Asian Food in the San Gabriel Valley

By Koji Steven | Sunday, March 28, 2010 | 12 Comments

19738898 e9bb413d3d Asian Food in the San Gabriel Valley I was born and raised in the San Gabriel Valley (SGV). For those of you who don’t know, the SGV is east of Los Angeles. According to Wikipedia, “…the area is in general one of the most ethnically diverse regions in the country.” But I like it because it is full of other API folks. APIs made up more than 60% of my high school. But driving through San Marino, Alhambra, San Gabriel, and other nearby cities it can sometimes feel as though you’re driving through Asia. And I like that. I like the feeling of being with other people that are of my race. The only problem of course is when I venture outside of my small enclave and realize I’m a minority everywhere else.

One of the best things about living in the San Gabriel Valley is the good — read, authentic — food. I have three favorite restaurants that everyone who is in the Southern California area should try at least once. They are, in no particular order:

Newport Tan Cang Seafood Restaurant – features Chinese/Vietnamese food. It has the best seafood in the valley. If you go there, you have to try the lobster.
Happy Family Restaurant – features vegan Chinese food. Granted, this doesn’t sound good to a meat eater, but trust me, you can hardly tell the difference. Try the fried vegan chicken!
Vietnam House – features Vietnamese food. This place is cheap and good. Just the way I like it. I especially love the egg rolls!

SGVers, what are your favorite places to eat in San Gabriel Valley?

(Flickr photo credit: Payton Chung)

Categories:

Food & DrinkSouthern California

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http://www.facebook.com/letsugo Letsu Go!

I 2nd Vietnam House, mmm! Also, Golden Deli diagonally across the street from them. A few others off the top of my head …

Shin Sen Gumi – this place in Rosemead serves my favorite ramen in LA County!
Sea Harbour Seafood Restaurant – also in Rosemead, they have a pretty good salted egg cream steamed bun, but if anyone knows where I can get DEEP FRIED ones, please let me know immediately!
President Two – For Thai fast food in Pasadena, this is damn good.
Yazmin – I don’t know heck about Malaysian food, but I like experimenting anything here with coconut rice.
Polly’s Pies – I am a fanatic for their old fashioned pies, especially cherry, in Montebello.

I could go on and on … SGV food rocks!
http://twitter.com/mike_le mike_le

As I recall, Din Tai Fung (just a stone’s throw away in Arcadia) was in competition for “greatest Chinese restaurant in the world.” According to Jenny 8. Lee of Fortune Cookie Chronicles and Jerry Ma of Secret Identities.
http://twitter.com/garceyonug Grace Young

Din Tai Fung is expensive. I like Newport Seafood Dim Sum/Yam Cha on Valley and Del Mar. Won Won’s is the greatest Taiwanese place. It is on Las Tunas. Yelp it!!!! Thai Purple on Garfield and Main for the greatest lunch special of all time.

There are so many to nameeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!
http://www.jozjozjoz.com jozjozjoz

Wow, Koji… I think you need to narrow this down as there are tooooo many options!

How about:
Favorite…
-Vegetarian: Happy Family or Vegetarian Wok
-XLB: Due to proximity to each other (no waiting!) – J & J, Dragon Mark and Mei Long Village
-Taiwanese – My Way Deli
-Vietnamese / Banh Mi – Banh Mi My Tho
-Hainan Chicken Rice – Savoy Kitchen
-Shaved Ice – Kang Kang Food Court or Yogurt Monster/whatever the new name is for the dessert/drink side at Noodle World
-Dim Sum – Elite or Dim Sum Express

Looking for recommendations for best:
-Hong Kong Cafe
-Hot Pot
-Boba Shop
-Japanese – sushi
-Japanese – ramen
-Vietnamese – Pho
-Chinese – Szechwan
johnklin

I’ve been to that shopping plaza I believe… isn’t the photo taken in Monterey Park?
bill poon

Jozjozjoz, here’s some for you to check out.

Hotpot. This one is a tough find for me since I’m so particular about what I want in my bowl. So I either go to Boiling Point on Garvey for a quick fix. They basically have 6 different bowls, choose one and they come out with it boiling in a portable heater. But I really like Amrose on Valley. Its an all you can eat which is how I satisfy my craving for more ton-o and napa cabbage. Hit me up on yelp or FB if you wanna check em out. Koji is spot on about Vietnamese House for pho although I get their bowls without soup.
http://www.jozjozjoz.com jozjozjoz

Whoo! It sounds like we have a date for hot pot!!!
http://www.jozjozjoz.com jozjozjoz

Actually, that’s not MP– it’s San Gabriel.

It’s on Valley Blvd on the north side of the street. I can tell because you can see the San Gabriel Hilton attached, making this the 200 block of W Valley Blvd in SG.
Guest

Just tried Jazz Cat Cafe in San Gabriel. Very yummy hot pot!
http://javajunkee.com Chris

I’ve been told to check out Shinsengumi in Rosemead for ramen. Haven’t made it there yet…
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Danny_Ahmed

It’s been two years, but I guess I’ll post something here.

For Vietnamese food, try these two places.

Nem Nuong Ninh Hoa

9016 Mission Dr. Rosemead, CA 91770

and

Thien An

8837 Valley Blvd. Rosemead, CA 91770

Nem Muong Ninh Hoa specialized in Charcoal-grilled Minced Pork, slightly sweet. Also Banh beo (small rice cakes) you can order a dozen or so, and the Spicy Beef Noodle Dish, Bun Bo Hue.

Thien An specialized in Beef Seven Dishes and Baked Catfish. You have to eat at that place with a group though, it’s that type of environment.

For Chinese, there’s this sichuan place

Chung King Restaurant

206 S Garfield Ave. Monterey Park, CA 91754

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