9 groups supporting our East Asian community in Birmingham now
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Stop Asian hate. Visit local businesses to show support for our East Asian community in Birmingham. Here are nine businesses and nonprofits in Birmingham that you can support now.
There are many ways to show up for the East Asian community in the United States. If you witness an Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) hate crime, you can report the violence to Stop AAPI Hate. This helps track and raise awareness of the attacks against Asian citizens in the United States.
Locally, there is a candlelight vigil being held at Linn Park this Sunday March 21. Several groups, including Black Lives Matter Birmingham, Alabama Asian Cultures Foundation, Vietnamese Student Association at UAB and more, will come together to stand in solidarity and remembrance of the lives lost.
- Location: 20th St N, Birmingham, AL 35203
- Time: Vigil at 6:30PM | Lighting at 7PM
- Price: Free
- Check out the post for more information.
To show continuous support, visit and donate to these businesses and nonprofits.
1. Alabama Asian Cultures Foundation
The Alabama Asian Cultures Foundation is nonprofit organization founded in 2005. They work with various Asian artistic and cultural organizations in the Birmingham area. Typically, they host festivals and events throughout the year, like the Alabama Asian Cultures and Food Festival.
This festival showcases food and culture from across the Asian continent. However, COVID-19 put their programs on pause. You can support the East Asian community in Birmingham by making a charitable donation.
2. Hometown Supermarket and Mr. Chen’s
Hometown Supermarket. Photo by Terri Robertson for Bham Now 
A vegan option for your Lunar New Year feast. Photo via Eating Alabama’s Facebook
Hometown Supermarket serves as a cultural touchstone for the East Asian community in Birmingham. This market has groceries that you cannot find at a typical supermarket and essential ingredients for many authentic recipes.
Attached to Hometown Supermarket is Mr. Chen’s Authentic Chinese Cooking. They have another restaurant location in Hoover that offers a few different menu items. Their food and bubble tea always satisfies. Support our East Asian community in Birmingham by shopping at Hometown Supermarket or eating at Mr. Chen’s.
- Hours: Homewood: Sunday-Saturday 11AM-9PM | Hoover: Sunday-Saturday 11AM-7:30PM
- Locations: Homewood: 808 Green Springs Hwy, Homewood, AL 35209 | Hoover: 1917 Hoover Ct, Birmingham, AL 35226
- Contact: Homewood Website | Hoover Website | Call Homewood location | Call Hoover location
3.Birmingham-Southern Cross Cultural Committee
A shining memory from my time at Birmingham-Southern College (BSC) was helping with the Chinese New Year celebration that Cross Cultural Committee (or C3) host every February. C3 is a student led council that promotes awareness, advocacy and cultural appreciation on BSC’s campus.
For many students that come from marginalized communities, these events provide a safe space and allow students to connect with each other over their culture. Director Jasleen Judge and Assistant Director Sabrina To have a toolkit in the works on the impact of microaggressions in the Asian community. To show your support, give them a follow on social media.
4. Chop Suey Inn
Chop Suey Inn is technically one of Birmingham’s oldest restaurants. Joy Young Restaurant was a hit in Birmingham in the 1920s. It was initially opened by two Chinese immigrants in 1919. They officially closed in the 1980s, but their legacy lives on.
Willie Woo, the owner of Chop Suey Inn, is a former Joy Young Restaurant employee. Reviews rave about their egg rolls and how it is just like Joy Young’s egg rolls. Find out if their egg rolls live up to the hype by ordering some and supporting the East Asian Community in Birmingham.
- Hours: Sunday-Saturday 11AM-9PM
- Location: 813 Green Springs Hwy, #160, Homewood, AL 35209
- Contact: Call
5. Red Pearl Super Oriental Market
Similar to Hometown Supermarket, Red Pearl is a restaurant with an attached market selling unique items. I got a pint of brown sugar milk tea ice cream from Red Pearl, and now I need another one.
Do not miss out on their restaurant either. Red Pearl has some of the best Chinese food in Birmingham that is reasonably priced. You can support the East Asian community in Birmingham without having to brake your bank.
- Hours: Sunday-Saturday 11AM-8:30PM
- Location: 243 W Valley Ave, Homewood, AL 35209
- Contact: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Call
6. Pho Pho
Pho Pho is a popular spot for pho amongst Birmingham’s Vietnamese community. They now have two convenient locations in Hoover and The Pizitz. If you want to try something new, get their takoyaki.
Takoyaki is a popular Japanese octopus dumpling made of grilled puffs of seasoned batter. I promise Pho Pho will not disappoint.
- Hours: Sunday 11AM-6PM | Monday-Saturday 11AM-8PM
- Locations: Hoover: 1580 Montgomery Hwy, Hoover, AL 35216 | The Pizitz: 1821 2nd Ave N, Birmingham, AL 35203
- Contact: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Call Hoover location | Call The Pizitz location
7. Japan America Society of Alabama
The Japan America Society of Alabama (JASA) is an established non-profit centered around networking. JASA welcomes members who want to create a friendly atmosphere for Japanese businesses in Alabama.
Part of their mission is fostering cultural understandings. Don’t miss out on their annual Cherry Blossom Festival on Saturday March 27. Showing up to their virtual festival is a great way to support the East Asian community in Birmingham during the pandemic.
- Location: 2081 Columbiana Rd #10, Vestavia Hills, AL 35216
- Contact: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Call
8. Seoul Restaurant
Seoul Restaurant is a hidden gem along the Green Springs highway. This Korean restaurant serves classic dishes, like the fire chicken I ordered. Fire chicken, or buldak, is a mix of BBQ chicken, onions and peppers marinated in a spicy sauce. Ask for it extra spicy if you want to feel the burn.
Grab food to go to help your appetite and the East Asian community in Birmingham.
- Hours: Wednesday-Monday 11AM-9PM
- Location: 430 Green Springs Hwy, Birmingham, AL 35209
- Contact: Call
9. Birmingham Chinese Festival Association
The Birmingham Chinese Festival Association is a nonprofit that began over casual lunch conversation. They wanted to launch a Chinese New Year festival like the ones held in Atlanta.
Since 2005, the Birmingham Chinese Festival Association now hosts the largest Chinese New Year Celebration in Alabama. Their organization promotes awareness of Chinese heritage in the city of Birmingham. Become a sponsor or make a donation to support the East Asian community in Birmingham.
Know other Asian owned business you would like to show love ❤? Let us know on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
