1212 S. Baldwin Ave., Arcadia 626-445-9388
288 W. Valley Blvd., #110-112, Alhambra 626-300-8262
Type: Hong Kong Cafe
Quality: !!! Price: $-$$ Ambience: ***
I'm impressed with the food here--it's one of the better Hong Kong-style places around. We went to the one in Arcadia. It shares the premises with "Arcadia & T TeaExpress", which specializes in beverages. I'm not sure if they have the same owners, though.
Anyway, the Singpore Style Chow Fun was impressive. I don't know how to translate this into English, but there was a lot of wok qi (pronounced "chee") in the dish. It sort of means that the dish was very fresh and cooked at very high temperatures, thereby cooking it quickly (and not overcooked) and preserving the flavor. It's hard to describe, but you'll know it when you taste it. It's like the difference between eating a freshly-baked baugette versus the sliced bread you find at a supermarket. Some restaurants don't have it; others, like this one, do.
The menu doesn't differ that much from other similar restaurants, but every dish we tried was excellent. Well, there was one exception. I actually ordered the "Peanut Butter Coconut Pizza" appetizer. I kid you not. These Hong Kong cooks sometimes come up with wacko ideas. Anyway, it's not real pizza. Instead, it is comprised of two thin, pan-fried tortilla-like pancakes with one on top of the other. In between is a layer of peanut butter with some coconut sprinkles. It wasn't bad, but I don't think I'll order it again. If you love peanut butter sandwiches, you'll probably like this dish. I won't hold it against you, though.