Take Out With Lisa Ling

Charting her own experiences in the Golden State, Lisa explores all that California – and the country – owes to Chinese immigrants, from the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad to the popularization of Chinese American cuisine. Lisa talks with historians, culinary figures, and farmers – and pays a visit to America's oldest rural Chinatown, as well as her family's former restaurant. While on the trip, Lisa's inspired to reevaluate the stigma she experienced growing up and reconnects with her roots.

Lisa explores Orange County's Little Saigon, home to the biggest Vietnamese population outside of Vietnam – and a community in transition. Connecting with the initial wave of residents who settled in southern California as refugees and younger generations expressing their identity and culture outwardly and unapologetically, Lisa finds a thriving community defined by its resilience, survival, and success.

Though New York City is home to the largest Bangladeshi community in the U.S., their cuisine remains underrepresented, often grouped under the banner of Indian food. With help from local politicians, poets, and residents across the five boroughs, Lisa explores the complex history of Bangladesh, its burgeoning American immigrant community, and its vibrant culture through dishes from notable restaurants and popular food carts.

Lisa’s husband Paul takes her on a tour of the D.C.-area suburb of Annandale, VA, home to one of the largest Korean communities in the U.S., boasting a plethora of Korean restaurants, bakeries, shops, and bars. With insights from restauranteurs Danny and Yesoon Lee, musician and author Michelle Zauner, and artist Julia Chon, Lisa explores the powerful impact of Korean culture on the nation’s capital – and the world.