singapore: paradise dynasty - legend of xiao long bao

tommy gleefully eats xiao long bao at paradise dynasty...

dynasty 8 flavours: (clockwise starting with green) ginseng, foie gras, black truffle, cheese, crab roe, garlic, szechuan, original (in the middle)

original xiao long bao

tommy says:  the noodle soups were good, the beef soup was very rich and hearty, but the reason to come is for the xiao long bao (soup dumplings).  the different flavors are interesting, but they don't all necessarily work.  call me a fuddy duddy, but original is the way to go.  the original is really, really delicious and so full of soup!  

paradise dynasty: legend of xiao long bao
ion orchard
2 orchard turn #4-12A
singapore
http://www.paradisegroup.com.sg/

singapore: tian tian hainanese chicken rice at maxwell road food centre

tommy digs the chicken rice at tian tian hainanese chicken rice and other dishes from the hawker stands at maxwell road food centre...

chicken rice

variety of dishes from several of the hawker stands

tommy says: fantastic and cheap eats (a plate of noodles went for one dollar!)!  the most popular stall is definitely tian tian, and for good reason - the chicken rice is tender and tasty. lines for tian tian get quite long so be prepared to wait.  this is food court seating so divide and conquer responsibilities: someone to wait at tian tian, someone to grab a table, and the rest to pick up other random goodies.  enjoy!

tian tian hainanese chicken rice
stall 10, maxwell food centre
singapore
http://www.tiantianchickenrice.com/

oahu - honolulu: libby manapua shop

tommy tries libby manapua shop...

manapua, half moon, pork hash

tommy says:  everything here was too sweet.  similar to char hung sut, the manapua bread to filling ratio was too heavy on the bread.  the half moon also had water chestnut that added a crunch. with everything being too sweet, it is very unlikely that there will be a return visit.

libby manapua shop
410 kalihi st
honolulu, hi 96819
(808) 841-2253
http://www.libbymanapuashop.com/

oahu - honolulu: char hung sut

tommy checks out char hung sut...

manapua, half moon, pork hash, ma tai soo

tommy says: all of the fillings were a bit on the sweet side.  the manapuas have a chinese bbq pork filling (they are basically cha siu bao), but the filling to bread ratio is a bit off; too much bread.  the half moon is more bbq pork but with chopped water chestnuts, which give it a crunch and tasted interesting in a good way.  ma tai soo is even more bbq pork, but in a baked bun.  the pork hash was like an all pork shumai and had pretty good flavor. wouldn't be against a revisit for more half moons and pork hash.

char hung sut
64 n pauahi st 
honolulu, hi 96817
(808) 538-3335
http://charhungsut.com/

san gabriel valley - san gabriel: newport seafood

tommy dives in at newport seafood in san gabriel...

crispy fried squid with salt and pepper

crab with ginger and green onion

beef loc lac (french style)

newport special lobster

tommy says: the lobster and the beef loc lac were the standouts.  the squid was good, but nothing remarkably different from a well done calamari.  the crab was also good, but couldn't stand up to the lobster.  the lobster meat was sweet and tender, and the sauce had a nice mild peppery kick.  the beef was tender and when dipped in the lime juice with salt and pepper, sublime!  hands down the best version of this dish around.

newport tan cang seafood restaurant
518 w. las tunas dr
san gabriel, ca 91776
(626) 289-5998
http://newportseafood.com/

san gabriel valley - arcadia: din tai fung

tommy goes to the legendary din tai fung in arcadia...


appetizer


shrimp fried rice


rice cakes


dumplings


handy directions on how to eat the dumplings

tommy says: tried the new location, which is right around the corner from the original. the appetizer (that is literally what the menu lists it as) was really tasty. it had bean sprouts, bean curd, and other goodies. the shrimp fried rice was good and didn't seem as heavy as other fried rice. the rice cake dish was a lil on the bland side. and of course the infamous soup dumplings were tasty. had the pork & crab and the pork dumplings. the pork flavor overpowered the crab, but were still good. honestly, probably a bit over-hyped, but definitely a tasty meal.

din tai fung
1088 s baldwin ave
arcadia, ca 91007
(626) 446-8588
http://www.dintaifungusa.com

los angeles - koreatown: heung rae gak

tommy goes for some korean-style chinese food at heung rae gak in ktown...


ddakwan and onions with black bean sauce
cabbage kimchee


seafood jjampong


gan jajangmyun (noodles with black bean sauce)

tommy says: the kimchee was nice, spicy, and crunchy, the jampong broth wasn't bad, and the gan jajangmyun had a thick and oniony sauce and was decent as well (regular jajangmyun looked to be a little runny). not a bad place to get your fix of koreanized-chinese food and definitely beats the dragon on vermont!

heung rae gak

357 s western ave

los angeles, ca 90020

(213) 383-0178

san gabriel valley - arcadia: phoenix food boutique

tommy finds fantastic sweets at phoenix in arcadia...


fresh mango and soy custard


deep fried mini sweet buns

tommy says: absolutely heavenly!! the custard dish ($3.75) is absolutely amazing! fresh mango with tiny tapioca pearls and soy custard makes for an incredible combination! the deep fried buns ($4.25) are not too sweet and the inside is chewy. they come with sweetened condensed milk to dip the buns, so good!

phoenix food boutique
1108 s baldwin ave
arcadia, ca 91007
(626) 446-7668
http://www.phoenixfoodboutique.com/

san gabriel valley - san gabriel: shanghai restaurant

tommy has a so-so dinner at shanghai restaurant in san gabriel...


winter melon soup with bamboo and ham


sauteed shrimp


house special fried rice


soup dumplings

tommy says: the soup was nice a light, yet had great flavor. shrimp was simple and good as well. the fried rice was too greasy and the soup dumplings were all broken so there was no soup in the dumpling -- which is the whole point of eating the dumpling... disappointing. overall, so-so food.

shanghai restaurant

140 w valley blvd [map]

san gabriel, ca 91776

(626) 288-0991

san gabriel valley - alhambra: tasty garden

tommy enjoys afternoon tea at tasty garden...


beef chow fun



hong kong style pancakes
milk tea

tommy says: super cheap afternoon snack! tasty garden offers an afternoon tea specials that are $5-$6 each and comes with tea (with free refills! even in a to-go cup!). the chow fun was a bit on the oily side, but still decent, and the portion was quite generous considering the price. pancakes were not too sweet and went perfectly with the milk tea. all this for $11!!

tasty garden
1212 south baldwin ave
arcadia, ca 91007

(626) 445-9388

san gabriel valley - alhambra: savoy

tommy grubs at savoy in alhambra...


hainan chicken rice



halibut with cream sauce

tommy says: yummy hainan chicken comes with 3 sauces (ginger, hot, and soy). the chicken is super tender and juicy (get the dark meat). the halibut came with pasta, and the cream sauce was a bit heavy but still tasty. oh, and the price is right! two orders of chicken, the halibut and 2 teas came to $26 with tax!!!

savoy kitchen
138 e valley blvd
alhambra, ca 91801
(626) 308-9535

san gabriel valley - alhambra: 101 noodle express

tommy experiences his first beef roll at 101 noodle express in alhambra...


cold tofu noodles


fried shrimp and pumpkin dumplings
scallop and pork dumplings


BEEF ROLLS

tommy says: the beef rolls are amazing!! the dumplings aren't bad either, but the beef rolls is where its at! the meat is so tender, the sauce is flavorful, the essence of cilantro complements without being overpowering, and the wrap just binds up the heavenly concoction! a gift from the gods!

101 noodle express
1408 e valley blvd
alhambra, ca 91801
(626) 300-8654
http://www.yelp.com/biz/101-noodle-express-alhambra

san gabriel valley - monterey park: dim sum at elite

tommy waiting outside...


spare ribs, sweet home style pancakes, snow bun

also ingested but not pictured (tommy ate too quickly for photos): sesame dumplings, har gow (shrimp dumpling), mushroom caps, roasted duck, mango pudding

tommy says: good food (har gow, roasted duck, sesame dumplings, and spare ribs were delicious!), so-so service, be sure to bring someone who speaks the language

elite
http://www.yelp.com/biz/elite-restaurant-monterey-park

los angeles: santa monica farmers market, little tokyo, san gabriel valley, taco truck

tommy breakfasts at the santa monica farmers' market, checks out the murakami exhibit, hits up jtown, treats himself to some pinkberry, dines at b2o, throws a few back at barney's beanery, and enjoys a midnight snack from the taco truck


breakfast at the farmers' market
http://www.smgov.net/farmers_market/sunday.htm



murakami exhibit
http://www.moca.org/murakami/



jtown
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Tokyo%2C_Los_Angeles%2C_California



pinkberry
http://pinkberry.com/html/pbmain.php




dinner at b20 cafe
http://www.yelp.com/biz/b2o-cafe-temple-city



barney's beanery in old town pasadena
http://www.barneysbeanery.com/



taco truck in pasadena