Why Bay Area Restaurants Are Embracing the Century-Old Chinese Tile Game Mahjong | Eater SF

"Upstairs at the two-level Oakland restaurant-slash-snack-shop, there’s a dedicated mahjong room filled with four-sided tables, tiles, and stools reminiscent of the relatives who played at family parties; the space blends nostalgia with a younger, speakeasy-like vibe—moody blue-purple lighting, flashy tiles, and drinks—and was born from the owners’ desire to create a little underground, taboo bar. Mahjong nights are held the first and third Saturday of the month, beginning with a tutorial for novices and then gameplay from 7 to 11 p.m. across four tables; the small room caps out at about 30 people, has become a welcoming, nonjudgmental place for curious players, and even features a tradition where the entire room claps when someone wins." - Dianne de Guzman