Chef Melissa King is an award-winning chef, author, curator, and television personality. She is best known as the winner and Fan Favorite of Top Chef All-Stars: Los Angeles (Season 17), and holds the record for the most challenge wins in the history of the show. She is the host of National Geographic docuseries Tasting Wild and has served as a judge and educator on shows like Top Chef, America’s Test Kitchen, and Pamela Anderson’s Cooking with Love.

 

Based in San Francisco and New York, Melissa runs a business centered on creative partnerships and culinary experiences. She served as a culinary curator for the Met Gala in 2023. She is the founder of King Sauce, a small-batch sauce and spice line and a dedicated advocate and speaker for LGBTQ+ youth and Asian communities. Known for her modern Californian cuisine infused with Asian flavors, Melissa continues to push culinary boundaries while championing diversity and representation in the food industry.

 

Her debut cookbook “Cook like a King” launches September 23, 2025, and is available now for pre-order.