Awkwafina trades Hollywood for the kitchen in new Apple TV series

Awkwafina is taking on a new challenge in Awkwafina: The Unlikely Cook, an upcoming Apple TV series that follows the actress as she learns to cook while attempting to revive her great-grandfather’s restaurant in Flushing, New York.

The eight-part series premieres on Apple TV on November 6, with Awkwafina, whose real name is Nora Lum, exploring her family’s culinary history and learning the skills needed to bring back Lum’s, the Chinese-American restaurant established by her great-grandfather.

The actress openly acknowledges her limited cooking experience throughout the trailer, which features her attempting to prepare dishes while receiving humorous reactions from her grandmother. The series combines her cooking lessons with a broader exploration of Chinese-American and Asian-American cuisine.

Awkwafina receives guidance from several established chefs during her journey, including Martin Yan and Roy Choi. She also visits the Culinary Institute of America and travels across the country to explore the influences that could shape her version of Lum’s.

The series includes stops in Hawaii, where Awkwafina explores tiki culture connected to her grandmother’s restaurant, as well as Los Angeles’ Chinatown, where she faces the challenges of working in a professional restaurant.

Comedian Jimmy O. Yang also joins Awkwafina during parts of her culinary journey.

The experience ultimately leads to an opening night for the restaurant, where Awkwafina’s grandmother serves as one of the most important diners. The series focuses on her efforts to develop her cooking abilities while preserving and reimagining her family’s restaurant legacy for a new generation.