Esther Choi, also known as Auntie Esther, is a chef, restaurateur, TV personality, and entrepreneur who is driven by her Korean roots and passion for food. She is the owner and lead chef of Mokbar and Ms.Yoo, two popular eateries in New York City that showcase the flavors and culture of Korea.
She has also appeared on several shows such as Beat Bobby Flay, Chopped, Worst Cooks in America, and Selena + Chef. In this article, we will explore her personal life, career, achievements, and more.
Early Life & Education
Esther Choi was born on November 20, 1985, in New York City, United States. She is of Korean descent, as her parents immigrated from Korea before she was born. She grew up in Egg Harbor, New Jersey, where she was exposed to Korean cuisine and culture through her grandmother, who was a major influence on her cooking style.
Her grandmother taught her how to improvise Korean dishes using local ingredients and herbs that she grew in her backyard. She also instilled in her the values of humility, love, and respect for food and people.
Esther Choi developed a love for food at a young age and got her first restaurant job at the age of 14. She enrolled in courses at New York City’s Institute of Culinary Education (ICE) to pursue her dream of becoming a chef. She also attended Rutgers University, where she studied business administration.
Family, Parents & Siblings
According to the web search results, Esther Choi’s parents were Korean immigrants who moved to New York City before she was born. She is of Korean descent and grew up in Egg Harbor, New Jersey. Her parents relocated to Korea for three years when she was a child so that she and her siblings could learn about and understand Korean culture.
Her grandmother was a major source of inspiration for her cooking style and recipes. She taught her how to improvise Korean dishes using local ingredients and herbs that she grew in her backyard. Esther Choi has a sister named Jennifer Choi, who is also her business partner.
Jennifer Choi is married to Danny Song and they have a son named Liam Theodore Song. Esther Choi is also married, but she has not revealed much information about her husband or children. She only refers to her husband as Jerry Choi on social media.
Social Media Links
| Platform | Handle/Link |
|---|---|
| @choibites | |
| IMDb | Esther Choi IMDb |
| Esther-Choi | |
| Esther_Choi | |
| YouTube | choibites YouTube |
Career and Achievements
After graduating from ICE, Esther Choi worked at various restaurants in New York City, such as ilili and La Esquina. She faced many challenges and discrimination as a female chef in a male-dominated industry, but she persevered and proved herself with her hard work and talent. She also gained experience and knowledge from different cuisines and cultures.
In 2014, Esther Choi opened her first venture, Mokbar, in Chelsea Market. Mokbar is a Korean ramen bar that serves traditional Korean soups and dumplings with a modern twist. The restaurant was an instant hit and received rave reviews from critics and customers alike. Esther Choi was hailed as a New Rising Chef by Food Republic and a NYC Culinary Rockstar by Zagat. Mokbar also won the Village Voice’s Reader’s Choice Award for Best New Restaurant and the Epoch Taste Award for Best Kimchi.
In 2017, Esther Choi opened her second Mokbar location in Brooklyn, which has a more refined and authentic Korean menu. She also launched Ms.Yoo, a gastropub that serves Korean-inspired cocktails and snacks in a chic setting. Ms.Yoo is named after her grandmother, who inspired her to become a chef.
Esther Choi has also expanded her brand to other ventures, such as catering services, private chef experiences, cooking classes, podcasts, and YouTube videos. She hosts Get Down with K-Town, a podcast that explores the rich world of Korean-American culture through cooking and conversation. She also runs Choibites, a YouTube channel that features her recipes, tips, and stories.
Esther Choi has also made a name for herself in the TV industry. She has competed in shows such as Beat Bobby Flay (Season 2), Iron Chef Showdown (Season 1), and Tournament of Champions (Season 2). She has also been a guest chef on shows such as The Chew and Today. She has also served as a judge on shows such as Worst Cooks in America (Season 21), Chopped (Season 47), Chopped 420 (Season 1), and Selena + Chef (Season 2).
Esther Choi is not only a successful chef but also a role model and advocate for the Korean-American community. She uses her platform to promote Korean culture and cuisine to a wider audience and to inspire young aspiring chefs to follow their dreams.
Esther Choi in Iron Chef
Esther Choi is a Korean-American chef who competed in the Netflix show Iron Chef: Quest for an Iron Legend. She was the finalist who faced all five Iron Chefs in a seafood battle but lost by one point. She is the owner of Mokbar and Ms.Yoo, two restaurants in New York City that serve Korean cuisine with a modern twist. She has also appeared on other TV shows such as Beat Bobby Flay, Chopped, and Selena + Chef.
Marriage, Husband & Kids
Esther Choi is happily married to Jerry Choi, who is also her business partner. They have been together for years but have not disclosed their wedding date or details. They have children whose information is also kept private. She has over 100k followers on Instagram, where she posts pictures of her food, family, travels, and events.
Wiki/BIO
| Name | Esther Choi |
| Birth Date | November 20, 1985 |
| Birth Place | New York City, United States |
| Age | 37 years old (as of 2022) |
| Zodiac Sign | Scorpio |
| Nationality | American-Korean |
| Education | New York City’s Institute of Culinary Education; Rutgers University |
| Profession | Chef, Restaurateur, TV Personality, Entrepreneur |
| Nickname | Auntie Esther |
| Restaurants | Mokbar, Ms.Yoo |
| TV Shows | Beat Bobby Flay, Iron Chef Showdown, Tournament of Champions, The Chew, Today, Worst Cooks in America, Chopped, Chopped 420, Selena + Chef |
| Podcast | Get Down with K-Town |
| YouTube Channel | Choibites |
| Awards and Recognition | New Rising Chef by Food Republic; NYC Culinary Rockstar by Zagat; Best New Restaurant and Best Kimchi by Village Voice and Epoch Taste |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Spouse | Jerry Choi |
| Children | Yes |
| Homepage | Dreshare.com |
12 Facts About Esther Choi
- Esther Choi is a Korean-American chef who owns and runs Mokbar and Ms.Yoo, two popular eateries in New York City that showcase the flavors and culture of Korea.
- Esther was born on November 20, 1985, in New York City, United States. She grew up in Egg Harbor, New Jersey, where she learned to cook from her grandmother, who was a major influence on her cooking style.
- Esther Choi got her first restaurant job at the age of 14 and enrolled in courses at New York City’s Institute of Culinary Education to pursue her dream of becoming a chef. She also studied business administration at Rutgers University.
- Choi worked at various restaurants in New York City, such as ilili and La Esquina, before opening her own venture, Mokbar, in Chelsea Market in 2014. Mokbar is a Korean ramen bar that serves traditional Korean soups and dumplings with a modern twist.
- Esther Choi was hailed as a New Rising Chef by Food Republic and a NYC Culinary Rockstar by Zagat. Mokbar also won the Village Voice’s Reader’s Choice Award for Best New Restaurant and the Epoch Taste Award for Best Kimchi.
- Esther opened her second Mokbar location in Brooklyn in 2017, which has a more refined and authentic Korean menu. She also launched Ms.Yoo, a gastropub that serves Korean-inspired cocktails and snacks in a chic setting. Ms.Yoo is named after her grandmother, who inspired her to become a chef.
- Choi has also expanded her brand to other ventures, such as catering services, private chef experiences, cooking classes, podcasts, and YouTube videos. She hosts Get Down with K-Town, a podcast that explores the rich world of Korean-American culture through cooking and conversation. She also runs Choibites, a YouTube channel that features her recipes, tips, and stories.
- Choi is not only a successful chef but also a role model and advocate for the Korean-American community. She uses her platform to promote Korean culture and cuisine to a wider audience and to inspire young aspiring chefs to follow their dreams.
- Esther Choi is happily married to Jerry Choi, who is also her business partner. They have been together for years but have not disclosed their wedding date or details. They have children whose information is also kept private.
- Esther Choi is a Scorpio by zodiac sign. She celebrates her birthday every year on November 20.
 Age, Husband, Children, Family, Net Worth, Biography, Wiki & More){kind=link}
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