Top Chef Season 19 Headshot Sam

Sam Kang

HOMETOWN: Gardena, California 

CURRENT CITY OF RESIDENCE: Brooklyn, NY 

OCCUPATION/PROFESSION: Chef Educator 

A Southern California native, Sam Kang headed to New York in 2010 with just $700 in his pocket and the goal of becoming a head chef. His first job was at Chef David Chang’s Momofuku Ko, a two Michelin-starred restaurant where he developed his foundation for cooking. In 2012, Sam went on to work with Chef Daniel Humm at the three Michelin-starred Eleven Madison Park, which laid a foundation of teamwork, organization, and finesse. In 2016, Sam returned to Momofuku Ko as a Sous Chef and helped open The Bar at Ko and Wayo, where he was the Chef de Cuisine. Since 2020, Chef Sam has focused on a new passion for teaching and educating kids about food.