Spotlighting Asian-owned businesses in the Coachella Valley during AAPI Month
Gavin Nguyen
CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. (KESQ) – May marks AAPI Month, otherwise known as Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Each year, May commemorates the history and culture of these groups.
According to data from HARC’s 2022 Coachella Valley Community Health Survey, Asians or Asian Americans accounted for 3.8% of the valley’s population, or less than 12,000 people.
KPop Foodz, a restaurant in Cathedral City that serves a mix of Korean street food and homestyle favorites, is approaching its one-year mark.
Kevin Kim, the owner, says it’s his passion to cook Korean cuisine for the Coachella Valley. “I love to be here. I love to cook,” he says with a smile.
Kim says it was difficult to start the business at first, especially as a Korean-American living in the valley.
“When you open the business, first time, it starts off very slow,” he recounts. But Kim continues, “In these days, Korean culture and, like, dramas and music is a very, very, you know, famous around the world.”
He says the growing interest in Korean culture is helping lower people’s guard when it comes to trying new food.
“They knew, they heard and they want a taste of the Korean food,” Kim says. He serves Korean street foods, like tteokbokki (spicy rice cake) and skewers, but also comfort foods, like bibimbap and beef stews.
Just down the road and still in Cathedral City is Fil-Am Oriental Mart, another Asian-owned business with nearly three decades of history.
Nina Cabrera, who has been working at the market for ten years, says there’s no shortage of good food on display.
“We make adobo, of course. Pancit is our best seller. A lot of like, dinuguan … and, you know, just the authentic food that we miss in the Philippines,” Cabrera, who is also affectionately known as “Auntie Nina,” says. “There’s a lot of food that we miss from home. So we tried to bring them over here.”
Staff at the market say recent tariff talk has raised concern about importing Asian groceries to the desert. They say the cost of the items they sell will likely increase, though they will try to balance the prices.
Despite these challenges, Auntie Nina says the market will continue to serve the community delicious Filipino food and Asian groceries.
“The Filipinos or the Asian communities are growing. So, you know, hopefully they will, you know, come. But we’re happy that we have this little stuff here.”
Here’s a brief list of some Asian-owned businesses that have been sent into our newsroom for you to check out:
Fil-Am Oriental Market (Cathedral City)
KPop Foodz (Cathedral City)
Vienna Donuts (Cathedral City)
Peppers Thai (Palm Springs)
AJ Filipino Market (Palm Springs)
Thai Hot Restaurant (Indio)
Pho of the Desert (Indio)
This is an incomprehensive list, so if you have any suggestions, let us know by sending us an email at share@kesq.com!