Katianna Hong is the chef and partner of Yangban, a Korean-American concept in Los Angeles’
Arts District. Most recently, she competed on the 22nd season of Top Chef.
Born in Korea and raised in upstate New York, Katianna spent much of her childhood training in
competitive gymnastics, developing a profound sense of drive and discipline at an early age.
After high school, Katianna uncovered her passion for the culinary arts and went on to study at
the Culinary Institute of America Hyde Park and the UNLV School of Hospitality.
Upon graduation, Katianna furthered her education under acclaimed chef Josiah Citrin at the
Michelin two-starred Mélisse in Santa Monica, California. Amid long kitchen shifts at Mélisse,
Katianna met her culinary collaborator and future husband, John Hong. The two relocated to
Napa Valley in 2011, where Katianna began working as a line cook at chef Christopher Kostow
’s
lauded The Restaurant at Meadowood. In 2014, she was named the restaurant’s first-ever chef
de cuisine, simultaneously becoming the only female chef de cuisine at a Michelin three-star
restaurant in the United States.
While working alongside Kostow at Meadowood, S an F ranci sco M a gazi ne named her Rising
Star Chef for pushing the boundaries of fine dining with her creativity and nuanced approach.
Katianna went on to open Kostow
’s second restaurant in the heart of Napa, The Charter Oak.
At Charter Oak, Katianna and team earned a nomination for the James Beard Award for Best
New Restaurant, as well as a spot on B on A p pé t i t ’s Top 50 Best New Restaurants List for the
celebratory, family-style dining experience featuring seasonal and inventive California fare. In
2018, Katianna was honored as one of F ood & W i ne’s Best New Chefs.
Following the birth of their daughter, Alessia, Katianna and John relocated to Southern
California in 2019 to pursue their dream of opening their first solo restaurant project together.
For Yangban, Katianna & John offered a multi-dimensional, autobiographical experience that
showcases their respective backgrounds and upbringings, while providing a dynamic
neighborhood space for locals to gather.