Since the axis of Chinese food shifted from Los Angeles Chinatown to the San Gabriel Valley in the late 1980s, Chinatown had slipped into more and more irrelevancy. However the revival of the neighborhood, sparked when non-Chinese eateries started opening up in the area, particularly dating back to Chego in 2013, and followed by places like Little Jewel and Howlin’ Ray’s, has also revitalized the Chinese side of the ledger most notably Johnny Yee’s Pearl River Deli, as well as others like Steep and Inomomi Vegan Dim Sum. So it’s quite interesting to see what may be viewed as a suburban, San Gabriel Valley type eatery open up, in the form of Minon Cake. Whereas Chinese desserts were once relegated to almond jello, and later sweet bean soup, in places like the San Gabriel Valley you see trendy Chinese dessert shops selling box cakes, single serving pieces often housed in little plastic boxes, as well as other goodies, for several dollars each. Meanwhile, Chinatown was still stuck in the sweet bean soup era (aside from Phoenix Inn’s display case), until now. I’m really not sure if Chinatown is ready for this–Minon’s simplest entry, its self-named Minon Cake merely being a plain sponge cake, and going for $5. But it is interesting seeing things getting up to date in Chinatown. Good luck to them.
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