This was a book full of great information. It was very easy to read and I would highly recommend it.

Eating More Asian America is an in depth essay collection on the Asian American food culture and the experience surrounding it. This book is very heavy in content and can get a bit much as it reads as a textbook at times. Despite the textbook type reading, this is a great view into the communities and growing popularity of Asian American food, including Japanese to Vietnamese, and it's impact on the American culture. It touches upon some of the racial stereotypes that are associated with the cooking environment and food safety & handling of food. Would suggest this to the any foodie who loves to read!

Thank you Netgalley and NYU Press for the opportunity for an honest review.

Had to DNF just because I did not have the willpower/patience to get through the whole thing. I expected something a bit shorter and poppy based on the cover about the history of and different parts of Asian American cuisine, and while the contents were loosely as expected, it seems to be a collection of various academic papers and essays centering Asian American food. This seems to be a sequel (not sure if that’s the term used in non-fiction) so maybe those who enjoyed that first book would enjoy this. But some of the essays do read as dense academic text that takes me a bit of parsing out to comprehend. Some of the more essay-style/anecdotal based papers were easier to read, but since there are many different authors contributing, it does vary. This book does cover a wide variety of Asian American cuisine though from Vietnamese to Korean to Japanese to Indian to Korean, and various stereotypes and political issues concerning them as well, like dog meat, Chinese restaurants during COVID, and gentrification of Asian food.

Pretty sure this book is a wealth of info and will teach you a lot, but this wasn’t for me.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

It says right on the cover that it's a food studies reader, so I prepared myself for some serious essays and that's pretty much what I got. Eating More Asian America succeeds at intersectionality and being interdisciplinary, because there's a reason why this is a follow up volume. The essays that stuck with me the most focused on the "carceral memories" in the relationship Asian Americans have with wartime and canned food, drawing from experiences by Japanese-Americans and the Vietnamese refugees on their journey to becoming Vietnamese-Americans. This book definitely put me on a roller coaster of being hungry because of all the food they mention and then also forgetting to be hungry because they're discussing the "gift of freedom" that obliges refugees and immigrants to publicly demonstrate appreciation for US military involvement in their home countries. Good stuff, and I hope the editors have a jar every time this book was described as "food for thought."

The book is a follow up to Eating Asian America, published in 2013. In this new collection featuring 21 essays, the authors focus on new additions to the Asian American cuisine, like boba, matcha, and more. Though the book is about food, the authors also explore the politics and history of the food they discuss. Furthermore, they discuss other highly relevant topics, such as Asian restaurants' challenges and struggles, Asian Americans' struggles in the COVID pandemic, immigration, and more. I'm Asian American myself, so this actually was very fascinating to read, and I learned many things. Many people eat food every day without giving a thought about how our food shaped our history or how they might relate to ongoing politics, and I am grateful for this book to help me understand a little more about the food I eat every day.

A wonderful cookbook that's easy to follow, fun to cook, and a blast to peruse. The photos are gorgeous, the recipes are great, and the culture is encompassing. A great tool for any kitchen!

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC copy of this book.
I enjoyed reading each of these stories about Asian food history. Each story was very insightful and eye opening.

I think the cover is misleading, as it appears to be a cookbook or a lighthearted book about Boba. However, this is a collection of scholarly essays, well-researched and densely packed with history, ethnography, food culture, and geopolitics. It is not a casual read, but it is a very interesting read for anyone who is interested in food as a cultural study.

I hate to admit it… but to some degree I do judge a book by its cover. Usually the meaning in that phrase is to say that a lacklustre cover could hold an amazing story within. Unfortunately, I found the opposite to be true with this book. I love learning but I was thrown off by the academic format of this book based on the colourful fun cover - something you would expect to see on a cookbook.
While this book is very knowledgeable (there must be a million references cited) it is nothing like you may expect based on the cover. For me - this time around that didn’t serve me well as I wouldn’t pick such a dry sort of academic reading style to learn more about Asian food, however I would be inclined to read much of the same information in a different format - something more similar to what you would expect based on the cover.. perhaps with some recipes.

I could not take this nonfiction seriously at all. Are you a research paper or an opinionated expose? Either be on or the other not both, it ruins your credibility.

Eating More Asian America is a deeply researched collection of essays on Asian American identity through food. It explores diaspora, racism, and cultural transformation, covering topics like phở in the U.S., boba culture, and food safety biases. The book’s academic style, with citations and footnotes, makes it valuable for scholars but may feel dense for general readers. A glossary would have improved accessibility. Despite this, its critical analysis and firsthand perspectives offer powerful insights. It challenges readers to rethink food justice, authenticity, and heritage. A must-read for those interested in Asian American studies and food politics.

Really beautiful premise with great approaches through essay. I loved all the different perspectives

After living in the United States for a while and experiencing firsthand the incredible melting pot of cultures, it was only natural that I would be drawn to a book about Asian American food and culture. As someone who enjoys reading non-fiction—though I don’t always have the time for it—this book was a true breath of fresh air. Whenever I can carve out time for a thoughtful read, I always gravitate toward topics that explore culture and history, as they offer such valuable insight into the world around us. And food, as this book brilliantly demonstrates, is a wonderful lens through which we can connect with different cultures. You don’t need to speak the language or know all the history behind a dish—you simply need to open your mind (and your mouth) to the experience.

What I found so refreshing about this book is how it weaves together both the influence of Asian food on American cuisine and the ways in which American culture has shaped the evolution of Asian food in the U.S. The historical anecdotes and context sprinkled throughout the chapters provide a rich, textured understanding of how Asian American culture has developed over time. I deeply enjoyed the way the book discusses deeper, complex issues like racism, politics, and discrimination. The authors don’t just present academic perspectives but also bring in real-life examples to ground their points, making the read both thought-provoking and approachable.

The illustrations that accompany the text add an extra layer of depth, visually illustrating the cultural landscape the authors are describing. As a reader, you’re not just absorbing information but also being immersed in the stories of food, people, and history. It's a vivid portrayal of the rich diversity of contemporary America, a place where the boundaries of culture, ethnicity, and identity continuously intersect.

As an Asian adoptee myself, some of the chapters felt deeply personal, and I found myself relating to the narratives in ways I hadn’t expected, especially Chapters 2 and 18. My favorite chapters were: Bumbay Bibingka (Chapter 1), Garlic, Kimchi, and Other Banchan (Chapter 2), I Love Pho (Chapter 3), Shrimp Wars (Chapter 11), and A Taste of Transpacific History (Chapter 18). These sections do more than just explore food; they tell stories about belonging, identity, and the way food shapes our connections to heritage. They give contextualized historical events through the lens of food, giving me a deeper understanding of the transpacific connections that have shaped modern American food culture.

Overall, this book by far exceeded my expectations. It is a beautifully crafted exploration of Asian American food and culture, and it does an excellent job of highlighting the complexities of both the history and contemporary issues faced by Asian Americans. Whether you're a food enthusiast, someone curious about Asian American culture, or simply looking for a compelling read that dives into culture, politics, and identity, I highly recommend this book. It’s an enriching and personal journey that will leave you with a greater appreciation for the diverse flavors and stories that make up the American culinary landscape.

"Absolutely love love loved this! As someone who eats a LOT of Asian American food and does a lot of Asian American cooking, it was so interesting to learn more about the background of many of the dishes, practices, and eras of Asian American eating (loved reading about 'Generation Boba'), and the mixing of cultures that create what we know as Asian American cuisine today. It made me want to dive into the genre of food history and encouraged me to think more about what I'm eating (and be more cognizant of historical and cultural influences overall). I have so many friends that would love this, and will definitely be recommending it to them! I didn't realize there was a first volume, so may go and check that out as well.
Sincere thanks to NetGalley and NYU Press for the opportunity to read this reader!"

Eating More Asian America
Authors: Robert Ji-Song Ku, Martin F. Manalansan and Anita Mannur
⭐️⭐️

I did not finish this book. The essays were very dry and read like academic papers or a textbook.

Thanks to NetGalley and NYU Press for an advanced copy of the book. All thoughts in this review are my own.

A really interesting read. As a white person, I often take for granted how much Asian cuisine and culinary cultures have influenced North American cuisine. It was really fascinating to explore that and I really enjoyed the way the authors structured this book. I did find the writing to be a little wordy and overly-detailed at some points, but overall if you are someone interested in how asian american cuisine has shaped north american/western food cultures, you will likely enjoy this.

EATING MORE ASIAN AMERICAN is a rich collection of academic articles about Asian cuisine, culture, and the experience of belonging to a group of people who identify as immigrants, whether first or consequential generations.

I was really surprised at how raw a few of the essays were, touching on the topics of xenophobia, staying in touch with roots, and the need to grow as a part and apart from family. Having all this relate to food felt like such a comfortable way to engage with this dialogue and it often felt like a conversation that happened around a table, enjoying a meal. It gave me such an insight into topics that I have never encountered and really makes me think about the long history that is behind the dishes I love.

I do think that the high level of academic language and attention will be difficult for many people, which is a giant disservice to the book itself. It's importance and significance of what is written about is a topic that everyone should be exposed to.

Growing up, a lot of us Asian Americans have had to deal with judgment/microaggressions from our peers about how Asian food is smelly, unhealthy, or unsanitary. How different things are now, especially seeing how Asian food and ingredients are trendy now (ube and matcha anyone?).

Eating More Asian Americacan be summarized as a series of academic publications about Asian American food under the lens of diaspora, immigration, racism, colonization, identity, social perception, and heritage. Asian American identity is irrevocably tied to food. This book also propels Asian American perspectives to the forefront, as many big names in the food world are Asian chef and food writers advocating for their cuisine (rather than a non-Asian person), as a result of Asian food becoming more visible and mainstream.

I appreciate how well-researched this is and the authors of each essay intimately understands the food culture that they write about, which brings more cultural sensitivity, critical analysis, and deep knowledge - there is a lot of inclusivity and education here! Also it’s pretty neat to see a lot of my old haunts or travel experiences I have had are also a part of academia.

Some favorite essays:
* “I Love Phở” speaks to the influence of Vietnamese refugees in Little Saigon, OC and the Midwest and how they brought their own version of phở to the US.
* “Boba Generation” highlights the explosion of popularity of boba against the backdrop of the 626 or SGV area, how boba plays a part in social activist movements, and even mentions the boba shortage during the early days of COVID-19
* “Dirty Dining? The Chinese Roast Bill, Food, and Public Health” hits back at how traditionally prepared Asian food is often seen as unsanitary not just from the Western opinion but also built into food safety policy, like food holding temperature requirements. What is amazing is that they had scientists assess roasted peking ducks in a lab to prove that it was not harboring dangerous levels of bacteria.
* “Food Justice and Urban Change” demonstrates how xenophobia and racism against Asian Americans were exacerbated during COVID-19.
* “Shrimp Wars” speaks about the struggles of Vietnamese immigrant shrimpers in Texas, their conflicts with the KKK in the ensuing legal battle, and their challenges with the BP oil spill and pollution in the Gulf Coast

And more…many of the essays touch on the term “authenticity” needs to account for how much Asian food has to transform over time, due to ingredients availability, environmental factors, food sovereignty, etc.

What I didn’t expect was how scholarly this book would be, which I think is a disconnect between the synopsis and expectations - it reads more like college course material or literary journal publications - complete with numerous footnotes and citations - when I was just expecting a series of either non-academic journal articles (in the style of science magazines, for instance) or personal stories. This is okay for me as I work in scientific research and regularly digest publications like the ones in this book and actually really enjoyed most of them, but it was not what I expected.

I also would’ve appreciated a glossary intro to common niche terms used throughout the essays, like “foodways” or “food sovereignty.” There’s an incredible wealth of information, analysis and research based on lived experience, so I can see this being an important resource for future generations and scholars.

Thank you to NYU Press and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are independently my own.

There is a lot of information packed into these essays about Asian food, culture, and the diversity of both. I found a lot of it fascinating but incredibly dry. This is definitely a more scholarly work, likely to be found in a scholarly journal than more mainstream publications, and I learned a lot about the origins of dishes and the spread of these dishes to other areas. I had hoped for a more personal look, with the writer connecting with both their subject and the reader.

I am sorry, but I dnf the book. Was not what I expected, couldn't keep my attention . As I am not very experienced whit Asin culture, some parts where confusing for me.