Uncle Yu’s Indian Theme Restaurant, which is a Taiwanese restaurant in San Gabriel, Los Angeles, has been accused of showing no respect Native Americans due to adopting the Indian elements and decorations in the restaurant. Some people believe that is an act of cultural appropriation.
After a burrito cart in Portland was forced to close in May because of the accusations of cultural appropriation, the issue of “cultural appropriation” has been raised again. The New York Times even published an article called Three Cheers for Cultural Appropriation to discuss the problem. Just like the case of Portland burrito cart, Uncle Yu’s Indian Theme Restaurant has also been accused of cultural appropriation for a long time, but the restaurant is still running.
This restaurant opens in San Gabriel, Los Angeles which has an explosion of Chinese Immigrant entrepreneurs investing restaurants since the 1980s. According to 2011–2015 American Community Survey from U.S. Census Bureau, there was 60 percent population of Asian residents in San Gabriel which is 2.3 times higher than other race or ethnicity. There is 11.2 percent of employees working in Accommodation & Food Service industry.
In this high competition of Asian food restaurants, it goes without saying that the name of the restaurant immediately highlights Uncle Yu’s Indian Theme Restaurant.
The Accusations and The Responses
It feels like Uncle Yu’s Indian Theme Restaurant is a great place for people to hang out, but the thing is different in the online world. The negative online comments show that some people do not agree with the contrary of the food and the decorations.
Cass L. gave one star for Uncle Yu’s Indian Theme Restaurant and left a comment on Yelp, “This place is the grossest example of cultural appropriation I’ve seen.” Cass L. also said the way that waitresses dressed is being racist.
Marissa L. felt depressed and underlined the problem of cultural appropriation on Yelp. “... throw in oppressive imagery appropriating from a group of indigenous people that have been historically decimated and continue to be marginalized?... It really takes the fun out of it. It is so obtuse, it is horrifying,” she left the comment.
Uncle Yu’s Indian Theme Restaurant has already been opened for almost 20 years. However, the problems of being accused of racism and cultural appropriation are still existing. Even though there are arguments on the Internet, the restaurant didn’t provide an official response to this problem before.
“When they (Uncle Yu and his wife) have the business, everything is successful. Why do we need to change that? Because people think we do not respect to Indian culture? But that’s not true. We love Taiwanese food. We just use this atmosphere to introduce nice Taiwanese food to everybody,” the spokesperson of Uncle Yu’s Indian Theme Restaurant Maggie Lee said.
Lee emphasized that the arguments that people have on the Internet have never become a problem to Uncle Yu, “your business has already there for 20 years. What can you do? You change everything?”
Lee said that Uncle Yu and all the employees in the restaurant respect Native American culture. “Don’t misunderstand our mentality. We don’t think about too much. We respect everybody. We live here. We like to try all kind of food. We also welcome everybody to come. Feel the atmosphere and try our food,” she said.
The Owner of the restaurant
Uncle Yu is the owner of Uncle Yu’s Indian Theme Restaurant, who immigrated from Taiwan to Los Angeles for several decades. He used to own a restaurant in Taipei, Taiwan many years, therefore, he is already familiar with making Taiwanese cuisines.
After Uncle Yu came to Los Angeles, he decided to use his strength to promote Taiwan and serve Taiwanese typical dishes to not only the Taiwanese people in Los Angeles who miss the hometown-reminding taste but also the Americans who have never tried this food before.
Uncle Yu purchased this restaurant from others which used to serve Taiwanese food as well. According to the spokesperson of Uncle Yu’s Indian Theme Restaurant, Maggie Li, the original restaurant was also called “Indian Theme Restaurant.”
The slightly change that Uncle Yu made is to put his name and own picture on the shop signboard. He maintains all the Indian style’s decorations and keeps serving Taiwanese food. Li said that Uncle Yu has never thought to change the whole name and the decorations of the restaurant.
