About Rachel Phan

Rachel Phan, a Chinese Canadian author, was born and raised in a small town in Southern Ontario, where she was one of only two racialized people in her class. Her parents—two former refugees from Vietnam—owned the Chinese restaurant in town.

Growing up, Rachel always felt a little lost and a lot lonely. She sought escapism from her provincial life by writing the stories she desperately wanted to see, ones where a Chinese-Vietnamese girl like her was the main character. It was no surprise, then, when she got two journalism degrees and became a professional writer.

Rachel’s work often explores the impacts of racism, assimilation, fetishization, and forced displacement on one’s feelings of identity, belonging, and self-worth.

Her forthcoming debut book, Restaurant Kid: A Memoir of Family and Belonging, is set for publication in Spring 2025.

She is based in Toronto, where she lives with her partner and their genius dog. Follow her on Instagram @rachelmphan.