Groovy Times at Jazz Cat Cafe

On the corner of Valley and 7th in Alhambra is a restaurant that usually has a line out the door by 7pm daily. You wouldn’t know it by the name, but Jazz Cat Cafe is the place to go for some good hot pot. There is a slight twist. This is not [...]

Chinese Breakfast Showdown II

It’s time for Chinese Breakfast Showdown Part 2. Part 2? Where and what is Part 1? It’s Yi Mei vs. Yung Ho. This time, I will compare Yi Mei Monterey Park (review) to Four Sea in Hacienda Heights.

First and foremost is the savory dou jiang (soy milk). There was a bit [...]

Benser - tasty?

I’m not really sure what the English name for this restaurant is, but it’s on the corner of Life Plaza. It initially was just a dessert place specializing in Chinese desserts like mango pudding and shaved ice, but now it’s on the hand-shaved (dao xiao) bandwagon.

The BF ordered the house special vegetarian noodle soup. [...]

Bistro de la Gare - Good Food & Making Me Look Good

On Sunday, I met up with friends to celebrate two of the ladies’ birthdays. We knew we wanted to do a Sunday brunch in the San Gabriel/South Pasadena area. I suggested Bistro de la Gare. It’s an adorable looking restaurant just literally steps away from the Metro stop on Mission (Gold Line). [...]

Chung King — King of Spicy

Tucked away in an unassuming corner building on San Gabriel is a restaurant that anyone who is a fan of spicy food should try: Chung King. The restaurant’s signature dishes focus around the mouth numbing spiciness that comes from Szechwan peppercorn and chili peppers — which make those dishes delicious, but dangerous at [...]

Cook things in boiling water. Eat them. Try not to burn your mouth.

Monland Hot Pot City
251 W. Bencamp Street
San Gabriel, CA 91776
(626) 289-4889
Roughly $20 per person to gorge yourself
It’s all about the condiments. A trio of fish paste, peanut sauce, and red berry glaze stand guard at each table, the only things other than porcelain and bamboo that hold prominence. The boisterous sounds of Mandarin, Cantonese, and [...]

Spice Basil

When I was a kid, I ate in Alhambra fairly frequently. There was one restaurant in particular that I went to. I can’t recall the name of it or how the food was. I really only remember it because it was an art deco building, which stood out for that area. [...]

Real Chinese Take Out

This is going to be my most obscure entry, but believe me - this little take out place is worth seeking out. About 5 years ago or so, I was at a party. The hostess didn’t want to deal with the food issue much, so she ordered “train box meals” for all the [...]