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Mahjong nights draw young crowds to San Francisco bars and restaurants
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People play mahjong at an event organized by the YLL Mahjong Club on Friday, Aug. 15, 2025, in San Francisco. - photo by AP Photo/Terry Chea
San Francisco (AP) — When Ryan Lee first played mahjong two years ago, he got hooked. He dug out sets of the classic Chinese tile game from his parents’ house and brought them to San Francisco, where he started hosting mahjong nights in his apartment. The gatherings became so popular that the 25-year-old Chinese American began hosting pop-up mahjong parties in restaurants, bars and nightclubs around San Francisco.