Award-winning Esther Choi is a Korean-American chef, restaurateur, podcaster, television host and mother. Along with appearances on Bobby’s Triple Threat, Beat Bobby Flay and Chopped, Esther currently co-hosts 24 in 24: Last Chef Standing with Michael Symon. Learn more about Esther’s culinary journey, family life and buzzworthy Korean restaurants below.

History and Background

New Jersey-born Esther grew up in Egg Harbor Township, a small town located just outside of Atlantic City, with her parents and grandparents, who immigrated to the United States from South Korea. Her grandparents watched her while her parents were at work, and it was during those early years that Esther’s grandmother ignited her passion for Korean fare through her scratch-made dishes packed with traditional flavor and garden-grown vegetables.

Esther began working in restaurants during her freshman year of high school. After attending Rutgers University, she realized her true passion for food and attended New York City’s Institute of Culinary Education for her formal training as a chef. From there, Esther held positions at celebrated NYC establishments ilili and La Esquina, and began working at Food Network.

Family Life

Esther lives in a newly renovated New York City apartment with her partner, Joshua Griffiths, and their son, Leonardo, who joined their family in February 2024. The couple shares a fur baby, too — a King Charles spaniel named Persimmon “Persy.”

She recently renovated a cabin in upstate New York and worked with Kitchen Canvas to install her dream kitchen. She gave followers a tour of the fresh design complete with sage custom cabinetry, lustrous brass hardware, ample open shelving, a microwave drawer and a luxurious pot filler.

Esther's Food Network Shows

Before stepping into her role as co-host of 24 in 24: Last Chef Standing, Esther appeared on several Food Network shows as a magnetic host, fierce competitor and fair judge.

Viewers can enjoy a front-row seat to her culinary prowess by watching her compete on Food Network’s Throwdown With Michael Symon. Esther also appeared alongside Selena Gomez as a guest star on HBO’s Selena + Chef.

Esther hosted Chopped 420 and co-hosted Beat Bobby Flay. She served as a judge on Chopped, Money Hungry and Battle of the Brothers.

24 in 24: Last Chef Standing

Esther hosts Food Network’s high-pressure culinary competition, 24 in 24: Last Chef Standing, alongside Michael Symon, leading 24 premier chefs through 24 hours of nonstop culinary challenges for a chance to win $75,000. As host, Esther connects with the competing chefs during challenges and shares her insights with viewers about various techniques and her concerns and/or excitement about dishes throughout each episode.

Cooking With Choi

In spring 2026, the 24 in 24: Last Chef Standing host invited fans into her home kitchen with Cooking With Choi, a series on Food Network's YouTube channel. Esther breaks down traditional Korean recipes like kimchi plus Korean American twists like BEC Tteokbokki (for non-New Yorkers, BEC means "bacon, egg and cheese") in an approachable, personal format that's easy for cooks of all skill levels to follow at home.

Esther's Cookbook, Hand Taste

Esther's debut cookbook, Hand Taste: Cook Like a Korean Grandmother, releases on October 27, 2026. The book describes the magic touch of sohn-mat, which means "hand taste" in Korean, a skill Esther picked up from her halmoni — her grandmother. She hopes the cookbook will not only teach you some crave-worthy Korean and Korean American recipes, but also teach you how to trust your gut and cook from the heart.

Esther's Restaurants

The industrious, multitalented chef has her hands in several contemporary Korean restaurants and bars in and around New York City, New Jersey and Las Vegas.

mŏkbar

Esther opened her first establishment, mŏkbar, in Chelsea Market. The eatery specializes in everyday Korean fare, including classic dumplings, ramen, rice bowls and kimchi. Esther shared with Kollaboration New York that she came up with the name, which translates to “eat bar,” as a play on the word “mukbang,” a South Korean trend of ASMR-style videos of people eating lots of food while interacting with their audiences that was popular in the mid-2010s. Since its opening, Esther has opened additional mŏkbar locations in Brooklyn, Midtown, Newark, New Jersey, and Las Vegas.

Ms. Yoo

Esther is a chef and partner at bi-level supper club Ms. Yoo. Ms. Yoo is a fresh gastropub that pays homage to her East-West heritage with a menu of traditional American bar food elevated with traditional Korean flavors and techniques.

The playful establishment, named after Choi’s influential grandmother Jungok Yoo, offers decadent bar bites like shrimp burgers, street tacos, and pork belly buns and specialty cocktails infused with Korean flavors, like plum, ginger and gochugaru.

GAHM 감

GAHM 감 is Esther’s creative outlet and culinary refuge in the heart of Brooklyn. The inviting restaurant features a meticulously curated menu inspired by her formative life experiences, brimming with authentic Korean flavors.

Some dishes lend diners a taste of Esther’s time working behind the scenes on Iron Chef, while others transport them to her family’s Thanksgiving table. The welcoming space features an open, flowing design that encourages diners to let their guard down and indulge in Esther’s personal creations.

The restaurant’s name, GAHM 감, is the Korean word for persimmon. In Korean folklore, the rich autumn fruit represents bearers of good news, and in Esther’s life, it is the namesake of her beloved spaniel, Persy.

Ö BAR

Ö BAR is a modern Korean bar located in The Hugh, a culinary collective in Midtown East. The menu includes Esther’s celebrated kimchi and other easy eats like edamame, crispy Brussels sprouts and flavor-packed kimbap rolls. The cocktail menu is steeped with her signature flavors, including an enticing K-Vesper made with Korean pear vodka and a Korean Cosmo infused with Omija, the Schisandra berry known for its distinct "five flavors."

Fun Facts About Esther

• Her birthday is November 20, making her a Scorpio.
• She was born during the Year of the Ox and has a hardworking and determined spirit to prove it.
• She was named as one of Zagat's 30 Under 30 in 2015.
• She adopts a less-is-more attitude when cooking and believes simplicity makes the best dishes.
• Her son’s first birthday party was adorably on brand with the theme Farmers Market Meets Modern Korean.

Esther’s Partnerships

Esther has partnered with CookUnity, a subscription meal prep platform, to bring her Korean flavors and soul-enriched dishes to your doorstep in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Seattle. She debuts new CookUnity dishes weekly, including options like her Korean Beef Quesadillas, K-BBQ Spicy Pork With Caramelized Kimchi and Mongolian Beef With Bok Choy and Steamed Rice.

If CookUnity delivery is unavailable in your city, fret not! You can still savor Esther's signature Korean flavors anywhere with her frozen meals, available only at Walmart. Add her Bulgogi Yaki Udon With Tender Steak and Stir-Fry, Hot Honey Sesame Chicken and Gochujang Chicken Teriyaki With White Rice and Vegetables to your Walmart delivery or scoop it up in store on your next grocery run.

The on-the-go pro relies on her Genesis GV70 to get her from Point A to B safely and stylishly. Esther is a Genesis Partner and has begun sharing a peek into her morning routine and central console on social media.

Esther partnered with Messermeister to develop 7” Precision Take-Apart Shears for professional and home chefs alike. She dialed in on the details and perfected the shears with soft-grip ergonomic handles, titanium-coated micro-serrated blades and a bearing system for smooth operation. The versatile shears feature a central seafood shell cracker, an herb stripper, and a bone notch and pop apart with the push of a button for easy cleaning.

Esther's Recipes

Bring Esther's signature Korean flavors into your kitchen with some of her recipes listed below.