Cook Like a King: Recipes from My California Chinese Kitchen

WINNER OF THE JAMES BEARD AWARD • In her debut cookbook, Top Chef All-Stars champion and award-winning chef Melissa King shares 120 of her favorite dishes, blending her California sensibility with the Chinese cuisine of her childhood.

“Ever since I first tasted Melissa’s cooking on Top Chef, I’ve been waiting for this book. Her food is beautiful and comforting, elegant, and very doable.”—Padma Lakshmi

From the moment she could see over the kitchen counter, Melissa King would spend hours in the kitchen with her mom. For King, the kitchen was a place to play with fire and knives. Now, it's a space where King can express herself, melding the Cantonese flavors with which she grew up and the French, Italian, and Californian ones of the Michelin-starred restaurants in which she trained.

Cook Like a King features 120 unforgettable dishes that showcase King's effortless blending of these cuisines, like in her Lemongrass Cioppino and Miso Caesar with Gai Lan and Chrysanthemum Greens. She includes nostalgic, homestyle dishes like her grandmother’s Shanghainese Lion's Head Meatballs and her mother’s Black Vinegar Ribs, and, of course, her famous Hong Kong Milk Tea Tiramisu, which made renowned Italian butcher and Top Chef guest judge Dario Cecchini shed tears of joy.

King keeps the needs of the home cook in mind, making recipes accessible while inspiring readers to experiment with food, culture, and flavor. Her recipes, crafted from a lifetime spent cooking for her Chinese family, in restaurants, and on television, show how simple techniques, attention, and graceful application of the Asian pantry can elevate familiar dishes and create new, thrilling classics. With stunning photography, personal stories, and expert guidance, Cook Like a King is a thoughtful, playful examination of the flavors that shape our lives.

Melissa King is an award-winning chef, television personality, and author of Cook Like a King: Recipes from My California Chinese Kitchen, which won a 2026 James Beard Award. A queer Shanghainese Cantonese American, she grew up in Los Angeles’ San Gabriel Valley. She is the winner and fan favorite of Bravo’s Top Chef: All Stars L.A. and holds the record for the most challenge wins in the show's 20-year history. Known for her bold modern Asian cuisine and cultural storytelling, she has appeared as a judge on various culinary programs and hosted Tasting Wild for National Geographic. She lives in San Francisco.