18 David Chang Recipes to Try (2024)

FAQs

How many Michelin stars does David Chang have? ›

The original Ko opened on First Avenue in 2008 with an $85 menu. The restaurant was awarded two Michelin stars, which it has held since 2009. The Michelin Guide describes the restaurant as “still upbeat and iconoclastic,” serving “daring dishes.”

Pork Belly Buns (Momof*cku Bao)

These steamed buns filled with tender, savory pork belly, hoisin sauce, cucumbers, and scallions are a hallmark of Chang's culinary innovation. They perfectly encapsulate his ability to elevate simple ingredients into something extraordinary.

Realizing he was deeply unhappy, Chang enrolled in the French Culinary Institute and got a job at Jean-Georges Vongerichten's Mercer Kitchen, in New York. Having been “allergic to work," Chang says, “there I was working seven days a week, and I couldn't get enough of it."

Chang grew up in Arlington, with two older brothers and one sister. Chang's parents emigrated from Korea as adults in the 1960s. As a child, Chang was a competitive golfer who participated in a number of junior tournaments. Chang attended Georgetown Prep and then Trinity College, where he majored in religious studies.

Introducing Joël Robuchon – the chef with the most Michelin stars. He holds the number one spot among the top 10 chefs in the world, which makes him the best chef in the world according to the Michelin star rating.

Momof*cku means lucky peach.

Momof*cku was founded by chef David Chang in 2004 with the opening of Momof*cku Noodle Bar in New York City.

Last week Momof*cku posted to their Instagram announcing their departure from the Shangri-La Hotel, and now the prestigious Mott 32 is confirmed to be taking over the space in the new year. After 10 incredible years at 190 University Avenue, Momof*cku Toronto is closing on December 23.

One of the most influential chefs of the past 20 years, Chang built a global network of Momof*cku restaurants and updated the template for the modern celebrity chef. But after a series of closings since 2020, he's left with just a handful of sit-down restaurants.

Pork-Belly Buns

We knew Chang was something special the minute we tasted his signature dish.

Why is David Chang's book called Eat a Peach? ›

Eliot's “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock,” which inspired the title “Eat a Peach” (as did the Allman Brothers album of the same name). Chang says he knew he needed to shift gears after the 2018 death of his friend, fellow chef and author Anthony Bourdain.

He credits the raman at London's Wagamama he experienced on a vacation for feeding his noodle obsession and convincing him he wanted to be a chef. It is little known that Chang majored in religious studies and worked briefly in the NYC financial sector before deciding to become a chef.

Chang earned fame with his Momof*cku restaurants, including several that used to operate in Toronto, and his appearances on food-related television programs. But his brand recently expanded into selling packaged goods — many of them slightly upscale takes on Asian pantry classics, like instant noodles and chili crunch.

Although Dave Chang did not invent the pork bun, he created a very specific and somewhat luxe version of this dish that everyone went crazy for, and his kitchens have served it the exact same way every single service since its introduction.

Chang's two Michelin stars put him in the elite company of other world-renowned chefs. Momof*cku Ko shares the honor of having more than a single star with only 11 other restaurants in the city, including Daniel Boulud's, Daniel and Jean-Georges Vongerichten's similarly self-titled establishment, Jean-Georges.

Carme Ruscalleda, 7 Michelin Stars

Carme Ruscalleda is the only lady to be considered as one of the world's best chefs to have been awarded 7 Michelin stars to date. She is amongst female chefs with the most Michelin stars. Ruscalleda was bred on a Spanish farm.

Joël Robuchon: 31 Michelin Stars

Many consider the late French chef Joël Robuchon the best chef of the modern age. And with 31 Michelin Stars spread across three continents, it's hard to argue this claim. Robuchon opened his first restaurant, Jamin, in Paris at the age of 36.

Perhaps disappointingly, the answer is no - three is still the maximum number of Michelin stars that can be awarded to any one restaurant.