Gangster-turned-chef aims to put Cambodian cooking 'back on the map' with new cookbook

Visoth Tarak Ouk is a Cambodian refugee who came to the U.S. at 3 months old to escape the Khmer Rouge in the late '80s. Moving to Long Beach from Oakland, California at 9 years old, he became involved with gang activity which was rampant in the early '90s, he said.
After the death of his sister, Ouk resolved to change his life and pursue a culinary career. Today he is a well-known figure in the Cambodian Long Beach community known by all as "Chef T."

[@cambo6967]

From one khmer refugee to another, much love and respect bong 🙏🏽

[@chinaboss6683]

Viet refugee here, 1979.

[@Honestandtruth007]

​@@chinaboss6683it's very hard to trust Vietnamese people

[@henrylocduong6152]

Such an inspiring story! Thank you giving us the chance to know Chef T.

[@conniefry3321]

Wow!! His childhood story got me into tears. He had changed himself for a better life. I never had Cambodian food and would like to try the food at his restaurant.

[@classical7]

It's delicious.

[@hellorita24711]

Thank you for sharing your story Chef. I'm so sorry to hear the loss of your sister. 😢🙏🏼

[@currently9143]

This is actually a great channel, stay consistent and it would be unreasonable for you guys not to blow up!

[@RemyHou]

I love it! A wonderful and inspiring story!

[@mangostickyrye]

The story about your sister made me shed a tear. That's a huge loss, I'm so sorry to hear. I'm a refugee myself. Much respect my brother. And I'd love to order your book.

[@EverydayGrandpa]

Much love, respect, & blessings bong 🙏🏽

[@domarakem470]

Keep up the good work bro proud of u

[@DokBua0424]

Wow. Just wow. 🙏🙏🙏

[@Cohowarren]

Good for you. I love Cambodia and live here now. I'm white as rice American.

[@boriphean3152]

Mad Respect! What restaurant you do your magic at?

[@oukrojano7390]

Very good ..

[@RJIn-rj5bn]

🙏🏽 🇰🇭RESPECT….RISE OF THE PHOENIX…..

[@groovin4sho]

Proud of you !

[@daveinsane46]

🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🇰🇭

[@thearyneurn]

Where’s his restaurant at?

[@Israeli_Prince]

Quang Tran said Pho might of came from us Khmer.

[@heakk1]

His Cambodian accent 😂😂😂😂

[@user-oz3bu3qz5t]

Crazy brother clan?

[@DeezNutz-tz2qs]

He from FNR

[@user-oz3bu3qz5t]

@@DeezNutz-tz2qs never heard of it

[@alejandroarriga336]

FUCKEN NO RESPECT "FNR" that's what it stands for

[@alejandroarriga336]

Either way much love and respect to MUNCHKIN AKA CHEF T

[@Turtlemilk]

@@DeezNutz-tz2qswhat thag stand for

[@TommyLeUSA]

Please come up with your own cuisine instead of stealing cuisines from Thai and Viet then claim them as Cambodian food. Vietnamese Pho, Vietnamese Banh Mi, Spring rolls, Banh Xeo, Banh Tet, Thai Pad Thai, etc are being stolen and cloned exactly by Cambodian. :(

[@spicychic5715]

Stop the hate bro. Just let these people tell their story and their culture. We all should just build each other up. Our country are mostly third world countries, we are all trying to do better.

[@thorphoeung6057]

This morom TommyLe is on every asian food video crying his salty tears about who's getting credit for the origin of asian food. Your life must be awesome lol

[@Turtlemilk]

Filipinos be doing this also.

[@510projectpat]

Chef T, if anyone haven’t tells you. You are a true inspiration brother. From another Cambodian as myself, your ancestors are proud 🙏🏽🇰🇭

[@johndoe-by4up]

I think I seen him smoking

[@stevenphou]

Such an inspiration! Thank you for putting Cambodian food on the map! Can’t wait to see more of your videos!

[@Lillylim1]

Thanks for sharing your story, very moving and inspiring. We all have demons within ourselves. Your story is my inspiration. Sorry to hear about your sister. You are a strong person.

[@channarahphath4662]

I gotta go there!! To support my Khmer peeps 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏❤️❤️🍻🍻🍻

[@Cambolanderprincess]

Such an inspiration!!!! 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽🙏🏽

[@TheCambodianKidsTv]

Yeah put Cambodia 🇰🇭 on the map. Time to rise.

[@GeorgeChan-kp3ls]

time to submit to China

[@trumpismypresident5210]

Touching story! I'm proud of you that you bring up Khmer food.I love Cambodia food ❤️

[@icy_ike]

Such an inspiring story. I would love to work with Chef T someday in the future and learn more about the Cambodian cuisine. The Cambodian people are a strong and proud people who deserve to have the world see who we truly are 🇰🇭 ❤️

[@camsky376]

Got respect for u bong. Glad to see there more to life than to gang bang and representing us KHMER PEOPLE thru ur cooking. You are so right that Khmer cuisine was never known like all the other Asian cuisine… keep up the good work and stay strong on what u love to do. Thank u for sharing ur stories.

[@gonefishing4204]

Good for you brother! Nice to see you doing something positive not only for yourself but for the Cambodian food culture as well

[@khmer5591]

Respect brother. 🇰🇭!!

[@classical7]

Beautiful. May life take you towards everything amazing & fulfilling.

[@sombatkhnor5720]

🙏🏾🇰🇭 Khmer on the rise again.

[@samhengg]

What an inspiring story ❤

[@borapronh3430]

Love and respect Chef T. Thank you for sharing your story.

[@jessethelopez]

Amazing video Cheantay 😢

[@beechhim1668]

Very touching story, bong. Trying to do the same here!

[@nhym0022]

I'm so happy for him. Changing for the better and good is always the way. You make us khmer people proud!

[@karensok2121]

I’m proud of you Chef T!

[@andrewlong1579]

Inspirational Chef T. Thank you for sharing your story and putting on in a positive light for our people. 🙏🏽

[@CAMBODiANCh1natownChick]

Much respect 🇰🇭🙏🙏🙏

[@tamboliyatamboliya2815]

This moved me to tears. Thank you for sharing your story. It is inspiring and moving. I am proud of you and admire your accomplishments and goals. I am so sorry for the loss of your sister, relatives, homeland, for the collective loss of the freedoms and for the trauma your family experienced in Cambodia, for the trauma and stressful disorientation of the major transitions of moving to a foreign country and having to learn a new, foreign language, and for the trauma of being bullied in your neighborhood and with the gang life. You have endured and survived multiple traumas. You and the Cambodian people are Resilient. You all are Persevering Survivors! And to turn your life around for the better is quite a remarkable accomplishment! I applaud you! God Bless you and your endeavors and may your restaurant and dreams be successful! 😊 Be encouraged. :) ☺️😃

[@SIR_pookie88]

Ahhhhhhh shit thats myG Munchkin from LBcc.. big blessing pumak keep up the good work and never back to the bottom. Much love homie -Pookie

[@posseruthless7096]

Munchkin from efcc?

[@keosandyou]

Love your story good brother 🇰🇭🇰🇭🇰🇭

[@vichaichhern1058]

God’s blessing to you and your family. Your story is my story, excepted l am coming to this country with no parents.❤🇰🇭♥️🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽 Vic (from PA).

[@tamboliyatamboliya2815]

I am so sorry for your losses. May Jesus/God comfort you now and always.

[@Dannyoung12]

Chef-T respect 🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@mayasonyschwartzwalder1281]

Respect to your story and path bong❤ put us on the map #prohokfordays

[@KhmerSanjose]

It was very inspirational. I think you had a disadvantage start in life; that why you had a rough beginning. But the Angkorian inside of you was yawning to shine. At last, it did. Congratulations and keep up the great work !

[@alejandroarriga336]

Damm G much love and respect to my boy MUNCHKIN AKA CHEF T glad to see a homie doing "RIGHT" KEEP it going dont stop REMEMBER OLD MANS GARAGE LONG HAIR DONT CARE well im the MEXICAN that hang out with them everyday well thats me stay up love and respect always

[@easychang4261]

Big ups on people turning their lives around!

[@CSarraga]

where can i cop your book bong?

[@Eldot315]

Nice bung tao thank you for sharing your story we need this our new generation needs records of Khmer cuisine. I’m so sorry about your sister ❤🙏🏽🇰🇭

[@Vivid_Visual]

Love n respect !!very inspiring khmer brother

[@Thewalktime1]

thank you for sharing

[@rhonnot.8047]

Greang in Khmer means ingredients..lol😂

[@visualnxghtmare6838]

Damn that soup and fish looks delicious

[@neauouk5591]

You are a Blessing 🙏🙏...Thank you

[@dcstealth11111]

married a khmer but she don't cook make a KZbin channel for khmer food

[@Subzero2281]

Thank you for sharing your story! Very inspirational!

[@ninanhem]

Love you bro❤😊

[@picklepetey]

❤️🇰🇭

[@WhatRYourThoughts]

All love to my Cambodians~ Peace n' Love~ We see U~

[@sal8331]

God bless brother

[@capo337g]

Damn that pain will never fade

[@empoweredtogrow4859]

So sorry for the loss of your sister. Very proud of your new journey🫰

[@Lonewolfeatssolo]

So joewwwwwwww

[@TrayDuece14]

Much respect but his hood was not really a big hood. More like a tagger crew. But that time everyone was either from cliccs or crew!! Eiher u hoodlum, no respect , n so on…but now everyone grew older and taking care of them family! I just want to see all my cambo ppl make it n this dude is one of them that i respect!🙌

[@IFukkEm]

Damn Munchkin gain some weight since the last time I saw him.

[@alexyuarayan1212]

Many of them have deported to Cambodia.

[@kev4850]

Respect to you chef but Lao people don’t get credited with Cambodian foods. Lao cuisine has been overseen for decades and is finally gaining the recognition it deserves and it truly is top tier food according to many acclaimed chefs around the world. A lot of it has been claimed by many other cultures too but it’s finally being recognized and returned to it’s true origins. Ik a lot of other cultures that have been making and eating Lao food their entire lives without truly knowing where it comes from

[@Auron_24]

Lao ain't stealing your food... stop it lol

[@kakhcambo1432]

E -kwai listen again he said thai and Lao get all the credit for what Cambodian made not specifically talking about food but other things I’m half lao so I will admit lao did take a lot of influence from khmer culture especially issan lao and southern lao

[@Auron_24]

@Ka KH Cambo It's funny how you left out chinese right, they stole/take credit too?

[@kakhcambo1432]

@@Auron_24 funny how you did not acknowledge anything I wrote.

[@kakhcambo1432]

@@Auron_24 you mentioned lao so I’m talking about lao folks. Also I’m half lao so I’m only saying what you mentioned.

[@kakhcambo1432]

@@Auron_24 and also to answer ya question maybe he talking about the Cambodian Chinese cuisine and culture not Han Chinese from China

[@johndoe-by4up]

Lol this guy not gangster

[@ontheworldy2k]

It's strange that people in this country like it. You didn't tell me I killed myself. Thailand won't help, will you survive? Will come to say that I'm sorry for Thailand. Get food credit. Thai food has been around for hundreds of years, both cooking and decorating.

[@JateVan-hp4tf]

My boy munch do your thing I'm proud of you G stay focused stay strong and humble as always do it for our people that's what it's all about from me BigGCrook

[@brucegreen5781]

🐲🇰🇭💯

[@MonchaiLiengsupa]

Thai food is the prototype of Khmer cuisine. Restaurants in Cambodia mainly sell Thai food and claimed to be Khmer food But the taste and appearance will not be the same as the original. It doesn't look good and doesn't taste as good as the original.

[@andrewthach1989]

It's not even the same. Stop being a weirdo. Go live your life and stop living in hate.

[@MonchaiLiengsupa]

​@@andrewthach1989 Tell me what is Cambodia food, All food selling in Cambodia is claimed from Thai Food. Shameless Cambodia.

[@66praimnool]

​@MonchaiLiengsupa your the shameless one for declaring a whole culture doesn't exist, because of your ignorance bias.

[@MonchaiLiengsupa]

@@66praimnool The world known as Claimbodia is the land of Scammers and Thieves. Shameless Copy land is always Scambodia.

[@Turtlemilk]

Cap

[@kambo_king1280]

Much respect Khmer.🫡 I changed my ways also. For my family and myself. The real homies understood. So, I did my things and bought a house and just trying to raise my kids right.