Book Review | Restaurant Kid by Rachel Phan
Restaurant Kid: A Memoir of Family and Belonging by Rachel Phan
Restaurants and nail salons are two types of businesses that are synonymous with Asian immigrants in North America. In Restaurant Kid: A Memoir of Family and Belonging, Rachel Phan gives us a sneak peek into her upbringing, offering “outsiders” a better understanding of what it means to be a “restaurant kid.” The first part of this memoir centres on Rachel's formative years, overshadowed by her family's restaurant. It reflects on her efforts to fit into the "Canadian" mold and the implications of being a young child who is often left to her own devices, as her parents' attention is primarily on their "fourth" kid, the restaurant. However, the more compelling aspect of the book is the second part, as it’s where Rachel grapples with the truth about her family and their past, all while trying to find a way for her family to come together and reconcile their history with their current lives. As someone of Vietnamese descent, I particularly loved the Vietnam chapters. Additionally, the section where Rachel contemplates what life would look like when her parents finally retire and it’s her turn to look after them resonated with me since I’m the eldest and only daughter in my family. Rachel's prose flows seamlessly as she skillfully tells a story that is both heart-wrenching and uplifting. She also does not shy away from the explicit details necessary to discuss the harm fetishization and objectification have had on Asian women, reflecting on how they have personally shaped her from a young age. Restaurant Kid is a must-read not only for fans of memoirs but also for those who enjoy narrative stories that reflect the Asian Canadian experience.
Read If You Liked: House of Sticks by Ly Tran
An early copy of this title was generously provided to me by the publishers for review. However, the above reviews consists of my honest opinion of the book and my opinion only.
