Asian Life in San Francisco | Asian American Poll

ASIAN LIFE IN SAN FRANCISCO
(Updated Tuesday, Apr 1, 2008, 05:09:06 PM to reflect the 100 most recent valid responses.)

Which San Francisco Bay area offers the best environment for Asian Americans?
Downtown SF | 47%
East Bay | 31%
Marin County | 8%
South San Francisco | 14%

What's the best thing about living in the San Francisco Bay area?
Breathtaking Scenic Beauty | 40%
Clean Air | 19%
Lots of Fine Chinese Restaurants | 15%
Asians Everywhere | 18%
Great Universities, Skiing and Wine | 8%

What's the worst thing about living in the San Francisco Bay area?
No Summer Weather | 12%
Perpetual Gridlock | 40%
Too Crowded with Asians | 1%
Shortage of Decent Housing | 47%

This poll is closed to new input.
Comments posted during the past year remain available for browsing.

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WHAT YOU SAY

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TSJ:
"Just look at all the HK singers singing in Mandarin, but not vice versa."
Phonetic memorization. As long as they can read pinyin, they can pretend to be able to speak while they're singing. But believe me, you don't wanna hear them try to give an interview in Mandarin. Most HKers get along fine without speaking very good Mandarin. I'd say it's analogous to the situation of Spanish in the US - it is pretty easy for to become quite fluent, you can see it on the TV, lots of native speakers around, etc. And those who are thrust into a situation where they need to become fluent (ie. doing business with clients who only speak that language, got a girlfriend who can't speak your own language, went to study abroad, etc.) live up to that demand within a few months. But the average guy doesn't bother, cuz he figures he can't compete with the people who learned it at home from their parents.
T.H. Lien Tuesday, June 04, 2002 at 14:39:58 (PDT)

hey tsj:

have you ever eaten at that one hunan restaurant in chinatown that always has a line of white people in front of it? is it any good? what's up with it?

haha ac...you're *intimately* familiar with the cba... =)
penelope Tuesday, June 04, 2002 at 13:48:32 (PDT)

LSD,

You are definitely mistaken about NYC. I'm intimitately familar with the various Chinese Business Associations in the city. It is such a potpourri of Chinese people it is not even fun these days. As for actual geographical origin of various owners in Chinatown themselves, it is also diverse here in the city.
AC Dropout Tuesday, June 04, 2002 at 10:16:13 (PDT)

"3) Restaurants that cater only to tourists. Ex. SF's Chinese restaurants are tourist attractions."

Yeah, you are so right on this. There are a couple of restaurants in SF Chinatown listed on those guidebooks that are always packed with European tourists. If you look inside, they are the dirtiest, dingiest dives you will ever see. The food isn't stellar either, but apparently the waiters sing and dance, like they are working at Coyote Ugly or something.

I could add another one to your list - restaurants catering to the downtown financial district workers. A lot of SF Chinatown restaurants are like this too. They are only busy at lunch time Mon to Fri. All other times, even weekends, are dead.

"In these bad times, it's good to start a novelty franchise. Ex. Restaurants that serve franchised sushi or Asian food. Another idea is to introduce trends from one area to another. Ex. KKs or Pearl Tea Cafes in White neighborhoods."

Those pearl tea shops are popping up all over white neighborhoods. The biggest one out here is called Tapioca Express, or TapX. They are everywhere! The funny thing is, they could be in the middle of the lilly whitest town in the area, yet they are always packed with Chinese! Like, where the hell do they come from?! I never drink any myself, but I just go there to scope the hunnies. =)

"Canto folks are greater in numbers, more established, and more widespread. It's like we could infiltrate into their neighborhoods but they can't do the same with ours."

You got that right. When it comes to Chinese, shoot, Asians in general, in America, Cantonese rule! The truth is in numbers. Hehe... I just love the word "infiltrate." It's like we are at all out war or something.

"HK people speak manadarin? That's a joke."

HK people are forced to learn Mandarin now since China took over. Besides, they have been using it for years regardless. Just look at all the HK singers singing in Mandarin, but not vice versa. The bottom line is a Cantonese speaking person can learn Mandarin fairly easily, with little or no accent. The same cannot be said the other way around.
TSJ Eric@KristinKreuk.net Monday, June 03, 2002 at 16:58:42 (PDT)

"Northern Mainlanders are cool with me. It's just Taiwanese who have the attitude."

Most Taiwanese have a complex with Mainlanders. I think most of us can agree on this!

You say Taiwanese are cliquish. I call it ELITISM. Their superiority complex prevents them from associating with other groups such as the Cantonese. I don't think it is because HK is more "international" than Taiwan. As stupid as this seems, we Cantonese folks aren't up to their standards and level of thinking! Remember, most Taiwanese who came to this country during the 50's were very educated and wealthy. They were known as the "Uptown" Chinese in the big cities such as LA and NY. The Cantonese and the Toisans at that time were the lower class group. Many of them were poor and less educated, and resided in the Chinatowns living a difficult life, something which the Taiwanese snobs in this country have never experienced.

"Out in CA, most of the more modern Asian strip malls are actually opened by Taiwanese developers, but are mostly occupied by HK stores. For instance, Milpitas Square is anchored by Ranch 99, a Taiwanese owned chain, yet has many HK restaurants, like Mayflower. Most of the other restaurants in there are Cantonese cuisine, with some Northern, Japanese, Thai, and bubble tea shops mixed in."

Yep, this is also the same scenerio in NY. Like the West Coast or SF, many HK folks have businesses in the Taiwanese areas and neighborhoods. One could also say the Taiwanese have a inferior complex with the Cantonese or HKers too. Why? Canto folks are greater in numbers, more established, and more widespread. It's like we could infiltrate into their neighborhoods but they can't do the same with ours.

Remember what u said, we have the upper hand on things! <(o_o)>

LSD Sunday, June 02, 2002 at 15:06:58 (PDT)

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