Brian Malarkey Leaves Hakkasan Group, resigning from San Diego’s Searsucker and Herringbone Restaurants

Chef Brian Malarkey is the mastermind behind many successful restaurants in San Diego and around the US. He is also a judge on Food Network’s Guy’s Grocery Games, and makes regular appearances on the Today Show, among other TV appearances. Many of Malarkey’s restaurant projects were overseen by the Hakkasan Group, including Searsucker and Herringbone.

Hakkasan Group is a global hospitality company which owns several other venues from Austin to Vegas to LA, Cabo and more.  Malarkey’s title with Hakkasan was founding executive chef, leaving much of the expansion and day-to-day operations to the group. On Wednesday, Mar. 21, Malarkey officially resigned. In a statement, Malarkey said, “Searsucker and Herringbone are two unique concepts I will continue to be proud of. I am grateful for the incredible employees, many that have been with us since the start, friends and the loyal clientele who have helped drive their success and it’s been exciting to watch their expansion over the last few years under Hakkasan’s guidance.”

He still owns equity in Searsucker and Herringbone, but will focus more on personal projects through the Puffer Malarkey Restaurants umbrella. He said, “At this time in my career, I would like to focus entirely on my hometown of San Diego and its incredible dining scene. I’m looking forward to putting 100% of my energy on the Puffer Malarkey Restaurants, including Herb & Wood, Herb & Eatery, two Green Acre locations, Farmer & The Seahorse and two upcoming projects Herb & Sea and Animae.”

Herb & Wood is one of the most recent Brian Malarkey restaurants to open and has been surrounded by a lot of buzz. In fact, Zagat named it one of 2016’s biggest restaurant openings and the San Diego Union-Tribune is calling, “the most thoughtful, exquisitely executed, stylish restaurant of the year.”