Kit Fan's 'Goodbye Chinatown' Explores Migration and Food

Kit Fan's second novel, "Goodbye Chinatown," released this week, centers on 22-year-old protagonist Amber Fan as she prepares to open her own restaurant, Luna, in London. The narrative unfolds against the backdrop of late 2001, a period marked by global market instability following the September 11 attacks, which Amber identifies as "the worst possible time to open a restaurant." The novel contrasts Amber's aspirations for a "fine fusion restaurant" with the decline of traditional Cantonese establishments in London's Chinatown. These older restaurants, often founded by Hong Kong émigrés who fled following the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre, are increasingly being sold to mainland Chinese investors, signaling the end of an era for that specific community.

The story navigates themes of family, migration, and the evolving cultural identity of London's Chinatown, as Amber's parents prepare to depart for Hong Kong after selling their own restaurant. The novel spans locations including London, Shanghai, and Hong Kong, weaving together personal journeys with broader political and social changes. Fan's work is described as having "plenty of flavour and fire," offering an elegiac perspective on the changing face of a community and the intergenerational experiences within it. The narrative highlights the tension between preserving heritage and embracing new futures, particularly through the lens of food and culinary entrepreneurship.