A friendship reunion + my favorite spots in the Bay Area.

Long distance friendship reunion + food!

May 27, 2025

Welcome to Every Tiny Thought!

I write about the quiet, complicated, and often contradictory parts of life, especially identity, home, and this new chapter of becoming a parent. This space is where I share honest storytelling, personal reflections, and moments that don’t always make it into casual conversations. If that sounds like your kind of thing, I’m so glad you’re here.

Since my early pregnancy, I’ve been thinking a lot about how my life will change after I become a mom. I worry about how much of my time will be shifted to the baby (a lot, as I’ve been warned), how my friendships will survive the change, and whether my sense of self will remain intact. So when two of my best friends came to visit me earlier this month, I cherished every moment. It would be the last time I’d get to just hang out with them before stepping into parenthood. As dramatic as that might sound, it felt like a moment I wouldn’t return to again.

After constantly moving over the last decade, sustaining friendships across time zones has been challenging. Somehow, this one endured. Or more accurately, we managed to keep it alive. Maybe it’s because we share similar career paths, visa struggles, and all of our families are outside the U.S. Or maybe it’s because our friendship began as long-distance, never bound to any one place. Over the years, we’ve stayed in touch over WhatsApp, sharing the ups and downs of work and life, and meeting up in each other’s cities whenever possible.

Conceptually, I know becoming a parent will bring a different kind of fun and joy. But as a worst-case-scenario kind of person, I can’t help worrying that most of my time and freedom will be given over to caring for a child, at least for a while. So, I didn’t take this weekend for granted. Who knows when the three of us will have days like this, worry-free again?

I showed them around the Bay Area, taking them to some of my favorite spots to see and to eat. Even though they were the visitors, I got to experience the Bay through their eyes and taste buds. It felt like discovering a new place all over again.

A few weeks before their arrival, I started adding my favorite spots to a list. I knew it was more of an ambitious wish list, but we managed to hit as many as possible. And now, I want to share my love and joy for these places with you all, too.

Here they are:

Lai Hong Lounge (San Francisco Chinatown)

Ever since we moved here, we’ve searched long and hard for a go-to dim sum spot that has it all: the bustling, no-frill vibe that an authentic dim sum dining experience is supposed to have, and truly great food at a good price. I think we have finally figured it out. Lai Hong Lounge is tucked away in the quieter, non-touristy part of San Francisco’s Chinatown. You’d know it’s so good when you see the locals lining up before the door opens at 10 am on a Saturday. When the door opens, it’s a free-for-all, no host, no formalities. All tables are free for grabs. If you snooze, you lose. Show up even a few minutes late, and you’ll be told to wait.

Surprisingly delicious things to order:

Cilantro Cheung Fun (蔥花芫荽腸粉): I never expected a vegetarian cheung fun can be this fragrant and this good.
Lo mai gai with abalone (鲍鱼糯米鸡): Who knew this comforting dish could come packed with both chicken and abalone?!

On Waverly (San Francisco Chinatown)

I stumbled upon this AAPI-focused bookstore and gift shop on a random rainy weekend and instantly felt like a kid in a candy store. It’s the kind of place that invites you to linger at every single aisle and explore every item, with thoughtfully curated books, art, and small treasures from Asian creators. My favorite find? A miniature mahjong set. Bonus: they have a great online store if you can’t make it in person.

onwaverly

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The Coffee Movement (San Francisco)

Standing in line under the sun outside a (maybe slightly overhyped) coffee shop, ordering a tasting flight - either one coffee brewed three ways or three different coffees - and sipping slowly under the cloudless blue sky feels like peak SF experience. This spot was a recent recommendation from a friend (you know who you are), and it delivered. The baristas know their craft, and every cup reflects that.

Jina Bakes (Japantown, San Francisco)

This Korean bakeshop is a must-stop for me every time I’m near Japantown. It’s known for distinctive Korean and Asian-flavored pastries, plus a signature honeycomb toffee latte. My go-to orders:

injeolmi croissant: Korean rice cake with roasted soy bean powder.
cream puff, any flavor. They’re all delicious.

Yuanbao Jiaozi 元寶餃子 (San Francisco & Burlingame)

This is my go-to, no-frills dumpling shop, and it’s a much better deal than many of its more well-known competitors. All the dumplings and noodles are made in-house, and the dough has the perfect chew. The beef noodle soup broth is rich, deeply savory, and slow-cooked to perfection. This place reminds me so much of home. On a windy day, it comforts not just my stomach, but my soul.

Thiên Long (San Jose)

Grilled turmeric fish with peanuts, unlike anything I’ve had at a Vietnamese restaurant before. Always spend a few extra dollars for the rice paper wraps so you can roll the fish up with a generous spread of fresh herbs and veggies. It’s a hands-on experience that totally elevates the meal. I always stop by the matcha shop right next door for a refreshing cleanse afterward.

This simple weekend came and went. We don’t know when we’ll see each other again, but we all knew this one mattered.

💌 If this resonated with you…
I write about the quiet, complicated, and often contradictory parts of life, especially identity, home, and this new chapter of becoming a parent. You can find more of my writing on similar topics here. If you’d like to support this kind of honest storytelling and receive more personal reflections like this, consider becoming a subscriber. Your support helps keep this space going and means so much to me.