The living legacy of Chinatowns around the world
2. Yaowarat, Bangkok
Above Bangkok (Photo: Mike González / Pexels)
When King Rama I moved the Thai capital to Bangkok in the 1780s, Chinese traders resettled along the Chao Phraya River. Yaowarat Road became the spine of Bangkok's Chinatown, a gilded stretch of gold shops, shrines and shophouses where commerce and culture intertwined.
For over two centuries, Yaowarat has remained vibrantly Chinese yet unmistakably Thai. Temples like Wat Mangkon Kamalawat draw worshippers, while street hawkers serve everything from bird's nest soup to Thai-Chinese fusion dishes with generations of culinary know-how behind them.
Throughout the centuries, experts, industry insiders and influencers have made Yaowarat well-known. Gentrification has brought boutique hotels and speakeasies, but Yaowarat's spirit remains thick as fish maw soup. The older generation still sweeps storefronts at dawn, while the younger crowd turns family stalls into branded foodie empires. 3. San Francisco, USA
Above San Francisco (Photo: Ricky Esquivel / Pexels)
Established in the 1850s, San Francisco's Chinatown is the oldest in the US. Born from Gold Rush dreams and hardened by the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, the neighbourhood became a fortress against institutional racism. After the 1906 earthquake, the community rebuilt with ornate Chinese-inspired architecture, partly to attract tourists, partly to reclaim dignity.
For decades, it was home to Chinese labourers, laundries and secret societies. Today, it's a bustling cultural hub, where Cantonese grandmothers haggle over bok choy and next-gen chefs serve Peking duck in sleek dining rooms.
However, encroaching gentrification from tech giants has put immense pressure on the neighbourhood. But Chinatown's residents are reorganising, establishing cultural districts, protecting rent-controlled housing and resisting eviction. Here, the dragon still dances, and it still breathes fire. 4. Flushing, New York, USA
Above Flushing (Photo: chaddavis.photography via Wikimedia Commons)
While Manhattan's Chinatown was once the flagship, the real Chinese community boom has shifted to Flushing, Queens. Starting in the 1980s, an influx of immigrants from Fujian, Taiwan and mainland China transformed Flushing into a multilingual megahub.
Unlike its Manhattan predecessor, Flushing is less performative and more lived-in. Here, you'll find regional Chinese cuisines rarely seen outside the mainland. Think Lanzhou hand-pulled noodles, Dongbei hot pot and Taiwanese shaved ice.
Now, Flushing is rapidly expanding but faces the same gentrification threats as many of the other Chinatowns on this list. Malls, high-rises and luxury condos are appearing at dizzying rates. Still, the community is vocal: demanding infrastructure, transit investment and cultural preservation in the face of displacement. 5. London, Soho, UK
Above London (Photo: Artūras Kokorevas / Pexels)
The UK's first Chinese enclave started in Limehouse in the 19th century. It was initially home to sailors and working-class migrants. Post-WWII, however, many relocated to Soho, where Chinatown took root amid narrow streets and crumbling postwar buildings.
From humbler beginnings, London's Chinatown evolved into a vibrant food and nightlife hub, with Cantonese roast shops, bakeries and later, pan-Asian influences. It's also home to community centres and Chinese-language newspapers that have helped generations settle and eventually thrive.
Now, Soho's rise as a nightlife capital and tourist zone has brought soaring rents and a flood of chain restaurants. Yet local organisers are resisting whitewashing, ensuring that alongside the bubble tea and barbecue, the soul of Chinatown remains unmistakably Chinese and defiantly local. 6. Melbourne, Australia
Above Melbourne (Photo: Pat Whelen via Pexels)
Formed during Australia's 1850s gold rush, Melbourne's Chinatown is the oldest continuously inhabited Chinatown in the Western world. Early Chinese immigrants braved exclusion laws and rigid policies to form tight-knit communities along Little Bourke Street. Over the decades, it evolved from goldfield grit to Art Deco elegance, becoming a cultural landmark for both old and new generations of Chinese-Australians.
These days, Melbourne's Chinatown still boasts traditional restaurants and lunar festivals. However, many young Chinese Australians are opening contemporary eateries, fashion boutiques and co-working studios, developing a stylish intersection of heritage and innovation.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Tatler Asia
12-06-2025
- Tatler Asia
David Rockwell on 40 years of global restaurant design: From Nobu to W Hotels and beyond
Above The outdoor dining terrace at Nobu Bangkok offers guests uninterrupted views of the skyline (Photo: Owen Raggatt) How does the design of Nobu Bangkok showcase your long-term partnership with Nobu and the city's cultural identity? Nobu enabled us to move away from literal scenographic space into the exploration of abstraction. We were able to develop a more sophisticated and rich architectural language that related to the food and helped redefine what the fine dining and hospitality experience could be. Since 1994, we have designed over 40 Nobu restaurants and hotels across the globe. For the first location in New York, we created a space that was heavily narrative driven, from the river rock walls to the cherry blossom floor stencil that referred to Madame Butterfly. It was a very rich, multiple-layered interior with a very strong narrative inspired by the chef 's unique approach to cooking. At the time, it was the first of its kind, and best represented our idea that a visit to a restaurant could be thought of as a mini-vacation. Don't miss: 10 beautiful Michelin-starred restaurants by acclaimed designers worldwide Above The main dining room at Nobu Bangkok features a site-specific installation of gold swirling sumi-e ink that floats beneath a mirrored ceiling (Photo: Owen Raggatt) Nobu Bangkok is the brand's first location in Thailand and the largest Nobu restaurant to date. The restaurant is situated on level 57, 58 and 61 rooftop of the Empire Tower in Sathon, the city's financial centre. Nobu Bangkok's multiple areas for dining, socialising, large gatherings and celebrations offer a distinct F&B programme unique to Bangkok and Thai culture, such as a private tearoom and flexible event spaces. The experience culminates with the open-sky bar atop the building. There, low banquettes and lounge seating allow guests to take in the 360-degree views of the Bangkok skyline and Chao Phraya River. Throughout the project, materials and textures meld Thailand's rich artisanal techniques, such as hand-woven textiles and wood carving, with traditional Japanese arts, such as kintsugi as well as calligraphy. Read more: 7 designer dining chairs that you'll recognise from restaurants and dining rooms Above The whiskey bar at Nobu Bangkok draws inspiration from traditional Thai architecture, featuring tiered ceiling elements that mirror the country's iconic roof structures (Photo: Owen Raggatt) How has your background in theatrical design influenced your approach to hospitality spaces? For me, the theatre was, and is, a microcosm for so many of my emerging interests that became focused on practising design. That is, design as a social experience, a means of communication, and as a collaborative process to create an aesthetic universe. Theatre introduced me to the power of ideas and the multiple ways those ideas could be expressed: a single script, screenplay or libretto, all driven by a narrative, can be expressed in infinite ways. There are so many rich architectural elements that can be abstracted from architecture—the sense of an entrance, moments of surprise and discovery, and the celebration of ephemerality. We generally look at the design of a building as a whole, and not as a sequence of moments and experiences, but that is actually how architecture and interiors are typically experienced. For that reason, the design of Nobu Bangkok—as well as most of our projects—pays particularly close attention to the entrance, what guests can see from particular vantage points, how it feels to walk to their table or the rooftop, the scenographic stepped ceiling in the dining room, and so on. See also: Inside the world's most extraordinary art homes: 5 residences where architecture serves priceless collections Above The first Nobu opened in Tribeca and featured signature birch tree columns and textured stone walls that established the brand's distinctive narrative-driven aesthetic across 40+ global locations What core design principles remain constant as your firm grew globally, and how do you ensure consistency across diverse projects? I think the key lies in the talent and incredible breadth of expertise of our staff, from architects to interior designers, model makers, set designers, technologists and storytellers—it's sort of a design city. We've broken the city up into neighbourhoods, where smaller groups work together on multiple projects across all types of problems. This organisation enables cross-pollination between types and scales of projects, and averts the atrophy that can happen when project types are repeated. Ultimately, our goal is to create a story about the client and craft a physical expression of that story using every device, including texture, craft, technology and unexpected collisions. Don't miss: Private islands and wealth: How 6 tech and business leaders built their secluded domains Above For Nobu NYC Downtown, Rockwell worked with John Houshmand to realise a monumental ash wood sculpture depicting a swirl of watery sumi-e ink (Photo: Eric Laignel) How has the evolving hospitality industry influenced your approach to restaurant design, and what elements are essential for a memorable dining experience today? Every project we design strives to bring something new into the world — and because we don't have a design signature, there's no single element that equates memorability. Instead, the underlying commonality is creating spaces in which people can connect and indulge their curiosity for life. We try to create duality: moments for both spontaneous and planned events, an atmosphere that is both familiar and refreshing, intimacy within grand spaces. Our design has a point of view and conveys authenticity. Today's guest is seeking authentic connections to the spaces they find themselves in. Read more: Bill Bensley: Eco-luxury hotels' design rebel Above The main dining room in Nobu NYC Downtown features plush banquette seating with Japanese patterns in rich Peruvian colours and a river-rock wall by the staircase (Photo: Eric Laignel) How do you incorporate local architectural traditions into contemporary design while avoiding cliches? We're never adding specific cultural elements or motifs simply to add them. Each design and project is a natural extension of its place. Our deep and rigorous research, extensive collaboration with local artists and craftspeople, and the diverse lives and backgrounds of our exceptional staff all contribute to rich and sensitive projects. See also: Home tour: Grand English-inspired mansion maximises stunning mountain views in Malaysia Above The ceiling of Nobu Barcelona draws inspiration from the Japanese art of kintsugi, featuring live-edge walnut panels intersected by gold-coloured veins (Photo: Ricardo Labougle) What are some of the key projects or moments that have shaped your design philosophy, and what sort of influence do they have on your current work? If there was one moment of strategy in terms of building the studio that I can remember, it was in 1996. We wanted to expand, and so I made a diagram that thought through the things I was interested in: hospitality, performance, storytelling, materiality, craftsmanship and so forth. In terms of hospitality, in addition to Nobu, Rockwell Group designed the first W Hotel, which opened in 1998 in New York City, and we have collaborated with W over the years to help shape the brand. Our redesigns and renovations of the new W New York-Union Square and W Hollywood represent one of the first iterations of the new W brand design concept developed by Rockwell Group for Marriott. Don't miss: Y2K aesthetic revival: Decoding the millennium design trend making a comeback Above The design of Nobu Hotel Manila was inspired by the ocean and Japanese fishing culture (Photo: Ed Reeve) What aspects of design currently excite you most, and what future directions do you envision for hospitality architecture? I'm excited about the ways I see them overlapping in three categories—theatre, hospitality, and the public realm. Additionally, we have responded to crises over the years by initiating and raising funds for public works projects. Our latest is Cork Collective, a non-profit initiative with a mission to transform cork stoppers from restaurants and hospitality venues into valuable resources. We are launching Casa Cork at this year's Milan Design Week. The installation is an immersive cork atelier where the hospitality and design communities will come together with a shared sustainability goal. NOW READ Discover how Johor architect Razin Mahmood is redefining Malaysian architecture with tropical modernism Pacific notions: Inside a family's island getaway in Mindanao, Philippines Inside the Gucci family villa in Rome, now with a reduced selling price of US$13.02 million Best of Tatler Asia video highlights Featured videos from around Tatler Asia: Get exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the interviews we do, the events we attend, the shoots we produce, and the incredibly important people who are part of our community
Tatler Asia
11-06-2025
- Tatler Asia
11 underrated Asian dishes (and why you should absolutely be eating them)
2. Brinjal moju (Sri Lanka) Sri Lanka is perhaps the centre of underrated Asian dishes. Brinjal moju is essentially eggplant but with an edge. Sliced into batons, deep-fried to a caramelised crisp, then doused in a pickled blend of vinegar, mustard seeds, chilli and sugar, brinjal moju hits all the high notes: sweet, sour, spicy, umami. Served as a side dish in rice-and-curry spreads, it often plays second fiddle unfairly. It deserves to be the star of the plate. Again, Sri Lankan food as a whole is criminally underrepresented abroad, and the word 'moju' doesn't exactly roll off the tongue. But for eggplant sceptics, this dish can be a revelation. 3. Chim chum (Thailand/Laos) Above (Photo: Takeaway / Wikimedia Commons) Chim chum isn't just dinner—it's an experience. Diners gather around a clay pot over charcoal, cooking thin slices of pork, leafy greens and glass noodles in a bubbling herbal broth infused with galangal, lemongrass and kaffir lime. It's casual, communal and deeply aromatic. The underrated factor? Chim chum doesn't have the glamour of tom yum or pad thai, and it's rarely seen on Western menus. But its DIY style, perfumed broth and built-in social vibe make it an ideal gateway to Southeast Asian home cooking. 4. Oo-peh-tshiat (Taiwan) Above (Photo: Rockhsp / Wikimedia Commons) Translating to 'randomly sliced', this cold platter of blanched meats and offal might not win beauty contests, but it wins on pure flavour. Served with intensely savoury dips like garlic soy or chilli oil, it's Taiwan's answer to charcuterie. The texture is chewy, slippery, tender—sometimes all at once. It may not be getting as much love due to offal being a central ingredient, plus the dish's minimal presentation is hardly social-media friendly. But it's the rest of the world that needs to adjust. For anyone serious about nose-to-tail dining, oo-peh-tshiat is a masterclass. 5. Yuxiang rousi (China) Translated as 'fish-fragrant pork', though it contains no fish, this Sichuan classic features shredded pork stir-fried with wood ear mushrooms, bamboo shoots and a sauce of chilli bean paste, garlic and vinegar. The result? A sticky-sweet, spicy-sour flavour bomb with absurd depth. As far as Asian dishes go, the name is misleading, and yuxiang rousi often gets overshadowed by better-known Sichuan fare like mapo tofu. But once you understand the poetic misdirection of 'fish-fragrant', a style, not a literal descriptor, you'll understand why locals adore it. 6. Thịt kho tàu (Vietnam) Comfort food at its most poetic: pork belly and hard-boiled eggs slow-braised in coconut water, fish sauce and caramelised sugar. How is your mouth not watering at that description? The broth turns deep amber, rich yet mellow. Traditionally eaten during Tết (Lunar New Year), it tastes like home, memory and quiet celebration. Unfortunately, it doesn't get the love it deserves, probably because it lacks the immediate pop of herbs and crunch that makes pho, bánh mì or other Asian dishes so camera-ready. But give it a slow hour with steamed rice, and it will reward you with warmth and nostalgia. 7. Stir-fried water spinach (various regions) Above (Photo: Obsidian Soul / Wikimedia Commons) Known as kangkong, morning glory or ong choy, this aquatic vegetable has regional flavour variations across Asia. In the Philippines, it's stir-fried with garlic and bagoong (fermented shrimp paste) for a pungent, umami kick. In Thai cuisine, pad pak boong adds bird's eye chilies and soy sauce for a spicier, smokier profile. Meanwhile, in Chinese kitchens, ong choy is often wok-fried with fermented bean curd, offering a creamier, more mellow note. These shifts in seasoning not only highlight local preferences but also reveal the plant's incredible adaptability—from briny to sweet, bold to delicate—making it a quiet yet essential canvas in Southeast Asian cooking. It's usually seen as too cheap, quick and humble to headline. But ask anyone from Thailand to the Philippines, and they'll tell you: no rice meal should be complete without it. 8. Salted egg yolk crab (Southeast Asia) Above (Photo: Sanjai Sudheesh / Pexels) You might argue that salted egg had its moment a decade ago, but only the flavour and not this particular dish. At least not really. Salted egg yolk crab is maximalism on a plate: deep-fried and tossed in a thick, grainy sauce of mashed salted duck egg yolks, curry leaves and butter. It's creamy, funky and dangerously addictive. Found in Singapore and Malaysia, it's a celebration dish that never quite cracked the global seafood scene. Why? Salted egg yolk anything is still niche outside Asia, and cracking crab isn't for the faint of heart. But for fans of bold, savoury decadence, this is it. 9. Popiah basah (Malaysia/Singapore) A soft spring roll packed with julienned jicama, egg, tofu and sometimes shrimp or Chinese sausage, wrapped in a delicate crepe and drizzled with sweet bean sauce. It's juicy, fresh and perfectly balanced. Unlike its fried relatives, popiah basah is tender and textural, a snack that eats like a meal. Why the low profile? It's tricky to make, perishable and doesn't travel well. That said, it might be one of Southeast Asia's best-kept lunch secrets. See more: The most underrated Malaysian dishes, according to chefs 10. Douhua (China) Above (Photo: David / Wikimedia Commons) A warm or cold tofu dessert that's barely held together, douhua is all about texture. Imagine silken curds bathed in ginger syrup, brown sugar or even savoury sauces in some regions. It's light, calming and deeply nostalgic for many Chinese families. Why it's slept on? Tofu maintains its reputation as a health food or meat substitute. But douhua isn't trying to imitate anything. It's an original, and it's glorious. 11. Dinakdakan (Philippines) A bold and boisterous dish from the Ilocos region, dinakdakan is made from grilled pig parts—typically ears, face and sometimes brain—chopped finely and tossed with onions, calamansi juice, vinegar and sometimes a touch of mayo for creaminess. It's tangy, smoky and rich, with a delightful chew. Unfortunately, it's one of those Asian dishes whose reputation takes a hit thanks to the innards in the ingredients. But if sisig can get through that hurdle, so can dinakdakan. Those who love lechon and texture will enjoy this culinary gem. It's bold, ancestral and unapologetically local. Don't miss: 11 classic Filipino dishes everyone needs to try: sinigang, adobo, and more
Tatler Asia
10-06-2025
- Tatler Asia
Set sail: scenic boat rides around the world for your travel bucket list
Giethoorn (Overijssel Province, Netherlands) Above Giethoorn is straight out of a fairytale. (Photo: Amir Deljouyi / Unsplash) Nicknamed the 'Venice of the North' and often described as a fairytale village, Giethoorn has no roads—only a network of canals that residents and visitors navigate by electric 'whisper boats' and traditional wooden punts. But that's only half of Giethoorn's charm. The other half lies in its storybook cottages with thatched roofs, gardens bursting with flowers in the springtime, quaint arched wooden bridges and the occasional duck paddling gently on the canal. Don't miss: Shy escapes: 9 quiet destinations for introverts who love to travel Wuzhen (Zhejiang Province, China) Above Take a romantic evening boat ride in Wuzhen. (Photo: kuaileqie RE / Unsplash) Wuzhen is one of China's most meticulously preserved and lovingly restored water towns. Characterised by cobblestone alleys, arched stone bridges and Ming- and Qing-era architecture, it offers visitors a glimpse into the past. It's recommended to stay at least one night and go on a boat ride in the evening, when the wooden houses and still canals glow under the warm flicker of lanterns, transforming this picturesque town into a dreamy, mirror-like waterscape. Venice Canals Historic District (Los Angeles, California, USA) Above A picturesque pocket of serenity in Los Angeles (Photo: Leo_Visions / Unsplash) Inspired by Venice, Italy, Los Angeles's Venice Canals Historic District was conceived by developer Abbot Kinney in 1905. Today, after restoration efforts in the 1990s, only six of the original canals remain. Located a stone's throw from the Venice Beach Boardwalk, the canals offer a tranquil alternative. Glide past private docks, charming homes, arched pedestrian bridges and lush gardens in a kayak or rented gondola, and discover a surprisingly serene and picturesque corner of Los Angeles. The Great Stour (Canterbury, England) Above Punt through medieval Canterbury (Photo: Jolly Ittoop Athungal / Pexels) Just an hour outside London lies the idyllic city of Canterbury. Immerse yourself in a bit of history when you take a traditional punt along the Great Stour as it winds through the heart of this medieval city. Enjoy the scenery as you glide under centuries-old bridges and past rustic timber-framed homes, historic stone walls and charming English gardens. Don't forget to watch for glimpses of historic landmarks, including Canterbury Cathedral's spires rising in the distance. Amsterdam Canal Rings (Netherlands) Above This list wouldn't be complete without the Amsterdam Canal Rings. (Photo: Gabriel Guita/Pexels) A Unesco World Heritage Site and a defining feature of the city's historic core, Amsterdam's iconic 17th-century canal rings—Herengracht, Keizersgracht and Prinsengracht—offer tourists an opportunity to take in postcard-perfect views of gabled townhouses, arched stone bridges and colourful houseboats while cruising down its waterways. In the evening, the bridges are lit up, illuminating the canal and giving it an enchanting, cinematic glow. Maasin River (Siargao, Philippines) Above Take tropical boat ride in Siargao. (Photo: Eibner Saliba / Unsplash) If you're looking for a more tropical vibe, take a boat ride down the Maasin River in Siargao. Flanked by coconut palms and dense mangroves on both sides, you'll be gliding along emerald waters through a lush landscape that will take you to a secret lagoon. Feel free to take a quick dip in its refreshing waters before heading back up the river. Maasin is a quieter alternative to Siargao's surfing scene and perfectly captures the island's relaxed spirit and natural allure. Colmar (Alsace, France) Above France's 'Little Venice' (Photo: Evans Joel/Pexels) Located in France's Alsace region, just a couple of hours from Paris by train, is Colmar. Rumoured to be the inspiration for the French village in Studio Ghibli's Howl's Moving Castle , this hidden gem is another fairytale destination. Head over to the 'La Petite Venise' or 'Little Venice' district and take a scenic boat ride down the Lauch River, where you'll be greeted by storybook views of colourful half-timbered houses decked with pretty flower boxes, arched stone bridges and cobblestone streets.
