Episode 218: John Hong & Kat Hong (Yangban restaurant--Los Angeles, CA)

While in Los Angeles last month, Andrew had time for just one pod interview and tops on his list, based on an excellent dinner at their restaurant last fall, were John Hong & Kat Hong, chef-owners of Yangban (yes, they've dropped the "Society" from the name) in DTLA. In this comprehensive conversation, the couple discuss their respective biographies, how they met while working at Josiah Citrin's Mélisse restaurant, then moved to Christopher Kostow's The Restaurant at Meadowood in the Napa Valley, before returning to Los Angeles and opening their own singular place. On the margins of the discussion are thoughts on identity, categorizing cuisine, the perhaps surprising challenges of operating a more casual restaurant, and where this duo's dishes come from. Fascinating, thoughtful stuff here, and we hope you'll check it out.

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