How Sarah Ahn Built a TikTok Empire From Her Mom’s Korean Kitchen

Apr 1, 2025

Sarah Ahn, a cookbook author and popular content creator behind 'Ahnest Kitchen', shares her family's inspiring journey from Korean War survival to TikTok fame. She discusses the emotional significance of '손 맛' (hand taste) in Korean cooking and reveals her mother's thoughts on their newfound social media stardom. Sarah dives into the challenges of preserving culinary heritage, the joy of family cooking, and the secrets to perfect dishes like kimchi and fried chicken. Her heartfelt reflections bring warmth and nostalgia to the kitchen.

Ask episode

Chapters

Transcript

Episode notes

Intro

00:00 • 2min

Nostalgia in the Korean Kitchen

02:29 • 19min

The Heart and Soul of Home Cooking vs. Restaurant Cuisine

21:15 • 3min

Spring Awakening and Wellness Innovations

24:31 • 7min

Preserving Korean Culinary Heritage

31:32 • 14min

Reflections on Family and Kimbap

45:21 • 9min

Culinary Traditions and Engaging with Family Memories

54:11 • 3min