The Girl Who Became King

“This book is not only a chronicle of humble beginnings and big dreams. It’s an immigrant story, a story of finding your particular identity as a queer woman and insisting on who you are while still holding grace for the imperfect people who love you. One can’t help but root and cheer for our Chef King.”—Padma Lakshmi, New York Times bestselling author of Love, Loss, and What We Ate

“We have known and loved Melissa King, the chef, for years, but in this no-holds-barred memoir, we finally meet Melissa King, the person, with layers of heartbreak, fears, joys and triumphs that make her the singular force of nature that she is today. Essential reading for any modern-day foodie.”—Edward Lee, chef, finalist on Culinary Class Wars, and author of Bourbon Land

“Melissa King had the courage to ignore just about everyone’s expectations for her—and thank goodness she did. This memoir is funny, honest, and full of heart, reminding us that belonging isn’t something you wait to be given.”—Atsuko Okatsuka

“Melissa’s story is a powerful reminder that success comes not from fitting into someone else’s expectations, but from embracing your whole self.”—Chef Kwame Onwuachi

“Melissa King may not be the tallest chef in the kitchen but her ambition, talents, and drive make her tower over her contemporaries.”—Chef Martin Yan, host of Yan Can Cook, bestselling author, and restaurateur

“Melissa King’s memoir made me laugh with its familiarity. What impressed me most was how brave and not very Chinese she was in sharing her story with such truth and transparency. Her honesty and struggles touched my heart, as she will touch yours. I see you, Melissa.”—Ming-Na Wen, actress and author of Have You Eaten Yet?

“As the daughter of immigrants, I recognized so much in her journey—the sacrifices of family, the ties that bind generations, the pull of two cultures, the pressure to succeed, and the challenge of finding your own voice… . Full of honesty, humor, and heart.”—Michelle Kwan

“Written with the same confidence and precision that made Melissa King such a force in the kitchen … sharp, satisfying, and impossible to put down.”—Tegan Quin

“What stayed with me is how honestly King traces her journey: the pressure, the contradictions, the quiet negotiations between who you’re expected to be and who you know you are. She’s telling the story of becoming. This book is a reminder that there’s no single way to do that.”—Jon M. Chu, director of Crazy Rich Asians and author of Viewfinder

“An affable ode to self-acceptance and chasing one’s dreams.”—Publishers Weekly

“Delicious … Like the great food writers before her, King writes loving descriptions of food and the people she serves, and it’s these passages that make The Girl Who Became King sparkle… . Anyone who likes reading about food, love, desire and becoming who you are meant to be will find lots to savor.”—BookPage

“A reflective and engaging memoir from one of the top talents of modern culinary culture … Foodies will enjoy reading about King’s coming of age.”—Booklist

Melissa King

Melissa King is a James Beard Award-winning chef, author, and television personality. She is the author of the cookbook Cook Like a King: Recipes from My California Chinese Kitchen, which won the 2026 James Beard Award.

A winner and fan favorite of Bravo’s Top Chef: All Stars L.A., King holds the record for the most challenge wins in the show’s history. Known for her modern California Chinese cuisine, she is a leading voice shaping conversations through food, cultural storytelling, and advocacy.

A queer Shanghainese Cantonese American, she grew up in Los Angeles’s San Gabriel Valley. Her work has since taken her beyond the kitchen into television, fashion, and culture, including hosting Tasting Wild for National Geographic, curating the 2022 Met Gala menu, and being featured in global campaigns for Levi’s and GAP.

She lives in San Francisco.

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