Esther Choi

Mŏkbar, Gahm, Food Network

Esther Choi is an influential Chef driven by her Korean roots. She is the Chef and Owner of Mŏkbar, with locations in Chelsea Market, Midtown, New Jersey and soon to be Las Vegas. She is also the Chef and Partner of Ms. Yoo located in the Lower East Side. Inspired by the age-old technique of her Korean grandmother’s cooking, Chef Esther believes that food is the ultimate expression of a country’s culture. With a personal passion for introducing New Yorkers to the flavors of Korean culture, Chef Esther’s cooking combines traditional and modern influences with fresh, seasonal ingredients.

Esther began her professional education at the early age of 14. Her formal training as a chef began at New York City’s Institute of Culinary Education (ICE), followed by various positions at New York City’s renowned Ilili and La Esquina, as well as that of the Food Network. In 2020 Esther launched with Cook Unity, a meal delivery service platform in New York City, and now has additional outposts in Los Angeles, Austin, Chicago & Seattle.

Esther currently hosts “Heat Eaters” by First We Feast, a successor to the highly acclaimed YouTube series “Hot Ones.” She is also at the helm of the newly launched culinary competition show, “24 in 24 Hours”. Cohosting with Chef Michael Symon, “24 in 24: Last Chef Standing” is proving itself to be the the most intense and captivating culinary marathon where the clock never stops. Previously, Esther participated as a competing chef on Netflix’s 2022 release, “Iron Chef: Quest for an Iron Legend,” advancing to the final round.

In addition to these roles, Esther has made significant appearances across various Food Network programs. These include challenging and defeating renowned chefs on “Beat Bobby Flay” and “Bobby’s Triple Threat.” Her expertise extends to guest judging roles on popular shows like “Chopped,” “Throwdown with Michael Symon,” Eric Adjepond’s “Wildcard Kitchen,” and the Voltaggio brothers’ “Battle of the Brothers.”

Esther’s presence expands beyond traditional cooking shows; she was featured alongside Selena Gomez in HBO’s culinary series “Selena + Chef.” Furthermore, she enriches her portfolio with hosting duties on two podcasts: Food52-produced “Hotline Offline” and iHeart Podcasts cultural exploration podcast “Get Down with K-Town.”

With such an extensive involvement in diverse projects within television and podcasting genres related to food and culture, Esther continues to establish herself as a prominent figure within contemporary culinary media.

In the autumn of 2023, Chef Esther launched her latest culinary endeavor, Gahm by Mŏkbar, located in Brooklyn. This innovative restaurant features a menu that evolves with the seasons, influenced by past competitions and events / dinners, providing Chef Esther the opportunity to continually reinterpret and refresh her offerings throughout the year.

Following the successful opening of Gahm by Mokbar, plans are underway for the inauguration of O Bar. Scheduled to open by the end of summer 2024, this new establishment will be conveniently situated across from another of Chef Esther’s celebrated ventures, Mokbar at The Hugh.