How to Watch Awkwafina: The Unlikely Cook on Apple TV
Awkwafina: The Unlikely Cook premieres Friday, November 6, 2026, on Apple TV. The eight-episode docuseries follows Nora Lum, better known as Awkwafina, on a cross-country culinary road trip as she tries to revive her family's Chinese restaurant, even though, as she admits, she can't cook at all.
It's an Apple TV original, so it won't air on a DIRECTV channel. You'll stream it in the Apple TV app on a DIRECTV Gemini device, a smart TV, a streaming player or a phone, or at tv.apple.com.
Awkwafina: The Unlikely Cook at a glance
| Premiere | Friday, November 6, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Episodes | 8 |
| Where to watch | Apple TV, worldwide |
| Host | Nora Lum (Awkwafina) |
| Produced by | Twofour for Apple TV |
| Executive producers | Nora Lum, David Brindley, Itay Reiss and Caroline Davies |
| Apple TV price | $14.99 a month, with a seven-day free trial for new subscribers |
What is Awkwafina: The Unlikely Cook about?
Awkwafina's family ran Lum's, a well-known Cantonese restaurant in Flushing, New York. She inherited the family legacy but not the kitchen skills. With help from acclaimed chefs, restaurateurs and her family, she sets out to learn to cook, explore contemporary Asian American cuisine and reimagine Lum's for a new generation.
Apple says the trip includes a crash course at the Culinary Institute of America, a Texas barbecue run with Jimmy O. Yang, and lessons from culinary icons Roy Choi and Martin Yan. In Hawaii she explores the tiki culture that inspired her grandmother's restaurant, and she works as a server at a restaurant in Los Angeles' Chinatown. The season builds to one high-stakes opening night, with her grandmother as the toughest VIP diner of all.
Twofour also produced The Reluctant Traveler With Eugene Levy for Apple TV, so fans of that series will recognize the style.
How much is Apple TV?
Apple TV costs $14.99 a month, and new subscribers get a seven-day free trial. Apple is also offering three months free for a limited time to customers who buy and activate a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV 4K or Mac. DIRECTV customers can also add Apple TV to their account, and our guide to adding Apple TV to DIRECTV explains how that works.
Food TV on DIRECTV
If The Unlikely Cook gets you in the mood for more cooking shows, Food Network carries the holiday competitions this fall, and our Food Network on DIRECTV guide lists the channel. For more Apple TV picks, see Apple TV shows to stream in October 2026.
Frequently asked questions
When does Awkwafina: The Unlikely Cook premiere?
It premieres Friday, November 6, 2026, on Apple TV.
How many episodes are there?
The series has eight episodes.
Is it on a DIRECTV channel?
No. It's an Apple TV original, so you stream it in the Apple TV app, including on a DIRECTV Gemini device.
What is the show about?
Awkwafina, who can't cook, goes on a culinary road trip to learn the craft and revive her family's Cantonese restaurant, Lum's, in Flushing, New York.
Which chefs appear?
Apple names Roy Choi and Martin Yan, plus a Texas barbecue trip with Jimmy O. Yang and a course at the Culinary Institute of America.
How much does Apple TV cost?
Apple TV is $14.99 a month with a seven-day free trial for new subscribers.
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Details reviewed October 21, 2026. Premiere dates are set by Apple and may change. Apple TV plans, prices and offers are set by Apple and may change. DIRECTV availability, packages and prices vary by address. Awkwafina: The Unlikely Cook, Apple TV, DIRECTV and related marks belong to their respective owners. American TV is an independent dealer and resource site.