Michael Solomonov

Mike Solomonov is a beloved champion of Israel's extraordinarily diverse and vibrant culinary landscape. He is the executive chef and co-owner of Philadelphia’s Zahav, the trailblazing restaurant that put the rich melting pot of Israeli cuisine at the forefront of dining in America today. A 5-time James Beard Foundation Award winner, he is known for his extraordinary skill at transforming simple foods into artful culinary masterpieces and is widely regarded as one of the country's top chefs and entrepreneurs.

In addition to his duties at Zahav, Chef Solomonov is a partner in Laser Wolf Philadelphia, Federal Donuts, Dizengoff, Goldie, K’Far, Merkaz, Abe Fisher and Laser Wolf Brooklyn, which opened in May 2022 at the Hoxton Hotel in Williamsburg and K’Far Brooklyn, also at the Hoxton.

Awards and Recognition:

• Laser Wolf Brooklyn was named “The Restaurant of the Summer” by the New York Post in June 2022

• Laser Wolf Philadelphia was named one of the “Best New Restaurants in the World” for 2021 by Conde Nast Traveler, The New York Times’ “The 2021 Restaurant List” and GQ’s “Best New Restaurants in America, 2020”

• Zahav was awarded 2019 Outstanding Restaurant by James Beard Foundation, the #1 restaurant in the country

• In 2018, Food & Wine named Zahav one of the “40 Most Important Restaurants of the Past 40 Years”

• In 2019, Zahav was named to the “The National Eater 38" as one of America’s “38 Essential Restaurants” for the 6th year in a row

• Solomonov won the James Beard Foundation Award for Outstanding Chef in 2017

• Both Abe Fisher and Dizengoff were featured as two of Travel + Leisure’s “50 Best New Restaurants, 2014”

Before opening Zahav, Chef Solomonov was the executive chef at Marigold Kitchen which he and business partner Steven Cook co-owned until 2009. He is also an avid snowboarder, surfer, and overall fitness fanatic.