Ethnic restaurants and Yi migrants' homemaking practices in Shenzhen

Ethnic entrepreneurship through restaurants is vital for migrants in establishing a sense of home. These restaurants not only provide income but also serve as semi-private and semi-public spaces where migrants build community through food. Food acts as a tool to reaffirm cultural ties to their places of origin while adapting to new surroundings. Ethnic restaurants play a significant role in shaping Yi migrants’ sense of home in Shenzhen. Three types of Yi-origin restaurants are examined, showcasing different aspects of Yi culture in a foreign city. These establishments act as social spaces for cultural exchange and offer migrants compartmentalized intimacy, allowing them to feel in control within an unfamiliar urban environment through food, decor, and staff-customer interactions.