David Chang Biography

(American Restaurateur and Founder of the Momofuku Restaurant Group)

Birthday: August 5, 1977 (Leo)

Born In: Arlington County, Virginia, United States

David Chang is an American restaurateur, author, and TV personality, best known as the founder of the Momofuku restaurant group. The group includes several bars including the Momofuku Ssam Bar and Ma Peche Milk Bar. Chang has a culinary degree from the French Culinary Institute. He worked at Mercer Kitchen and various other restaurants before finally opening his first restaurant Momofuku Noodle Bar. It was named after Momofuku Ando, the inventor of instant noodles. He is widely known for popularizing the modern Asian cuisine and has won the James Beard Award seven times. It is remarkable that he began his culinary career only in his mid-twenties after spending his early years trying his hands in various other professions. Chang has also served as a guest judge for reality shows such as ‘Top Chef: All Stars’ and ‘Masterchef Australia.’ He is the creator, host, and producer of the Netflix series ‘Ugly Delicious’ as well. The show combines elements of cooking, travel, and history. Chang appeared in Time Magazine’s list of ‘100 Most Influential People’ in 2010.

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Quick Facts

Also Known As: Chang Seok-ho

Age: 47 Years, 47 Year Old Males

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Grace Seo Chang

father: Joe Chang

mother: Sherri Chang

Born Country: United States

Restaurateurs American Men

Height: 5'9" (175 cm), 5'9" Males

U.S. State: Virginia

Notable Alumni: International Culinary Center, French Culinary Institute, Trinity College, Hartford

Ancestry: South Korean American

More Facts

education: French Culinary Institute, Trinity College, Hartford, International Culinary Center

  • 1

    Where is David Chang's restaurant Momofuku located?

    David Chang's Momofuku restaurant is located in multiple cities including New York City, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Toronto, and Sydney.
  • 2

    What type of cuisine is David Chang known for?

    David Chang is known for his innovative approach to Asian-American fusion cuisine, blending traditional flavors with modern cooking techniques.
  • 3

    What are some of David Chang's popular dishes?

    Some of David Chang's popular dishes include his pork buns, ramen noodles, fried chicken, and bo ssam (slow-roasted pork shoulder).
  • 4

    Does David Chang have a cooking show?

    Yes, David Chang has a cooking show on Netflix called "Ugly Delicious," where he explores different cuisines and food cultures around the world.
  • 5

    Is David Chang involved in any charitable work?

    Yes, David Chang is involved in various charitable initiatives, including supporting food banks, disaster relief efforts, and promoting food education for underserved communities.
Career
While studying at the French Culinary Institute (FCI)—now known as the International Culinary Center—David Chang also worked at the Mercer Kitchen and Tom Colicchio’s Craft restaurant. Later, he moved to Japan to work at a small soba shop. Eventually he returned to the US and started working at Café Boulud. However, before long he became "completely dissatisfied with the whole fine dining scene".
He opened his first restaurant named Momofuku Noodle Bar, in East Village, in 2004. According to his website, “Momofuku” means lucky peach. The restaurant also shares its name with Momofuku Ando, the inventor of instant noodles.
He opened his second restaurant in 2006. Named Momofuku Ssam Bar, it was just a few blocks away from the first one. Two years later, he opened another restaurant, Momofuku Ko. In 2008, he also expanded Momofuku Ssam Bar into an adjacent space, which he named Momofuku Milk Bar. It served items such as milk, pies, and cookies.
His first restaurant outside the US was in Sydney, Australia. Named Momofuku Seiōbo, it was opened in October 2011 at the Star City Casino. Later he also launched Fuku, a chain of fast food restaurants. He launched a digital-only restaurant as well which delivers only in Midtown East. It takes orders through an app named Ando. He opened his first West Coast restaurant in January 2018 in Los Angeles.
He hosted the first season of ‘The Mind of a Chef’ in 2012. He also created, produced, and starred in the Netflix series ‘Ugly Delicious’. David Chang’s other media appearances include a role in the TV series ‘Treme’. He has also acted as a guest judge in the reality shows ‘Top Chef: All Stars’ and ‘MasterChef Australia.’ He released a ‘Lucky Peach’ food magazine as well, with the first issue being released in summer 2011.
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Personal Life
David Chang was born in Vienna, Virginia, in the US on 5th August 1977. His parents had emigrated from Korea in the 1960s. He has two older brothers and a sister. He attended Georgetown Prep and later, Trinity College, majoring in religious studies.
After graduation, he pursued various jobs such as teaching English and bussing tables. He also held finance positions in New York City. He eventually attended a course in the International Culinary Center before embarking on a career in the food industry.
Coming to his love life, he has been married to Grace Seo Chang since 2017.
Facts About David Chang
David Chang is known for his love of hip-hop music and culture, often incorporating references to it in his restaurants and cooking style.
He is a big fan of golf and has been known to incorporate elements of the sport into his culinary inspiration.
David Chang has a deep appreciation for traditional Asian cooking techniques and ingredients, often putting his own modern twist on classic dishes.
He is a strong advocate for mental health awareness and has spoken openly about his own struggles with anxiety and depression.
David Chang is a passionate supporter of small, local farmers and producers, often sourcing ingredients directly from them for his restaurants.

How To Cite

Article Title
- David Chang Biography
Author
- Editors, TheFamousPeople.com
Website
- TheFamousPeople.com
URL
https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/david-chang-14547.php

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