How mahjong events in San Francisco are trending with Gen Z and millennials
Chinese-American Ryan Lee’s popular mahjong club attracts people looking to get off their phones and socialise in the real world
When Ryan Lee first played mahjong two years ago, he got hooked. He dug out sets of the classic Chinese tile game from his parents’ house and brought them to San Francisco, where he started hosting mahjong nights in his home.
The gatherings became so popular that the 25-year-old Chinese-American began hosting pop-up mahjong parties in restaurants, bars and nightclubs around San Francisco.
Lee’s Youth Luck Leisure (YLL) Mahjong Club now hosts bimonthly parties with up to 30 tables and 200 guests. They attract a diverse young crowd drawn to the festive atmosphere, live DJs, custom cocktails and the chance to meet new friends. Instructors are on hand to teach novices.
“A lot of people are just really intrigued, even though they do not really know how to play,” Lee says. “There’s a cultural component they’re trying to connect with. It’s kind of like a cultural nostalgia.”
There was a 179 per cent increase in mahjong events in the US from 2023 to 2024, according to Eventbrite, a popular ticketing app. The event platform says Gen Z is also showing a growing interest in other “grannycore” activities, such as baking workshops and needlework circles that happen offline.