Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Chicha San Chen

    4.0 (1.4k reviews)
    Open 12:00 pm - 8:00 PM
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Chicha San Chen Photos

    Business Info

    CHICHA SAN CHEN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Classy
    Moderate noise

    You might also consider

    More like Chicha San Chen

    Recommended Reviews - Chicha San Chen

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Dong ding oolong tea with cream and bubble
    Tammy T.

    Chicha sets the bar high for the gold standard boba drink. After trying drinks at other chicha locations, I can confirm that the San Gabriel location makes the best drinks. I've noticed that some of my drinks at the other places are sometimes watered down, whereas the quality has always been consistent here. The dong ding oolong milk tea with cream and bubble is usually my go to order. Drinks here usually run on the sweeter side so I always get light sweetness. This shop is definitely my go to place for drinks whenever I'm in the area.

    Milk Tea (front) & Taro Milk Tea (back)
    Joann V.

    4 stars Chicha is the it-girl of the SGV. It doesn't matter how long they've been around or how many locations they've got or how expensive their beverages can get...she just keeps pulling in crowds year after year. I stopped coming for a couple of years b/c I have the patience of a bird. Luckily, since I was in the plaza, I had the chance to rediscover their tea! Chicha's menu is straightforward and doesn't have a large variety, but what they do have is very well executed. This location is busy like most of their other locations, but I wouldn't say their wait time is worst than Molly Tea. I got these drinks after lunch: Taro Milk Tea ($8.75) - This was part of their summer series and I got this at 50% sweet and less ice. It was the perfect amount of sweetness b/c the taro and mochi were a little sweet, too. Mom loved it! 5/5 stars Regular Milk Tea ($7.25) - got this at 100% sweet and it still wasn't too sweet. 4/5 stars Service was decent and ordering at the counter was easy. I was surprised that I could smell the aroma of fresh brewed tea! I think my wait time was around 10 minutes from order to pick up. Free parking on site, but it does get super crowded. I guess I'll be coming back soon!

    Taiwan !
    Will M.

    There's no shortage of boba spots in the SGV, but Chicha San Chen is one of the better ones to me. It is a bit pricey and there can be a long line, but you can avoid that by ordering online. They use this tea espresso type machine that I don't really see anywhere else, and it gives the drinks a strong, clean tea flavor which I like. Their boba is also consistently good, nice and chewy every time. It's a brand from Taiwan so you know they take their tea seriously. They also give you a cute carrier sling for your drinks which is a nice touch. They've been expanding with more locations like Arcadia/Alahambra, so they're definitely doing something right. If you haven't tried it yet, I'd say it's worth checking out.

    Taro Boba Milk Tea
    Andrew D.

    Great boba spot! We were served relatively quickly; there's a few tables for sitting but availability is hit or miss. The ambiance is standard for typical boba shops with a front for ordering and specific menus. I got the Taro Boba Milk Tea which was part of their summer series. It was definitely very refreshing! The taro did not seem artificial and was sweet without being over the top. My friends got a variety of other drinks as well and seemed to enjoy them. I would definitely recommend this spot to those in the area looking to get decent boba in SGV!

    Bubble Milk Tea
    Edwin T.

    This was my first time trying Chicha San Chen! I ordered the Bubble Milk Tea with light sugar and less ice. The line moved quickly and was able to get the drink after about 15 min. What stood out to me when walking in were their large teapresso machines to extract the tea leaves. The whole process from measuring to steeping and adding ingredients was done so meticulously by the baristas. They look really well-trained. The brown sugar boba were slightly warm and soft so I could tell they were freshly made. The drink was a heavy tea flavor and I could really taste the black tea. The cream was a nice touch to balance out the flavors. They didn't have oat milk like most other places but milk was fine. We were able to get a table, but the high traffic coupled with only around 4 tables might annoy some customers. Overall, really satisfied with the experience and excited to try other drinks soon.

    Amanda L.

    You can taste the high quality of the ingredients, but it wasn't mind-blowing. It is also on the pricier side. Don't think I would come back.

    Karen T.

    Originating from Taiwan, this CHICHA San Chen location has become a staple of the SGV. Their teas are premium and authentic, which explains the long lines here. I am a big fan of their osmanthus oolong tea, dong ding oolong tea, and cassia black tea bases. For the teas with fruit, I really like how they don't taste artificial and super sugary. Their milk teas and lattes are smooth and creamy. Although the freshly brewed teas here are top tier, this particular store feels way too small for its crowd. Every time I've been here, I've had to line up outside with the line out through the door. The wait times will vary depending when you go, but it's never been a quick visit for me, even on a random weekday afternoon. Now that online ordering is available, I would suggest using it.

    Taro
    Travis P.

    Second time coming here, and the experience wasn't as great as the first. We waited about 10-15 minutes for our order, only to realize they had finished it but never called our name, so it was just sitting there. As for the drink, it was pretty mid. We paid $9 for a taro fresh milk and it tasted like it had no sweetness. We were told the sweetness couldn't be adjusted, which made it even more disappointing. Overall, this visit was a below-par experience compared to our first time.

    Osmanthus Oolong Tea
    Stella W.

    I truly don't understand the hype. Order: Osmanthus Oolong Tea: 100% sweetness, less ice, boba. Tasted literally like water with a hint of sugar. No hint of tea flavor. I felt like I just drank a cup of iced water with boba. Not worth the $7. Ambiance: Very very small space. 4 tables, but very cramped. Service: nice workers. Waited about 10-15 minutes for my drink on a Saturday. Not the worst wait time. Parking: really congested, but lots of parking underground. Be careful.

    Osmanthus Oolong & Dong Ding
    Kevin T.

    This review is long overdue as I've tried other Chicha San Chen spots. This spot is definitely the most busy of all the spots I've been to. Even when the shop just opened, the line is already forming. My wife and I love Chicha San Chen and this was the spot to go to after our lunch meals. This specific spot is a bit smaller than the other ones I've been to but they have some tables inside. For such a busy shop, they only have one ordering kiosks which is not ideal to move the line. Would be ideal to have 1-2 more. Online ordering is available which is a huge plus. However, staff here is efficient and fast, which subsides the lack of additional kiosks a bit. Osmanthus Oolong Tea w/ Mango This drink is one of the best and among one of their signature drinks. I feel like you can't really go wrong with osmanthus at any location and San Chen is no different. Super fresh, and just super refreshing. Wish that the cups were bigger but besides that, absolutely amazing drink. Great balance of flavoring as there's no flavor overtaking another. Very well rounded drink. Dong Ding Oolong Tea w/ Organic Milk Also another signature drink. Sweet, fruity, and has that floral aroma all around. Very smooth, rich, and versatile in my opinion. Highly recommend if you're having a hard time deciding what drink to get. Parking here is free with a sizeable ground floor lot and a underground lot. Overall a great spot with very high quality drinks, signature cups, simple/clean design, and quick service. Love Chicha San Chen and one of the best tea spots around.

    Peach dong ding oolong tea - very strong tea flavor - I enjoyed it  Green grape osmanthus tea - refreshing - preferred the peach
    Rosanna L.

    Heard all the hype about this place and finally had a chance to try it. I ordered via their online website. We opted for the seasonal drinks. I ordered the peach dong ding oolong tea. I really enjoyed the refreshing and strong tea flavor. We also got the green grape osmanthus tea. It was refreshing. I preferred the peach drink over the green grape drink. When I arrived to pick up, there was a long line for ordering at the kiosk and picking up. My order wasn't ready yet. When it was ready, the girl didn't call me so I just stood there waiting. After about another 4 minutes she finally called me. I'm not sure how they can better set up their pick up line so to reduce all the waiting time but definitely needs improvement. The only bad part is that the drinks only come in one size only (smaller than usual) and they are extra pricey. So you are basically paying for their strong tea flavor. My drink came out to about $9/drink. This location was located next to Mian and has plenty of parking (including underground). If you like strong tea flavor and willing to pay more for it, I would recommend this place.

    Grape high mountain tea
    Joann C.

    It's great to find tea shops where you can order ahead online! This cuts the wait time and the drinks are pretty good. Parking was a little hard but there is a quick loading zone if you can manage to get the spot. I got the grape mountain tea. You can taste the freshness and quality in their tea. It reminds me of the teas I had in Taiwan. Overall, super cute place to have tea.

    Cool looking ornaments
    Sammy B.

    The great thing about looking for tea in the SGV area is you can go blindly into any tea shop and you'll find above average tea most times. On some occasions, you find those that subvert expectations in the most delightful way. Thads what Chicha San Chen did with me with just a free sample. Firstly, let's talk parking here. Located in a multilevel shopping plaza off busy Valley Blvd there are times you'll have to look for a parking spot in their plaza parking. Luckily, they have underground parking too. Secondly, the shop is small. It is the average size of a tea shop but half of their seating is sectioned off for what I can only imagine is employee space for extra inventory or breaks. Because of this you'll see a queue is set up outside for ordering. You'll have to be careful though since you are asked not to block the entrance for the salon next door. Still, you can always loiter outside in the plaza elsewhere. When it comes to tea, it's not a complicated menu. With only a small selection of teas it means they cater to high quality over quantity. When I went I specifically wanted to get a milk tea and the one I got didn't disappoint. The boba was fresh and chewy with sweet flavor. The tea itself was also complex, only accentuated by the milk but not diluted from it. The real surprise was the sample tea they were handing. It was their oolong osmanthus tea with mango and it was a delight! When the tea hit my palate I swear I felt a sense of freshness, like a small portion of stress instantly evaporated. The tea was sweet without being too sweet and although there were multiple flavors none of them overshadowed the other. It caught my attention immediately and we had to get it. As far as price goes, Chicha San Chen is a bit on the pricier side. Their average price for their tea hovers above $8. Also, the merchandise they sell is also on the pricier side although they looked like stuff I would probably buy at a store. It was of great design and looked well made. Even though a few days passed I'm looking forward to visiting Chicha San Chen more for 2026. I'm hoping each sip of tea will be a getaway from the daily stresses of life and a small vacation to a sweet moment.

    See all

    8 days ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Phillip C.

    Phillip C.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    28 days ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Phillip C.

    Phillip C.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Phillip C.

    Phillip C.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Phillip C.

    Phillip C.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Phillip C.

    Phillip C.

    Helpful 7
    Thanks 1
    Love this 7
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Phillip C.

    Phillip C.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Phillip C.

    Phillip C.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Phillip C.

    Phillip C.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Phillip C.

    Phillip C.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Phillip C.

    Phillip C.

    Helpful 7
    Thanks 5
    Love this 7
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Phillip C.

    Phillip C.

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Phillip C.

    Phillip C.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Phillip C.

    Phillip C.

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 3
    Love this 5
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Phillip C.

    Phillip C.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Phillip C.

    Phillip C.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    7 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Phillip C.

    Phillip C.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Phillip C.

    Phillip C.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Phillip C.

    Phillip C.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Phillip C.

    Phillip C.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Phillip C.

    Phillip C.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Phillip C.

    Phillip C.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Phillip C.

    Phillip C.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Phillip C.

    Phillip C.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Erik G.
    263
    816
    6196

    11 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Phillip C.

    Phillip C.

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 3
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Shanon Y.
    1876
    671
    11069

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Phillip C.

    Phillip C.

    Helpful 7
    Thanks 3
    Love this 3
    Oh no 1

    11 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Phillip C.

    Phillip C.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Amy P.
    1887
    1619
    2517

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Phillip C.

    Phillip C.

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 2
    Love this 4
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Phillip C.

    Phillip C.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Cat L.
    226
    468
    1135

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Phillip C.

    Phillip C.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Annie L.
    0
    86
    288

    2 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Phillip C.

    Phillip C.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Phillip C.

    Phillip C.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Phillip C.

    Phillip C.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Lisa S.
    385
    488
    5259

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Phillip C.

    Phillip C.

    Helpful 10
    Thanks 1
    Love this 7
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Jessica L.
    35
    59
    304

    5 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Phillip C.

    Phillip C.

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Phillip C.

    Phillip C.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Phillip C.

    Phillip C.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Judy L.
    513
    488
    4273

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Phillip C.

    Phillip C.

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 3
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Phillip C.

    Phillip C.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Phillip C.

    Phillip C.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Stef Z.
    165
    24
    16

    1 month ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Phillip C.

    Phillip C.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 34

    Chicha San Chen Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Chicha San Chen

    Does bubble milk tea contain dairy?)🤍🧋

    All items in our store are dairy products. Thank you for your inquiry. Please do not hesitate to reach out for more information. Thank you.

    Is the boba vegan friendly?

    Do you carry crystal boba?

    Unfortunately, this store does not offer crystal boba.

    Do you have hot boba options? Or is it only cold/iced boba drinks? Thank you!

    Hi, we did serve hot drinks with bubble, but not in mousse series. Thank you.

    Will online ordering come back?

    Sadly no, I asked myself and they said no. But on a better note. I have been 2x and the lines have been fairly short. I went on a Sunday night and also a weekday.

    When will you open for paying at the store and indoor dining?

    Hi~we are open for paying at the store and indoor dining starting Sept 5, 2022. Thanks.

    Hi when are you bringing back the taro drinks?

    Hi, thank you for your interest. Unfortunately, taro series are seasonal item, please follow our IG: chichasanchensocal for any further updates. Thank you.

    Do you have no caffeine tea options?

    Hi, we have no caffeine option such as brown sugar bubble, all type of lemon condensed milk, and taro ball and paste with fresh milk. Thanks.

    Do they not have boba? I tried ordering online didn't see boba option?

    They definitely have boba! I noticed they sometimes run out of certain toppings early, maybe that is what happened when you checked?

    How is this business handling the re-opening? What safety measures are they taking? Are they offering dine-in?

    No Dine-In, take out only and they hand you the drinks in a paper bag after they've confirmed your call number.

    I tried your Mousse topping today 10/18/2020; what is it made with and what is your cheese foam made with as well?

    Cheese

    I wonder if they enroll in fantuan, uber eat, or instacart? it's just not so convenient driving there for a cup of drink.

    Hi Ss M, thank you for your support. Unfortunately, we don’t offer other delivery option at this moment. Please follow our Instagram/Facebook @ chichasanchensocal for any updates. Thanks.

    Can we order the king milk tea with no boba? If so, what is it called on the online menu?

    Hi, thank you for your question. The milk tea of our signature “Bubble Milk Tea (King Milk tea)” is - Black tea with Cream. We also have another 3 kinds of topping to choose besides bubble(boba); Coconut jelly with pineapple flavor, Konjac jelly and… 

    Are there non-dairy options for milk teas?

    Hi, thank your for your support. Unfortunately we doesn’t have any non-dairy options yet at this moment for milk tea. Thanks.

    Are you open again? And if so what's your store hours now!

    We reopened since 5/1(fri) with adjusted hours (12:30-7pm) with "Online Order" and Pick-up only.

    Are they still open during shelter-at-Home?

    We reopened since 5/1(fri) with adjusted hours with "Online Order" and Pick-up only. We will continue to follow social distancing practices in the best interest of our staff… 

    What kind of milk is used? What drinks are sugarfree.

    We use organic whole milk. Order your tea without “flavoring” as plain would give as sugar free option.

    Do they have WiFi? Is it a good place to do work/study?

    They didn't have wifi when I went. I don't think this is a place to work / study. It's quite small inside. About 4-5 tables. Very tiny space.

    Are you open today?

    We are closed today due Chinese New Year, we reopen on Tuesday Jan. 28. Happy Chinese New Year!

    Do you guys take phone order? if so, do you have a separate line for pickup orders? Thank you

    Phone orders is not yet available, we are still working out on it. Thank you for inquiring.

    View All 25 Questions

    You might also consider

    Mr Dragon Noodle House

    Mr Dragon Noodle House

    4.5
    (2.1k reviews)
    1.2 mi
    $$

    I've been here with my coworkers so many times now that I've lost count. It's one of those…read morerestaurants where we've never had a bad experience and the food and service are consistent. It's one of the default lunch spots for us when we can't decide where else to go and everyone likes their food. The one negative I can point out is the parking situation. It does fill up and sometimes difficult to find a parking spot during busy times. We just have to plan to have our lunches a little earlier and carpool from our office. And yes, the glass the teas come in are humongous.

    We called ahead to place a pickup order hoping to try their dumplings. Once we arrived, the service…read morewas extremely good for just coming to pick up food. They opened and closed the door for us which was a nice touch because it was busy inside. We ordered the pork ramen, pork buns, and pork soup dumplings. On to the food! Pork Ramen: 3/5 They give you a hefty amount of noodles and pork. They use a thin noodle here which pairs well with the broth. I truly do believe this was around average for ramen as the flavor in the broth was not as strong or savory. The highlight of the entire entree was definitely the pork, which was tender and flavorful. I probably would not order this again. Pork bun: 5/5 The pork buns were soft and fluffy, almost too good looking to eat. There was the right amount of soup and meat inside that made for a wonderful bite full of flavor. Not dry at all. Would recommend ordering this if you visit. Pork Dumplings: 5/5 The star of the show, the dumplings. They were soft and just like the buns, they had the right amount of soup + meat which made for a delicious bite every time. My toddler even ate some and she's usually super picky about meat. Overall, I'd definitely recommend coming here for the other noodles, the dumplings, and buns. You can skip on the ramen. I would 100% come back here to dine in. Quick note that parking gets full pretty quick here.

    Photos
    Interior
    Interior
    Beef pepper udon
    Beef pepper udon
    D1. House Special Beef Noodle Soup

    See all

    D1. House Special Beef Noodle Soup
    Luyixian

    Luyixian

    4.5
    (522 reviews)
    1.1 mi
    $$

    On the way back from Santa Ana, find LuYiXuan Restaurant in Alhambra, which serves Shanghainese and…read moreTaiwanese cuisine. This restaurant is difficult to get parking because it is located inside a small plaza on the corner of Valley and Garfield. Fortunately, I found a parking space there. The restaurant is not particularly large, But there are many customers dining there. We ordered Garlic Cucumber, Braised Pork Rice, Garlic Water Spinach, Braised Beef Noodles, Sweet and Sour Pork Ribs, Garlic Beef Cubes, and two Thai Milk Teas. I'm able to speak with the owner, who informs me that this restaurant does not use MSG or other ingredients. Everything is fresh and healthy. After tasting the food and the Braised Beef Noodles, I can tell it's really tasty and light, with no harsh components that make you thirsty and want to drink more water. So far, my family and I have really enjoyed the food here. Definitely will return and try other delicious foods next time.

    Prices and portions are fair in this little shop in Alhambra, and the pig ear here is cut thin and…read moremarinated in a classic chili sauce! Service is outstanding and very friendly, and the restroom is clean. Lots of free parking is available in the small lot outside. The restaurant is in a corner of the lot within unassuming outside exterior but very nice interior. The garlic cucumber was crunchy and light in marinade. I enjoyed the pig ear but prefer thicker cuts typically. It would be wonderful to come back to try other entrees.

    Photos
    Beautiful Flower arrangement
    Beautiful Flower arrangement
    Couple's sliced beef
    Couple's sliced beef
    Mushroom and Napa cabbage

    See all

    Mushroom and Napa cabbage
    All In Cafe

    All In Cafe

    4.3
    (174 reviews)
    14.9 mi
    $$

    Yummy Taiwanese food! Another review by David L. mentioned this place was similar to Sinbala and I…read morecan attest that it truly is similar. I ordered the pork chop rice and the pork chop had a great crispy exterior and was very juicy as well. The dish came with sauteed cabbage, half a tea egg, sauteed corn/peas/carrot mix and a bean curd. Portion was large and I was able to eat half for another meal! My friend got the chicken chop rice and the portion was even bigger than the pork chop rice! I will come back to try that one. Our group also ordered the popcorn chicken and that was juicy as well. Wished they added thai basil to the popcorn chicken but it was still delicious without it! Would 10/10 come back again.

    forgot @Jessica W. reviewed that this place changed owners. we liked their food from the past…read moreowner 牡丹/Chef. so hubby and I brought my mom and my MIL here for dinner on a Friday evening around 7pm. the place was small to begin with and it's packed with only 1 table of 4 left. the inside was upgraded/remodeled so it looked a lot cleaner than the previous restaurant. new menu design but basically the same dishes are available plus there're some Taiwanese street food. we found out the owner changed but they kept the same chef in the kitchen. when the dried tofu with pork 香乾肉絲 was served and my mom has the most picky tastebuds, without asking she said "this dish is very good". personally I was impressed with the cutting skill for the dish as both the pork and dried tofu are cut very thin so the flavor can easily get into the tofu and pork. and the dried tofu was soft like a noodle. the eggplants was also very tasty with lots of basil flavor. compared to the other 2 dishes, the braised tofu 紅燒豆腐 was ok as the sauce is a little too thick. and the fried chicken was bland. service was good and attentive. we would come back to have (don't need to try as it's the same chef) their famous "kidney with sesame oil 麻油腰花" again.

    Photos
    All In Cafe
    Good tender pork chop
    Good tender pork chop
    Tasty popcorn chicken

    See all

    Tasty popcorn chicken
    P P Pop

    P P Pop

    4.4
    (1.2k reviews)
    1.6 mi
    $$

    All of the food was solid!!! I recommend everything that we ordered. If your spice tolerance is not…read morethe best, I want to warn that the Mild Spicy Popcorn Chicken had more of kick than I expected. Also, their iced teas are HUMONGOUS. I'm not exaggerating. The pictures don't do them justice at all. FEATURED Popcorn Chicken ($10) Pan Fried Pork Bao ($13) Beef Noodle Soup ($15) Mango Green Tea ($4.99) Passion Green Tea ($4.99) Strawberry Green Tea ($4.99)

    If you want fast casual Taiwanese food, this is a good fix. Nothing amazing but still all solid…read moredishes. Whoever made our potstickers this day though, really didn't care. Others had a nice crispy lace cook on them, all held together in a nice circular formation.. and I got haphazardly thrown potstickers on a plate. Service is typical for a small Chinese place, where if you need something you have to ask, no one comes to check on you. When they're busy, you don't get a menu, so don't expect to see pictures and you'll have to kinda of know what you're ordering when looking at just the listed ordering form. I would suggest looking at pics online first so you know going into this. Love the ginormous drinks though, my strawberry green tea was deliciously refreshing with the perfect level of sweetness. Parking - free lot is small. There are some street sidewalk options. We waited a few minutes and luckily people were leaving the market so we were able to park in the lot.

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Popcorn chicken
    Popcorn chicken
    Popcorn Chicken

    See all

    Popcorn Chicken
    Yi Mei

    Yi Mei

    4.1
    (473 reviews)
    1.7 mi
    $$

    Yi Mei is a classic Taiwanese food spot. Order & pay first. Seems like their Rice Roll (Fan Tuan)…read morehas been blowing up on socials. It can get crowded around lunch time. There's a self-service area for water, sauces, utensils and napkins. I feel like the water runs out a lot, so you just have to waive down some of the staff to refill it. For the Fan Tuans, I do like that when you order online you can enter if you want the Chinese Donut (YouTiao) to be extra crispy. I guess you can tell them that too when you're ordering at the front cashier. Classic Taiwanese breakfast options are available (soy milk - sweet or salty; egg omelette; Chinese Donut; Porridge, etc.); and they have some Taiwanese staples like the Sausage, Meatball, Beef Noodle Soup, Pork Chop Rice, Dumplings, etc. They also have pastries like the Curry pastry, Sun or Pineapple cakes. Restaurant space is clean and service is fairly quick (10-15 mins). after you order. Parking is shared with plaza and they do have an underground lot. Restrooms are fairly clean.

    Came here to try the viral rice roll. It was decent. Not wow-mazing but I'd get it again if I'm…read morein the area. I enjoyed how crisply the you tiao was fried and how the glutinous purple rice was chewy and held well together as a burrito would. It looks very massive, but it's not that filling considering the you tiao takes up so much space but is mostly just air. I added pork floss and an egg as well, but felt like it could have used additional ingredients to make it feel more like a meal. I tried the wonton noodle soup as well, and thought this was alright. I liked that the noodles were a bit chewy, but thought the flavor of the soup was a bit bland, so this isn't one I'd consider repurchasing. Prices were pretty good, so I'd consider coming back and trying something else.

    Photos
    Clean interior
    Clean interior
    Purple rice roll - was ok
    Purple rice roll - was ok
    Oyster pancake - I didn't like it

    See all

    Oyster pancake - I didn't like it
    Ahgoo's Kitchen

    Ahgoo's Kitchen

    3.9
    (276 reviews)
    2.8 mi
    $$

    Once upon a time, in the 90s, the Taiwanese population was small, close knit, like the Jewish…read morecommunity. Your ex's Taiwanese uncle was the angel investor that jump started Jerry Yang's Yahoo.com. Your other friend's uncle was the VP to Terry Gou founder of Hon Hai Precision's (the company that makes all the iPhones), your friend's dad was locked up in Taiwan because he was the head of the United Bamboo Triads. Every Taiwanese person in LA and the West Coast probably had a 2 degree of separation with everyone else. And so like the Italians, you needed family restaurants to congregate at, and Aghoo precisely is that type of restaurant where Taiwanese Boomers and their children go sit down and have comfort food. This is a school of cooking that many chefs from Mainland China simply cannot replicate today. And there were only a few restaurants in Los Angeles 30 years ago capable of doing it: Happy Family Garden Pacific Plaza 新園餐館, Dumpling King 老夫子 Hacienda Heights Vons Plaza, Sin Bala 新芭樂 Arcadia, and Din Tai Fung 鼎泰豐 Arcadia Location One. That being said, I've always wanted to go back to Taiwan and apprentice under an old school chef and learn this school of stir-fry, you know, carry on the torch. In Taiwan, you used to be able to go to a street stall and order 100 different types of stir fry for dirt cheap, and so the chefs that had the grit to do it became masters at stir fry, authentic green onion beef not that fake Mongolian Beef created for the American Audience...although I equally like the American version. So yes, it was a sigh of relief when I discovered Aghoo. One of the remnants of a lost art form in the diverse world of cuisine. It was survival for the Boomer generation to stand next to a wok all day, to support the business and to support the family. Unlike Italian food, you can't premake Lasagna, Meatballs, marinara sauce and just assemble everything last minute with fresh cooked pasta. No, Taiwanese stir fry is bittersweet hard labor....very mechanical in nature, and the chef needs to understand all the inputs. So these days, Jurassic Restaurant has closed, Uncle Yu's 印第安啤酒屋 had shut down. Leaving.....Aghoos? And yes, Eat Joy in Rowland Heights. Come to think about it, if you take out Din Tai Fung from the picture, these are the last of the Mohicans..... I'll end here with my walk down memory lane. You want the Taiwanese version of that Italian style Family sit down restaurant, this is it. This is where you will find all the Taiwanese Aunties and Uncles that probably own 10,000 shares of TSMC, 30,000 shares of NVDA, and Jensen Huang eating quietly in the corner.

    Came for lunch recently, and tried 3 dishes: Green onion…read moresesame pie: good portion, but the inside felt undercooked and it was a bit lacking in flavor. House Special Bean Curd: Normally love this dish, and while the flavor was good, the tofu is actually cut too thin so it lacked any chew (or QQ). Fried Red Yeast Pork Belly: Wanted to try something interesting and new, and this was a fun choice. Very interesting and also heats back up well in an oven. Service was friendly. I can't help but feel like they could optimize their table layout a lot better, and perhaps bring in an additional server - there ends up being a very long wait for 2-4 person groups. I watched as some groups ended up changing their order to go because they had waited so long. Street parking outside.

    Photos
    Inside of the restaurant
    Inside of the restaurant
    Water spinach
    Water spinach
    Bamboo shoots and pork

    See all

    Bamboo shoots and pork
    Why Thirsty

    Why Thirsty

    4.0
    (674 reviews)
    3.8 mi
    $$

    COVID-19: Social distancing is not enforced at this establishment. Some of the staff wears a mask…read more All customers are not expected to wear a mask. It's optional now. The staff also wears gloves when handling food. There are some hand sanitizers available for customers to use. This place is available for take outs and has no indoor & outdoor seating available with limited capacity. They are only doing To Go orders. They are not sanitizing in between customers. COVID-19 Vaccination Proof: This establishment currently does not require proof of vaccination. While I was grabbing my food from this establishment last month, I asked if they had any special offers and they weren't offering any at the moment. They currently don't have happy hour. They also do not allow pets in their establishment UNLESS it's a service animal. Parking: The parking lot for this establishment is pretty big. They do share the lot with several other establishments. The lot doesn't really get busy, so you shouldn't have any problems with finding parking. I did notice that some spots are smaller than others. Food: I ordered a mild spicy popcorn chicken and minced bowl/ plate. The popcorn chicken was very flavorful, crunchy, tender, and juicy. Big portion for like $10. The Taiwanese seasoning mix brought me right back to the night markets to Taiwan. It's truly the 5 spice powder that hits the spot. The batter wasn't thick, so the chicken didn't taste very battery/ cakey. That's what I hate about some places that make popcorn chicken. It also wasn't too spicy for me. It was just right. I ordered the minced bowl, which is actually a plate. For like $12, it was actually pretty good and the portions was huge. The boiled / blanched cabbage and broccoli were soft, sweet, and tasty. I could taste the sesame oil on it. It wasn't salty. The sweet corn and diced juicy tomatoes combo was good too. The boiled tea egg was pretty delicious. You can actually taste the tea and soy sauce. The egg was nice and soft. And now, for the braised minced pork. The pork was very delicious and it just melted in my mouth. I love that there were some fatty pieces of pork too in the dish. It balanced out some of the pieces of pork, which had too much meat in it. Definitely a very savory and rich dish. Omg and the sauce from the braised minced pork drizzled over the rice was just so perfect! It made the rice extremely delectable. This is hands down one of my favorite Taiwanese dishes, and it was made perfectly. Staff: The staff here are very friendly, welcoming, and kind. They are closing this restaurant down in February 2026 due to rising rent and the landlord's unwillingness to upgrade the place. So sad. I'm seriously upset to see this place go. They accept both cash and credit cards. There is a $20 credit card minimum.

    I was craving pork chop rice the other day and couldn't think of where to go, but I remembered…read morehearing that Why Thirsty had a solid pork chop, so I decided to give it a try. I've only had their drinks and popcorn chicken in the past, which were decent. I called in a pickup order and the food was ready in about ten minutes. As of 12/06/25, they currently do not offer dine in and are only doing takeout. I ordered the Railroad Pork Chop, which is the traditional Taiwanese style where the chop is marinated and grilled or pan seared instead of fried. It came with rice and two veggie sides, and everything tasted fresh. The pork chop was flavorful and tender, and the marinade went perfectly with the rice. Overall, a pretty solid meal and I would definitely come back for it again. Not many places still make the railroad style pork chop like this, so it's worth trying if you're a fan.

    Photos
    Try "The Railroad" it's authentic pork chop rice
    Try "The Railroad" it's authentic pork chop rice
    Why Thirsty
    Why Thirsty

    See all

    La Sinbala

    La Sinbala

    4.0
    (1.8k reviews)
    4.3 mi
    $$

    SinBala - Arcadia…read more SinBala is one of the rare Taiwanese restaurants that has stood the test of time. I grew up eating here. There used to be several locations across Southern California, and I'm glad the Arcadia location is still here. Every visit brings back memories. I come for the Taiwanese classics that are becoming harder to find. The popcorn chicken is still one of my favorites--crispy, fragrant, and seasoned the way Taiwanese street vendors do it. The Taiwanese meatball soup is comforting, and the Taiwanese sausage always reminds me of night markets back home. What I appreciate most is that SinBala doesn't just serve street food. It brings those familiar flavors into a warm, home-style setting. It's nostalgic without trying too hard. Before you leave, save room for dessert. Their shaved ice is a must. I always recommend the brown sugar shaved ice topped with five mochi or boba. It's refreshing, not overly sweet, and the perfect ending to a meal. Taiwanese food is often overshadowed by other regional Chinese cuisines, but places like SinBala remind me how unique it really is. Simple, comforting, and full of character. I'm grateful this little piece of Taiwan is still here.

    Came for Taiwanese shaved ice. Honestly the only one in the area it seems doing it traditional…read morestyle - shaved ice not show, lots of toppings. A bit sweeter than my preference but maybe cuz I put condensed milk on it as one of the toppings. The grass jelly shaped firm and nice cubes so possible it's from a can as opposed to in house. Sausage I had as well not the best I've had but traditional flavor and served with lots of garlic on the side (wahoo!)

    Photos
    La Sinbala
    Spicy beef noodle soup
    Spicy beef noodle soup
    Spicy beef noodle soup

    See all

    Spicy beef noodle soup

    Chicha San Chen - bubbletea - Updated August 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...