Khanh Ong
Khanh Ong | |
|---|---|
| Born | Indonesia (refugee camp) |
| Occupation(s) | Chef, television personality, author, restaurateur |
| Years active | 2018–present |
| Known for | MasterChef Australia (season 10 and 12), Australian Survivor: Blood V Water, Khanh Ong's Wild Food |
| Notable work | A Gay's Guide to Life, Love and Food |
Khanh Ong is an Australian chef, television figure, author, and restaurateur. He first gained recognition as a participant on the tenth installment of MasterChef Australia, and later returned to compete in the twelfth season, titled MasterChef: Back to Win.
Early life and education
Ong was born to Vietnamese parents in a refugee camp located in Indonesia before relocating to Australia during the early 1990s. His family settled in the southeastern suburbs of Melbourne. Growing up, his parents operated a butcher shop, which played a significant role in sparking his passion for food. He completed his schooling at Haileybury and went on to study pattern making, garment construction, and fashion business at the Melbourne School of Fashion. Ong experienced the loss of his father to liver cancer when he was fifteen years old.
Career
Ong achieved third place in the 2018 tenth season of MasterChef Australia. He made a comeback in 2020 for the twelfth season, MasterChef Australia: Back to Win, where he finished ninth among 24 returning contestants vying for a $250,000 prize.
In the same year, he released his first cookbook, A Gay's Guide to Life, Love and Food, which blends culinary recipes with lifestyle guidance.
In 2022, Ong broadened his television career by joining the ninth season of Network 10’s Australian Survivor: Blood V Water alongside his sister Amy. Renowned for his tactical approach and nicknamed "King Khanh," he was voted out in eleventh place and subsequently became part of the jury. The following year, he co-hosted the fourth season of the dedicated Survivor aftershow, Australian Survivor: Talking Tribal.
Also in 2023, Ong debuted his own cooking program on SBS Food called Khanh Ong's Wild Food, highlighting Australian native ingredients through travel experiences and fusion cuisine.
In March 2024, he took part in Network 10’s reality show I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! Australia. Additionally, he is scheduled to appear on Claire Hooper's House Of Games in 2025.
Personal life
Ong has been openly gay since revealing his sexuality to his mother at age nineteen. He attended Haileybury College and currently resides in Melbourne, Victoria.