David Chang Biography

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".

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.

David Chang was born in Vienna, Virginia, in the US on August 5, 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.