If you’ve spent more than five minutes scrolling through YouTube or TikTok in the last few years, you’ve definitely seen him. The black gloves. The high-quality microphone. That weirdly satisfying crunch of deep-fried chicken. But lately, people have been flooding search bars with the same frantic question: what happened to Zach Choi?
Honestly, the internet is a weird place. One day you’re the undisputed king of mukbang, and the next, people are theorizing that you’re in jail or have completely disappeared just because you changed your upload style. I’ve been digging into the data and the drama to figure out what’s actually going on with the man behind the silent "Would you eat this?" captions.
The Shift From Long-Form to Viral Shorts
For a long time, Zach was the go-to guy for 10-minute long-form ASMR videos. He’d sit there, barely moving his face, and consume massive quantities of food with Stephanie Soo or Nikocado Avocado. Then, things changed.
If you look at his channel today, it’s a total powerhouse of short-form content. Some fans got worried, thinking he "quit" YouTube. He didn't. He just pivoted. In 2024 and 2025, Zach leaned heavily into the "Bayashi" style—super fast cuts, loud cooking sounds, and incredibly high production value.
Is it recycled? Sorta. Some of his long-form compilations on YouTube are definitely re-edited clips from his TikTok and Instagram Reels. But the numbers don’t lie. As of early 2026, he’s sitting on over 33 million subscribers on YouTube alone. His engagement rate might be a bit lower than his peak in 2019, but he’s still pulling in millions of views every single day.
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Health Rumors and the "Jail" Theory
Whenever a creator changes their routine, the conspiracy theories start flying. One of the wildest ones I saw on Reddit recently was people wondering if he was in jail. Why? Just because he wasn't posting the traditional sit-down videos anymore.
Let's be real: mukbang is brutal on the body. We've seen what it did to other creators. There's been a lot of talk about whether Zach's shift to smaller portions and more "cooking-focused" content was a health move. While he hasn't released a "Life Update" video—because, well, he doesn't talk—it’s pretty obvious he’s moved away from the extreme binge-eating that defined the early 2020s.
The Plastic Surgery Conversation
People also point to his changing appearance. Zach has been pretty open in the past (or at least, it’s been well-documented by fans) about having work done. He’s had double eyelid surgery and a nose job. Some viewers think he looks "different" in recent videos, leading to rumors of more procedures. But if you look at his posting schedule, he’s been active almost daily. There hasn't been a long enough gap for a major recovery, so the "he's hiding his face" theory doesn't really hold water.
Where the Money Is: Zach Choi's 2026 Net Worth
If you think he's struggling because he's not "doing ASMR" the old way, think again. I took a look at the latest analytics. In December 2025, his YouTube earnings alone were estimated to be massive, with some months peaking way higher depending on viral hits.
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- YouTube Subscribers: 33.5M+
- Monthly Views: Averaging 100M+ across shorts and long-form
- Instagram Followers: Over 13 million
- Estimated Monthly Revenue: Between $150k and $400k depending on the platform
Basically, Zach is a business machine. He realized that the "silent cook" niche is more sustainable and more profitable for the "Explore" pages of the world. He’s no longer just a guy who eats; he’s a brand that produces high-end food ASMR content.
What Most People Get Wrong
The biggest misconception about what happened to Zach Choi is that he's "fallen off."
In reality, he’s just evolved. He was one of the first major ASMR artists to successfully transition into the TikTok era. Most creators who started when he did are now irrelevant. He’s managed to stay at the top by copying (or being "inspired by") the fast-paced editing style that the younger generation loves.
He still lives in Los Angeles. He still wears the gloves. He still hates pickles (seriously, that's like his one defining personality trait besides the silence).
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Actionable Insights for Fans and Creators
If you’re a fan or just curious about how someone stays this famous for this long without ever speaking, here’s the takeaway:
- Follow the platform, not the format: Zach moved where the views were. If you’re looking for his classic content, check his "Best Of" compilations, but expect his new stuff to be 60 seconds or less.
- Don't believe every hiatus rumor: Just because a creator stops doing one specific type of video doesn't mean they've disappeared.
- The "Silent" Brand is Powerful: By never speaking, Zach made his content universal. You don't need to speak English or Korean to enjoy a fried cheese pull. This is why his audience is global, from the US to Mexico to South Korea.
If you're looking for his latest updates, skip the Reddit threads claiming he's in trouble. Just go to his YouTube Shorts tab. He's right there, still cooking, still eating, and still making more money than almost anyone else in the game.
To keep up with his latest recipes or to see if he finally does another "voice reveal," your best bet is to stick to his verified Instagram. He’s much more active with "new" clips there than on his traditional Twitter or Facebook pages.