Founded in 2025, the San Diego Mahjong Club (SDMC) is the city’s central hub for learning, playing, and celebrating Mahjong. What began as a small meetup has grown into a thriving community of players from all backgrounds who share a love for this classic game of skill, strategy, and connection. Our mission is simple: to make Mahjong accessible, inclusive, and fun for everyone in San Diego.
A space for all skill levels
SDMC welcomes complete beginners, casual players, and long-time enthusiasts alike. New players can learn the basics in a relaxed environment, while experienced players can sharpen their skills and compete in friendly games or organized tournaments. Every event is designed to make you feel comfortable sitting down, drawing tiles, and calling Mahjong! for the first—or hundredth—time.
Our primary format: Zung Jung Mahjong
The club’s flagship rule set is Zung Jung (Modern Hong Kong Style), a modern, pattern-based system created by Alan Kwan. Zung Jung means “the Middle Way” in Cantonese—a perfect description of its balanced approach. It blends the clarity of Hong Kong (Cantonese) Mahjong with the refined structure of Japanese Riichi, creating a rule set that is both elegant and beginner-friendly. Zung Jung keeps the scoring simple while rewarding thoughtful play, making it ideal for newcomers who want to learn Mahjong the right way.
At SDMC, we’ve adopted Zung Jung as our default format because it works with almost every type of Mahjong set—Chinese, Riichi, or American—so anyone can join using the tiles they already own. Our custom SDMC cheat sheets and teaching materials help new players grasp the patterns quickly and understand the logic behind the scoring system.
Other styles we play
While Zung Jung is our core, we also host regular sessions of Riichi Mahjong, the fast-paced Japanese variant known for its dramatic calls and concealed hands, and International Mahjong (MCR), an official tournament standard used worldwide. Offering multiple rule sets lets players experience Mahjong’s rich diversity of cultures and traditions. Many members start with Zung Jung and later branch into Riichi or MCR once they’ve built confidence.
Events across San Diego
The San Diego Mahjong Club meets regularly at bars, cafés, libraries, and community centers throughout the county. We run everything from casual open-play nights to structured teaching events, beginner workshops, and competitive meetups. Each table is a mix of teaching, storytelling, and laughter—proof that Mahjong is as social as it is strategic.
You can find our full event calendar on Meetup, Eventbrite, Facebook, and Heylo, or through the schedule right here on our website. Whether you’re in Miramar, North Park, or Solana Beach, there’s probably a Mahjong night near you.
Our community philosophy
At SDMC, Mahjong is more than just a game of tiles—it’s a bridge between people. Players share food, stories, and laughter while building friendships that last beyond the table. We aim to keep the spirit of Mahjong alive as both a cultural tradition and a modern pastime that connects generations and communities across San Diego’s diverse neighborhoods.
Our volunteer organizers focus on creating a welcoming environment for everyone, regardless of age, background, or experience level. We provide free learning resources, printed and laminated cheat sheets, and one-on-one teaching at events so that no one feels left out.
Join the table
If you’ve ever wanted to learn Mahjong—or if you already love the game and want to meet others who do—the San Diego Mahjong Club is the place to start. Bring your curiosity, your favorite set, or just yourself. We’ll handle the rest.
Because at SDMC, the tiles are only part of the fun—the real joy comes from the community we build together.