We recently visited Tai He Ju Dumpling House in El Monte, a family-run restaurant that made Yelp's…read moreTop 100 Places to Eat in 2025, and I can see why! The handmade dumplings were definitely the highlight. The wrappers were thin, and the filling was incredibly juicy and flavorful. Seriously, be careful with that first bite because the juice actually bursts out! We loved them so much that we're already planning to buy some frozen dumplings to take home next time. We also tried the beautifully laced pan-fried dumplings, shrimp fried rice, and tomato & egg noodles. They even served complimentary egg and corn soup, which was a nice touch. he service was warm and welcoming, with that friendly, family-run feel that makes you feel right at home. Nothing fancy, just comforting, homemade-style Chinese food that reminds you of a good home-cooked meal. Definitely worth checking out if you're craving authentic dumplings!

The food was incredibly authentic and absolutely delicious--far beyond my expectations! Every dish…read morewas full of flavor and tasted freshly made. The restaurant was very clean and had a comfortable dining atmosphere. The staff were also incredibly friendly, attentive, and provided excellent service throughout our visit. I had a wonderful experience and will definitely be coming back again very soon. Highly recommended!

Very yummy food. Love their sweet potato congee!!…read more Definitely try their eggplant, spicy w/ spicy and pan fried egg with dry radish!

The food was delicious, portions were generous, and the service was friendly. Love the unlimited…read moreporridge refills. Will definitely come back!

Best dim sum place I've been to in CA so far (I wish it wasn't so far because I would go all the…read moretime otherwise). Very reasonable price, super cozy atmosphere, and all the good was so delicious. Obsessed with the beef rolls and all the dumplings were so delicious! I don't even like baos too much but they had a great ratio of meat and skin and soup. We got 5 dishes for 4 people (~$22) per person which I feel like is a great deal and I was so full afterwards.

First time visiting here and the restaurant reminds me of pp pop but better (both food and…read moreservice)! We were lucky and got seated immediately as there was no wait. Pan fried dumpling (sheng jian bao) - Surprisingly good! tasty, juicy inside with lots of broth. Popcorn chicken - decent as well, generous portions with good meaty chunks Wonton in red chilli oil - It was decent but I wish it had a little bit of vinegar to add some tang. Soup dumpling/ Xiao long bao - This was okay, skin was a little thick but generous fillings with lots of soup House noodle soup - Broth was very tasty and it was a comforting soup dish, but nothing to rave about. Devil spicy beef noodle - Was expecting this to be super spicy, but honestly the spice level is just medium and it was more mala (numbing spice) than just regular spice. Overall meal portions are reasonably generous. Will return again.

Not sure why this place is called Boston Lobster, but this outstanding restaurant in the San…read moreGabriel Valley focuses on Cantonese and Vietnamese flavors. Their signature dish - their "house special lobster"- is the most flavorful preparation of lobster that one can have. The lobster is fried and the juicy bites of meat is layered with garlic, green onions, and sweetness. If you're lucky, you might get some roe, which gives extra salinity. An order of lobster presently costs $34/lb and a "small lobster" will weigh 3-4 lbs; therefore, I only order this signature dish for special occasions. Even if you don't want lobster, don't fret as the rest of the menu is equally delicious. Their "yang chow fried rice", crab and fish maw soup, beef loc lac, and clams with basil sauce are all personal favorites. I love their lunch specials as their entrees come with rice, but at a slightly lower price. The food is top notch, and it brings amazing Vietnamese and Cantonese flavors to this location in the San Gabriel Valley. For a special occasion with my wife or with a group, this is always a winning pick.

First time at Boston Lobster on Lower Azusa Road and I was impressed!…read more I went with my son for a one-year-old's birthday party and somehow managed to arrive an HOUR late ‍. Thankfully, they were incredibly gracious and accommodating when we showed up. The food is served family style, so we got to sample a little bit of everything. The filet mignon medallions were delectable--tender, flavorful, and perfectly marinated. And the Lobster Noodles! This was my first time trying them and they absolutely delivered. The lobster was cut and fried in a way that made the meat tucked inside the shell really easy to get to, which made the whole experience so enjoyable. And that gravy... I was literally sucking on the lobster shell trying to get every last bit. So, so good. We also had a stir-fried green vegetable--possibly watercress--and it was delicious. Simple, savory, and cooked just right. I loved having something fresh and green alongside all the richer dishes. Great food, warm service, and such a fun meal to share with a group. I'll definitely be back.

Pro: Generous portions, delicious food, reasonable prices and ample parking…read more Cons: To go ONLY and cash ONLY.

Stopped by on Sunday, 10/4/26 for the first time. Boyfriend and I went shopping at Sam's Club in El…read moreMonte, and I wanted to buy dinner for myself and my parents - so I went on Yelp to find some affordable Chinese food places and saw this! This place is ONLY to-go. The lady (owner) mentioned that due to her health issues, it is only to-go now sadly. The inside looks quite messy with a bunch of boxes on the chairs and tables. I ordered the following: - 1 mixed ingredient fried rice = $6.95 - 1 house special chow mein = $6.95 - 1 mongolian beef noodle = $8.95 CASH ONLY We had to wait around 15-20 minutes. Seems like this is typical wait time for the rest of the customers who ordered after me. I wish they can improve their wait time however I totally understand since I know they are a small family business. I believe the husband is the cook. The food was alright given the affordability of these prices - not much meat so just FYI.

I got the Golden Delight Pho, Beef Short Ribs Pho, and Egg rolls. Egg rolls were a perfect…read moreappetizer. They were perfectly crispy on the outside, had lots of filling inside, and came with 6 big pieces. It also had a side of veggies and fish sauce, which I love using to wrap my egg rolls. The golden delight pho had rare meat and noodles to the side, while the other toppings came inside the sizzling pot of broth. It had lots of noodles and toppings: tripe, rare beef, tendon, meat balls, and brisket. Pho was really rich in flavor. I also loved that the sizzling pots kept the broth hot the whole time. Noodles were also very bouncy, loved the texture. Beef short ribs were also very tender and full of flavor. Although it was very busy during a Tuesday lunch hour, the waiters sat us asap. The restaurant was pretty full but the food still came out really quick. Servers were really nice and attentive. They checked on us a few times. The restaurant has lots of tables and it was clean. It gave an overall homey- atmosphere. I would definitely come here again. Pho is a great price for its quality!

Came here on a Sunday at 8:30 AM, only to be told immediately by a gentleman working there that…read morethey were closed. According to Yelp, their posted closing time was 9:00 PM. Apparently, the restaurant operates on a different time zone - or perhaps the hours are just a friendly suggestion. Wanted to try the sweet and sour soup tonight. Would've loved to try the food, but unfortunately, the only thing being served was disappointment. Hopefully, they'll update their hours so future customers don't make the same unnecessary trip!

I've eaten here countless times with friends and family over the years. I can't believe I haven't…read morereviewed you guys! Always consistent in service and quality. They are known for: Special Lobster (A+) Beef Loc Lac (A) Clams with spicy sauce (A+) Chinese broccoli (B+) - depends on how thick or thin it is Pea shoots with garlic (A) Eggplant (A) Yang Chow fried rice (A) Reservations are highly recommended either by calling or thru Yelp. There are private rooms in the back on request if you have a larger party and seafood is always fresh as they have an aquarium with lobsters, crab, geoduck, and fish. The decor is charming with vintage trinkets along the side of the wall. There is a waiting area by the lobby and restrooms in the back of the restaurant. Since it gets so crowded and busy the restrooms could be tended better. Parking is available on the street otherwise you have to valet on the lot.

Honestly, what's great about coming here is their set menu, which is very helpful if you have…read moredecision paralysis and come with a big group. But as for the food itself, the standouts would be the fried shrimp and the lobster. The shrimp is perfectly fried and I enjoy how soft the shell is. I like the lobster alot too. I personally prefer the way it's prepared at Henry's, but Newport's is still pretty decent. For the most part, the food is overloaded with MSG. Each time I've gone or taken food to go, I feel massively dehydrated after that I get a headache if I don't drink enough water. Luckily the staff was pretty on top of refilling our waters, and they often switched out our plates for clean ones. We've been going for years, and they used to allow substitutions for the set menu. But on a recent visit, this didn't seem like it was a thing anymore.

After coming back from my trip to Hong Kong, I was craving some good Cantonese food. With all the…read moredelicious food I enjoyed in Hong Kong, I knew it wouldn't be easy to satisfy my appetite back home. So I decided to stop by HAO Cafe, and I'm glad I did! This time, I wanted to try something different, so I ordered the shrimp paste with cauliflower. It was a new dish for me, and what a pleasant surprise! The cauliflower was cooked just right, with a nice texture, and the shrimp paste added a wonderful savory flavor. I wasn't sure what to expect when I ordered it, but it turned out to be really delicious. Definitely a dish I would order again! I also ordered the two BBQ delicacies plate, which was another winner! Both BBQ selections were flavorful, tender, and juicy. The rich BBQ flavors really hit the spot and reminded me of the delicious Cantonese BBQ I had during my Hong Kong trip. Overall, HAO Cafe was a great choice for my first Cantonese food craving after returning from Hong Kong. It's nice to know I don't have to fly all the way back to Hong Kong to enjoy a satisfying Cantonese meal! The shrimp paste cauliflower was definitely the highlight this time, and I'm already looking forward to my next visit!

A hidden gem that's officially made its way into our weekly rotation. Hao Cafe in Duarte is a…read morelittle off the beaten path, but after trying it, I can confidently say it's one of the better Hong Kong cafes around. A few things worth noting: - Get the BBQ pork. It was tender and incredibly juicy. Their BBQ meats are noticeably better than a more popular competitor -- juicy, flavorful, and not dry. - The breakfast 2-item combo is totally worth it. Generous portions and easily enough to share between 2-3 people. - The lemon iced tea and HK milk teas are refillable. - The restaurant itself is small, but so is the staff size, so expect things to move at a more relaxed pace. This is one of those places that may not be the first name that comes to mind when you're craving a HK cafe, but it should be on your list.

If you like or like to try authentic Sichuan food, Luniang is definitely for you! To me, their…read moreMaocai is the best so far in SoCal. Can't recommend it more!

We thought we'd try something different on this Sunday afternoon, so we made the drive over to…read moreLuniang Hot Pot to give their Maocai bowl a try. The experience is similar to malatang where you choose ingredients from a cart and they cook everything and bring out a bowl for you. The base is pretty spicy and I have to say it's something you need to enjoy on top of rice, rather than the broths you have with malatang. In any case, our bowl was ok, and so was the service, but I feel like this is a step down from malatang? Even the dipping sauces (at least at this place) are very basic in comparison. As mentioned earlier, the spice profile is much heavier than malatang and it has a super thick layer or red oil on top.

AMBIENCE taishan kitchen is a great local spot for homey…read morecantonese food! the friendly environment made me feel like im home again with my grandma back when i was a kid. they seem to have loyal customers who frequent the restaurant. FOOD all the dishes were clear ("qing dam"), not overly oily, and reminded me of my grandma's cooking. beef soup noodle with 3pm wonton: 8/10 - the soup was flavorful, noodles were cooked well and the wonton was meaty! steamed rice with pork and salted fish (鹹魚豬肉餅): 8/10 - loved how green the napa veges were. the pork patty was rly good. would taste better with more ginger. pork and century egg congee: 6/10 - very little century egg and the pork quality didn't seem too great. egg rice noodles, pork rice noodles: 6/10 - it was fresh and not bad, though not the stand out among the dishes i've tried. overall, taishan kitchen is a solid spot if you are ever craving the taste of home, and clean tasting cantonese food! PARKING free and easy parking lot

Where can you find taishanese speakers? It would be here. I've been here previously when it used to…read morebe called Auntie kitchen. I ordered a chicken rice noodle soup and steamed pork rice noodle roll. It was a dollar extra with an egg. The flavor, the soy sauce, the bouncy texture, and portion size for the price was delicious. I forgot to take a picture. Service was good as staff are attentive when you call them over, but mostly leave you alone once you get your food. The restaurant was small, yet clean, but I don't recall if there was a restroom. This restaurant is in a busy plaza, but parking was not an issue.