Lamb With Cumin
Cui Hua Lou

Cui Hua Lou

920 E Garvey Ave, 91755, Monterey Park, US, United States

Soup • Fish • Casual • Chinese


"*CASH ONLY* Bring your bills. You're going to have to pay double digits! This Szechuan restaurant is at the back corner of the Monterey Park Plaza. It's on the side of the dental office. They had some canopies for outdoor seating. I saw some patrons bring their own beer and were offered a bottle opener. Parking is easy but can be busy during peak hours. There is no public bathroom. The food I ordered was too much for two people but I really wanted to see what they had to offer. I loved the water boil fish $18.99! It goes so well with white rice, and I loved that they put cabbage on the bottom (as opposed to bean sprouts). It was so flavorful and better tasting than the water boil fish I had at Chengdu Taste the night before. The servers speak some English! The lamb hot pot seemed like the thing to get here because every table had one. They legit put a plug in stove on our table and asked us to plug it in the wall. We had to wait ~5 minutes for the vegetables to cook, but this was an enjoyable dish. The soup tasted similar to beef noodle soup to me. In addition to the abundance of chunks of lamb (with bone), there was some soft tofu cubes, tofu skin, and clear noodles. We clearly couldn't finish this between two people, so we packed like two Tupperwares to take home. The beef shank cold dish was alright. I think they could have added more sauce to make it a tasty dish by itself, but considering the meal as a whole, it was fine. We dipped some of the beef slices in the spicy fish sauce/soup because it was so good. There is a minimum order of 5 for skewers. I tried the lamb, chicken gizzard, and fish tofu. Lamb was best. I'd come back to get more skewers here, but I can see how it can easily get expensive! It seems like another popular dish is the beef pastry, so I would like to try that on another visit. Rice is like a dollar per person. The servers helped us pack the leftovers. A lot of people order take out here. Their two-sided menu is in English and Chinese, but it doesn't have photos."

Canaan

Canaan

South Street, Artesia, 90703, United States Of America

Asian • Family • Coffee • Chinese


"The service is typical of a busy Chinese restaurant—especially in the mornings—so be prepared to flag down your server if you need anything. They recently remodeled, so the restaurant looks much neater now. **Location and Parking:** The restaurant is located at the intersection of South St. and Alburtis Ave., in the same shopping plaza as Café 86, Pepper Lunch, Fresh Catch Seafood Market, BoPoMoFo Café, Mian, Garlic and Chives, and several other popular spots. The parking lot is shared with these establishments, so if you’re going for breakfast, try to arrive early to avoid hassle, as certain items can run out quickly. **Food Recommendations:** #104 Salted Soybean Milk - If you prefer something savory, I highly recommend this option. Add a splash of vinegar to curdle the soymilk, along with your favorite sauces and seasonings, then mix in some chopped crullers for a delightful dish that never disappoints. #105 Sweet Rice Milk with Peanuts - A great alternative for those who enjoy something sweet but want to try something different from traditional sweet soymilk. It has a lovely nutty flavor. #106 Twisted Cruller - These tend to sell out quickly, especially if my brother is there ordering extra for himself! Their crullers are fluffy and fresh, unlike other places where they can be overly fried. Be sure to arrive early to secure these. #113 Salted Rice Roll - Another family favorite! It comes halved, so I suggest sharing or saving some for later. They also offer a version with an egg, which I haven’t tried yet. #121 Pork Gua Bao - Pork belly in a bao? Count me in! They include peanut powder and pickled vegetables, but you can request to omit those if you’re not a fan. #203 Deep Fried Stinky Tofu - You either love it or hate it! I grew up eating stinky tofu, so I'm always excited to have it here. It's not as good as what you find in Taiwan, but I appreciate it nonetheless. It goes well with pickled radish, which acts as a nice palate cleanser. #204 Intestine with Garlic Sauce - This was my first time trying this dish, and I was pleasantly surprised by the generous portion of intestines. It was truly addictive. #207 Meat Rolls with Onion - Despite the name translating to "Chicken Roll" in Chinese, there’s no chicken in the mix. It’s a blend of tofu skin, fish paste, carrots, and other ingredients that mimic chicken. Traditionally, this dish was created to avoid waste and didn’t need refrigeration. Not many places serve an authentic version, but this one was crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside—definitely recommend! #308 Pot Stickers - These are freshly made, though they aren’t particularly special. #309 Pan Fried Bao - I liked the bao dough, but I was disappointed that it was somewhat underwhelming."