On show at Museum of Chinese in America in New York: MOCA TALKS with Ming-Na Wen - Family Recipes from a Restaurant Daughter

Honored with a Disney Legends Award and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Wen has inspired generations of audiences, from her breakout performance in The Joy Luck Club to her iconic voice role in Disney’s Mulan. Her career includes starring roles on ER and as Agent Melinda May on Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., as well as memorable performances as Dr. Fong in Karate Kid: Legends and Fennec Shand in The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett. Now, she invites audiences into another defining part of her life: the food, family traditions, and cultural heritage that have shaped her.

Wen’s first home in America was New York City, where she settled after immigrating from Hong Kong. Later, growing up around her family’s Pittsburgh restaurant, Chinatown Inn, she learned how food could express love, carry memories, and bring people together. Those early experiences come to life in this collection of recipes and personal stories, connecting the dishes of her childhood with the meals she now prepares for family and friends. From beloved restaurant classics to her father’s specialties and her own kitchen creations, the book celebrates the many ways Chinese American food traditions are preserved, adapted, and shared.

In this conversation, Wen will reflect on her upbringing as a restaurant daughter, her groundbreaking career in entertainment, and the role of food in keeping her connected to family and heritage. Together, Wen and Shi will explore will explore how recipes carry knowledge across generations and how gathering around a table creates a sense of belonging. Whether you know Wen through her work on screen or simply love to cook, pull up a chair and join us for an evening celebrating food, family, and the stories that bring us together.

About Ming-Na Wen

Legendary actress, producer, author, and Asian American icon Ming-Na Wen has spent her career redefining what longevity and influence look like in Hollywood. From her breakout performance in The Joy Luck Club to becoming the iconic voice of Disney’s Mulan, starring on the Emmy Award-winning ER, portraying Agent Melinda May on Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., to bringing her signature strength and fierceness to the role of Dr. Fong in Karate Kid: Legends, and earning a new generation of fans as the fearless Fennec Shand in The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett, Wen has continuously broken barriers while remaining one of the entertainment industry’s most respected and enduring performers. Her career has not only paved the way for greater Asian American representation on screen but has also demonstrated the lasting power of women as leaders of some of the world’s biggest franchises.

Wen is entering yet another remarkable chapter. This fall, she will publish her debut book, Have You Eaten Yet?: Family Recipes from a Restaurant Daughter, a heartfelt collection of personal stories and family recipes celebrating her Chinese American heritage, her upbringing in her family’s Pittsburgh restaurant, and the traditions that continue to shape her life today. At the same time, she continues to break new ground on screen, joining Disney+’s hit series Percy Jackson and the Olympians as the Greek goddess Hera in its highly anticipated third season, premiering in November 2026. Together, these milestone projects showcase the remarkable breadth of her career, expanding her influence beyond film and television into authorship while continuing to take on major roles in one of the world’s biggest entertainment franchises. Through every chapter of her career, Ming-Na Wen has proven that reinvention is always possible, making her a powerful example of leadership, impact, and continued excellence.

About Annie Shi

Annie Shi is the restaurateur behind acclaimed restaurants King, celebrating ten years this fall; Jupiter at Rockefeller Center; Lei, her James Beard Award-winning wine bar named to Bon Appetit’s 2026 Best New Restaurants list in Chinatown; and Dean’s with co-owner and chef Jess Shadbolt. Annie leads the beverage programs, shaping the distinct wine list and orchestrating how they mirror the ingredient-driven philosophies of the food. She was named a 2026 TIME 100Next honoree in addition to being recognized with The Michelin Guide Northeast Cities 2025 Sommelier Award. Prior to joining the hospitality industry, Annie started her career in finance, and is a graduate of Yale University. She lives in New York City with her husband and two children.

About Have You Eaten Yet

Legendary actress and Asian American icon Ming-Na Wen is best known for dozens of film and television roles including her breakout part in the film adaptation of Amy Tan’s bestselling novel The Joy Luck Club, the voice of Disney’s acclaimed Mulan, several years on the Emmy Award–winning ER, her part as Agent May on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., her role as Fennec Shand on the Star Wars franchise shows The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett, and much more. Now Ming-Na invites fans into her kitchen to share a lifetime of recipes and stories that began in her parents’ beloved Pittsburgh restaurant—the Chinatown Inn, which is still open today—forever making food the center of her world. In this heartfelt tribute to her heritage, Ming-Na is sharing both traditional Chinese family recipes as well as recipes for her own creations that she cooks in her own home.

Have You Eaten Yet? is the ultimate love letter to food and family, offering delicious, accessible recipes for every occasion. In chapters like Restaurant Classics, you’ll learn to master iconic dishes like The Best Egg Rolls, Simple Wonton Soup, and Shrimp Fried Rice. Discover family secrets from her father in Feasts from Chef Baba with recipes like his tender Prime Rib and comforting Winter Melon Soup. Straight from Ming-Na’s Kitchen, you’ll find crowd-pleasers like Shrimp with Garlic Noodles and the show-stopping Dragon Fruit Cheesecake Cups. Ming-Na even gives readers advice on perfecting rice, her guide to condiments, and restaurant-inspired tips for prepping sauces, broths, and dry spices.

Filled with personal stories, heartwarming memories, practical tips, and even never-before-seen family photos, Have You Eaten Yet? is an essential guide for anyone looking to explore the rich flavors of Chinese American cuisine.