Polyglycerol fatty acid ester is a safe, efficient, and multifunctional non-ionic emulsifier, which is widely used in food, cosmetics, medicine, and other fields. In recent years, many studies had focused on the synthesis, properties, and applications of polyglycerol fatty acid ester emulsifiers. The synthetic methods of polyglycerol fatty acid esters via chemical synthesis and enzymatic synthesis were summarized. The essential properties of polyglycerol fatty acid esters such as safety, surface interfacial properties, emulsifying properties, and bacteriostatic properties were introduced. The application on the encapsulation and delivery of functional ingredients, the regulation of oil crystallization, dough condi-tioners and softeners, and foam properties in the food industry were described. Moreover, the prospects for future research directions were presented.