You Kitchen, Alhambra
Website
Truth be told, I should create a new topic titled “Where are you always eating?” because this small restaurant has become my Third Space. I first heard of You Kitchen in early 2020 - it’s owned and operated by a woman, and usually has only women in the kitchen. I started to go just as the woman directed Asian American violence was being reported in the Bay area, and then kept going for take out only during safer-at-home. The old, “I’ve eaten my body weight there” standard is true for me and this place. Can’t stop won’t stop.
Here’s one of my more recent meals
Tomato and egg noodles.
I know these are a mainstay of Chinese cooking however I haven’t had a lifetime of eating them. I really like this version and pick the handmade noodle option for an additional $1.
Big Mouth Pocket with pork and squash dumplings (pan fried, maybe an additional $1 charge?)
Okay, so that big mouth pocket looks good; however I swear it’s garnished with powdered charisma and pheromones because it is unnaturally good. I’ve eaten it and wondered aloud what makes it so good? Maybe it’s the of-the-minute preparation? I don’t know.
The squash [and egg] dumplings aren’t usually pan fried that dark - and when they cool off to “very warm” they are wonderfully creamy in texture.
Unappetizing close up of the squash dumpling to give an accurate impression of my near catatonic food in my face state.
Something on the menu billed as “sesame Chinese pizza.”
It takes an additional 20-30 minutes to come out. It’s not pizza, although when you order it to-go, it’s packaged in a small pizza box. I think it’s giant poofy noodles that are cleverly laid out.
My homage to the Name That Slice thread. Look at that undercarriage!
Other frequent fliers on my You Kitchen table over the years
xlb; leek pancake; dandan noodles (I usually select handmade noodles and numbing levels); cucumber salad with garlic; vegetable meatball soup; Zhajiang noodles
I’ve tried and not cared for the handgrasping cake and the thousand layer pork pancake. I think the handgrasping cake is just not for my palate - I found it too doughy but I think that’s the point? The thousand layer pork pancake was too juicy and greasy for my tastes. You Kitchen’s frozen dumpling to-go services are very strong and I almost always have a few bags in my freezer with my favorite being the corn with pork, and fennel and pork.
The next door bowling alley with 30 some lanes is open again [caveat emptor - the bowling alley isn’t serving alcohol or food yet although I think think they will be]
I just picked up my first hybrid job (from my preferred place in Westwood Village): multi in the crosses + poly in the crosses. I’ve never tried a hybrid setup and have never tried poly, so this should be interesting…
