“I grew up going to the mall, eating at the mall and even working at the mall,” says Roy Choi, who was born in Seoul, South Korea and raised in Los Angeles.
After attending the Culinary Institute of America and honing his craft at the Beverly Hilton, Choi rented a truck and brought his Korean BBQ — fused with Mexican tacos — to the streets with the Kogi Korean BBQ concept he launched in 2008. The television personality and bestselling author who helmed eateries including Chego!, A-Frame and LocoL is currently behind Alibi Room in L.A. and Best Friend at Las Vegas’ Park MGM.
Choi also teamed with Chain, the American pop cuisine brand founded by B.J. Novak, on one of four new exclusive dishes created by star chefs for the brand’s six-month residency at Westfield Topanga mall’s Topanga Social food hall.
Here, Choi describes how his mall experiences informed his dish — and weighs in on the other chefs who made contributions. “Even though I’m older than my Chain chef counterparts,” he says, “I have looked up to all three of them like my big bros and big sis for a long time.”
Charred chicken, California white rice, scallions and toasted sesame seeds, glazed with Kogi’s Sweet Garlic Teriyaki sauce
“The free samples [at the mall food court] were my everything — especially the toothpick samples of chicken teriyaki. I used to wear different outfits throughout the day just to get unlimited samples believing they believed I was a different person each time. We make that teriyaki chicken bowl for this project, toothpicks and all.”
Spicy chicken sandwich with Louisiana habanero sauce, fresh lettuce, tomatoes, pickles and mayo on a toasted potato bun
“Mason’s free spirit inspires me to always color outside the lines.”
A Sichuan dish with Mapo-spiced wagyu ragú, chili crisp queso, wonton crunchies and lettuce, wrapped in a pan-fried flour tortilla and served with chili crisp sour cream
“Mei Lin is the champ of all champs. I wish to be as talented a chef as her one day.”
A Cantonese-spiced wild cod and shrimp patty with scallion tartar sauce and American cheese on a toasted potato bun
“Calvin runs [Bonnie’s], a place I’ve always dreamed of — a personal space in his hometown, which just so happens to be Brooklyn, New York. [He’s] the coolest guy running the coolest place in the coolest city in the world.”
The post Chef Favorites: Roy Choi Dishes on His New Creation for Chain’s Westfield Topanga Residency appeared first on LAmag.
