Asian American and Pacific Islander heritage month is celebrated every May and here in the Bay Area, we are blessed to have a culturally diverse demographic with plenty of AAPI influence. This month, take time to talk to kids about Asian American heroes, read books with Asian American leads or venture out and try an Asian restaurant. Beyond that, there are an abundance of local Asian American-owned businesses many of which support sustainable practices so check them out and show the AAPI community some love!
Anyday
Along with Momofuku Restaurant group founder David Chang, Bay Area resident Steph Chen created Anyday, a one-of-a-kind cookware that allows entire meals to be cooked in the microwave. In addition to saving families time, Steph aims to help busy families achieve delicious, healthy dinners that are budget and most importantly, kid-friendly.
Burmatown | Sausalito
Mother-daughter (Jennifer and Jenny!) team started this Burmese and Asian fusion restaurant with mom bringing traditional Burmese recipes from home-cooked dishes straight to the restaurant. Try the Mohinga Burmese fish chowder or the hoisin glazed ribs and thank us later!
Beeline Treats
South Bay mom Vicki handcrafts unique, personalized cookies that are not only stunning to look at but also mouth wateringly delicious. Up the ante at your next occasion with these cookies that are guaranteed to impress but make sure to order in advance as she books out quickly!
iChina | Santa Clara
East meets West in this new opulent, Great Gatsby-like restaurant (be sure to check out the one-of-a-kind downstairs bathroom) where soothing emerald tones welcome diners. Enjoy a time honored luxurious tea ceremony, relax in the family-friendly Juiba for a craft cocktail, take in a decadent prix fixe meal (menus change seasonally) or, for the ultimate experience, be immersed in Silicon Valley's only virtual reality dining room where all the senses are indulged.
Kasa Indian Eatery
Lawyer-turned-mom-turned-chef Anamika Khanna brings vibrant Indian flavors to the Bay Area with freshly ground spices and 24 hour marinated meat at this Asian-American owned eatery. With the belief that great food can be cheap and quick, Kasa specializes in delicious kati rolls, a sort of mini burrito that is a traditional Indian street food.
Kasama Ca Phe | San Francisco
Owners Erik and Kevin bring Southeast Asian-grown coffee to the Bay area and mix it with Asian culture in a perfect blend—ube affogato anyone?! YES PLEASE.
Kimmy’s Bliss | Sunnyvale
Led by Kimmy, the team at this hair salon are always on point with the latest styles for the entire family and deliver them with empathy, humor and patience. Reasonable prices are only the beginning at this family-owned and operated salon where all are welcome and you become a family member as well.
Little Giant Ice Cream | Oakland
Made from scratch with ingredients from local Clover farms, this ice cream joint has a bit of a cult following and with pup cups and vegan flavors, it’s not hard to see why not because there’s truly something for everyone!
Ladybug Flowers | Sausalito
Seray and his family pride themselves in not only fresh and unique floral arrangements but also in being reasonably priced and most importantly, reliable. All your floral needs will be met by this excellent family owned, AAPI business!
Marco Polo Italian Ice Cream | San Francisco
Despite a misleading name, this AAPI owned business has been a solid, local establishment in the Sunset district since 1982. Unique flavors like durian, lychee, mangosteen and soursop lead the way in crowd favorites—try one or all!
Pineapple King Bakery | San Francisco
Happiness is grabbing a fresh pineapple bun (we love the plain and taro) and pairing it with a milk tea and walking to the Golden Gate park two blocks away. Commence happy dance.
Six Cloves Winery | Sonoma
Winemaker Sonoe Hirabayashi chose the name Six Cloves to honor her ancestors who were involved in the medicinal, soy sauce and miso trades in Japan. Using grapes from nearby Sonoma vineyards, Sonoe is a trailblazer in the world of winemaking when it comes to the female and AAPI owned wine industry.
post.script. | San Francisco
Owner Chandler Tang grew up in this neighborhood and opened this gift shop in what she hopes is a ray of sunlight in the community. post.script. is filled with an assortment of whimsical gifts and home goods all designed to bring joy and delight through their clean and modern designs.
Sue’s Gallery Cafe | Saratoga
We absolutely love stopping by this cafe before heading out on a hike at nearby Villa Montalvo or Sanborn County park because caffeinated hikes are the way to go. Grab a matcha latte or try a charcoal latte and be sure to check out the owner’s pottery studio next door!
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