Bopomofo Cafe

The inspiration

The cafe takes its name from bopomofo, the phonetic building blocks of Mandarin, chosen by two American-born Chinese founders as a nod to their heritage and a menu they describe as American-born Chinese food^1,2 . They also wanted to build a third place, a community hub where young creatives, families, and friends could gather^1,3,4 .

Who's behind it

Co-founders Philip (Phil) Wang and Eric Wang (no relation) opened the San Gabriel cafe^3,4 . Phil Wang is a co-founder of Wong Fu Productions, an independent production company, and Eric Wang worked on Wong Fu's live events² .

What to order

Popular dish

Mapo Tots³

mapo tofu served over tater tots, an early signature Chinese American mashup .

• Ba-La Matcha: a tropical signature pairing fresh guava with ceremonial matcha .²
• Taiwanese fried chicken sandwich: salt-pepper chicken with slaw and Thai basil aioli, a core menu item .⁴
• Popcorn chicken: marinated bites dusted with a house spicy seasoning and served with Thai chili aioli .
• Seasonal specials: the cafe rotates drinks like a churro Thai tea made with real cinnamon, star anise, and cardamom, and a strawberry lychee breeze built on real strawberry purée and Jin Xuan oolong .⁵

Why you should try it

If you're staying nearby, this is a chance to taste Taiwanese and Chinese flavors through an American lens, in a cafe deliberately rooted in the San Gabriel Valley community that shaped its founders^5,2 .