By Esther Choi

On Sale: Oct 27, 2026
Page Count: 336 pages
Publisher: Voracious
ISBN-13: 9780316582629

$18.99

$24.99 CAD

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ebook $18.99 $24.99 CAD
Hardcover $40.00 $51.00 CAD

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The hotly anticipated debut cookbook from star chef Esther Choi: 100 recipes that add extraordinary flavor to everything you touch, just like a Korean grandmother

We all know cooks whose fingertips seem to infuse every meal with deliciousness. In Korean, that magic touch is called sohn-mat, or "hand taste"—but you don’t have to be born with it. Esther Choi picked hers up from her halmoni, or grandmother, who used her hands for everything from smearing cabbage with pepper paste to make kimchi to crumbling tofu for mandu (dumpling) filling and tossing vibrantly flavored noodles for japchae.

Hand taste starts with seasoning but ultimately describes a way of cooking rooted in heritage, intuition, and heart. Here, Choi offers delicious entry points to Korean and Korean-American cuisine, with foundational techniques alongside quick weeknight recipes and show-stopping traditional spreads. Hand Taste is as instructive as it is expressive, with recipes like Kalbi Jjim, Japchae, Kimchi Mac & Beef, Halmoni's Jeon, and Korean Fried Chicken Wings. There's something for everyone—whether you know Choi from her beloved restaurants Mokbar and Ms. Yoo, her presence on Food Network, or her infectious online personality.

So much more than a guide to mastering Korean cooking, Hand Taste teaches you to trust your gut and cook with curiosity and joy.

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Esther Choi is a chef, entrepreneur, and TV personality. She is the owner of Mokbar, with locations ranging from New York City to Las Vegas, and Ms. Yoo, a Korean-style gastropub in Manhattan. Choi is the co-host of Food Network's 24 on 24 and the host of “Heat Eaters” by First We Feast (12.9 M subscribers), a spinoff from the hit series “Hot Ones.” Choi has been a finalist on Iron Chef: Quest for an Iron Legend. She lives in New York City with her husband and son.

“Esther is one of my favorite chefs in America because her food is deeply personal and filled with flavor and soul. Dig into Hand Taste to hear her story and learn how she creates magic in the kitchen.”
Michael Symon
“Esther Choi tops my list of influential chefs who are currently reshaping the American food landscape. Her approach to Korean cuisine makes her cooking approachable to everyone picking up this book. Get ready for spicy, sweet, sour, and outright delicious dishes—Esther's flavors are addictive.”
Bobby Flay
"I’ve been a fan of Esther’s cooking long before we became friends, always in awe not just of how delicious her food is, but of the clear point of view and deep heart behind everything she creates. Through her dishes and storytelling, you don’t just eat well, you get to experience the care, identity, and purpose she cooks with."
Kristen Kish

Esther Choi

About the Author

Esther Choi is a chef, entrepreneur, and TV personality. She is the owner of Mokbar, with locations ranging from New York City to Las Vegas, and Ms. Yoo, a Korean-style gastropub in Manhattan. Choi is the co-host of Food Network’s 24 on 24 and the host of “Heat Eaters” by First We Feast (12.9 M subscribers), a spinoff from the hit series “Hot Ones.” Choi has been a finalist on Iron Chef: Quest for an Iron Legend. She lives in New York City with her husband and son.

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