Restaurant Kids

Restaurant Kids (2026)



8.0 2026 12 min —

Director: Sylvia Mok

Documentary
Growing up in the hustle of sizzling kitchens and takeout windows, the sons and daughters of Halifax's Chinese restaurant owners open up about family ties, relentless work, and the search for identity. With candid storytelling and cherished recollections, Restaurant Kids shines a light on a resilient community where these eateries served as meeting spots, sources of income, and cherished second homes for a generation navigating life between two worlds.

More About This Film

Restaurant Kids is a short Canadian documentary about the children of Halifax's Chinese restaurateurs and the experience of growing up between family life and the restaurant business. Through personal memories and intimate conversations, the film looks at work, identity, family expectations, and the role restaurants can play as both businesses and community spaces.

Directed by Sylvia Mok, the documentary focuses on personal testimony rather than formal historical narration. The result is a community portrait that connects individual childhood memories with the broader experience of a Chinese Canadian generation raised around dining rooms, kitchens, and take-out counters.

  • Directed and written by Sylvia Mok.
  • Runtime is approximately 12 minutes.
  • Produced by Liz Cowie.
  • John Christou is credited as executive producer.
  • Released in September 2026.

Where to Watch

Restaurant Kids has a limited documentary distribution profile, with festival and local-screening availability likely to precede wider streaming.

  • YouTube – free viewing where offered
  • Vimeo – free viewing where offered
  • Netflix – subscription if available
  • Prime Video – subscription/rental/purchase where offered
  • Apple TV – rental/purchase where offered
  • Plex – subscription/rental/purchase where offered