Concealed kong

The Mahjong Lair at Dragon Well (Marina)

RESTAURANTS • FOUND Table

The Backstory: Mahjong is all the rage at the Bay, filling restaurants with the sound of clacking tiles. At Mahjong Monday at Mamahuhu, you can grab a set from the counter, and at the new 13 Orphans in Oakland, there’s a hidden den for open play. But as someone completely new to the game, the clearest introduction I found came at Dragon Well, a 27-year-old Chinese standby in the Marina.

A Chestnut Street fixture since 1998, it’s the neighborhood pick for fresh potstickers, walnut prawns, and tea-smoked duck. This summer, wife-and-husband owners Christina and Gary Tan launched a Mahjong Lair, and it’s become one of the hottest game night scenes in town.

The Experience: Book tickets through their website, choosing between Hong Kong and American style, and whether you need instructions. Christina Tan welcomes everyone graciously into the space, taking orders for small plates of curry puffs and encouraging guests to enjoy complimentary snacks and tea from Red Blossom. Instructor Richard Yep proved remarkably patient, teaching us how to wash the tiles, build the wall, and score a winning hand.

Why It’s FOUND: As a retired accountant, Yep confided that he prefers to play with his accounting buddies, rather than his aunties, who can turn savage. But to me, sipping tea and clinking tiles was relaxing, the antidote to too much screen time on a Tuesday night. –Becky Duffett

→ The Mahjong Lair at Dragon Well (Marina) • 2142 Chestnut St • Mahjong Tue 5-9p, regular hours Wed-Sun 1130a-3p & 5-10p • Book.