nyesha arrington

Nyesha Arrington, born on October 18, 1981, is an American chef and reality television star. She is famous for starring on “Top Chef” and Food Network’s “Chef Hunter.” She is also very accomplished in her field and has opened restaurants, been praised by renowned chefs, and is a “Next Level Chef” mentor on the Gordon Ramsay-hosted reality television series. This celebrated chef started her love affair with food when she was a five-year-old little girl cooking alongside her Korean grandmother. She learned to integrated various flavors and techniques into her cooking and this has given her a unique edge. Today is Arrington’s birthday, and we will celebrate it by getting to know her in more detail.

Fast Facts

Full Name:

Nyesha Joyce Arrington

Nickname:

Nyesha, The Ninja

Birth date:

October 18, 1981

Age:

42

Zodiac Sign:

Libra

Height:

5' 7"

Relationship Status:

Single

Net Worth:

$1.5 million

Nyesha's Social Media:

Background

Nyesha Arrington is an American chef, television star, activist, and entrepreneur born in Southern California in 1981. From a young age, Arrington has been a ‘foodie’ and found her passion in cooking alongside her grandmother. With a diverse family background, she was introduced to foods such as bulgogi, octopus, and homemade kimchi early on. Arrington graduated from the Culinary School of the Art Institute of California in Los Angeles in 2001. From there, several great master chefs have mentored her.

In 2011, Arrington appeared on two reality television shows, namely “Top Chef” and “Chef Hunter,” the latter of which she won. She has been honored in the “Restaurant Hospitality” magazine and on the website StarChefs. She was likewise a guest chef at the popular Test Kitchen restaurant in 2011 and was named one of the 30 Under 30 — L.A.’s Hottest Up-And-Comers by Zagat. In 2013, Arrington won the Esquire Network cooking competition show “Knife Fight” and returned the following year as a guest chef judge.

Arrington’s resume also includes numerous appearances on other food shows, from being a competitor to being a judge. She was involved in the production of “Guy’s Grocery Games,” “Chopped Next Gen,” and “Tournament of Champions.” In 2022, she stars as a mentor on the show “Next Level Chef,” which is hosted by Gordon Ramsay. She is also the host of the show “Plateworthy,” and previously owned two restaurants, which are now closed.

Career timeline

2001
The Culinary School Graduate

Arrington graduates from the Art Institute of California in Los Angeles.

2011
The Competitive Shows

Arrington stars in the shows "Top Chef" and "Chef Hunter," the latter of which she wins.

2013
The Win at “Knife Fight”

Arrington wins the cooking competition show "Knife Fight" and returns in 2014 as a guest chef judge.

2022
Arrington Becomes a Mentor and Host

She becomes a mentor on “Next Level Chef” and hosts the show “Plateworthy.”

Why We Love nyesha arrington

  1. She shares her knowledge

    Arrington does Ted Talks in her spare time. She uses this platform to share her experience and knowledge with others.

  2. She is a fur parent

    Arrington is a huge fan of her dog, Bleu Ginger, who also has her own Instagram account. The pair is always out on adventures and they share many precious moments.

  3. She is all about sustainability

    Arrington advocates sustainable farming. She can be spotted at the local farmers' markets buying all her tasty ingredients.

5 Surprising Facts

  1. She is adventurous

    Arrington loves to spend time outdoors, specifically on the beach or on the slopes.

  2. She is an Oura Ring ambassador

    Besides cooking, Arrington is also an ambassador for the sleep tracker ring company, Oura Ring.

  3. She has a catering business

    Arrington runs her own self-titled, full-service chef consulting and catering business.

  4. She has a sauce line

    Stemming from her Korean heritage, Arrington started a sauce line called Aisoon.

  5. She maintains a podcast

    Arrington and her friend Philip Camino co-host the podcast “Happy Mouth.”

nyesha arrington FAQs

What restaurants did Nyesha Arrington own?

She previously owned Leona and Native.

Was Arrington on “MasterChef?”

Arrington appeared in the semi-final episode of the show “MasterChef Legends.”

How did Arrington get her start?

She was first a saucier at Melisse, the restaurant of Chef Josiah Citrin.

nyesha arrington’s birthday dates

YearDateDay
2024October 18Friday
2025October 18Saturday
2026October 18Sunday
2027October 18Monday
2028October 18Wednesday

Holidays Straight to Your Inbox

Every day is a holiday!
Receive fresh holidays directly to your inbox.