Flap over 'Roundeye Noodle Bar'
The name is racist, says an Asian American group.
Flap over 'Roundeye Noodle Bar'
Michael Klein, Philly.com
Filed Under: TableTalk
At Matyson , chef Ben Puchowitz (right) and his business partner, Shawn Darragh, with a ramen dish. The two are planning a more noodle-centric eatery, to be called Roundeye Noodle Bar. (SHARON GEKOSKI-KIMMEL / Staff Photographer)
Roundeye Noodle Bar - for now, a "pop-up" restaurant as it awaits a permanent home - has drawn the ire of Asian Americans United, an advocacy group.
Organizer Helen Gym says the name is racist. "In the owners' words, they are 'two white boys from the suburbs' ... creating a 'hip noodle spot,'" she wrote in an email advisory to the media over the weekend, on the eve of Roundeye's second pop-up. Roundeye is the creation of friends (and Anglos) Shawn Darragh and Matyson chef Ben Puchowitz.
"But if these self-named 'white boys' are the 'roundeye' noodle makers what does that make the Asian noodle places they're modeling their place after? As a city notoriously home to Chink's Steaks, it's really a shame that a well-regarded spot like Matysons [sic] would lower their reputation to a legacy of petty, derogatory names in an effort to be 'hip.'"
She continued: "I don't think the owners of 'Roundeye' had specific intent, but that's exactly the problem with racial stereotypes - they're so deeply ingrained people don't even question it.
I also heard from AAU executive director Ellen Somekowa, who wrote: "If you grow up Asian in America, there is no more common put down than ridicule of the shape of our eyes. There is no way to hear the name, 'Roundeye,' without at the same time hearing what it is being contrasted to. .. A very hurtful racist slur -- SLANTEYES."
Darragh said he heard from an AAU representative Saturday. "We're not really sure what to do with this," he told me. "She was very nice,. We intended it as a play on words, making fun of ourselves - not trying to be offensive to anyone. We're not racist, but this is making us out to be racist. The weird thing is that the majority of our customers are Asian. Some of the them think it's a funny name. Some people get offended and some don't."
He said they might consider changing the name once a permanent home was found for the noodle restaurant.
The idea of a restaurant is progressing. Darragh said they now have an investor, and they're beginning to scour Center City for a location.
Sunday's pop-up, held at Matyson, drew about 250 people, he said.
Read Drew Lazor's commentary: An Asian-American take on the Roundeye Noodle name
Comments (94)
Thanks for writing about this. I do hope that folks here don't get caught up in issues of intent (which we have not raised) in order to deflect attention away from the derogatory name of this pop-up restaurant. As I made clear in the email, no one is calling the owners racist (despite the fact that the ownership chose to racialize themselves in their promotional materials for the noodle bar). The purpose is to ask questions about the choice of name and raise awareness about hurtful slurs - whether intentional or not. We made a point to both write and call the owners directly as well, to which we mostly got the "sorry you were insulted" and "it was a play on words." The ESPN headline on Jeremy Lin was also a play on words. I like many people don't necessarily think the ESPN folks behind it were intentionally racist but the headline crossed the line. That is also what we are raising here with the owners of "Roundeye."
Center City and Philadelphia overall is an increasingly diverse space. It's my hope that the owners will consider a new name for their place so people can go to Matyson's or their new shop and enjoy the food - not the lack of thought behind a poorly-chosen name.— Helen Gym- If it were called "Homeboy's Chicken'n'Ribs, would you have a problem with it? I suspect not. — Claire Voyant
- @Claire, Take your underwear off of your head. You're beginning to sound like you probably look.
- @Clair Voyant: Instead of commenting on the facts of the article, you're accusing the community organizer of bias? Classy. — NotADoneDeal
- I appreciate your comments. I'm a white dude, so it can be easy for me to take for granted how much Asian slurs and stereotypes are still alive. It's crazy and definitely not cool.
I get that people say ignorant stuff. Lord knows, I do it all the time. But it's a shame that in the face of reasonable criticism, these guys have to get all defensive on the subject rather than just saying a clear "our bad" and changing the damn name. It's like playground 101: If I tell my buddy a joke and his response is to get mad at me, it probably wasn't a very good joke.— johnhill 
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- sticks and stones folks, sticks and stones---come on, don't you have anything better to do?— cheffred
- Roundeye is the type of steak commonly used in these dishes. It's definitely a case of accidental racism. Why would you be disrespectful to the exact people you are paying culinary homage too?
They definitely need to change the name if people are going to take it the wrong way.— rockwell - Every minority group tells white america how offensive their behavior truly is, however none of white america will ever believe they are offending anyone. Black, Native American, Asians ... we are all too sensitive. It's not that what the white person did was wrong. Couldn't be that. If you love your own culture so much, then stop stealing others and pretending you evented it. White entitlement is the problem.— Joyner80
- Helen Gym is awesome. She should be Mayor.
And is it really appropriate to call someone named "Puchowitz" an "Anglo"?— Mr. Smith - Rascism will die when people stop making things like this into an issue. When anyone can call each other anything, or much less themselves anything, and not have it be ab issue. All your advocacy is doing is underlying our differences, not our similarities.— metsox
- @metsox, the only time racism will die is when people are treated equally across all boards, regardless of race, gender,faith or lifestyle. It's terms like "roundeye" that underly differences.
- Interesting perspective. So racism will die when people stop resisting it? Sounds like the opposite. It also sounds like you think racism is some pesky thing minorities do for no good reason, meaning you're pretty ignorant. Nice trying to flip the script. — emozemoz
- The name is clever. It makes Caucasians realize that when seen from the perspective of Asians, Caucasians look "different", and helps shatter Americans' self-centered view of the world.— T.Paine
- My asian friends used to call me "roundeye" as a joke...is that racist? — Big Gulps
- If they're calling the place RoundEye wouldn't that be racist towards non asian people?— neddyflanders
- Stop making sense and get offended about the fortune cookies in the B and J ice cream named after a Chinese guy — 420-24-7
- I agree with Helen. I also propose that every Irish bar with a "Mc" in the title be banned too. It's just too offensive to have to deal with.— DixonBunz
- The name is offensive. The owners even admit it!! "Some people get offended and some don't." Change the name if you want my business.— NotADoneDeal
- Is that the new standard - if one person is offended by something we must accommodate the offended? If you don't like the name don't eat there, simple. — tooly
- This comment has been deleted.— GREEKPICNIC
- i don't see how bringing up the issue of racialization is "making a career". You lost me. What finanacial interest would Ms. Gym have in questioning the racial overtones and undertones of the name of a noodle bar? And as for your analogy, the term "white" was created by white people. Look back to the original slave laws (black and white became legalistic terms). "Asian" refers to a geological heritage. Oriental is not used anymore... and "Roundeye" is a racist word for whitey... it's a tasteless name, tinged with racialized innuendo. That's all they're saying... You won't see me there with that name either..
— Pluski - People really should find actual issues to get worked up over instead of looking for things like this and the fortune cookies in the Lin-Sanity ice cream. Just because someone's feelings get hurt by something, doesn't mean they deserve to have a newspaper article written about them. If they don't want to go to these guys place to eat because they don't like the name, great, that's their choice.— Elbarad
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- you are truly breathtaking. — ekw555
- @GreekPicnic: The "two white boys" phrase comes from the owners themselves. Let me guess, you didn't didn't score so well on Reading Comprehension.— NotADoneDeal
- Bravo to these guys for not letting the politically correct nimrod movement to dictate to them what they are allowed to name their restaurant. Stand firm men. You will be rewarded by a loyal customer base.— hawk
- It would be racist if it was called the SlantEye Noodle Bar. Roundeye seems fine to me.— edm1102
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- read the article greekpicnic before commenting, it says that "white boys from the suburbs" is the term self-coined by the owners to describe themselves. hence the use of single quotes within gym's quote.— jodya2
- Every Irish Pub should be banned simply for pairing the words, "Irish" and "Pub". Talk about stereotyping.— rgray58
- I love the name and the only racist comments I read are from the Asian American United group.— phillydaveaml
- Utterly ridiculous!— phillysmart
- Eye shapes are petty and derogatory? Stereotypes that are true are not stereotypes. When we start avoiding gender, skin color, eye shape, etc to describe a person we stop being able to describe them. Hey, you know that person? Uhhhhhh no— jmichman
- why is this person saying "two white boys" I'm not white I'm caucasion— RichH
- Well there goes my idea for a Ritz and Saltines eatery called "Cracker's Crackers".— Burbanite
- This story is dumb because no one asks the guys what the name means. Then Helen Gym assumes it's racist because it's the opposite of being racist. If it was called slanted eye, it would be racist. I guess people need to be outraged about something. It's our look at me, I'm a victim society. What's next a Facebook page so the victims can be even bigger victims and maybe get some media attention?— AvoidSundanceVacations
- Free speech - case closed.— manyhats
- How about changing the name to Rolling Eyes, which is what I'm doing right now.— msmame
- As an activist myself, I'm usually pretty sensitive to these things, but... honestly? While I think a lot of the Jeremy Lin stuff WAS racist, and while I've read Ms. Gym's comments over and over, I just disagree with her/her group here. It would be one thing if "roundeye" were ever actually a positive word that we used to 'contrast' with the slur "slanteye" but, well, we haven't. Roundeye is a derogatory word directed at caucasians by asians. When a caucasian self-deprecatingly calls herself a "gringo," is she being racist as well? I understand the owners of Roundeye Noodle Bar to be using a pun while also trying to humble themselves by saying, "we think you might enjoy our food, even if it is put out by a couple of white boys."
As someone who has also had some experience in the restaurant industry and even just as a traveler and lover of food, I've been called things like "roundeye" and "gringa" a thousand times. It's always been meant lightly and often sort of lovingly. While I understand wanting to acknowledge ugliness, I also think it's important to acknowledge that sometimes, things like this are not borne of any ugliness, and they often come from living and working and learning with people of different cultures or backgrounds.— Pam M - I wouldn't get to upset about it. Only 30 to 40 percent of new openings survive anyway..probably be gone in a year or two.— MilesLong1
- it is racist. It's describing the eye shape as a distinguishing characteristic. It implies the other noodle shops are not "round eye."
Also the steak they use is called eye round not round eye.
— palmyra21 - Comment removed.
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- Geez, get over it !! This "political correctness" baloney is ruining our nation. Why cower to every whim by every nationality. Too many thin-skinned people running around looking for a cause to complain about. The ACLU and NAACP are only too happy to accomodate. Show me the money!!!— dogman5
- No this isn't racist. I thought the ESPN headline was insulting to Asians. Btw, Sundance, you're post about the gym made me laugh.— wokmaster
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- Judging by the comments, no one here was a fan of the 'Average White Band?' I haven't eaten at Roundeyes, but certainly will.— Jean Valjean
- I hope this business opens with a lot of money invested and falls flat on it's face. If a fool can't recognize the fact that the name chosen for your business is offensive, he or she doesn't need to be in business anyway.
- how is it racist? white people have round eyes. asians have slanted eyes. how is that racist? its funny. lighten up folks. I know people who lived in China who were actually made fun of for having round eyes. This would be like saying its racist for an Irish guy to open up a bar called Tipsy McGee's or something. Its self deprecating humor.— Ryan
- I think Helen Gym has too much time on her hands.— UncleJoe
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- Maybe I'm sleep deprived, but I don't see a racist connotation here.— WCUGrad_2012
- A question for the folks who don't think the name is offensive because it's self-deprecating and self-derogatory towards the white owners: if this was a bbq joint named "Small lips, Skinny Nose Fried Chicken" and was owned by a couple of surburban white guys, would you not find that offensive either?— b-ry
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- TheCuz -- good explanation, guy.— b-ry
- @b-ry
I'd find it hilarious.— Big Gulps - Comment removed.
- (still waiting for your explanation why the example is not analogous...thx.)
— b-ry - Folks: Here's an article I wrote about Helen Gym and her sanctimonious activism.
http://articles.philly.com/2012-01-11/news/30616653_1_decriminalize-drugs-laws-workers
— featherman - WTH. As an Asian, I can say that Helen does not speak for all of the AA community. Secondly, racism is only racism if you think it is. Lets say a kid (who we assume has not idea what racism is) says that as Asian he/she saw has slanted eyes, does that make the kid a racist? I don't think so. He is stating a fact. If it is true, I have no problem with it. As long as you don't categorize people and demean them. As for the noodle house, personally I probably would eat there because they use ramen for noodles and that kills their credibility with me, but it has nothing to do with race. The media needs to stop bringing these nonsense up.— penncrow19
- in this case "AA" is Asian-American.
not to be confused w/ AA = African-American
or AA = Alcoholics Anonymous
or the battery size . . .— ekw555 - Comment removed.
- Classic Gorilla marketing by having their organizer say it's racist which then stirs the media pot to grab press. $2 says they already have a new name and will change it and then shift gears by stating that they are "sensitive to the concerns of the Asian community" as soon as they get a permanent location. Congrats they got their 15 mins of fame, a write up and some controversy surrounding their restaurant and now the drooling masses will come and see what all the hype is about.— zombieboy_215
- I have no time nor tolerance for those wimps who get "offended". Get thicker skin.— kelprod2
- @TheCuz -- Seriously, you want me to spell it out for you? Ok, here goes: Both names are offensive for the racist connotation that is implied by their inverse. Both names play on opposite, stereotypical physical traits of two entire races, juxtoposed by the irony that they are operated by white owners seeking to elicit ill-advised tongue-in-cheek humor by these very racial stereotypes. That being said, I don't believe there was any intent by the owners of the restaurant.
Now, use your words and give me your rebuttal.— b-ry - Comment removed.
- @ThePutz who cares who said it. They are using a cheap tactic to get press. You don't need a degree from Oxford to figure out that you have been played to.— zombieboy_215
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- What would Charlie Chan think about this?— hawk
- I don't understand the problem,I'm white and when someone calls me a "honky" or a "cracker" it makes my day!— robwood
- @TheCuz -- What a let down. That explanation actually made no sense -- especially the "jump off a bridge" part. Perhaps you should stick with name calling and conclusory statements like, "there really is no analogy." I'd hope that even you couldn't deny that stereotyping black persons as having big lips and broad noses is inherently racist. Perhaps, then, the disconnect between you and I is that you don't believe "slanteye" is racist, in which case, I can't help you.— b-ry
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- Who frigging cares. Get over this racism fixation. Every time a national/racial characteristic is mentioned it isn't racism.— sal_acid
- When the Tonner is at washy-washy, he often tells the ladies what beautiful almond eyes they have. Is this racist? The Tonner would hate to think he's been offending the "masseuses" all of these years.
- @TheCuz -- Your remark that I offered no real substance is laughable, insofar as I'm still waiting for a scintilla of substance from you. So far, you've offered NOTHING other than proclaiming that my analogy is an exaggerated hypothetical. Yet, even you admit that my hypothetical restaurant name is racist for the opposite implications it makes towards blacks. Yet, you refuse to acknowledge that the use of the term "Roundeye," by white owners of an Asian restaurant, has any inverse reference to "slanteye," nor have you addressed whether you even think that term is racist (and if this is the case, then really, what's the point in even replying to you). Anyways, it IS 3:30 on a Monday afternoon, so it is time for your pre-happy hour drink. You deserve one.— b-ry
- In the entire article its location is never revelied. Why?— phillytransplant
- In the first line, you'll notice that this article is about a pop-up restaurant without a permanent home. In the last, you'll read that it was hosted at Matyson. — Pam M
- My employer laid off our staff in order to outsource the work to Asia. That's offensive!— Disco Dave
- Owned by two white guys who hired a couple of mexicans in the kitchen to boil noodles bought from an asian store. Could have called it Yamaka Yum Yum too.— Bruddah
- morons. my asian friends used to jokingly refer to use as roundeyes as well. get a real cause.— dreinterests
- This story reminded me of the Seinfeld episode when Jerry asks the Chinese mailman where's the closest Chinese restaurant. Ironically that episode was on tonight.— AvoidSundanceVacations
- OMG! Don't you have anything better to do? Let's all go to the Roundeye to spite Helen!!!!— Vinnie
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- round eye is a racial slur used by asians agains anglos. these guys are making fun of it as frankly its not that bad a thing. asians were never slaves in america nor were italians or puerto ricans or anyone besides blacks. if there is an irish bar called harps is that racist? how about paddy whacks? its an offensive term for an irish man why isnt that place being shut down? everyone wants to be the "victim" these days...there are bigger problems for asian americans than a trendy noodle house name that is run by "round eyes"— mc62strat
- First off, Asians came up with the round eye label for white people. I have been referred to as a "gwi low" in front of my face while dining in China Town and I could care less. The bigger issue at hand is that I went to the pop up ramen restaurant and it was horrible!!! I had the pork belly ramen and it was salty and porky without anything memorable. The broth lacked any sort of tonkatsu charm and it basically tasted like a can of Swanson pork bullion in water. My bf had the duck pho and all we could taste was acid from the copious amounts of lime in the broth. I spoke to one of the Matyson owners and he was very receptive to our feedback. I appreciate they want to set themselves apart but there are classic principals that must be respected (yes, I am a ramen supremacist) and these soups just missed the mark. There are bigger issues at hand than the name of the restaurant...there is sub par ramen out there that has to be rectified.— JamiePaige
- Congratulations Somekowa for contributing to Obama's new America, where racial divisiveness has achieved prominence in society. That Cheshire grin you display in your photo in the MailOnline certainly represents your delight in getting another one over on Whitey. The "very hurtful racial slur" here was in your own mind, since you're the one who said it. Being called a round-eye never bothered me and my shipmates while we were on liberty in Japan in the 60's and early 70's, and it certainly wouldn't bother me now were I to patronize this restaurant. If it bothers you, perhaps you should examine your own racist mindset. But..not likely. You'll probably demand monetary compensation for this terrible hate speech. Gosh, what has happened to Philadelphia?!— georgeblackcat
- don't use a catch phase base on ethnic slur. find a suitable asian name if you are making asian food. i'm sure craig laban will give 4 bells.— fairmount2010
- A question for Helen Gym: Does Asian Americans United (AAU) accept membership from Russians, Pakistanis, Indians, Ukranians, Omanis, etc (Asia is a large continent with many countries)....? Or is your organization selective based on the appearance or perceived ethnicity of the individual? Do you tackle issues important to the ASIAN community or the your own perceived Asian community? Judge people on content and character and not on race. You could have just told the guys you were offended and gave them a tip that it's probably not wise to use the name they selected, end of story (this is what common everyday people do). Instead you just had to make sure a story was written to serve your own self-interests. Get a life and I hope your organization is open to all ASIANS!— mistercho99
- The real idiocy here, is that a non-Caucasian group is complaining about the name which refers to Caucasians, that they say 'reminds' them of the name their group is called. WTF??? A slur once removed??? How long are we going to walk on eggshells and pander to these minorities who can't change who they are, so try to change what we say, counter to the 1st amendment. This is nonsense, it's a fun name and it should stay.— jaygo
- I just don't get the whole thing.
1. "Roundeye" is a pejorative term used by Asians for whites
2. These "white boys" have appropriated the term with a sense of humor.
3. Humor diffuses racism. Can we laugh together?
4. Is their food any good?
— ilcorago
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Michael Klein, the editor/producer of philly.com/Food, writes about the local restaurant scene in his Inquirer column "Table Talk." Have a question? Email it! See his Inquirer work here.
Reach Michael at mklein@philly.com.
Michael Klein
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