Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! WWDTM: Roy Choi
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Nov 8, 2025 This lively discussion kicks off in Orange County with chef Roy Choi revealing his journey from food truck pioneer to culinary icon. The panel dives into the surprising addition of junk food at Whole Foods and chats about the quirky humanoid robot, Neo. Roy shares hilarious anecdotes about getting fired and transforming his setback into the creation of Kogi Tacos. He reminisces about the nostalgic role of American cheese in Korean-American homes and gives insights into chef portrayals in media. The fun continues with games and predictions about trendy food shifts.
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Whole Foods' Junk Food Pivot
- Panelists joked about Whole Foods selling junk food like Doritos and Chips Ahoy, noting packaging makes products seem healthier.
- They observed the store already sells 'junk' disguised with upscale presentation, signaling retail pivoting to demand.
Robots Still Need Humans In The Loop
- The segment on humanoid chore robots (Neo) shows early robots perform tasks slower and worse than humans, often remotely operated by humans.
- That reveals current robotics still rely on human-in-the-loop control despite consumer marketing.
From Getting Fired To Kogi
- Roy Choi described being fired from a fine-dining job as a spiritual turning point that led him to start his food truck business.
- He traced Kogi's origin to that failure and to cooking for his mother's large homemade kimchi operation as a child.