Fei
A strikingly talented 16-year-old chef with technical knowledge that rivals—or arguably exceeds—Mao's own. What sets him apart is his composed, methodical approach to cooking, the complete opposite of Mao's more instinctive style. Fans often point out that despite their opposing personalities, Fei is probably the only chef who can genuinely claim to be Mao's equal. They made waves together by both passing the Super Chef exam simultaneously, and Fei harbors a deep connection to Mao's mother, whom he credits as his savior.
Fei's past is dark. A mysterious organization—later revealed to be the Dark Cooking Society—murdered his entire family and kidnapped him as a child. He was subjected to brutal, relentless training designed to turn him into a cooking machine, with physical punishment waiting for any resistance. When he finally escaped, he collapsed outside Kikkaro Restaurant half-dead. Mao's mother Pai nursed him back to health and taught him something revolutionary: cooking wasn't meant to cause suffering. It was about bringing joy to people. That shift in perspective changed everything for him. He eventually left to travel and develop his skills across China.
Years later, Mao discovered Fei had become the Dark Cooking Society's Head Chef and challenged him to a duel before the Emperor. Mao won, but afterward the truth unraveled—Fei had been drugged and manipulated the whole time. The Society had captured him while he was trying to infiltrate their headquarters seeking revenge for his parents' deaths. Once Fei was freed and treated with the Legendary Cooking Utensils, the manipulation lifted, though he still had to reckon with the harm he'd caused under their control. General Lee assigned him to travel with Mao's group and protect him during their quest for the Legendary Cooking Utensils, giving Fei a shot at redemption.
Content compiled by AnimeList.moe from publicly available sources.
