Photo: Ann Larie Valentine aka sanfranannie. CC By-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Who he is:
Roy Choi helped ignite the modern food-truck movement with Kogi BBQ in Los Angeles. He fused Korean and Mexican flavors and utilized social media to bring great food directly to the people in their neighborhoods. His work spans restaurants, community projects, and media. He’s known for linking cooking to place and people.
Why he matters:
Choi democratized delicious food, proving high flavor doesn’t require high prices or fancy dining rooms. He treats the city as a classroom, learning from and serving local communities. His career blends creativity, entrepreneurship, and social impact. He demonstrates that a chef can honor their heritage and invent new traditions simultaneously.
Learn More About Roy Choi
Go deeper with these hand-picked resources. Each one is selected by our team of educators to connect kids to this career through real stories and hands-on learning.
The Choi of Cooking: Flavor-Packed, Rule-Breaking Recipes for a Delicious Life: A Cookbook
Why We Picked It
Chef Roy Choi brings bold flavor and fearless creativity to every page, encouraging readers to experiment in the kitchen and trust their own instincts and palate.
L.A. Son: My Life, My City, My Food
Why We Picked It
Roy Choi's vivid memoir shows how culture, street food, and personal struggle fueled a culinary revolution that brought fine-dining flavors to food trucks.
Chef Roy Choi and the Street Food Remix (Food Heroes, 3)
Why We Picked It
This energetic picture book celebrates how Roy Choi blended Korean flavors with Los Angeles street culture to create something entirely new and community-changing.
