Vijay Raghavan

Culinary Director

From a young age, Chef Vijay watched his mother cook. Perched on a kitchen stool, he’d see her transform simple ingredients into a balanced and comforting meal. It wasn’t long before he was helping, asking questions and fueling a lifelong pull toward the kitchen. 

After a career traveling the world as a photographer, food called him back to his roots — a return to the kitchen that felt both natural and necessary. Vijay went on to earn his degree from the Culinary Institute of America. He soon found himself once again traveling the world, this time for food, cooking in acclaimed kitchens including the Michelin-starred Aubergine in Munich, Relais & Châteaux properties throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico, and respected restaurants including Aureole, Daniel, and Lespinasse D.C.. From there, he helped open P.F. Chang’s locations across the East Coast, first as a Corporate Wok Trainer and eventually as Chef Partner.

In 2012, Chef Vijay joined the team at 5 Napkin Burger, beginning as a chef at the Upper East Side location. He quickly became an integral part of the culinary team, working across their multiple locations before being named Culinary Director of Operations in 2022. His philosophy is simple: food should be prepared with passion and integrity, no matter the setting or price point. It’s not about flash, it’s about creating something people want to return to, again and again.