celebrates

Asian American
and Pacific Islander
Heritage Month 2021

The AAPI team members here at MNTN wanted to put together this page to help celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. We hope you enjoy some of the things we want to share from our community.

Asian American Movies to Watch

Here are some recent picks and diverse movie pairings curated by our Front-end Developer Julian Park - creator of the #moviechat Slack channel.

Fun Movies

The Big Sick

The Big Sick (2017)

98% | R | Watch Trailer

Pakistan-born comedian Kumail Nanjiani and grad student Emily Gardner fall in love but struggle as their cultures clash. When Emily contracts a mysterious illness, Kumail finds himself forced to face her feisty parents, his family's expectations, and his true feelings.

Searching

Searching (2018)

92% | PG-13 | Watch Trailer

David Kim becomes desperate when his 16-year-old daughter, Margot, disappears and an immediate police investigation leads nowhere. He decides to search the one place that no one else has: Margot's laptop.


Award-Winners

The Farewell

The Farewell (2019)

97% | PG | Watch Trailer

Billi's family returns to China under the guise of a fake wedding to stealthily say goodbye to their beloved matriarch -- the only person that doesn't know she only has a few weeks to live.

Minari

Minari (2020)

98% | PG-13 | Watch Trailer

A Korean American family moves to an Arkansas farm in search of its own American dream. Amidst the challenges of this new life in the strange and rugged Ozarks, they discover the undeniable resilience of family and what really makes a home.


Dreamers

Yellow Rose

Yellow Rose (2019)

87% | PG-13 | Watch Trailer

A Filipina teen from a small Texas town fights to pursue her dreams as a country music performer while having to decide between staying with her family or leaving the only home she has known.

Minding the Gap

Minding the Gap (2018)

100% | NR | Watch Trailer

Three young men bond together to escape volatile families in their Rust-Belt hometown. As they face adult responsibilities, unexpected revelations threaten their decade-long friendship.


LGBTQ

The Half of It

The Half of It (2020)

97% | PG-13 | Watch Trailer

When smart but cash-strapped teen Ellie Chu agrees to write a love letter for a jock, she doesn't expect to become his friend - or fall for his crush.

Spa Night

Spa Night (2016)

96% | NR | Watch Trailer

A closeted Korean-American teenager follows his desires and finds more than he bargains for at a Korean spa.


Disney Animation

Bao

Bao (2018)

89% | G | Watch Trailer

A woman who is suffering from empty nest syndrome gets a second shot at motherhood when one of her handmade dumplings springs to life.

Raya and the Last Dragon

Raya and the Last Dragon (2021)

94% | PG | Watch Trailer

In a realm known as Kumandra, a re-imagined Earth inhabited by an ancient civilization, a warrior named Raya is determined to find the last dragon.

Books About Asian-American Identity and Experience

Reading literature is essential in learning more about Asian American history as well as gaining an understanding of what it means to identify as an Asian American, and the experiences that entails.
Here are some books our senior interactive designer, Aisha Deocares, recommends.

History

The Making of Asian America

The Making of Asian America: A History

By Erica Lee

Over the past fifty years, a new Asian America has emerged out of community activism and the arrival of new immigrants and refugees. But as Lee shows, Asian Americans have continued to struggle as both “despised minorities” and “model minorities,” revealing all the ways that racism has persisted in their lives and in the life of the country.

Asian American Dreams

Asian American Dreams

By Helen Zia

Part memoir, part social history, this book is about the transformation of Asian Americans from a few small, disconnected, and largely invisible ethnic groups into a self-identified racial group that is influencing every aspect of American society.

Rise: A Pop History of Asian America from the Nineties to Now

Rise: A Pop History of Asian America from the Nineties to Now

By Jeff Yang, Phil Yu, Philip Wang

In this intimate and frequently hilarious guided tour through the pop-cultural touchstones and sociopolitical shifts, Rise chronicles how we’ve arrived at today’s unprecedented diversity of Asian American cultural representation through interactive graphics, charts, graphic essays from major AAPI artists, exclusive roundtables with Asian American cultural icons, and more.


Memoirs/Essays

Minor Feelings

Minor Feelings

By Cathy Park Hong

A collection of essays that combine memoir, cultural criticism, and history. Together, they explore the author’s formation of her political and racial consciousness through her experience as a child of Korean immigrants.

Dear America

Dear America: Notes of an Undocumented Citizen

By Jose Antonio Vargas

Pulitzer-Prize winning journalist Jose Antonio Vargas, called “the most famous undocumented immigrant in America,” tackles one of the defining issues of our time in this explosive and deeply personal call to arms.

Good Girls Marry Doctors

Good Girls Marry Doctors

Edited by Piyali Bhattacharya

Each of the beautifully lyrical essays in Good Girls Marry Doctors takes readers on thoughtful journeys through rebellion and disobedience, as in the book’s subtitle, but also insightful examinations of faith and spirituality, motherhood and the choice to remain childfree, poignant tales of coming out and the battle to follow one’s own dreams when a gold standard for one’s future has already been set.


Fiction

The Sympathizer

The Sympathizer

By Viet Thanh Nguyen

Set as the flashback in a coerced confession of a political prisoner, the book tells the story of the South Vietnamese Government in 1975 and subsequent events in American exile in Los Angeles, through the eyes of a half-Vietnamese, half-French undercover communist agent.

Interior Chinatown

Interior China

By Charles Yu

Willis Wu, who acts on a police procedural called “Black and White” and is chasing his dream role of “Kung Fu Guy.” However, he must first work his way up through a series of roles, including “Generic Asian Man” and “Background Oriental Making a Weird Face.”

No-No Boy

No-No Boy

By John Okada

Unwilling to pledge himself to the country that interned him and his family, Ichiro Yamada earns two years in prison and the hostility of his family and community when he returns home to Seattle. Ichiro’s voice subverts Japanese postwar “model-minority” stereotypes, showing a fractured community and one man’s “threnody of guilt, rage, and blame as he tries to negotiate his reentry into a shattered world.”


Graphic Novels

Superman Smashes the Klan

Superman Smashes the Klan

By Gene Leun Yang

Inspired by the 1940s Superman radio serial “Clan of the Fiery Cross” and drawn by Gurihiru, Gene Luen Yang brings us his personal retelling of the adventures of the Lee family as they team up with Superman to smash the Klan!

American Born Chinese

American Born Chinese

By Gene Leun Yang

A creative tale about three different characters that seemingly have nothing in common, American Born Chinese weaves together these narratives in a unique and satisfying way. Jin Wang is a Chinese American student in a town where no one else looks like him.

They Called Us Enemy

They Called Us Enemy

By George Takei

They Called Us Enemy is Takei’s firsthand account of those years behind barbed wire, the terrors and small joys of childhood in the shadow of legalized racism, his mother’s hard choices, his father’s tested faith in democracy, and the way those experiences planted the seeds for his astonishing future.

Shortcomings

Shortcomings

By Adrian Tomine

Adrian Tomine's graphic novel Shortcomings is his only work that fully deals with themes of being a young Asian-American male in American society. Ben Tanaka, the story's protagonist, lives in Berkeley, California with his politically active girlfriend Miko Hayashi.


Children's Books

The Name Jar

The Name Jar

By Yangsook Choi

There is nothing more embarrassing for a new student than to have their name mispronounced by classmates and teachers alike. Instead of dealing with being called by various, incorrect names, Unhei decides to let her classmates give her a name. As the students fill the jar with different suggestions, Unhei begins to realize the power and honor in her own Korean name.

Front Desk

Front Desk

By Kelly Yang

Mia and her family are working in less than desirable conditions at a motel after moving to the United States to start a new life. Despite the tough circumstances, Mia spends her shifts at the motel dreaming about becoming a writer while also assisting her parents as they help new immigrants acclimate to the country.

Local Asian American Restaurants to Support

Here is a list of recommended restaurants in Southern California, and dishes to try across the vast and wide spectrum of Asian cultures. Many of them are favorites of our Creative Director and resident foodie, Sharon Hom. These are restaurants you’d find in ethnic enclaves outside of Los Angeles, such as the Vietnamese in Orange County, Chinese and Taiwanese in San Gabriel Valley, or Japanese in Torrance, but they are all certainly worth the drive. By no means is this an exhaustive list, but it’s certainly a place to start. (Note: Yelp links have been included, but ignore the Yelp ratings. It’s a known fact amongst us AAPI that Yelp ratings are by no means an indicator of how delicious it is!)

Chinese

Kang Kang Food Court

Kang Kang Food Court

Known for their Shanghai Pan-Fried Dumplings (“Shenzen bao”). They also have a hot food bar and huge menu of dishes from various regions in China, so it’s a great way to explore Chinese food from all over.

Check Them Out on Yelp
Baccali Cafe and Rotisserie

Baccali Cafe and Rotisserie

Eclectic “Hong Kong-style cafe” food has been comfort food for many Cantonese all over the world and all the way to our very own San Gabriel Valley. There’s a lot of Western influence in these dishes—you can read more about the history here.

Check Them Out on Yelp
JTYH

JTYH Restaurant

Known for their knife-cut noodles. Try their Beef Stewed Noodle Soup!

Check Them Out on Yelp

Korean

Ham Ji Park

Ham Ji Park

Known for their pork spare ribs and pork neck stew. The kimchi fried rice is mixed in a stone pot at your table, and very tasty as well. Go with friends because the portions are huge.

Check Them Out on Yelp
Seongbukdong

Seongbukdong

Known for their braised beef short ribs (“galbi jjim”).

Check Them Out on Yelp
MDK Noodles

MDK Noodles

Formerly Myung Dong Kyoja. Known for their chicken noodle soup (“dak kalguksu”) and dumplings (“mandu”). Their delicious kimchi is housemade and very garlicky, leaving you with a stinky breath and a satisfied stomach.

Check Them Out on Yelp

Japanese

Ichimi Ann Bamboo Garden

Ichimi Ann Bamboo Garden

Known for their soba noodles, freshly made in-house.

Check Them Out on Yelp
Izakaya Hachi

Izakaya Hachi

Great spot for traditional izakaya “Japanese bar” food.

Check Them Out on Yelp
Fugetsu Do

Fugetsu Do

Delicious and colorful Japanese desserts like soft mochi to satisfy your sweet tooth.

Check Them Out on Yelp

Vietnamese

Mai Phung

Mai Phung

Popular dishes include: crab, shrimp and pork tapioca noodle soup (“banh canh tom cua thit heo”), crab, shrink and pork dried rice noodle (“hu tieu kho tom cua thit”) crab, shrimp and pork fried rice (“com chien tom cua thit”) and egg rolls. For a delicious Vietnamese drink, try the pandan mung bean drink (“dou xanh la dua”). Pro tip: expect a wait on weekends, so try to line up before they open.

Check Them Out on Yelp
Quan Hy

Quan Hy

Must try this popular Vietnamese dish that originated in the city of Hue: “banh beo,” or Vietnamese steamed rice cakes. “Bun bo hue” is another popular Vietnamese noodle soup from Hue, containing rice vermicelli, beef and a spicy kick.

Check Them Out on Yelp
Pho Akaushi

Pho Akaushi

Ask a Vietnamese person where you can get good pho in Los Angeles, and they will tell you to go to Orange County instead. Here is one that comes highly recommended.

Check Them Out on Yelp

Cambodian

Phnom Penh Noodle Shack

Phnom Penh Noodle Shack

This popular spot is actually a breakfast spot—they close at 3pm, so arrive early and expect a wait. Their menu makes it easy: try the House Special (Phnom Penh Noodles). You can get the noodles dry, and it comes with a delicious pork bone broth on the side, or have your noodles directly in the soup.

Check Them Out on Yelp

Laoatian

Vientiane Lao Thai

Vientiane Lao Thai

Recommended dishes include the Lao sausage (served with a delicious spicy dipping sauce), crispy fried rice (“Nam kao tod), “kao piak” or chicken rice noodle soup, “pho Lao”, and papaya salad.

Check Them Out on Yelp

Filipino

LA Rose Cafe

LA Rose Cafe

Serves traditional Filipino cuisine. Try the halo-halo while you’re there!

Check Them Out on Yelp
Wanderlust Creamery

Wanderlust Creamery

Wanderlust is known for their unique flavors inspired by world travel. The Passionfruit Cacao (it’s vegan!) and the Ube Malted Crunch (one of their signature flavors) both come highly recommended.

Check Them Out on Yelp
Lasita

Lasita

(Formerly Lasa) Owned by Filipino Americans, this restaurant recently pivoted during the pandemic and is now doing dishes inspired by rotisserie and lechon from the Philippines.

Check Them Out on Yelp

Indian

Flavor of India

Flavor of India

Check Them Out on Yelp
India's Restaurant

India's Restaurant

Check Them Out on Yelp

Burmese

Mutiara Food & Market

Mutiara Food & Market

Try the “mee goreng” (spicy fried noodles), nasi goreng (fried rice), and any one of the curries while you’re there.

Check Them Out on Yelp

Himalayan

Himalayan House

Himalayan House

Order your choice of “naan” (Tandoori baked bread), “momo” (dumplings), “chow chow” (Nepali-style noodles), “aloo gobi” (potatoes and cauliflower), and any of the “tikka masala” dishes.

Check Them Out on Yelp
Tara's Himalayan Cuisine

Tara's Himalayan Cuisine

Check Them Out on Yelp

Indonesian

Borneo Kalimantan Cuisine

Borneo Kalimantan Cuisine

Check Them Out on Yelp

Asian American Businesses to Patronize

Businesses have taken a hit because of the pandemic and Asian American businesses have seen the brunt of it. Here is a list of Asian American businesses you can throw your support behind.

Skincare

Soko Glam

Soko Glam

sokoglam.com

Korean skincare is world-famous. This website makes it accessible and easy to order online.


Books

A Good Used Book

A Good Used Book

agoodusedbook.com

Asian-owned online bookstore based in Koreatown, Los Angeles.


Hardware/Nurseries

Anzen Hardware

Anzen Hardware

yelp.com/biz/anzen-hardware-los-angeles

Japanese-owned nursery and hardware and kitchen supply store.

Yamada

Yamada

yelp.com/biz/yamada-gardena

Japanese-owned garden supply store.

Hashimoto

Hashimoto

yelp.com/biz/hashimoto-nursery-los-angeles

Japanese-owned nursery.


Food

Health-Ade

Health-Ade

health-ade.com

small-batch, handcrafted kombucha.

Omsom

Omsom

omsom.com

Direct-to-consumer food brand that sells “starters,” or sauce mixes for Asian dishes.

Bokksu

Bokksu

bokksu.com

Online Japanese snack market and subscription box. The subscription box is a curated mix of authentic snacks from Japan. Makes for an awesome gift!