Celebrity Chef Reynold Poernomo’s Restaurant Empire in Crisis as Debts Mount
A restaurant company co-owned by former MasterChef contestant Reynold Poernomo has been placed into liquidation, owing more than half a million dollars to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) and former staff.
Liquidators were appointed to Arnoldpo Corporation Pty Ltd, which operated the Monkey’s Corner restaurant in Sydney, on May 28, 2025.
According to documents filed with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), the company’s debts include $458,002 owed to the ATO and $76,000 in unpaid superannuation for employees.
The liquidation comes approximately a year after the Japanese-inspired restaurant in Chippendale abruptly ceased trading.
Wider Financial Pressures Reported
The collapse of Monkey’s Corner follows reports of financial pressure on the Poernomo brothers’ wider hospitality empire, the Koi dessert chain.
The company that operates Koi, Art Plate Pty Ltd, underwent a significant financial restructure in 2024. Other media reports have cited multiple suppliers and employees who claim they are pursuing the business for unpaid invoices and wages.
While Reynold Poernomo is not formally listed as a director of the liquidated company, he is publicly promoted as a co-owner of the family’s businesses alongside his brothers.
Henry Kwok and Antony Resnick from the dVT group have been appointed to manage the liquidation process.