Writing
A selection of my favorite stories.
Packages
This Is Hawai‘i, the Local Way Bon Appétit, August 2025
This Year’s Heads of the Table Awards Celebrate Five Change-Makers Bon Appétit, September 2022
Everything You Need to Know to Make Hot Pot At Home Bon Appétit, February 2022 — 2023 James Beard Foundation Journalism Award Finalist in the Home Cooking category
What Chez Panisse Taught Us Bon Appétit, March 2021
Profiles
How a Restaurant Family Celebrates Chinese New Year Bon Appétit, January 2025
Juan Oajaca Isn’t Just a Great Prep Cook or an Efficiency Pro. He’s the Man. BentoBox 25, May 2024
Atomix Made Them Stars. Where Do They Go From Here? Grub Street, May 2023
How Traditional Chinese Medicine Combines Health and Culinary Traditions Food & Wine, January 2023
The Chef Who Embodies Hawai'i’s Past, Present, and Future Bon Appétit, July 2021
The Man, The Myth, The Udon Bon Appétit, October 2018
The Mysterious World of Burrow, a Japanese Bakery Hiding in an Office Lobby Bon Appétit, June 2018
Features
Hawaii’s ‘Local Food,’ a Rich Mix That Isn’t Strictly Hawaiian The New York Times, June 2023
Food Is Identity. For Korean Chefs Who Were Adopted, It’s Complicated. The New York Times, August 2022
Everyone Loves Crispy and Crunchy, But What About Chewy? Bon Appétit, October 2019
Why Is Everyone So Obsessed with Milk Bread? Bon Appétit, April 2019
Reported Trend Stories
Cute Food Gets Serious—and Savory TASTE, September 2024
The South Korean Chefs Redefining the Art of Pastry The New York Times, May 2023
In Kentucky, Where the Future Really Is Female Bon Appétit, October 2018
Why “Kantaro: The Sweet Tooth Salaryman” Is Our Latest Netflix Binge Food & Wine, December 2017
Tokyo Drift: Japanese restaurant chains are conquering the U.S., but there's more to it than ramen Tasting Table, February 2016
Essays
American As Japanese Fruit Pie Cake Zine, Summer 2023
Do We Still Care About Burger Rankings? TASTE, May 2022
I Let My Husband Cut My Bangs, But I Still Tip My Hairdresser Bon Appétit/Healthyish, May 2020
Travel Guides
12 Honolulu Restaurants—For Something Other Than Poke Bon Appétit, January 2020
The 8 Cantonese Restaurants That Make Me Want to Move to Canada Bon Appétit, November 2019
Why Seattle Is One of the Most Exciting Places to Eat Japanese Food Right Now Bon Appétit, September 2018
As-Told-To Stories
My Chinatown Restaurant Was on the Brink of Collapse. Then the Community Stepped In. Bon Appétit, September 2021
How I Went From Prison Cook to Pizza Chef at One of Philly’s Best New Restaurants Bon Appétit, September 2021
I Spent My Life Assimilating, but My Father's Recipe Reminds Me of Who I Am Bon Appétit, June 2021
Through Pandemic and Anti-Asian Violence, My Chinatown Restaurant Is Holding On Bon Appétit, March 2021
Our Restaurant’s Name Means ‘New Beginnings.’ That’s Never Felt More True. Bon Appétit, February 2021