By Fatma Younis
Actor, comedian, and rapper Awkwafina is venturing into the restaurant business with plans to reopen her family's historic Cantonese eatery, Lum's, in the Queens borough of New York. The project stems from her new Apple TV series, "Awkwafina: The Unlikely Cook," which premieres Friday, November 6, 2026, and documents her journey from novice cook to restaurateur.
From Actress to Restaurateur
Awkwafina, born Nora Lum, said she never imagined herself cooking, let alone opening a restaurant. The eight-episode series follows her as she learns stir-fry at the Culinary Institute of America, waitresses at the Golden Dragon banquet hall in Los Angeles, and studies Korean-style dumplings with chef Roy Choi. She also receives guidance from Martin Yan, the pioneering Chinese TV chef, and masters Peking duck in San Francisco.
Family Restaurant Roots
Lum's operated in Queens for four decades before closing in the 1990s. Awkwafina's father and grandmother helped raise her after her mother's early death, and she describes the revival as a way to honor them. "Making food is an act of love in every way," she said. The series initially aimed to explore Asian American cuisine but evolved into a personal mission to recreate her family's legacy.
Pop-Up Success Leads to Permanent Plan
The show culminates in a one-night pop-up at a Manhattan pizzeria serving 50 guests, featuring dishes like barbecue spare ribs with a Texas twist and a Peking duck with pineapple salsa cooked in a pizza oven. Executive producer David Brindley said the experience transformed Awkwafina from a beginner into a confident operator. She is now working toward a long-term reopening of Lum's, crediting the series for giving her the skills and confidence to pursue the venture full-time.
