Roy Choi is the Korean-American Chef who helped launch the gourmet food truck movement by fusing Korean flavors with Mexican street food. His Kogi tacos changed how Los Angeles eats and how chefs think about service, community, and flavor.
Born in Seoul and raised in Southern California, Choi combines formal culinary training with neighborhood cooking and social activism. He builds restaurants, media projects, and community programs to expand access to good food and to celebrate immigrant culinary identity.
Roy Choi's Formal Culinary Training
Roy Choi grew up around his parents' restaurant, Silver Garden in Anaheim, which gave him an early education in kitchens and service. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from California State University, Fullerton in 1994 before committing to a culinary path.
Inspired by television and by the idea of chef as storyteller, Choi attended the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York, graduating in 1998. After the CIA he refined his technique in prominent kitchens, including Le Bernardin in New York and roles at high end properties in Los Angeles, where classical training met street food sensibilities.
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Roy Choi Restaurants & Businesses
Choi translated his training and neighborhood roots into a range of projects that span food trucks, casual eateries, and destination restaurants.
| Year | Project | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Kogi Korean BBQ-To-Go | A fleet of Twitter-savvy food trucks serving Korean Mexican fusion, most famous for Korean short rib tacos and rapid viral popularity. |
| 2006 | Chego! | Casual rice bowl and street food inspired restaurant in Los Angeles showcasing bold, simple flavors and Choi's signature sauce-driven style. |
| 2014 | Sunny Spot | A Caribbean influenced restaurant in Los Angeles that highlights Choi's love of bold spices, shared plates, and a lively dining room. |
| 2018 | Best Friend | A celebratory Los Angeles food experience at Park MGM in Las Vegas that honors Choi's influences with playful, nostalgic dishes. |
Beyond these, Choi has opened and collaborated on several other concepts and pop ups, balancing neighborhood spots with projects that reached national audiences.
Roy Choi's Other Ventures
Choi has used his platform to pursue business and civic projects that reflect his values.
- LocoL (2015): A fast food concept created with partners to provide healthier, affordable options in underserved neighborhoods and to rethink the role of fast food in communities.
- Cookbooks and Collaborations: Choi has published recipes and partnered on product lines and culinary projects that bring his flavor sensibility to home cooks.
- Education and Community Work: He teaches and mentors through organizations such as A Place Called Home in South Los Angeles and supports programs that train youth in culinary skills.
Roy Choi Shows
Choi has crossed into media to tell broader stories about food, culture, and access.
- The Chef Show: Cohosting with Jon Favreau on Netflix, Choi cooks, experiments, and showcases guests while exploring food culture across America.
- Broken Bread: A civic-minded series on KCET and Tastemade that examines food injustice, community responses, and the political forces shaping diets. Choi's work on the series earned critical recognition and awards.
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Roy Choi Awards and Accolades
Choi's influence has been acknowledged across culinary and cultural institutions.
- Food & Wine Best New Chef (2010): A rare honor for a food truck operator that signaled shifting ideas about where culinary innovation happens.
- TIME 100: Included on TIME magazine's list of the 100 most influential people in 2011 and again recognized in 2016.
- James Beard Foundation and Emmy Recognition (2020): Awards for his media work, including honors tied to Broken Bread and his role as a public voice on food access.
Roy Choi Personal Life
Roy Choi was born on February 24, 1970, in Seoul, South Korea, and moved to Los Angeles with his family in 1972. His parents ran a Korean restaurant, which shaped his early relationship with food and work.
Choi is married to Michelle Rae and they have a daughter, Kaelyn. He remains rooted in Los Angeles and active in community programs that teach cooking, job skills, and civic engagement to young people.
His projects often blend culinary creativity with social purpose, reflecting a belief that good food can be a tool for empowerment and change.
Roy Choi Family and Friends
Choi frequently credits his family and upbringing for his culinary voice. Friends and collaborators from the Los Angeles gastronomic scene have helped him scale Kogi and launch restaurant projects while maintaining local ties.
Through partnerships with fellow Chefs, activists, and community leaders, he has built networks that support both business ventures and social initiatives such as LocoL and youth culinary programs.
Roy Choi Chef Profile: Conclusion
Roy Choi transformed street food into a cultural movement, proving that food trucks can be sites of serious culinary innovation and social conversation. By blending Korean and Mexican traditions with classical technique and community focus, he reshaped how people think about food and access.
His restaurants, media projects, and civic work form a coherent practice that champions flavor, equity, and culture. Choi continues to influence a generation of Chefs who see kitchens as places for creativity and change.
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