Keynote: Roy Choi—Chef, Author, and Co-Founder of The Kogi Truck

Session details:

Roy Choi—chef, author, and co‑founder of the revolutionary Kogi BBQ truck—has spent his life rewriting the rules of food and culture. Born in Seoul and raised in Los Angeles, Choi became one of the architects of the modern food truck movement, transforming a humble Korean–Mexican fusion truck into what Newsweek called "America’s first viral restaurant." His work didn’t just create a dining trend; it sparked a cultural movement rooted in community, accessibility, and culinary creativity.

In this keynote, Choi takes audiences on a journey through the intersections that define his career: food, technology, social justice, and the power of community. As the Emmy-winning host of Broken Bread, he explores how food can be a tool for activism—spotlighting issues of food access, equity, and labor, and showcasing changemakers who use food to challenge entrenched systems and uplift neighborhoods across Los Angeles and beyond. The series earned him a James Beard Award for Outstanding Host, underscoring his impact as both storyteller and advocate. 

Choi also draws from his global presence as the co-host of Netflix’s The Chef Show, where he collaborates with Jon Favreau to demystify the creative process in the kitchen and highlight the human stories that shape culinary innovation. And with restaurants spanning Los Angeles to Las Vegas—including Best Friend at Park MGM—Choi continues to evolve his signature blending of cultures, flavors, and lived experiences into vibrant, community-rooted dining spaces. His Las Vegas outpost Best Friend has become an ever-evolving showcase of his “greatest hits,” updated quarterly as he pushes new boundaries in Korean–Mexican fusion and beyond. 

A New York Times bestselling author, Choi expands on his personal philosophy of rule-breaking creativity and compassionate cooking in his newest book, The Choi of Cooking (2025). The cookbook reflects his shift toward vegetable-forward, flavor-packed recipes and his mission to make healthy, accessible eating both joyful and culturally resonant. 

Named one of TIME’s 100 Most Influential People, Roy Choi brings authenticity, humor, and deep insight to conversations about leadership, disruption, and the responsibility innovators have to their communities. His keynote inspires audiences to rethink how everyday actions—what we eat, share, make, and give—can ignite meaningful change.