Sam Robinson KC of the Garden Court Crime Team acted for the defendant, leading Tom Mayall of GT Stewart, instructed by Clare Dissington of GT Stewart.
The Croydon Crown Court trial arose from an argument between two chefs in a busy Central London Restaurant.
The defendant accepted having stabbed the deceased four times in the back and causing a large slash injury to his face. The incident played out in front of three eyewitnesses who gave evidence in the trial.
His defence at trial was one of lawful self-defence.
A defendant gave no account in interview and the defence team did not call him to give evidence.
The defence was advanced through careful cross-examination of the civilian witnesses and the scientific evidence.
The jury unanimously acquitted him of both murder and the alternative of manslaughter.
See BBC News coverage here.