The Hungry Immigrant

In this episode of Hungry Heroes , we spotlight Abi “Lumpia Queen” Marquez — a creator who turned a humble Filipino staple into a global conversation. From filming in her home kitchen to winning a Webby Award and earning a James Beard nomination, Abi’s journey is more than viral success. It’s about representation, creativity, and the power of food to carry identity across borders. Through her sign...

In the heart of the 11th arrondissement, Abang Brian found home the moment he opened the door to The Hood Paris. A buzzing café and restaurant that has become a soul-restoring haven for modern Asians and a vibrant cultural bridge for Parisians. In this episode, Pearl and Crystal, the co-founders of The Hood, share their incredible journey. They detail how they went from careers in finance and acco...

This week, The Hungry Immigrant travels to rainy Seattle to sit with one of the most important voices in Chinese-American cuisine today. Hsiao-Ching Chou grew up in her family's Chinese restaurant in Columbia, Missouri — a restaurant that started as takeout from a converted Hardee's and grew into a full buffet. As she puts it herself, cashew chicken and crab rangoon paid for her college education....

Malaysia doesn't just celebrate Hari Raya. It lives it, across religions, cultures, and kitchen tables. In this special live episode, The Hungry Immigrant records in front of a live audience in Kuala Lumpur during Ramadan 2026, just before breaking fast. Host Abang Brian is joined by Terry Ong and Leya, hosts of The LITE Breakfast on Lite FM, Malaysia's leading English radio station. What starts a...

What does it mean to rediscover your identity through food? In this episode of The Hungry Immigrant, Abang Brian sits down with Chef Patrice Cleary, Filipina-American chef and owner of Purple Patch DC and Joia Burger in Washington, D.C. From serving in the U.S. Marine Corps to building one of the most recognized Filipino restaurants in DC, Patrice shares her journey of finding identity, community,...

Ceddy Ang has always been the funny one. The one who could turn awkward into entertaining. The one who could laugh firstbefore anyone else did. But behind the humour was a boy who grew up being teased for his voice,questioning what was “wrong” with him, and wondering why he didn’t fit the mold. In this conversation, Ceddy talks about growing up in Malaysia, finding safety in foodand culture, stepp...

What is “authentic food”, and who gets to decide? In this episode of The Hungry Immigrant , chef, author and TV host Sapna Anand takes us on a powerful, spiced journey across borders, from her childhood in Goa to building a life, career, and family in Malaysia. Together with Abang Brian, she unpacks: 🔥 The myth of authenticity in Indian and Malaysian cooking🔥 How migration reshapes identity, tas...

In this episode of The Hungry Immigrant , Abang Brian sits down with Malaysian fashion icon Melinda Looi for a deeply personal conversation about food, identity, and the rituals that shape who we become. Melinda grew up in a traditional Cantonese household where soup simmered daily, Chinese New Year leftovers symbolised abundance, and jam cha meant far more than just tea. Together, they explore wh...

Season 3 of The Hungry Immigrant opens with a woman redefining what it means to represent Asia on the world stage. From Beijing to New York, from private finishing schools to Netflix screens worldwide, Sara Jane Ho has built a global movement around etiquette, identity, and cultural intelligence. But this isn’t just about table manners. It’s about power. It’s about presence. It’s about carrying yo...

At just 29, Sam Cho went from exporting millions of pounds of eggs to becoming the youngest and first person of color to lead the Port of Seattle Commission. In this episode, Sam shares how growing up as the son of Korean immigrants shaped his path, from the Obama White House to city politics, from battling imposter syndrome to fighting anti-Asian hate, and why he opened a bubble tea shop with his...

In this Hungry Bite with Malaysia’s beloved Chef Wan, we dive into the unapologetic pride of serving authentic flavors, the powerful role of mak ciks (aunties) in preserving culinary heritage, and why food is more than just sustenance — it’s identity, memory, and culture. Above all, Chef Wan serves a fiery reminder: if we lose our food, we lose our culture. Timestamps 0:00 - Intro 01:13 - The powe...

We sit down with Kripal Amanna, Founder & Host of Food Lovers TV — the YouTube channel with over 1.2 million subscribers dedicated to uncovering India’s hidden culinary treasures.  From bamboo-steamed idlis in remote villages to the stories behind pre-dawn biryanis, Kripal shares his journey from hotelier to storyteller, the philosophy of preserving food heritage, and why mindful eating is the...

From the MasterChef Malaysia stage to running her own bake shop, Dr. Ezani Monoto has never lost sight of her roots. In this heartwarming and thoughtful episode, we talk about faith, food, family, and the legacy of recipes passed down from her late mother.  Timestamps 0:00 - Intro 01:56 - A MasterChef Malaysia reunion; Who is Dr. Ezani Monoto? 04:45 - Childhood in Muar & memories of baking kui...

What does it mean to truly belong — when your name, food, and even identity feel constantly misunderstood? MasterChef France 2015 winner Khánh-Ly Huynh opens up about growing up Vietnamese in France, navigating identity, and challenging what it means to be Asian in a Eurocentric culinary world. From the emotional ties to fermented fish, to calling out cultural appropriation and the pricing bias in...

Malai Ice Cream, a brand redefining what ice cream can be by infusing South Asian flavors into an American classic. Behind the brand, there’s Pooja, the founder of Malai and Malai is her love letter to her identity, culture, and community. We dive into how she is embracing her Gujarati-American roots to challenging what "authenticity" means in food, expect laughs, spice, a honest convers...

We headed to Brooklyn, New York to meet the one and only Auria Abraham — aka The Sambal Lady. From a classically trained pianist to running a jingle house to pioneering Malaysian food in America, Auria shares how she built Auria’s Malaysian Kitchen, the first Malaysian-made brand in the US. Over rendang and sambal, we dive into identity, challenges of breaking into the American market, and the fla...

We sat down with Serene, the dynamic second-generation Korean American behind Sorimmara USA, to unpack what it’s like growing up in a family-run restaurant business. From childhood memories of rice cakes and Korean soups to fighting stereotypes about Asian food pricing and authenticity in the US, they dive deep into food culture, identity, and generational shifts.  Timestamps 0:00 - Intro 02:32 -...

We sit down with Jules Guiang — journalist, public servant, and third-generation food entrepreneur behind Urban Chick. We talk about the power of food memories, the unique fusion of Filipino cuisine, and how one street in Manila became a battleground for small restaurants rebuilding after the pandemic. Plus, we swap stories about Filipino spaghetti, sambal diplomacy, and the surprising identity of...

In this special episode, we connect across continents with Bonnie Nguyen, Senior Marketing Manager at Asian Hustle Network. From humble childhood memories of bánh cuốn in Vietnam to spearheading global initiatives like Asian Heritage Week, Bonnie shares how community, culture, and commerce intersect in her work. We unpack the evolving Asian identity in the modern world, the impact of DEI challenge...

We sit down with immigration lawyer and Executive Director of Chefs Stopping AAPI Hate, Pamela Yee; unpacking how food can be both activism and healing. From the origins of CSAH, navigating anti-Asian sentiment, the future of DEI, and what it takes to rally chefs for rapid-response community relief events. And simply why “you can’t love our food but hate our people.” Timestamps 0:00 - Intro 02:03...

We sit down with Wendy and Tommy, the dynamic owners of The Standard Barbershop in Old Town Fairfax. From IT jobs and real estate to building a beloved community hub, they open up about identity, Asian-American resilience, and founding one of Virginia’s biggest Asian cultural festivals — Asian Festival on Main.  Timestamps 0:00 - Intro 03:17 - From IT & real estate to partnership in building T...

Jinson Chan — co-chair of the Asian Festival on Main and owner of High Side in Fairfax — shares what makes this year’s festival bigger than ever, how this street-style Asian food and drink spot came to life, and his takes as Asian living abroad. Timestamps 0:00 - Intro 01:59 - Who is Jinson? Malaysia origin, from engineer to owner of High Side, & co-chairing Asian Festival on Main 05:25 - Behi...

Chef Tim Ma dives deeper into the evolving identity of Chinese food in America, the realities of fusion cuisine, and what authenticity truly means. He reflects on his culinary philosophy, childhood dishes, the importance of representation, and the legacy he’s building for his children — all while navigating a fast-expanding restaurant empire. Timestamps 0:00 - Intro 01:37 - Perceptions of Chinese...

In the light of upcoming AAPI month, we sit down with acclaimed chef and restaurateur Chef Tim Ma for this special conversation. From a tough childhood in 70s Arkansas to running Michelin-recognized restaurants, Chef Tim shares his powerful immigrant story, family legacy, and what it truly means to grow up Asian-American.  Timestamps 0:00 - Intro 03:45 - Chef Tim’s then and now: family immigrant s...

What does it mean to bring "home" across continents—especially through food?  We sit down with Chef Eugienna, the founder of Ravintola Borneo in Tampere, and Ariff Ali, Chargé d'Affaires at the Malaysian Embassy in Helsinki.  From nostalgic stories of tempeh and instant noodles to the complex challenges of running a Malaysian restaurant in Finland, we explore how food becomes identit...