Diego Oka
La Mar by Gastón Acurio | Miami, FL
October 2019
Diego Oka’s culinary journey began in Lima, Peru, where a chance meeting with Chef Gastón Acurio set the stage for his career. While pursuing his culinary studies, Oka secured an internship at Acurio’s acclaimed Astrid & Gastón. After graduating, he honed his skills at Ichi Ban, a Japanese restaurant in Lima, before Acurio tapped him for a new venture. By 2005, Oka was entrusted to helm the first La Mar Cebichería as executive chef.
From there, Oka embarked on an ambitious trajectory, opening La Mar locations in some of the world’s most dynamic culinary hubs. He spent several years in Mexico City, Bogotá, and San Francisco, refining his approach to modern Peruvian cuisine and seamlessly blending the flavors of his heritage with global influences. In 2013, he put down roots in Miami, launching La Mar by Gastón Acurio at the Mandarin Oriental, and won a StarChefs Rising Stars Chef Award at the restaurant in 2016. Under his leadership as executive chef, the restaurant has been a beacon of Miami’s fine dining landscape for more than 11 years.
Oka’s influence extends far beyond the kitchen. He is committed to showcasing Peruvian flavors on an international stage, and his work has taken him to major culinary events around the world, reinforcing his role as an ambassador of both Miami’s dining scene and the ever-evolving world of Peruvian cuisine.
2019 StarChefs Chefs Congress Presenter
2016 StarChefs South Florida Rising Stars Award Winner
2025 StarChefs Miami Rising Stars Mentor Winner
