Roy Choi

Roy Choi is an American chef widely credited with helping spark the modern food truck movement through his pioneering Kogi BBQ truck, which blended Korean flavors with Mexican street food traditions. Born in 1970, Choi built a career that fuses his Korean heritage with the diverse culinary landscape of Los Angeles, creating a distinctive style that reflects both his upbringing and the city's multicultural food culture.

Beyond his restaurant and truck ventures, Choi has become a prominent voice in food media, known for his candid storytelling about immigrant identity, working-class food culture, and the intersection of cooking with social issues like food access and inequality. He has authored books and appeared in documentaries and television projects that explore food as a lens for culture and community, cementing his reputation as both a chef and a thoughtful commentator on American food culture.

As a businessperson, Choi has expanded his influence beyond the kitchen, launching multiple food concepts and collaborating on projects that highlight underserved communities and inventive, boundary-crossing cuisine. His work continues to resonate with audiences interested in the deeper stories behind the food they eat.