Chang highlights various cuisines that he thinks don’t get enough credit. He pairs with celebrity buddies, then eats the foods and explains their merits.Chang uses recorded video and audio to recreate an emotional moment: him and his wife telling their parents that they are having a baby. This personal story serves as the launch point for an episode about parenting while working in the grueling restaurant business.
That said, “Ugly Delicious” does a commendable job in making a case for the cultures it champions. Chang enlists a long list of credible voices ― from writers to chefs to celebrities ― on each topic he covers. Chang is excited to share this significant moment in his life. And it’s admirable whenever a creator tells a more personal story. But the story of new parents being excited for children is one of the oldest in human history, and the episode treats the situation as novel. This episode could have been the season closer, but I think this will be a turn-off to those just checking out the show.