As far as Paul Wahlberg is concerned, his brothers Mark and Donnie can have Hollywood; he’s perfectly happy in Hingham. The chef and owner of South Shore restaurants Wahlburgers and Alma Nove has never felt the urge to follow in his little brothers’ footsteps, so it’s a bit ironic that he’s now co-starring in a new reality TV show.

“My brothers came up with the idea,” Paul says of Wahlburgers, which premiered on A&E in January. “It’s not something I was interested in. I’m a cook, that’s what I do. I don’t think I’ll ever warm up to it, but it’s good for the business and I get to spend more time with [my brothers].”

Paul was the fifth of nine children born to Alma and Donald Wahlberg; he was also the first of the clan to graduate high school. Growing up in Dorchester, the family didn’t have a lot of money, making their success, as Paul says, “a real American story.” Paul grew up cooking alongside his mother, then got his start washing dishes at a friend’s family’s restaurant. He worked his way up the ranks at Boston-area restaurants until he became an executive chef, creating menus for multiple restaurants around Boston and Washington, D.C.

Wahlburgers the restaurant is more than just an ode to the famous family—though you will find plenty of Wahlberg movie memorabilia on display. The menu includes tasty options like the Thanksgiving burger topped with stuffing, roasted butternut squash and orange cranberry sauce (Mark’s choice); addictive sweet potato tots; and a "Fluffanuttahh" frappe. Paul says his staff “get a giggle out of” the filming.

Paul’s original teacher Alma still helps out in his restaurants (including Alma Nove, which was named for her), and she’s already a fan favorite. “She’s a ham,” Mark says in the first episode. “She’s going to run all of you into the ground.”

Mark and Donnie make regular appearances on the show— in the first episode, Mark has a movie premiere at Wahlburgers and Donnie helps Paul scout locations for a new restaurant. “They’ve always been there, and if you need support with something they put in their two cents,” Paul says.

Other regulars on Wahlburgers, besides the Wahlbergs: Donnie’s girlfriend Jenny McCarthy, Henry “Nacho” Laun, and Johnny “Drama” Alvez, who inspired a character on Entourage.

“People find it interesting and funny,” Paul says of the show. “They find out about the restaurant industry, but it’s more about family dynamics. There’s a lot of things that people can relate to in their own family life.”

Watch Wahlburgers on A&E Wednesday nights at 10:30 p.m.