Kei Kobayashi was born in Nagano, into a family of chefs. At 15, he discovered his passion for French cuisine after watching a documentary about Alain Chapel, whose elegance inspired him to pursue a career as a French chef. He trained in French restaurants in Nagano and Tokyo, learning the fundamentals of French cuisine, and moved to Paris in December 1998.

Kei joined several renowned French kitchens, including those of Gilles Goujon, Serge Chenet, Michel Husser, and Alain Ducasse at the Plaza Athénée, where he refined his skills further. In 2010, he left to fulfill his dream of opening his own restaurant.

On 3rd March 2011, he opened Restaurant Kei in Paris, a refined space inspired by the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles. The restaurant reflects Kei’s dedication to French culinary heritage, with an elegant atmosphere marked by sparkling glass and a stunning Saint-Louis chandelier. It has since become known for its meticulous, refined approach to French cuisine.