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We’ve all probably watched at least one foodtuber in our lifetimes. But sometimes we may find their recipes intimidating and are hence deterred from trying them out ourselves. Not to fret, we have compiled a list of foodtubers to curb this problem, to make a less daunting task out of cooking. Work your way through this list, and you’ll be blowing people’s minds soon enough. However, if cooking isn’t your thing, you could always just watch them and bask in your incoming cravings.
Key: 1 to 5, from beginner (simple, achievable for most home cooks) to expert (boasting a more technical and scientific slant)
Maangchi - 1
With the popularity of Korean food at its peak, this channel is truly a gift to humanity.
(Image Credit: The Verge)
New York-based, South Korea-born Emily Kim runs the channel and has been doing so for about 13 years now. She exudes infectious happiness and passion in her videos, making her an exceptionally entertaining guide while you're in the kitchen.
Her most popular videos include the simple glass noodle dish Japchae, spicy rice cakes tteokbokki, and the slurpy goodness that is jjajangmyeon (black bean noodles). Thankfully, Kim manages to present these recipes in a way that trumps any thought that Korean cooking is daunting.
Laura in the Kitchen (Laura Vitale) - 1
Laura in the Kitchen brings YouTube cooking videos to the next level - the video production is immaculate. Hosted by Italian-American chef Laura Vitale, the channel’s videos are set up and presented in a style reminiscent of cable cooking shows, such as those on the Food Network.
(Image Credit: PhillyVoice)
Videos cover a variety of cuisines, from Italian to Thai to Greek - so you’re bound to find dishes that fit your palate - and average 10 minutes and under, making each of them a quick watch. With its easy-to-follow processes, Laura in the Kitchen is definitely beginner/amateur friendly.
Vitale even has recipes on her own takes on viral dishes like the TikTok feta pasta and model Gigi Hadid’s creamy tomato pasta (seems like social media has a thing for pasta dishes).
Spice N’ Pans - 1
Spice N’ Pans is a godsend for any Singaporeans (and even Malaysians) - those overseas even more so. While there are plenty of foodtubers out there who cook Asian food, Malaysian and Singapore food, which are arguably in a league of their own, are often not included in the showcase of Asian cuisine.
(Image Credit: Spice N’ Pans Youtube Channel)
Natives of the region will recognise many of the dishes that Singaporean couple Roland and Jamie whip up on the channel: crowd favourites carrot cake, mango pomelo sago dessert, and kway chap, among others. That’s not to say the offerings of the channel stop there though, as they do sometimes cook dishes from other Asian countries (e.g. Ayam Bakar, Hong Kong Zha Jiang Mian, Szechuan Mala Xiang Guo).
Spice N’ Pans makes it seem easy-peasy to cook any of the viewers' favourite local dishes at home, so you know you can always satisfy that hawker centre/coffee shop craving. The cherry on top? It’s about as authentic as you can get.
Marion’s Kitchen - 2
You may recognise this channel name from a line of products at your local supermarket. Marion’s Kitchen is pretty much a culinary empire - apart from the YouTube channel and website, it is also a brand that sells products like Asian meal kits, spices and - of course - Marion’s signature coconut sriracha. The channel specifically, though, features well-produced videos with a focus on Asian dishes - primarily East and Southeast Asian (think Japanese, Thai, and Vietnamese, among others).
(Image Credit: Marion’s Kitchen Youtube Channel)
The standout about Marion’s Kitchen is that host Marion Grasby (from Masterchef Australia S2 fame) and her team understand that viewers may have limited access to certain ingredients, and to curb this she sometimes provides more readily available alternatives. In her Bang Bang Chicken Noodles recipe, for example, she substitutes roasted sesame paste with peanut butter, which proves to be somewhat effective.
Asian food may be daunting to some cooking ability-wise, but Marion’s Kitchen is able to dispel any ounce of doubt and make Asian cooking accessible and appealing.
Pailin’s Kitchen - 2
Not all of us are able to head to Thailand whenever we want to satisfy our Thai food cravings, so our best bet is to whip up Thai dishes ourselves.
Southern Thailand born and bred chef Pailin “Pai” Chongchitnant runs the channel Pailin’s Kitchen, where you can find a catalogue of videos dedicated to Thai cooking (though there are recipes for non-Thai food scattered here and there).
(Image Credit:@hotthaikitchen on Instagram)
Her videos can sometimes be rather lengthy, but that’s understandable given the many steps and ingredients that go into her flavourful dishes. While she does have recipes for the commonly identifiable classics like Pad Thai and Green Curry, there are also videos on less widely-known dishes like Purple Flower Dumplings (Chor Muang) and Stuffed Chicken Wings.
If you’re up for some experimentation and exploration in the kitchen, Pailin’s Kitchen is a good bet.
Cooking With Dog - 2/3
This Japanese channel’s name is to be taken literally - yes, there is indeed a dog companion to the chef (whose name is undisclosed). Sadly though, the actual dog Francis passed away in 2016 and is now replaced with a stuffed toy dog that does resemble him to keep his spirit there - still adorable and adds to the channel’s appeal.
(Image Credit: The Japan Times)
Cooking With Dog allows you to learn and make authentic Japanese recipes, and does it in a quick fashion without skimping on quality. Forget about your typical plain cold soba and udon soup dishes, we’re looking at more elaborate, unique dishes that are sure to impress your peers if you get down to cooking them. There’s Nagoya speciality dish Miso Nikomi Udon, Tsukesoba Kamo Nanban-style, and Sata Andagi (Okinawan Doughnuts).
However, some viewers may not have access to some of the exact ingredients, but that’s the only real obstacle when it comes to this channel.
Food Wishes - 3
(Image Credit: tubefilter)
“The food is the star”, says Chef John about his channel - he does not make an on-camera appearance (okay not completely true, there are live streams where he shows his face), so the focus is solely on the dish being prepared. That doesn’t mean the videos are any less fun, as the voiceover is highly engaging.
On the whole, the recipes aren’t the easiest, but that’s not what it’s going for here - it’s all about elevated versions of familiar dishes. Forget your original glazed Krispy Kreme donuts, here we have guilt-free chocolate almond breakfast donuts. Want to have a twist to your traditional Thanksgiving dishes? Chef John presents Gravy Stuffed Stuffing Muffins. Talk about indulgence.
The dishes lean towards more Western recipes since the channel is under the Allrecipes magazine branding, but there is a sprinkling of Asian classics here and there. With hundreds of videos accumulated over the years, you’ll never run out of recipes to attempt on Food Wishes.
Xiao Gao Jie’s Magic Ingredients - 3/4
Especially for Chinese people living abroad, finding good homemade Chinese food that matches our mother’s cooking is practically impossible. This is where 小高姐的 Magic Ingredients (Xiao Gao Jie’s Magic Ingredients) comes to save the day.
(Image Credit: Xiao Gao Jie’s Magic Ingredients Youtube Channel)
Originating from Shaanxi Province in China and now living in Canada, Gao provides foodie content to her 2.18 million subscribers on YouTube. Featuring a multitude of Chinese recipes, from Radish Cake (萝卜丝饼) to Red Bean Paste Buns (豆沙包), you’re definitely spoilt for choice. Because Gao lives in Canada, many of the ingredients she uses are easily accessible to those living abroad, which makes the recipes fuss-free to follow.
Her videos average 4-5 minutes, implying simplicity, but the depth Gao goes into in several videos is intriguing to say the least. Even if you aren’t in for the practical side of things, she’s still going to throw some scientific knowledge at you.
Claire Saffitz x Dessert Person - 4
(Image Credit: Alex Lau from TASTE)
Claire Saffitz was once synonymous with Bon Appetit on YouTube, but after 2020’s fiasco that preceded her departure from the channel, she has now emerged once again on the platform as a result of her new book Dessert Person (hence the channel name).
Claire’s recent slew of videos on the new channel does retain a similar friendly, personable tone to her “Gourmet Makes” series that gained her internet stardom, which made it easy for Bon Appetit viewers to migrate over.
Featuring treats ranging from tarte tatin to confetti cake, Dessert Person is bound to leave your sweet tooth completely satisfied. Unfortunately, Saffitz’s recipes aren’t the easiest to attempt and are more suited for seasoned cooks as they can get pretty detailed and require quite some time in the kitchen. That doesn’t mean they’re impossible, and they would definitely be worth trying out even if you are a beginner. You may surprise yourself!
It’s good to have her back on YouTube, and fingers crossed she isn’t leaving anytime soon.
Jun’s Kitchen - 4
(Image Credit: South China Morning Post)
“Hi! I make cooking videos with my cats.”
This line from the patreon page of Jun’s Kitchen perfectly encapsulates what this channel is all about. Host Jun, after whom the channel is appropriately named, cooks in a fauna-filled kitchen, usually with feline companions. Most of his videos feature Japanese recipes, but Western dishes make the occasional appearance.
What differentiates Jun’s Kitchen from many other food and cooking YouTube channels is that its videos aren’t typically bombarded with voiceovers guiding you through the recipe. Rather, visual demonstrations are usually overlaid with relaxing music.
Some recipes are fairly refined (Beef Wellington, Crepe Suzette, and Temari Sushi for example), calling for a certain level of skill.
Unfortunately, the channel isn’t all that active - at the time of writing his last video was uploaded more than 2 weeks ago. Come back Jun and cats!!
Bruno Albouze - 5
This is probably the most technically challenging entry on this list. It is, after all, the brainchild of a former executive pastry chef whose career includes experience working under the Michelin-starred Alain Ducasse.
(Image Credit: Bruno Albouze Youtube Channel)
Albouze’s recipes are not for the faint-hearted - they are clearly next level and require a certain degree of patience, persistence, and desire for experimentation. Just look at two of his most popular videos - a Lemon Shaped dessert and an Apple Shaped dessert - and you’ll get the idea.
His videos really do embody what it means when cooking is described as culinary ‘art’. His demonstrations of the techniques and processes of assembly involved in making such intricate dishes are a marvel to watch. If you pull one of his recipes off, you’re bound to impress friends and family.
Special Mention: Jenn Im - 1
Though not primarily a foodtuber, Jenn Im’s food videos are relaxing to watch. Her calm disposition gives the vibe of watching and listening to your mother cooking for you (she’s actually expecting soon!).
(Image Credit: Jenn Im Youtube Channel)
As a Korean-American, her meals tend to be Korean dishes or at least Korean-inspired ones. Her recipes are fuss-free, basic meals that are fairly easy to toss together, with ingredient lists usually no more than 10 ingredients long (inclusive of seasoning).
Additionally, Jenn actually shows herself eating leftovers - a realistic practice that is often left unseen on other channels. She has plenty of food-related videos organised into playlists, so you can take your time to work through them all. Some of her “What I Eat In A Day” style videos are chronological, from breakfast to dinner, so you’re covered for the whole day.