David Chang

David Chang was born in 1976 in Vienna, Virginia, to Korean immigrant parents. After graduating from Trinity College with a degree in Religious Studies, he initially pursued a career outside of the culinary world. A growing passion for food led him to enroll at the French Culinary Institute in New York City. Following his graduation, he honed his skills in the kitchens of renowned New York restaurants, including Craft and Café Boulud. This classical training provided a foundation that he would later famously subvert.

Chang’s most significant contribution is the creation of the Momofuku restaurant group. He opened the first Momofuku Noodle Bar in New York's East Village in 2004. The small, ramen-focused restaurant was an immediate critical success, celebrated for its innovative approach that blended high-quality technique with casual, affordable dining. This was followed by the acclaimed Momofuku Ssäm Bar, which further showcased his creative, genre-defying cuisine. He expanded his empire with the fine-dining establishment Ko, which earned two Michelin stars. Beyond restaurants, Chang co-founded the influential food magazine Lucky Peach in 2011, which became a cult favorite for its literary and artistic approach to food writing before ceasing publication in 2017.

David Chang is widely credited with helping to popularize and legitimize Asian-inspired cuisine, particularly ramen and pork buns, in the American fine-dining landscape. He challenged the staid conventions of upscale restaurants by proving that a noisy, minimalist space could produce world-class food. His success paved the way for a generation of chefs to explore their own cultural heritage in their cooking without feeling pressured to conform strictly to European traditions. Furthermore, his candid discussions about mental health and the intense pressures of kitchen life have contributed to a broader, ongoing conversation about wellness in the hospitality industry.

Chang’s current work extends far beyond the kitchen. He is a prominent media figure, hosting television shows such as Netflix’s Ugly Delicious, which explores food and culture across the globe. He continues to oversee the Momofuku restaurant group, which has locations in several international cities, though he has sold a majority stake in the company. In 2022, he launched the podcast network Majordomo Media. He also remains active as an entrepreneur with ventures like the Momofuku Goods line of pantry items, including the widely popular Chili Crunch.

David Chang is a chef and entrepreneur who reshaped modern dining through his restaurant group, Momofuku. Born in Virginia to Korean immigrant parents, Chang initially pursued a different career path before his passion for food led him to the Culinary Institute of America. He then worked in some of New York City's top kitchens, honing his skills before taking a monumental risk. In 2004, with a modest loan, he opened a tiny East Village noodle bar called Momofuku Noodle Bar. This was not just the start of a restaurant; it was the birth of a culinary philosophy that prized bold flavor, relentless creativity, and a casual, energetic atmosphere over traditional fine-dining formality.

Chang matters because he fundamentally changed the restaurant industry. He proved that a small, unassuming restaurant could achieve global acclaim without relying on white tablecloths or exorbitant prices. His success helped democratize high-quality food, making inventive, chef-driven cuisine accessible to a broader audience. Beyond the plate, Chang has become an influential voice on critical issues within the food world. He openly discusses the immense mental health pressures faced by chefs and kitchen staff, helping to break a long-standing taboo. He also champions a more inclusive and equitable industry, challenging systemic racism and questioning outdated traditions. His influence extends far beyond his kitchens through his media company, Majordomo Media, which includes the award-winning podcast The Dave Chang Show and the Netflix series Ugly Delicious.

David Chang is most famous for creating the Momofuku empire, which grew from that single noodle bar into a constellation of acclaimed restaurants like Momofuku Ssäm Bar and Momofuku Ko, the latter earning two Michelin stars. He is celebrated for a distinctive culinary style that masterfully blends his Korean heritage with other global influences, creating dishes that are both familiar and entirely new. The Momofuku pork bun, a steamed bun filled with rich pork belly, became an iconic dish that chefs worldwide have imitated. He is also widely recognized for his powerful and often unfiltered public persona. Whether through his writing, television appearances, or podcasts, Chang is known for his intense passion, intellectual curiosity about food and culture, and his willingness to challenge the status quo, making him one of the most thought-provoking figures in contemporary food.