Esther Choi was born in New Jersey and spent part of her childhood in South Korea with her family. She returned to the United States for high school and eventually pursued studies at Rutgers University. Inspired by her grandmother’s traditional cooking methods, she enrolled in the Institute of Culinary Education, where she completed her formal culinary training. 

Choi then gained hands-on experience by working in the kitchens of recognized New York establishments, including ilili and La Esquina. She later achieved an entrepreneurial breakthrough in 2014, when she opened her first commercial ramen restaurant branch, mŏkbar, inside Chelsea Market. This successful venture laid the foundation for her brand expansion, enabling her to open additional locations and transition into digital video production.

On television, Choi built her profile through competitive appearances on Chopped, Beat Bobby Flay, Iron Chef: Quest for an Iron Legend (Netflix, 2022), and Bobby’s Triple Threat. She made her hosting debut in 2024 as the co-host of Food Network’s 24 in 24: Last Chef Standing alongside Michael Symon. She also hosts the digital series Heat Eaters, which airs on YouTube.