Chef Sunil Ghai
From Gwalior to Greystones — Ireland's foremost Indian chef
“Cooking is my language. Through spices, I tell the story of where I come from and where I belong.”
— Chef Sunil Ghai
Roots in Gwalior
Born in Gwalior in northern India, Sunil fell in love with cooking while helping his mother Mohini, an exceptional home cook. Her kitchen was his first classroom, and the fragrant spices of North India became the language through which he would one day speak to the world.
After rigorous training with the prestigious five-star Oberoi hotel group — one of India’s most celebrated hospitality institutions — Sunil honed his craft across some of India’s finest kitchens.
Dublin, 2000
Making the bold decision to move to Dublin in 2000, Sunil quickly made his mark. He first established himself through the acclaimed Jaipur restaurant before becoming Head Chef at Ananda in Dundrum, where he won critical acclaim and a string of awards.
Sunil became the first Indian chef to win Best Chef in Ireland — a feat he achieved twice, from Food & Wine Magazine in 2009 and the Restaurant Association of Ireland in 2013. As the Hindustan Times wrote: “His cooking is like a love letter to India.”
Pickle, Tiffin & Street
In 2016, Sunil and his wife Leena, alongside front-of-house partner Benny Jacob, opened Pickle on Camden Street, Dublin — an authentic North Indian restaurant that would go on to be listed in the prestigious MICHELIN Guide. As Lucinda O’Sullivan wrote: “There isn’t a culinary accolade that Sunil Ghai hasn’t achieved.”
In 2018, they brought their cooking closer to home with Tiffin in Greystones — a neighbourhood delicatessen offering authentic Indian food for takeaway and delivery. In 2020, Street by Sunil followed as Dublin’s premier Indian takeaway, limited to ~80 orders daily to maintain quality.
A love letter to India
Sunil has fundamentally transformed Indian cuisine in Ireland, moving beyond conventional offerings to create exceptional dining experiences. His signature approach involves reinventing familiar dishes into novel culinary creations, seamlessly blending Indian flavours with local Irish produce.
Every dish is a study in the art of layering spices with precision and elegance, delivering complex flavour explosions that tell the story of where he comes from. In 2023, he shared his knowledge with the world through his bestselling cookbook Spice Box, shortlisted for the An Post Irish Book Awards.
Sunil & Leena
Today, Sunil lives in Greystones with his wife Leena, who is an integral part of the business and the heart behind every Tiffin experience. Together, they have built not just restaurants, but a home away from home for their community.
Awards & Recognition
Two decades of culinary excellence recognised across Ireland and beyond
MICHELIN Guide
Pickle listed in the MICHELIN Guide
2025Best Chef in Ireland
First Indian chef to win — twice
2009 & 2013An Post Book Awards
Spice Box shortlisted for Cookbook of the Year
2023Featured In
Authentic Indian food at home from the kitchen of award-winning chef Sunil Ghai & Leena.
© 2026 Tiffin by Sunil. All rights reserved.
Unit 4, The Charlesland Centre, Greystones, Co. Wicklow