Renowned New Nordic chef René Redzepi resigns amid Noma LA pop-up protests

The resignation marks the end of a defining chapter in modern dining as Redzepi steps away from the restaurant he helped transform into a global culinary powerhouse.

Mar. 12, 2026 at 2:23am

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After two decades of pioneering the 'New Nordic' culinary movement and transforming his Copenhagen restaurant Noma into one of the world's most acclaimed dining destinations, renowned chef René Redzepi has announced his resignation. The announcement comes amid protests that disrupted the opening of Noma's highly anticipated 16-week pop-up residency in Los Angeles.

Why it matters

Redzepi's influence extended far beyond the walls of his own kitchen, as he helped reshape how chefs worldwide think about locality, seasonality, and sustainability in their culinary approaches. His departure marks the closing of a defining chapter in modern dining and raises questions about the future direction of the 'New Nordic' movement he helped spearhead.

The details

Redzepi, who was born in Copenhagen in 1977 to an ethnic Albanian father and Danish mother, opened Noma in 2003 with entrepreneur Claus Meyer. Instead of relying on imported luxury ingredients, Redzepi built Noma's menus around wild herbs, berries, seafood, fermented foods, and other products native to the Nordic region. The restaurant quickly gained global attention for its creativity and philosophy, earning its first Michelin star in 2005 and going on to be named the World's Best Restaurant five times. In 2023, Noma announced it would close as a traditional restaurant in 2024, transitioning into a test kitchen and food innovation lab, citing the unsustainable economics of running a world-class tasting-menu restaurant.

  • Noma opened in Copenhagen in 2003.
  • Noma earned its first Michelin star in 2005.
  • Noma was named the World's Best Restaurant five times between 2010 and 2021.
  • Noma announced it would close as a traditional restaurant in 2024.
  • Noma's 16-week pop-up residency in Los Angeles was set to open on Wednesday, 2026.

The players

René Redzepi

A renowned Danish chef who helped pioneer the 'New Nordic' culinary movement and transform his Copenhagen restaurant Noma into one of the world's most acclaimed dining destinations.

Noma

A Copenhagen restaurant founded by Redzepi and entrepreneur Claus Meyer in 2003, known for its creative approach to Nordic cuisine and repeatedly named the World's Best Restaurant.

Claus Meyer

An entrepreneur who co-founded Noma with René Redzepi in 2003.

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What they’re saying

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee

What’s next

Redzepi has not yet announced his future plans following his resignation from Noma.

The takeaway

Redzepi's departure marks the end of an era for the 'New Nordic' culinary movement he helped spearhead, raising questions about the future direction of the philosophy he championed of hyper-local, seasonal, and sustainable cuisine.