mychef.jp

What It Is

MyChef（マイシェフ） is a personal private-chef service operated by Japan’s MyChef Inc. It is closer to an “at-home dining service” platform in the local lifestyle e-commerce space. Users search for chefs on the website by date and location, then place an order. The chef visits the user’s home or a party space with a kitchen to cook on-site. It is suitable for mom meetups, birthdays, wedding anniversaries, gatherings with family and friends, and small business meals.

Core Capabilities

The platform has a fairly complete fulfillment process: the chef handles ingredient purchasing and brings the ingredients, then uses the user’s kitchen, cookware, seasonings, and tableware to cook everything from scratch on-site. After the meal, the chef washes up and tidies the kitchen. The standard service is usually a four-dish course meal, and menus can be adjusted based on dietary restrictions, allergies, the purpose of the gathering, whether children will be present, and the kitchen setup. Registered chefs must pass MyChef’s screening process; the text mentions chefs trained in French or Italian cuisine, restaurant chefs, culinary school instructors, and cooking class teachers.

Pricing and Payment

Prices range from 5,000 to 7,000 yen per person and are charged by headcount, with orders typically placed for 4 to 8 people. The fee includes ingredients, shopping, cooking, cleanup, dispatch fees, transportation, and consumption tax. If the location is more than 1 km from the nearest station, the actual round-trip taxi fare must be paid separately. Individual orders are paid by credit card. Corporate gift vouchers are available in denominations from 15,000 to 50,000 yen and are prepaid by bank transfer.

Pros and Cons

The advantages are transparent pricing and lower costs compared with traditional private-chef services. Users do not need to buy ingredients in advance, making it suitable for households that find it inconvenient to go out but still want to enjoy a formal meal at home. The drawbacks are also clear: the service area is limited to Tokyo and parts of Kanagawa, Saitama, and Chiba; a kitchen is required, and in most cases a stovetop with at least two burners is needed; drinks, desserts, and separate toddler menus are not provided. The cancellation policy is rather strict: cancellations within 7 days before the visit date incur a 100% cancellation fee.

Who It’s For and Access from China

It is suitable for female users and families living in the Tokyo suburbs who want to host small dinner gatherings at home, as well as companies purchasing gift vouchers for promotions or employee benefits. For chefs, it is suited to culinary professionals who are capable of independently fulfilling on-site service. The main text does not provide information on access from mainland China, so this is considered unknown.