Katianna and John Hong are the chefs and partners of Yangban, a Korean-American concept in Los Angeles’ Arts District.
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, San Francisco Magazine 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 Bon Appétit’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 Food & Wine’s Best New Chefs. Most recently, she competed on the 22nd season of Top Chef.
Growing up in Highland Park, Illinois as a first-generation Korean-American, John’s childhood and family life centered around a deep love of food and celebration. This early respect for the art of hospitality, as well as his love of cooking, subsequently inspired his culinary path. While attending The Cooking and Hospitality Institute of Chicago, John worked as an extern for chef Grant Achatz at the world-renowned, three Michelin-starred Alinea. Upon graduation, John joined the team as a Chef de Partie, an experience that continued to inform his early career in fine dining. Several years later, John headed west to join Josiah Citrin’s Michelin-starred Melisse in Santa Monica, California. While there, John met his culinary collaborator and future wife, Katianna. The pair moved north to join the team at chef Christopher Kostow’s acclaimed The Restaurant at Meadowood in Napa Valley. Over nine years at Meadowood, John spent time on every station in the kitchen, eventually becoming chef de cuisine, where he maintained the restaurant’s three Michelin stars for three years. In 2015, John was named a Maker of the Napa Valley by AFAR and, in 2016, he was named the Asian Business Association’s “Chef of the Year,” a reflection of his passion for authentically modernizing the food of his childhood.
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.