An exciting and unexpected collection of 100 recipes that re-examines Chinese American food
“The recipes in Kung Food are so vibrant and bursting with flavor that you’ll want to scrape your plates clean.”—Andy Baraghani, author of The Cook You Want to Be
Jon Kung grew up as a “third-culture” kid: Born in Los Angeles, raised in Hong Kong and Toronto, and now living in Detroit, Jon learned to embrace his diasporic identity in the kitchen after pivoting his career from law school graduate to being a cook. When the pandemic shut down his immensely popular popup, he turned to social media—not just as a means of creative expression, but as a way to teach and inspire.
Over time, Jon discovered that expressing himself through food not only reflected his complicated identities, it affirmed them. From dumplings to the most decadent curried mac and cheese, Jon inspires millions through his creative recipes and content.
In Kung Food, he breaks the boundaries of flavors in chapters such as:
• Snacky Snacks, Bites, and Cravings (Sesame Shrimp Toast, Vegan Fried Chicken Sandwich) • Noodles & Dumplings (Ginger Scallion Noodles, Buffalo Chicken Rangoon, Lamb Curry Dumplings) • Rice & Congee (“Clay Pot” Rice Tahdig, Mushroom Fried Rice) • Stir Fries (Szechuan Paneer, Faygo Orange Chicken) • Kung Foo Means “with Effort” (Hong Kong Chicken and Waffles, Dan Dan Lasagna)
Through stunning, playful, and high-energy photos and Jon’s wit and humility, he brings forward a collection of recipes that blend cultural traditions, ingredients, and flavors with his ultimate goal of redefining what Chinese American food can be.
About the Author
Jon Kung is a self-taught cook who was known for his popups and intricate dinners served out of his secret kitchen Kung Food Market/Studio He is now a full-time content creator on TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram. Jon has been featured in USA Today, CNN, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Interview magazine and lives in Detroit with his partner Jon (yes, he knows) and their dog, Mochi.
Praise For…
“From the Dan Dan Lasagna to the Mapo Paneer, the recipes in Kung Food are so vibrant and bursting with flavor that you’ll want to scrape your plates clean—but it’s Jon’s wonderful writing that gives new meaning to what it means to be Chinese American.”—Andy Baraghani, author of The Cook You Want to Be
“Kung Food is one of those cookbooks that makes you want to sprint to the kitchen, book tucked tightly under your arm. Much like in his videos, Jon mixes heart, culture, an encyclopedic knowledge of spices, and good freaking food in a way that’ll make you excited to try everything. Also, thanks to this book my wok is properly seasoned for the first time ever. Can’t recommend enough!”—Alexis Nikole Nelson, James Beard Award–winning content creator and food writer
“Kung Food flings open the gates to cultural cuisine and invites all of us to a stunning and sumptuous meal of delicious food and powerful storytelling, as well as Jon’s joyous pursuit of home cooking.”—Joanne Lee Molinaro, New York Times bestselling author of The Korean Vegan
“Jon has captured the delicious complexities of being a third-culture kid and made me feel proud to consider myself one. His recipes feel at once nostalgic and novel, and at the same time they will teach us how to be a better and more adventurous home cook.”—Kristina Cho, James Beard Award–winning author of Mooncakes and Milk Bread
“Jon offers a progressive and deeply creative take on Chinese American cooking while simultaneously inspiring us to pay homage to our collective food histories.”—DeVonn Francis of Yardy World “Jon will thirst trap you into a sensory journey celebrating the complexity of Chinese and American flavors. The industry cook in me wants to keep reading. Such a stunning and functional book.”—Matt Broussard, creator behind ACookNamedMatt
“With his original recipes and unique voice, Kung has carved out a niche in a crowded market of cookbooks.”—Booklist
