WSGV updates

Does Xian Foodie have Biang Biang Mian?

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They do have a youpo mian! It’s solid. My current fav is at Luyu Dumplings.



Xian Foodie youpo mian

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Five Star Seafood leaves Focus Plaza apparently across the street to the Hilton. Focus Plaza is apparently trying to repopulate with name brand entities. Marugame Udon is already open and Bafang Dumpling is coming soon. But they’ve got a lot of space to fill.

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i imagine that they’d be raising the rent to recoup some of their recent capital expenditures. if so, i’d expect to see more franchise-type operations as tenants.

oh yeah, they fixed the ‘mamated’ sign to marinated in alhambra, to be fair, the outdoor sign was always correct.

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Thanks for the report on Xian Foodie.

We’re also fans of Luyu Dumplings. Pretty terrible location, but superb food.

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Chili House replacing Wuming Hot Pot in San Gabriel.

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Yunnan Restaurant, stir fry rice noodle. Forgot to ask for veg version.


Formosa Aroma.


Dolan’s hand pulled noodles. Package separately to-go. Really good just wished they gave me more veggies since no meat.

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Taipei’s Fat Daddy American Fried Chicken has opened up a branch in West Covina’s Haven Market. However the name here is merely Fat Daddy Fried Chicken because it really isn’t American fried chicken, but Taiwanese fried chicken, that is marinated in milk.

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Long Xing Xi also bails out of San Gabriel Square and lands in—Baldwin Park? And none of the restaurants that “temporarily” moved out of the center to return to updated digs has yet to move back, but remain in their new location.

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Thanks!! That food hall is a gem in the area! The Cha Gio at the Bahn Mi place is excellent.

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FWIW there are plenty of american recipes for fried chicken that call for a buttermilk marinade. bouchon used to offer a version on fridays IIRC.

buttermilk has a higher level of acidity than regular milk (you can create buttermilk from milk simply by adding an acid such as vinegar or lemon juice) so it’d denature the proteins a bit more but milk should still work though the result would be less tangy.

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Activity on the “SGV Eats” Facebook group reporting that Jiang Nan Spring is no longer in operation.


@chandavkl engaging with some of the members on the comment thread there about which Mama Lu’s this actually is; I’m not up on which is franchised and which is original, so I’ll leave it to wiser people to elucidate.

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Damn that is some pretty big news considering the accolades and popularity. I had a few family dinners there over the year sad to see them go. Does SGV really need another Mama Lu’s?

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Have to say my last visit three, now about four (!) years ago was underwhelming, so much so that it’s memorialized by my memory of some extremely fast-food standard eggrolls…

Within the 1-2 years during and after their Michelin nod, I think it was pretty strong. But agree I’m sad to see them go.

I don’t think more Mama Lu’s are necessary. More focused and determined Aunties ladleing out doujiang and youtiao are, though

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It’s part of the original from what i understand. The Lu Family trust (the two brothers that had tax issues in the original location) are part of this expansion starting in arcadia

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I kinda dig Auntie Q in Alhambra for dumplings (shenjian bao especially) and the overall homey vibe. There + Sunday farmers market has been a go-to.

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M Joy is crazy good. Very much worth going to. When I went last month I immediately texted @PorkyBelly that he needs to come.

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Liang pi at Noodle Art.



Dan dan at Lan. I enjoyed the hell out of this. The sauce, and noodles were just perfect today.



Youpo mian. Great chew but doesn’t quit hit like Luyu.


626 Ice Cream. Actually at Smorgasburg. Loved the vegan ube coco.

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ALERT: James Wang sighting:

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