If this book was even slightly meant to make you crave Chinese food, it worked! It also made me appreciate my favorite Chinese restaurant just a little more than I did before. In his memoir, Curtis Chin shares the story of his family living in Detroit and running the popular Chung's Restaurant. Curtis grew up with five siblings and had to struggle to find his way not just in his family and culture, but also in his city and school. Chin also faces racism, and as he transitions from grade school to high school, he has to come to terms with his sexuality. Should he heed his mother's advice and keep quiet or should he find his own voice and stand out?

Chin etches out his own identity by trying to make friends, join clubs, and work hard. Like any teenage boy, his hormones often get in his way, and he is overshadowed by his culture and the needs of his family. But Chin tells his story with a light-hearted, often comical, approach as he navigates through both high school and college. I was so eager to see him finally out in the world doing what he had longed to do and strived for throughout his teen years, finding his place in this world.

As a white gay male, this book was an eye opener for me when it comes to different forms of racism and cultures. I could relate to Chin since I also grew up as a young boy in the 80's trying to navigate the headlines of AIDS and homophobia. Being a writer, I was also happy to see the path Chin took in college which led me to want to learn more about him. It's a coming of age story about boyhood, education, politics, and family that many will appreciate, no matter where you came from.

Thank you netgalley for this title!

I will keep it short and sweet, I am not someone who tends to read alot of nonfiction. This however was fantastic! I have no real critiques

A journey of emigration is a rich experience that engraves its lessons deeply into the fabric of a person's life. The rewards far outweigh the challenges. Experiences gained, emotions felt, and the possibility of sharing one's unique history with others are all worth it.

Curtis Chin's great great great grandfather came to America to change his life. He moved on to Detroit, opening his own business after not finding any Chinese in Ohio. This fascinating book describes the author's upbringing and helping his parents in a Chinese restaurant.

The inclusive nature of the restaurant is one of the most remarkable aspects of this narrative. Regardless of gender, race, or any other difference, it welcomed everyone who entered. This acceptance and open-mindedness is a testament to the power of embracing diversity.

In this incredible story, Curtis Chi beautifully weaves together the intricacies of growing up in a large family with the vibrant backdrop of the restaurant. In the narrative, a feeling of connection weaves together emotions and family ties. Consequently, the pages glisten with authenticity and depth, revealing the challenges, triumphs, and pleasures of navigating family dynamics.

Overall, it's a page-turner and a must-read. Worth a try.

This is a memoir by Curtis Chin. He shared his story of growing up as a gay man in Detroit, while his family ran a restaurant. He has good stories and an interesting perspective.

I received an advanced copy of this through Netgalley, but all opinions are my own.

Author Curtis Chin does. good job of retelling the immigrant story. This memoir captures the "tiger mom" narrative and also the "boys club" mentality of some cultures. Lots of this story rang true for me after marrying into a family-owned restaurant business. The behind-the-scenes chores like making the "setups" every day, rolling place settings of silverware in napkins and stacking them in the setup bin, refilling the salt and pepper shakers, and setting up the bread baskets before the lunch rush. Altogether, an enjoyable read.

As an Asian American, I really wanted to read this book because it's always interesting to learn about other people's experiences. There were many parts that were so relatable. This book touched on a lot of important topics incuding racism, being gay, life as an immigrant. I loved the writing and flow of the book. I didn't feel like I was reading but more like a good friend was telling me their life story.

Thank you to Netgalley and the author for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book.

I was initially drawn to Curtis Chin's "Everything I Learned, I Learned in a Chinese Restaurant" because of the structure of the book: the table of contents is based on a stereotypical Chinese restaurant menu. Also, I have a deep love of any literature about Chinese restaurants in North America. But I wasn't familiar with Curtis Chin himself. But I am so happy I read his book!

Things I loved:

- Curtis Chin is my age (we were born in the same year) so his references are my references.
- I grew up with parents who owned a business where I was expected to work. I related to a lot of his stories about working at the family restaurant.
- I don't know a lot about the history and evolution/devolution of Detroit; it was great to read more about that in the context of Curtis' day to day life.
- Curtis' writing is clear and engaging. I found him thoughtful and reflective without being narcissistic or self-absorbed. He's a good story teller, sharing just the right about of detail.
- Curtis' coming out story is beautifully integrated into the overall narrative. For most queer people, it's never just 1 single event - we're often always coming out - but the story of the first time he told someone is wonderful and then all the subsequent "comings out" really inform his development and personhood.


Big thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me a digital ARC of "Everything I Learned, I Learned in a Chinese Restaurant". Heartily recommend!!

Curtis and his 5 siblings grew up in his families' Chinese restaurant in Detroit in the 1970's.

The first 20% was a look into being a kid in Detroit in the 70's, growing up in a restaurant and school. Curtis likes to experiment with cooking but isn't always successful. He explores his sexuality and realizes he likes boys, not girls.

The middle sections got a bit repetitive; his mom wants them to be successful, the racism they face, how dangerous Detroit in the 70's was. It was worth reading until the end though!


Immigrant "own voices" memoir with themes of racism, coming out/sexuality, cooking/food

An interesting look at growing up gay and Asian American in 1980s Detroit, as viewed through the lens of the author's parents' Chinese restaurant. Fair warning, it will make you hungry!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced reader's copy that I received in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this memoir. I appreciated reading Chin’s story and found it to be very engaging. I’m looking forward to reading more work by this author.

Chin has done an excellent job telling his family's story. It's done in a great way with chapter titles that really fit with a Chinese Restaurant - the theme and pace were so good that I flew through the book. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. Five stars.

Everything I learned, I learned in a Chinese Restaurant by Curtis Chin - It was one of my favorite selected choice to read and review. It depicts that in a society where we are drawn to politics and race wars, humans all agree that food is fundamental to the gathering. It speaks of his life and his struggle to figure out where he fit into the world of ever-lasting challenges of identity. He's Asian Chinese American, he's gay and it's the 80's.

As the daughter of a Cambodian Genocide survivor, I understand where we are in the standard of society, where we belong in America, and where we struggle to find our voice.

I love that he challenges himself in so many ways. Absolute a delight to read and thank you!

I just reviewed Everything I Learned, I Learned in a Chinese Restaurant by Curtis Chin. #EverythingILearnedILearnedinaChineseRestaurant #NetGalley
[https://www.netgalley.com/member/book/281617/review]

Born in Detroit in 1968, Curtis Chin grew up in his family's popular Chinese restaurant, established in 1940 by his great-grandfather. While Curtis didn't really pick up the knack of cooking his family's dishes (despite his wild experimentation in the kitchen), he did learn many life lessons over the years of hanging out and then working there. In this memoir, he reveals some of those lessons and how they helped him name and address the racism he faced, explore and understand his sexuality, and come to terms with the ongoing decline of his city and the aging of his family members. Insightful and humorous, Chin's life story offers another piece of the immigrant story in the United States, including how it affects the subsequent generations and how they made a powerful impact on their own community: "Yes, my family succeeded because of America, but America also succeeded because of us."

Thank you, Little, Brown and Company and NetGalley, for providing an eARC of this book. Opinions expressed here are solely my own.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of Everything I learned, I Learned in a Chinese Restaurant.

This was a great read about a young Asian-American growing up on the mean streets of Detroit in the 70s and 80s.

As the first generation born in the US to hard-working immigrants parents Mr. Chin comes of age in Detroit in the dangerous 70s and 80s.

He learns how to cook and survive in a loud and raucous family where several generations live under one roof.

He deals with racism and micro-aggressions, trying to find his place as a middle child, and learning to accept and be proud of his queerness.

The writing is warm, funny, and empathetic.

The descriptions of the foods at the restaurant are tantalizing, while at the same time you also hear the harsh tones of Cantonese the author's grandmother is shouting at him.

As a first generation Chinese American myself, I can relate to this very well. Asians are loud.

Most of all, I can definitely relate to Mr. Chin's struggle to make his mark as an individual while at the same time remain loyal to his family, a very traditional Eastern belief.

What you do reflects back on your family and parents and sometimes you must sacrifice parts of your individuality for the whole of your family.

It was wonderful to read how understanding his parents were about his desire to be a writer and encouraged his artistic ambitions.

Thank you NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.


Intercity life can be hard on any kid – especially in Detroit. For Curtis Chin, growing up Asian American in the 1970’s and 80’s in the city was another level of challenge. Chin’s family was well known in Detroit’s Chinatown as restaurant operators and community leaders, rubbing elbows with the city’s first black mayor, movie stars, and more. With the entire family working in the restaurant, Chin and his siblings grew up doing homework at a back kitchen table, learning the business and recipes from first observing and later working in the kitchen and on the floor to help. But, more than anything, Chin learned who he is and what he wanted to accomplish in life inside those walls.

In Everything I Learned, I Learned in a Chinese Restaurant, Chin recounts stories from inside the restaurant as well as his life experiences with education, finding his own place at college, and his activism. The memoir is structured like a Chinese restaurant menu, moving through menu sections as Chin’s life moved to new phases. Early chapters deliver family humor and banter that could easily be found in a television sitcom. Middle chapters contain a coming-of-age story about a boy coming to terms with his sexual identity and working to break free of his family’s control. In the final chapters, Chin reflects on his college experience, coming out as gay, and early professional writing and producing career, culminating in moving across the country to forge his own path.

I give Everything I Learned, I Learned in a Chinese Restaurant 4 out of 5 stars. The early chapters of this book are hilarious and had me laughing out loud. I could visualize the environments Chin describes and hear the voice of his grandmother and mother ringing in my ears the way it must have for him growing up as well. The writing throughout contained great dialogue and detail that really connects the reader to the author’s memories. However, the later chapters felt like they didn’t connect well with the rest of the story and the pace felt rushed. Where Chin spent a good number of pages recounting what felt like trivial stories from childhood, his later memories were recounting much quicker and left me wanting him to expand on the storylines and open up more.

This memoir is a great choice for readers looking to connect with the story of Chinese immigrants who chose to move to America’s heartland instead of the heavily populated California or New York areas. If you enjoy Chinese food, this book is for you, too – the description of the menu and cooking process had me craving egg rolls and almond chicken! With discussions of prostitution, pornography, and violence, this book should be directed towards mature audiences over the age of 16.

I was provided an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review by NetGalley and the publisher Little, Brown and Company. I enjoy memoirs and find this book to be no exception, but probably would not have picked up the book on my own in the store. I am thankful for publishers and services like NetGalley who help put good books in the hands of readers like me who might not otherwise connect! Everything I Learned, I Learned in a Chinese Restaurant Everything I Learned, I Learned in a Chinese Restaurant by Curtis Chin will release on October 17, 2023, but you can preorder a copy today in our Bookshop.org store!

A really enjoyable memoir of what it was like growing up as a Chinese-American in Detroit in the 1980's. The author was practically raised in his family's Chinese restaurant, and has many good stories to tell about it. Loads of descriptions of what it was like being Asian in Detroit, with the racism, the discrimination and the stereotypes he faced. Not to mention the actual physical danger of living in downtown Detroit at that time! As if that were not enough of a challenge, being Asian AND discovering that he was gay really made for some tough times. I have to admit, this is the first time I have ever read a book where the author describes what it was like discovering his sexuality from the time he was very young. It must have been so confusing, frightening, and daunting for him. It really opened my eyes up to something I really never thought about before (and at age 63, I thought I knew everything, haha). It made me really think, and left impressed and happy that the author came through the struggle to become a happy, well-adjusted person. This is a thought-provoking, interesting read, and filled with great memories of recipes and foods. But....beware the grandmother!!!!

Curtis Chin’s memoir about growing up in the Corridor in 1980’s Detroit opened my eyes to a demographic and dynamic that I never really thought about, Asian homosexuality, and what that means for a culture that is founded on honor and family and repelled by shame. As his mother stated, “Work hard, be quiet and obey your elders.” That is how Chin lived his life. I am sure that coming out in the 1980’s was difficult for all, I now realize that for Chin, it seemed impossible.
The most special parts of this book happen in Chung’s; where cooking is tradition, lessons are learned, challenges are fought and food is love. Chin showed no fear when tackling such hard topics such as politics, stereotypes, homosexuality and the challenges of fitting in and speaking up, One quote that hits who between the eyes is, “When has an Asian-person’s words been more powerful than those of a white person?” Well Curtis, this book answers that question for me!

If you're a fan of coming-of-age memoirs, food-related memoirs, or memoirs in general, you must read this witty, endearing, and moving memoir.

As "#3" in a multigenerational Chiense restaurant owning family in 1980s Detroit, Curtis Chin grew up in a rapidly changing, vibrant, and sometimes volatile environment. The murder of Vincent Chin, relocating to a Detroit suburb (where the Chins were the only Asian family in the neighborhood), and Curtis's own realization and struggle with his gay identity are paramount to his development and his immersive memoir.

This is a powerful read for anyone who seeks thoughtful, unique, and unforgettable memoirs.

Many thanks to Little. Brown and Company and NetGalley for a digital review copy in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved this memoir! It made me miss my hometown a little bit. I did not grow up in a Chinese restaurant, but my kids had the privilege of attending five years of schooling in a full-on Mandarin Chinese immersion school in the Midwest. Our extended family consisted of all the teachers and interns that pulled us into their private lives. We celebrated each other’s holidays and birthdays, welcomed new babies, and most of all shared an abundance of meals.

That’s how Curtis Chin’s book feels. That’s how his father, and eventually himself, made all their customers feel; welcomed and accepted no matter what color or religion you are. Or if you're a prostitute looking for a late snack. Written like a storytelling conversation, Chin walks you through growing up in Detroit, Michigan during the 1980s; not too far from 8 Mile. His childhood is steeped in family drama (and tough love), politics, racism, violence, self-identity, and homosexuality. Being Asian in the Midwest was hard enough, but add that he was a self-proclaimed Republican and secretly gay.

All the food dishes Chin shares are enough to make you jump in your car and drive to the nearest Chinese restaurant, like, immediately. I really appreciated Chin’s mention of MSG as he listed out certain ingredients to make a full dish. MSG has its own very long history, but most known is its stereotype for being toxic and “bad for you”. The debate on MSG has fueled xenophobia and racism and is still prevalent today.

Chin presses on hard topics and shares the difficulties of her own self-reflection to be a better person.

Can I also say how much I loved seeing the word pop in a book again?? Soda is fine, but the way pop imitates the sound of that aluminum can cracking open is just, ah...
I can’t wait for ya’ll to read this book!

I admit, as the granddaughter of a Chinese restaurant owner in East Detroit (back in the 70s and 80s, yo), this memoir was right up my alley. In EverythingI Learned, I Learned in a Chinese Restaurant, Curtis Chin captures the Detroit flavor of that era, the Chinese immigrant experience, and layers on top all of that the Chinese restaurant culture. The Cantonese phrases that he scatters throughout pulled me back to that time, and I thoroughly enjoyed my trip to the past...without having to write it myself ;)