Edward Lee (chef)

Edward Lee (born July 2, 1972), Korean name Lee Kyun (Korean: 이균), is an American chef, author and restaurateur. He has made numerous television appearances on shows including The Mind of a Chef, Iron Chef America, Top Chef, MasterChef, and Culinary Class Wars. Lee owns multiple restaurants in Louisville, Kentucky and Washington, D.C. and has received several James Beard Foundation Award nominations. In 2019, Lee was awarded the James Beard Foundation Award for his book Buttermilk Graffiti, as well as the James Beard Humanitarian Award for his nonprofit organization, the LEE Initiative, in 2024. Buttermilk Graffiti was recognized for its exploration of immigrant food cultures across the United States and was based on Lee's cross-country travels documenting regional cuisines and personal narratives. In 2025, Lee starred and hosted the tvN reality show, Edward Lee's Country Cook.The program follows Lee as he travels through rural regions of South Korea, highlighting traditional cooking methods and regional ingredient, and has been noted for its emphasis on cultural heritage and culinary storytelling.