In this episode of Death in Cambodia, Life in America, I sit down with Chef Nite Yun, the visionary behind the beloved Oakland restaurant Nyum Bai, author of the new cookbook My Cambodia, and one of the stars of Netflix’s Chef’s Table: Noodles.

Her episode introduced millions to the richness of Khmer cuisine, but behind the camera, Chef Nite’s story is one of identity, intergenerational trauma, and healing through food. Born to Cambodian refugee parents and raised in Stockton, California, Chef Nite grew up immersed in Khmer food and language, but it wasn’t until her 20s, during a trip to Cambodia, that she fully understood how deeply food was tied to memory, trauma, and healing.

We talk about the surreal experience of filming Chef’s Table, the complexities of authenticity, and the joy and pressure of representing your people on a global platform. We also touch on the legacy of war and loss that shaped her family, how cooking became her way to reconnect with her roots, and why she felt both grief and relief when closing Nyum Bai at the height of its success. Plus, Nite opens up about her new restaurant Lunette and the upcoming release of her debut cookbook My Cambodia.

From learning her mother’s recipes to finding her voice on Chef’s Table, Chef Nite shares what it means to reclaim Cambodian identity, one dish at a time. This episode is about food, family, and the stories we carry in every bite.

Supporting Chef Nites Work: 

IG: @nite_nite_nite

https://www.nyumbai.com/

https://www.amazon.com/My-Cambodia-Cookbook-Nite-Yun/dp/1984863371