Tejal Rao
Hi! I'm the California restaurant critic at The New York Times and a columnist for The New York Times Magazine. The best way to get in touch is by email: tejal.rao@nytimes.com.
I used to be a restaurant critic at the Village Voice, and at Bloomberg News, and won the James Beard Foundation's award for restaurant criticism in 2013 and 2016. In 2019, I was awarded a Vilcek Prize for creative promise in culinary arts.
Before writing full-time, I worked as a cook, translator and copy editor. My family is East African-Asian and Indian, and I'm an immigrant to the United States. I grew up in London, Kuwait, Khartoum, Paris and Atlanta. I live in Los Angeles.
I used to be a restaurant critic at the Village Voice, and at Bloomberg News, and won the James Beard Foundation's award for restaurant criticism in 2013 and 2016. In 2019, I was awarded a Vilcek Prize for creative promise in culinary arts.
Before writing full-time, I worked as a cook, translator and copy editor. My family is East African-Asian and Indian, and I'm an immigrant to the United States. I grew up in London, Kuwait, Khartoum, Paris and Atlanta. I live in Los Angeles.
REVIEWS
Poncho's Tlayudas, NYT
El Jardín, NYT
Angler, NYT
Old-School LA, NYT
REPORTING
How Kit Kat Got Big in Japan, NYTMag
On a Mister Softee Truck, NYT
Midwestern Indigenous Cuisines, NYT
New Food Magazines, NYT
ESSAYS
Mall Pizza, NYTMag
The Imperative Mood, NYTBR
Oysters, a Love Story, NYTMag
An Appetite for Anime, NYTMag
PEOPLE + PROFILES
Pim Techamuanvivit, NYT
Sameen Rushdie, NYT
Ruby Tandoh, NYT
Elisabeth Prueitt, NYT
COOKING + RECIPES
Panettone, NYT
Shrikhand, NYTMag
Pork Dumplings, NYTMag
Onion Pie, NYTMag
LISTS
Best Frozen Treats, NYT
Best Dishes of the Year, Bloomberg
Best New Restaurants of the Year, Bloomberg
all recent clips here
Poncho's Tlayudas, NYT
El Jardín, NYT
Angler, NYT
Old-School LA, NYT
REPORTING
How Kit Kat Got Big in Japan, NYTMag
On a Mister Softee Truck, NYT
Midwestern Indigenous Cuisines, NYT
New Food Magazines, NYT
ESSAYS
Mall Pizza, NYTMag
The Imperative Mood, NYTBR
Oysters, a Love Story, NYTMag
An Appetite for Anime, NYTMag
PEOPLE + PROFILES
Pim Techamuanvivit, NYT
Sameen Rushdie, NYT
Ruby Tandoh, NYT
Elisabeth Prueitt, NYT
COOKING + RECIPES
Panettone, NYT
Shrikhand, NYTMag
Pork Dumplings, NYTMag
Onion Pie, NYTMag
LISTS
Best Frozen Treats, NYT
Best Dishes of the Year, Bloomberg
Best New Restaurants of the Year, Bloomberg
all recent clips here
BOOKS
My work was recently included in the following collections:
My work was recently included in the following collections:
PRESS
- with Evan Kleiman on KCRW's Good Food.
- interviewed by Rohan Kamicheril on Tiffin.
- in a short video for the Vilcek Foundation.
- with Evan Kleiman on KCRW's Good Food.
- interviewed by Rohan Kamicheril on Tiffin.
- in a short video for the Vilcek Foundation.
EMAIL
tejal.rao@nytimes.com
TWITTER
@tejalrao
INSTAGRAM
@tejalxrao
photo: Tony Cenicola (c) 2017 The New York Times
tejal.rao@nytimes.com
@tejalrao
@tejalxrao
photo: Tony Cenicola (c) 2017 The New York Times