Alex Yoon: From Korean Roots to Little Fish Success

flavors unknown podcast

In this episode of Flavors Unknown, we sit down with Chef Alex Yoon, the culinary visionary behind Little Fish, a 16-seat seafood BYOB gem nestled in the Queen Village neighborhood of Philadelphia. Known for its intimate setting and creative seafood dishes, Little Fish has been a local favorite since the 90s. Chef Yoon shares his journey of taking over this beloved establishment, balancing its storied legacy with his own culinary innovations. We delve into his Korean roots, his path into the culinary world, and his reflections on navigating the challenges of the industry, including the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. Tune in to discover Chef Yoon’s insights on perseverance, his culinary philosophy, and an exciting new project for the Little Fish family.

What you’ll learn from Chef Alex Yoon

• First Food Memories: Chef Yoon reminisces about cooking with his grandmother and the family dishes that shaped his palate (2:42).
• Childhood Kitchen Stories: Hear how his family tried to keep him out of the kitchen with humorous tactics (4:05).
• Classic Family Dishes: The traditional meals that left a lasting impression on Chef Yoon (4:47).
• Love-Hate Relationship with Food: His early struggles with food acceptance and how it affected his culinary passion (6:35).
• Entering the Food Business: The pivotal moment he told his parents about his culinary aspirations (7:14).
• Culinary Education: The challenges and triumphs of his culinary school experience (8:38).
• First Industry Break: How perseverance landed him his first significant role in the culinary industry (10:22).
• Running Little Fish: An inside look at the operations and concept of Little Fish (13:35).
• Balancing Tradition and Innovation: How Chef Yoon blends culinary training with cultural heritage (16:51).
• Korean Food Trends: Insights into the latest culinary trends from Korea (19:52).
• Evolution as a Chef: His personal and professional growth since 2019 (22:34).
• Taking Over Little Fish: The experience of inheriting and enhancing an established restaurant (24:13).
• Industry Challenges: The hurdles he has faced and overcome in his career (25:10).
• Covid-19 Lessons: Why the pandemic was both a difficult and formative period (26:30).
• Daily Role at Little Fish: A glimpse into his everyday responsibilities at the restaurant (27:51).
• Creative Inspiration: Where Chef Yoon finds inspiration for his dishes (29:15).
• Famous Scallop Dish: The story behind his signature scallop creation (30:09).
• Potential Cookbook: Thoughts on possibly publishing a Little Fish cookbook (34:44).
• Strawberry Memory: A nostalgic food memory involving strawberries (37:50).
• Future Projects: Upcoming plans and projects for the Little Fish family (38:40).
• Appealing to Non-Seafood Lovers: How he attracts diners who typically avoid seafood (40:41).
• Philly Food Tour: Chef Yoon’s recommendations for a culinary tour of Philadelphia (42:34).
• Favorite Breakfast Spot: His go-to place for breakfast in Philly (45:22).
• Guilty Pleasure Food: His favorite indulgent snack (46:47).
• Top Cookbook Pick: A must-read cookbook recommendation (47:45).
• Kitchen Pet Peeves: What annoys him most in the kitchen (48:13).
• Knife Preference: His favorite type of knife (48:33).
• Dream Collaboration: The chef he would love to collaborate with (48:56).
• Alternate Career: What he might be doing if he wasn’t a chef (50:05).

I’d like to share a potential educational resource, “Conversations Behind the Kitchen Door”, my new book that features dialogues with accomplished culinary leaders from various backgrounds and cultures. It delves into the future of culinary creativity and the hospitality industry, drawing from insights of a restaurant-industry-focused podcast, ‘flavors unknown”. It includes perspectives from renowned chefs and local professionals, making it a valuable resource for those interested in building a career in the culinary industry.

Get the book here!

Links to other episodes with chefs in Philadelphia

Don’t miss out on the chance to hear from these talented chefs and gain insight into the world of culinary techniques.

Conversation with Chef Mike Carter at Down North Pizza

A Taste of Philly: Chefs and bartenders Innovations – Panel Discussion

Interview with Restaurant Critic Craig Laban

Conversation with Celebrity Chef Jose Garces

Conversation with Chef Richard Landau

Interview with Chef Brian Duffy

Links to most downloaded episodes (click on any picture to listen to the episode)

Chef Sheldon Simeon

Chef Andy Doubrava

Chef Chris Kajioka

Chef Suzanne Goin

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Restaurant Little Fish

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