Joshua Weissman is an American chef, YouTuber and best-selling author who became one of the biggest cooking creators on the internet. Trained in professional fine-dining kitchens before turning to video, he is best known for his fast-paced, high-energy channel and its flagship series But Better, in which he recreates popular foods from scratch, at home, better than the original.
He combines real restaurant experience with an unapologetic, entertaining on-camera persona, and has become especially associated with bread-baking, sourdough and made-from-scratch cooking.
TL;DR
- American chef and YouTuber, born 9 January 1996 in Los Angeles, California
- Trained in fine dining, spending around three years at Uchiko in Austin, Texas
- Creator of the hit YouTube series But Better and But Cheaper
- Channel has grown to more than 10 million subscribers
- Author of two New York Times best-selling cookbooks
Joshua Weissman key facts
| Born | 9 January 1996, Los Angeles, California, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Trained at | Uchiko, Austin, Texas |
| Known for | But Better; sourdough and from-scratch cooking |
| Books | Two New York Times best-sellers |
From Los Angeles to Austin kitchens
Joshua Weissman was born on 9 January 1996 in Los Angeles, California, and started cooking as a young child alongside his mother. He published his first cookbook, The Slim Palate, at just seventeen. At eighteen he moved to Austin, Texas, to pursue the fine-dining scene, and spent close to three years at the acclaimed restaurant Uchiko, working his way through various stations and leading the morning cook team – the professional grounding that underpins his later work.
Building the channel
In 2018, frustrated by what he saw as a lack of genuinely entertaining, high-quality cooking shows, Weissman began posting videos on YouTube while still working full-time at Uchiko. After a punishing period of doing both, he committed to the channel full-time. His flagship series But Better – recreating fast-food and packaged favourites from scratch – and its companion But Cheaper struck a chord, and the channel grew to more than ten million subscribers.
Books and style
Weissman has written two New York Times best-selling cookbooks – Joshua Weissman: An Unapologetic Cookbook (2021) and Texture Over Taste (2023) – which reflect his mix of technical seriousness and irreverent humour. His style is energetic and demanding: he pushes viewers to make things properly and from scratch, from bread to condiments, while keeping the tone playful and self-aware.
Signature style
What sets Weissman apart is the blend of real fine-dining training and internet showmanship. He is genuinely skilled and detail-obsessed, but presents it with jokes, catchphrases and fast editing that make ambitious cooking feel fun rather than intimidating. Bread and sourdough, in particular, have become a hallmark of his channel.
Joshua Weissman in context
Weissman is one of the leading figures of the food-YouTube generation, alongside other creators featured on Pickup Table 4 such as Andrew Rea (Babish) and Nick DiGiovanni.
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Joshua Weissman FAQ
Who is Joshua Weissman?
An American chef, YouTuber and author, and one of the most-followed cooking creators online.
Did he train professionally?
Yes – he spent around three years at the fine-dining restaurant Uchiko in Austin, Texas.
What is But Better?
His flagship YouTube series, in which he makes homemade, improved versions of popular foods.
Has he written cookbooks?
Yes – two New York Times best-sellers, An Unapologetic Cookbook (2021) and Texture Over Taste (2023).
Where is he based?
In Austin, Texas.
