L.A. Son: My Life, My City, My Food

LosAngeles：Apatchworkmegalopolisdefinedbyitsunlikelyculturalcollisions;thecitythatraisedandshapedRoyChoi,theboundary-breakingchefwhodecidedtoleavebehindfinediningtofeedthecityheloved—and,withthecreationoftheKoreantaco,reinventedstreetfoodalongtheway.AboundingwithboththefoodandthestoriesthatgaverisetoChoi'sinspiredcooking,L.A.Sontakesusthroughtheneighborhoodsandstreetsmosttouristsneversee,fromthehiddencasinoswheregamblersslurpfragrantbowlsofphotoDowntown'sJewelryDistrict,whereaten-year-oldChoiwolfeddownJewishdeliclassicsbetweendiamonddeliveries;fromthekitchenofhisparents'Koreanrestaurantandhismother'spungentkimchitotheboulevardsofEastL.A.andthebesttaqueriasinthecountry,to,atlast,thecurbsideviewfromoneofhisemblematicKogitacotrucks,wherepeoplefromallwalksoflifelineupforarevolutionarymeal.Filledwithover85inspiredrecipesthatmeldtheoverlappingtraditionsandflavorsofL.A.—includingKoreanfriedchicken,tempurapotatopancakes,homemadechorizo,andKimchiandPorkBellyStuffedPupusas—L.A.Sonembodiesthesenseofinvention,resourcefulness,andhybridattitudeofthecityfromwhichittakesitsname,asittellsthetransporting,unlikelystoryofhowaKoreanAmericankidwentfromlowridinginthestreetsofL.A.tobecominganacclaimedchef.