About Me

Hi! I’m Sam Tan, and I make all the food on this site out of my apartment :)

I was born and raised in Petaling Jaya, and I taught myself to cook when I left Malaysia because I love eating! What started as a food blog back in 2009 in London led to cake orders, then my first catering gig, and since then my food business has followed me coast to coast from NYC to LA purely by word-of-mouth. I’ve worn many creative hats - dancer, actor, writer, director - but “home chef-entrepreneur” may be the coolest one yet!

Like in life, I approach food with a resourceful figure-outer spirit, rooted in curiosity and a desire to learn. I love recreating the nostalgic Malaysian flavors of my childhood, and am deeply touched that it has connected me to the diaspora across the world. I draw inspiration from different cuisines I’ve encountered through my travels, and I enjoy figuring out how to combine flavors in new ways. I cook from scratch with fresh whole ingredients, and I take pride in nourishing people well without compromising on flavor. And since my blogging days, I’ve loved sharing tips and tricks that help others feed themselves better. Here's my YouTube channel if you'd like to cook along!

After 16 years of doing this food thing and many creative lives across several continents, I am now based in Los Angeles in the Wilshire Park neighborhood (near Koreatown and Hancock Park). To get in touch, DM @samtanskitchen on Instagram or drop me a line at sam@samtanskitchen.com.

To me, food is our great unifier, a universal love language and superpower for surviving with joy. I look forward to connecting with and feeding you soon!