolls first time. Great class.

Kyla Berreth

28 Jul 2024

Such a great class. Chef Pao was so knowledgable and helpful. The food was fantastic! Would def do any other class with Chef Pao in the future. Highly recommend.

Zoe

29 Jun 2024

Our time with chef Pao was unmatched. What a fun way to spent a Saturday. The sushi was incredible and it was very fun to learn about. 10/10 recommend

Natalia

12 Jun 2024

The sushi was good and Chef Pao was very nice! I was expecting a longer class where we could learn and participate in making more of the food, the class was really just rolling the already prepared ingredients.

Gregory S

02 Jun 2024

Chef Pao callled 90 minutes before our guests arrived to tell us he wasn’t coming. His excuse was that his flight arrived the morning of our event, not the night prior. He didn’t have the courtesy to tell us until the last minute. We needed up ordering takeout. It was a total let down. I will not use cozymeal again and I wouldn’t trust that chef pao will be there for your event.

Natalie

04 May 2024

Chef Pao was great and the class was so fun! Three sushi rolls plus the cucumber/edamame salad and miso soup was more than enough food for each of us.

Angela

04 May 2024

Chef Pao was fantastic! He is a great instructor and the meal was absolutely wonderful. Thank you for teaching us how to make sushi rolls and for the incredible experience.

Bri

03 May 2024

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!

Bridget

27 Mar 2024

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!

Jackson

16 Mar 2024

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!

Chelsea

11 Mar 2024

The class was informative, however, for the price I was expecting more. Also we were very surprised by the location of the class, no one in our group was anticipating it being at a house?? The website needs to make it more clear this class is at Chef Pao’s home, and not a facility or restaurant. Again for the price, was expecting more of an experience.

Alyssa Ackermann

20 Feb 2024

Fun night out, Chef Pao was welcoming and knowledgeable!

Krystal

18 Feb 2024

Chef Pao was very knowledgeable. The class was awesome. The menu wasn’t quite as described on the website, but everything was delicious.

Max

18 Feb 2024

Had a wonderful time! Would 10/10 recommend.

David

17 Feb 2024

Was awsome experience would definitely take another class Made everyone feel at home and answered all questions and explained everything in detail

Nickolas

27 Jan 2024

We had a nice evening making delicious sushi with Chef Pao. He made it a comfortable and interesting experience for us and we really enjoy it. Thanks!

Mallory

14 Jan 2024

Very good food and very personable!

Stephany

14 Jan 2024

The sushi making class with Chef Pao was well worth it. He explained all the steps well and made the class fun.

Kate

13 Jan 2024

We had so much fun at Chef Paos class! The sushi was delicious, he was very kind and knowledgeable, and we would definitely come back again! Such a great experience for me and my sisters, and I’d definitely recommend it to anyone. Thank you Chef Pao!

Karen

10 Jan 2024

Fun was had by all. Lots of tips to make sushi at home.

Hanxiao

10 Jan 2024

Class is not well prepared. Chef did not pay attention to details.

Victor-John

09 Jan 2024

Chef Pao is very professional and insightful. My wife and I had the best time and learned a lot.

Sarah

07 Jan 2024

Chef Pao was amazing! He was prompt, professional, accommodating, and an amazing teacher. It was a wonderful experience.

Chelsea

06 Jan 2024

Class was great! Pace and length were just right and Chef Pao was a great teacher. Would recommend to others!

Patrick

21 Dec 2023

Chef Pao was fantastic! We loved the individualized experience and learned so much. We would recommend this to anyone.

Kacy

17 Dec 2023

Our group had a great time and loved the experience!

Hannah

11 Dec 2023

Chef Pao’s handmade sushi class was amazing! Chef Pao was incredibly kind and a great teacher. The sushi was delicious. I’d recommend this experience to anyone!

Zachary

07 Dec 2023

The best class!

Becky

03 Dec 2023

Chef Pao was nothing short of amazing! He was informative, interactive and entertaining! I loved the experience.

Krystal

26 Nov 2023

We had so much fun. This was a birthday event for my 24 year old son. We had people from 18 to 95 years old and everyone had fun and learned how to make Sushi. Chef Pao was so knowledgeable and patient. Thank you Cozymeal! Thank you Chef Pao!

Kristi

29 Oct 2023

Chef Pao's beginner sushi class was such a fun experience. It was an easy going atmosphere and Chef Pao was very kind, patient, and reassuring. My husband and I are looking forward to trying the advanced class in the future.

Dana

28 Oct 2023

This was an awesome experience. Laid back and fun. Highly recommend this experience.

Justin

14 Oct 2023

Chef Pao was great! Would highly recommend this class if you are new to making sushi.

Michele

16 Sep 2023

This was so great. I took my husband, son and DiL, we all learned how to make sushi and where to buy the freshest ingredients. The food was delicious! We went really hungry and left very full. Also, he worked around my hubby's allergies. Thanks again Chef

Julie

11 Sep 2023

This was a blast! It was definitely cozy, just 2 couples and Chef Pao. He was very good at teaching us how to master the art of making sushi. He mastered it, we didn’t do too bad!! Would recommend for sure.

Rachel

24 Aug 2023

Personable, educated, fun! Very much enjoyed myself!

Bethany

19 Aug 2023

Chef Pao was super friendly, knowledgeable, and made the art of making sushi feel really accessible.

Amanda

26 Jun 2023

We gifted this sushi making experience to my MIL for Mother's Day and everyone loved it! Chef Pao was professional and friendly and the food was incredible. We highly recommend Chef Pao!

Jean

05 Jun 2023

We hired Chef Pao for a birthday event in our home. He did not disappoint! Everyone thoroughly enjoyed making sushi for the first time. I would highly recommend Chef Pao and look forward to taking his advanced class!! Thank you, Chef!!

Ryan

28 May 2023

Chef Pao was great! Very polite, made an excellent meal, and cleaned up well. I would definitely recommend Chef Pao.

Amy

28 May 2023

So accommodating & friendly! Everything was great!

Jamie

28 May 2023

Chef Pao was great!

Kirk

13 Apr 2023

Chef Pao delivered on a wonderful corporate event. Would highly recommend him!

Ryan

06 Feb 2023

Awesome experience and would recommend to go! Very informative and experienced chef that made us feel at home during the experience. Thank you Chef Pao!

Sarah

04 Feb 2023

Amazing class! Highly recommend this to anyone who is interested in learning how to make sushi!

Joe

24 Jan 2023

The class was great and the food was delicious! Pao taught us every step of the way and answered any questions we had during the process. The egg rolls were so good and we have already made them again using his teachings.

Abigail

08 Jan 2023

We went in not knowing what to expect. Needless to say expectations were exceeded. Chef Pao is incredible!

Olga

07 Jan 2023

Amazing fun experience. Lovely date. Will be making sushi at home!

Dylan

11 Jul 2022

Wonderful Experience!

Kelly

08 Aug 2020

Great experience!! We are already planning our next class! Thank you for your time and expertise!

Marisa

22 Dec 2019

Great experience and chef!

Reviews Chef Pao received outside of Cozymeal

Terri

30 Oct 2019

Chef Pao’s service was excellent! He went above and beyond to made sure everything was perfect. Everyone raved about the food. Thank you for making the event excellent!!

Steve

30 Oct 2019

Food was great and I loved it.

Zang

30 Oct 2019

Great sushi, and knowledgeable about the fish.

Yer

30 Oct 2019

Chef Pao's cooking is exceptional and entertaining. He enjoys teaching about culinary art techniques and cooking methods, so he won't disappoint if you have the chance to see him cook and learn from him. As with the dishes he creates, there is no disappointment. He is passionate and it shows through the flavor he extracts from simple ingredients. All in all, he can always bring a unique twist on classic dishes, and that is probably what I enjoy the most about his cooking style.

Emilee

30 Oct 2019

Pao has excellent people skills and truly cares about how what he teaches to others! He’s passionate and creative when it comes to perfecting his craft, I highly recommend choosing him to learn more about what his cuisine can offer!

Anel

30 Oct 2019

Very good chef and dedicated to his craft. He is very knowledgeable about his craft.

Tony

30 Oct 2019

Had a great meal made by my friend !! Egg rolls and cheese puffs were very nice !!!