Esther Choi is an influential chef driven by her Korean roots. She is the chef and owner of Mökbar, with locations in Chelsea Market, Midtown Manhattan, New Jersey, and in Las Vegas, as well as the cocktail bar, Bar ö in Midtown Manhattan. She is also the chef and partner of Ms. Yoo. Inspired by the age-old techniques 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 Korean flavors, her cooking combines traditional and modern influences with fresh, seasonal ingredients.
Currently, Esther is the host of Heat Eaters by First We Feast, the follow-up show to the hit YouTube series Hot Ones. She also appears on numerous Food Network shows and is the co-host of 24 in 24: Last Chef Standing, now in its third season. In spring 2026, she launched her new Food Network YouTube series, Cooking with Choi, a Korean American cooking show. She has also appeared on Beat Bobby Flay and Bobby’s Triple Threat, and has served as a guest judge on Chopped. Her debut cookbook, Hand Taste: Cook Like a Korean Grandmother, will be released in October 2026. Esther lives between upstate New York and New York City with her partner, her dog, Persy, and her son, Leon.