--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Before I had my own restaurant, I was…" description: "\"Before I had my own restaurant, I was never top dog in the kitchen. I've always had a low opinion of myself as a cook.\" — David Chang" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a2/david-chang-8104_always_before-i-had-my-own-restaurant-i-was-nev_3102606.png" --- # Before I had my own restaurant, I was never top dog in the… ![“Before I had my own restaurant, I was never top dog in the kitchen. I've always had a low opinion of myself as a cook.” quote by David Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a2/david-chang-8104_always_before-i-had-my-own-restaurant-i-was-nev_3102606.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a2/david-chang-8104_always_before-i-had-my-own-restaurant-i-was-nev_3102606.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a2/david-chang-8104_always_before-i-had-my-own-restaurant-i-was-nev_3102606.png) > “Before I had my own restaurant, I was never top dog in the kitchen. I've always had a low opinion of myself as a cook.” [David Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-chang/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self‑doubt can persist despite external success, affecting confidence. **In simple terms:** Even successful cooks may feel inadequate. Key Takeaway Acknowledge achievements and practice self‑compassion. Themes confidence career self‑esteem Mood inspirational practical Type motivational self‑help When to use this quote - restaurant leadership - team building - personal branding Key Concepts impostor syndrome professional identity Questions to Reflect On - How do you combat imposter feelings? - What habits build confidence? A Different Perspective Self‑doubt can limit performance if unchecked. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dog/) [Food](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/food/) [Opinion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opinion/) [Restaurant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/restaurant/) ## Related quotes > [As a longtime fan of talk radio, I'm very worried about the low opinion that conservative hosts and callers have of the American artist.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/as-a-longtime-fan-of-talk-radio-i-m-very-worried-about-the-low/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [On the whole, I have quite a low opinion of men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-o-mara/on-the-whole-i-have-quite-a-low-opinion-of-men/) [Kate O'Mara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-o-mara/) > [Cooking is one of my favourite things - from going to the market, bringing the stuff home and preparing it, to cleaning the kitchen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-evangelista/cooking-is-one-of-my-favourite-things-from-going-to-the-market/) [Linda Evangelista](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-evangelista/) > [“Do you ever have Deja Vu?’ ‘I could ask in the kitchen, see if they've got any in.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-rattigan/do-you-ever-have-deja-vu-i-could-ask-in-the-kitchen-see-if-they-ve/) [Tony Rattigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-rattigan/) > [“We, in the interest of the so-called progress, have been persuaded to leave the production and at times the cooking of our food to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/we-in-the-interest-of-the-so-called-progress-have-been-persuaded-to/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [Making food is a labor of love - it's a nice thing to do for your loved ones to show you care about them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-byer/making-food-is-a-labor-of-love-it-s-a-nice-thing-to-do-for-your-loved/) [Nicole Byer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-byer/) > [I already have my fantasy job. I run a restaurant and film 'MasterChef,' both of which mean I get to cook and eat -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-torode/i-already-have-my-fantasy-job-i-run-a-restaurant-and-film-masterchef/) [John Torode](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-torode/) > [In my home I tend to eat a very simple version of what we cook at the restaurant, which is vegetable-oriented, with a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rene-redzepi/in-my-home-i-tend-to-eat-a-very-simple-version-of-what-we-cook-at-the/) [Rene Redzepi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rene-redzepi/) > [When you are raised in a restaurant you really don't want to go to one that often, I'd rather cook.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-votto/when-you-are-raised-in-a-restaurant-you-really-don-t-want-to-go-to/) [Joey Votto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-votto/) > [I don't cook. I don't know anything about food. I've never reviewed a restaurant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-trillin/i-don-t-cook-i-don-t-know-anything-about-food-i-ve-never-reviewed-a/) [Calvin Trillin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-trillin/) > [We simply must get it through our heads that holding a low opinion of ourselves is not a virtue, but a vice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maxwell-maltz/we-simply-must-get-it-through-our-heads-that-holding-a-low-opinion-of/) [Maxwell Maltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maxwell-maltz/) > [“I've also now been around enough people who have a low opinion of anyone who's creative in a non-professional realm to know that that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-kendrick/i-ve-also-now-been-around-enough-people-who-have-a-low-opinion-of/) [Anna Kendrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-kendrick/) > [He had an opinion of himself, I think, that was too high for his own good. Or maybe it was the reverse. Maybe it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-o-brien/he-had-an-opinion-of-himself-i-think-that-was-too-high-for-his-own/) [Tim O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-o-brien/) > [Insecure people have a special sensitivity for anything that finally confirms their own low opinion of themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-grafton/insecure-people-have-a-special-sensitivity-for-anything-that-finally/) [Sue Grafton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-grafton/) > [I accrued anger from people's low opinion of me and my work, and for the work I might be capable of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harrison-ford/i-accrued-anger-from-people-s-low-opinion-of-me-and-my-work-and-for/) [Harrison Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harrison-ford/) ## More by David Chang > [In New York, we're always confined with spaces. Our restaurants are difficult to navigate as cooks and to operate. We fight against the buildings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-chang/in-new-york-we-re-always-confined-with-spaces-our-restaurants-are/) [David Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-chang/) > [If you ask what people say what American cuisine is, they cannot really do it. I don't know what it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-chang/if-you-ask-what-people-say-what-american-cuisine-is-they-cannot/) [David Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-chang/) > [When I was in Japan, everyone wanted to work for Pierre Gagnaire, and they wouldn't miss a beat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-chang/when-i-was-in-japan-everyone-wanted-to-work-for-pierre-gagnaire-and/) [David Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-chang/) > [Lifes too short to just breeze on by.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-chang/lifes-too-short-to-just-breeze-on-by/) [David Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-chang/) > [My dad was in the restaurant business, but I didn't really think about following him. Had I done better at school, I don't know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-chang/my-dad-was-in-the-restaurant-business-but-i-didn-t-really-think-about/) [David Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-chang/) > [Say a child raises this beautiful beet. It's going to give her a sense of ownership, and that changes everything. You stop taking things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-chang/say-a-child-raises-this-beautiful-beet-it-s-going-to-give-her-a-sense/) [David Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-chang/) > ['Tampopo's amazing. I think it's an absolutely fantastic movie, but I don't think it captures for me the meaning of food.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-chang/tampopo-s-amazing-i-think-it-s-an-absolutely-fantastic-movie-but-i/) [David Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-chang/) > [If people think you are this amazing, own it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-chang/if-people-think-you-are-this-amazing-own-it/) [David Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-chang/) > [Any processed chicken from any place - I'll order it in a heartbeat. I'm very picky about my pork, though.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-chang/any-processed-chicken-from-any-place-i-ll-order-it-in-a-heartbeat-i-m/) [David Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-chang/) > [New York gives us a wide colour palette to cook from. We have cuisines from around the world, and that lets us pick and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-chang/new-york-gives-us-a-wide-colour-palette-to-cook-from-we-have-cuisines/) [David Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-chang/) > [I think the best restaurants in America should be in California.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-chang/i-think-the-best-restaurants-in-america-should-be-in-california/) [David Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-chang/) > [Why can't it be awesome to work for a food company? Why can't we create an environment where people are trying to push each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-chang/why-can-t-it-be-awesome-to-work-for-a-food-company-why-can-t-we/) [David Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-chang/) > [You can't go into the chef's office of any serious kitchen and not see a copy of Larousse. A must-have for professional and home…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-chang/you-can-t-go-into-the-chef-s-office-of-any-serious-kitchen-and-not/) [David Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-chang/) > [I work so hard that I forget to take care of myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-chang/i-work-so-hard-that-i-forget-to-take-care-of-myself/) [David Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-chang/) > [I don't like eating in restaurants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-chang/i-don-t-like-eating-in-restaurants/) [David Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-chang/) [Explore all 84 David Chang quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-chang/) ## More Always quotes > [I think performing has pretty much always been a part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-briones/i-think-performing-has-pretty-much-always-been-a-part-of-me/) [Isa Briones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-briones/) > [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [It's always great to see old friends, especially those I have not been able to see in 15 months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-always-great-to-see-old-friends-especially-those-i-have-not-been/) [William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I have really good lateral movement. I've always had quick lateral movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/i-have-really-good-lateral-movement-i-ve-always-had-quick-lateral/) [Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [Mythology is something that always has opportunities to explore. 'It' has been on Earth for millions of years. He's been in contact with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/mythology-is-something-that-always-has-opportunities-to-explore-it/) [Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/) > [It's not writing in the traditional sense, but I've always said that the writing process continues on the set and even into the editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-weide/it-s-not-writing-in-the-traditional-sense-but-i-ve-always-said-that/) [Robert B. Weide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-weide/) > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [I've always been of the idea that is doesn't really matter where you are geographically - with 'Lonerism,' we made half the album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-ve-always-been-of-the-idea-that-is-doesn-t-really-matter-where-you/) [Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [Bayern is always a team that can win the Champions League title in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/bayern-is-always-a-team-that-can-win-the-champions-league-title-in/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) Browse all 36,048 Always quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Before I had my own restaurant, I was never top dog in the kitchen. 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