How a law professor discovered the oldest Chinese restaurant in America

The Chicago Café in Woodland has been a family-run Chinese restaurant since 1903.

[IStoreGas]

as the child of a parent who owned a Chinese restaurant, that statement is absolutely true. My mom said there’s no way my son is going to be in the restaurant business. She slaved away so I can have a better life. Thanks mom, love you.

[FrGH-me]

Fun Fact: China still had Emperor when it opened in 1911.

[kwaitefuni]

Shoutout to all the parents who give their children a better opportunity than they had!
Cool story!

[woIf]

The part where it's a community staple was so sweet, but the "unofficial community trophy case" part? Could make me cry. Such a vital part of the community.

[janetmiller]

You're lucky to have experienced the cuisine in this historic establishment. It looks delicious!

[Antonin]

I wish this video was longer and showecased some of the food

[averageguy]

"You work at a Chinese restaurant, so your kids don't have to work at a Chinese restaurant..."

[DavidinNYC]

It’s sad to see a place like this go, it’s part of Chinese American history, wish there’s a way to preserve this unique establishment

[stephenfisher]

Almost everyone watching this video, mistakenly thinks it is in Chicago, Illinois. No, no, no! It is in Woodland, California. Don't be mislead by its name, Chicago Café.

[sutats]

Such a charming and delightful looking restaurant.

[henrytse]

“May have experienced discrimination?” Cmon man.

[lutomson]

Miss the Shanghai Bar and Resturuant In Auburn CA that was older then this and open but family fights closed it...

[Bobkanada]

Greetings from Canada! Great reporting. Beautiful story!

[tseliot]

This restaurant is a good example of the Chinese immigrant spirit and immigrating to a foreign land made of foreign people, foreign languages, and a foreign system.

In the face of adversity, discrimination, and racism, they keep their head down, don't cause a scene, and cooperate with the system. They work to find their place in the society they immigrated to. They adapt and overcome in the face of the challenges presented by their new environment--- they integrate themselves into the society they wish to call home.

If this is not the ideal standard of immigrant a country strives to attract, than I do not know what is.

[beatpirate]

yes my parents just rrtired! and they arent used to it being chinese .chinese =hardwork. please enjoy life. i made them promise to not work at least 6 months ! so far so good! we are all grown and all work. im so happy to hear how loved they are by community. 💕🌸💚🌸

[bellesogne]

4:36 Bragging rights around the mah jong table. Doctor, lawyer, pharmacist, accountant. The big four. My parents hit the quad, one of each.

[theo]

It’s very interesting that the Paul, the cafe owner, has a Chinese accent even though he must have been born in America. I assume he lived in a very cloistered Chinese community in Woodland.

[zoltankaparthy]

Real good, and thanks for the info that restaurants were about the only place Chinese could work. I'll guess laundries were the other. This joint will be missed more when it is gone than enjoyed when it was here. Another tragic loss but this is how life is.

[snifey]

Im surprised this video has not yet gone viral. Usually from 2015 to 2018, something like this, like great big story days, this type of story was in a golden age.

Guess the winning formula is short form videos now

[andrewchristopher]

Wikipedia still has the other place as the oldest someone needs to fix it.