4 Stores to Spoil Yourself in Alhambra

Alhambra is home to many delicious restaurants, with Chinese cuisines being one of the most popular fares. These are some of the most authentic Chinese restaurants you can find in the Alhambra area. more 101 Noodle Express 101 Noodle Express is an important part of the local Alhambra area. They have three separate dining options throughout the San Gabriel Valley. 101 Noodle Express is well-known for its dedication to an exceptional customer experience. You will enjoy the signature authentic Chinese dishes while dining in an exclusive upscale environment, yet with an affordable price tag. A few of the local favorite items on the menu include the crispy pancakes with simmered beef, the De Zhou Chicken, and the fish and pumpkin dumplings. The biscuits are also made from scratch daily and are reason enough to visit 101 Noodle Express. Lunasia Dim Sum House Lunasia has successfully taken authentic Chinese cuisine and given it a modern twist. This upscale, Hong Kong-style spot serves fresh dim sum and seafood dishes. Lunasia is open for both lunch and dinner and has a full menu that caters to all food preferences. The lunch menu includes items like the hot and spicy popcorn chicken, the pan-fried mushroom with pork belly, and the sweet and sour spare ribs. Each of these dishes pairs well with the full Chinese tea menu. The dinner menu looks similar to the lunch menu but includes the Poon Choi dishes. This comfortable restaurant often fills up fast, so make sure you book your reservation ahead of time. Empress Harbor Seafood Restaurant Empress Harbor is just a short drive outside of Alhambra in the neighboring city of Monterey Park. The interior of Empress Harbor is luxurious and fit for any VIP event. It combines traditional Chinese decor with modern concepts for an environment that is unlike anywhere else. Each menu item at Empress Harbor is carefully created by the renowned chef to give you the most authentic and best-tasting experience possible. A few of the items on the menu include the fried rice in lotus leaves, spicy eggplant with minced pork, and a full live seafood menu. Make sure you leave room for some of the exceptional dessert options including mango pudding or sweet walnut soup. ACC Chinese Fast Food You do not have to dine in an upscale environment to try the authentic tasting Chinese food at ACC Chinese Fast Food. This casual spot might be small, but it still serves some of the freshest and most authentic tasting Cantonese Chinese cuisine in the area. The affordable dishes lead to a busy lunch rush most days of the week. Be sure to try the clay pot rice, salted fish fried rice, or the spinach beef noodle soup. One of the most popular sections on the menu is the fried rice. You can try it with fried duck, BBQ pork, or beef. Alhambra is a culturally diverse area with many exceptional and authentic tasting Chinese restaurants. Try each of these Chinese spots out and be the judge of which one is the best. Image “ Shandong chicken” by T.Tseng, used under CC BY 2.0

Alhambra, California, is a smaller Los Angeles suburb that is known for its beautiful and historical architecture. The city is separated into different districts, each with their own history. See some of Alhambra's most unique architecture in each of these districts. more Emery Park District Emery Park District is in the northwest quadrant of the city. This northwest neighborhood combines the communities that were once known as La Marguerita, Souders, La Senda Tracts, and the Wuest. The neighborhood includes a group of architectural homes that date back to 1924. The area was originally a farming community until real estate investors decided to capitalize on the addition of railroad transportation known as the Electric Red Line. A few of the housing styles you can find in the Emery Park District include Spanish Colonials, English storybook cottages, and revived English Tudors. Emery Park also includes 25 homes that were built specifically for disabled soldiers of World War I. Bean Tract District The Bean Tract District is in the northeast quadrant of the city and is one of the priciest Alhambra neighborhoods. Main Street runs through the northwest and northeast quadrants of Alhambra and is a popular retail and commerce area. The street was referred to as Boabdil Street until 1902, when it was changed because local residents had a hard time pronouncing it. The Bean District was originally a part of the San Marino area. In an attempt to establish its own city, they developed their own municipality with unique housing and building restrictions. Some of the most popular architectural styles in the Bean Tract District include English Tudors, two-story craftsman, and a few mid-century modern ranch style homes scattered throughout the neighborhood. Midwick Tract The Midwick Track is in the southwest quadrant of the Alhambra city. The majority of the houses in this area are from the 1940s, and this specific district was once home to the 208-acre Midwick Country Club. This popular country club was frequented by some of the most famous movie stars and golf players at the time. Unfortunately, the country club burned down in 1944. Many of the local streets pay tribute to some of the famous golfers that once played there. Some of the housing styles you can find in the Midwick Tract include storybook homes, Spanish-style designs, and a one-of-a-kind French Chateau Castle built by Sylvester Dupuy in 1925. Airport Tract The Airport Tract was once the home of the Alhambra Airport, which was a crucial shipping port during World War II. The neighborhood was built in a rush to accommodate returning soldiers to the area. This led to an increase in smaller, single family homes, much different than the expansive homes of the other districts. A few of the homes styles you can find in the Airport Tract include English Tudors, early century modern minimalist, and mid-century ranch style homes. Alhambra is one of the oldest and most historical cities in the country. Spend a day exploring the interesting homes of this prominent city. Image “ Site of Los Robles, San Marino, California” by Ken Lund, used under CC BY-SA 2.0

When you're starving, nothing beats a buffet for giving you the most food for your money. It's more expensive compared to a normal meal, but on days when you can pack it in, it's great to have all the options a buffet has to offer. Alhambra is part of the Los Angeles metro, so you won't have any trouble finding great restaurants where you can eat all you like. more Gold Hibachi Buffet Gold Hibachi Buffet offers something a little unusual out of the Alhambra Hotel on West Commonwealth Avenue. While you don't have to look hard to find a Chinese restaurant with a buffet option, Gold Hibachi is a Japanese buffet complete with a long list of sushi rolls and sashimi. They also offer a few Chinese options, especially those that use seafood as the meat, and they have a fresh grill where you can get some freshly carved meat. Don't eat too much, though, because you need to save room for mochi ice cream. Mahan Indian Restaurant Mahan is a quality Indian restaurant you can find over on West Main Street. They offer a long list of vegetarian and vegan options like naan, bindi masala, pumpkin curry, and basmati rice pilaf. However, if you'd rather have some meat with your meal, you can also get the tandoori chicken or shrimp, lamb curry, or chicken kebabs. You can order their food online for delivery or takeout, or you can have a seat in their restaurant and get a little of everything from their lunch and dinner buffet. Big Catch Seafood Restaurant Big Catch Seafood is an L.A. area chain with three locations, and one is a half a block away from where Main Street and Garfield Avenue meet. Big Catch Seafood offers a mix of Eastern and Western options, but either way they're all about seafood. They offer a raw bar with oysters from all over, fish and shrimp tacos, New England Chowder, and a decent list of sushi rolls. They also offer a buffet, although it's only for Sunday brunch. Road to Seoul If you're looking for some Korean barbecue without a plate limit, Road to Seoul is practically across the street from Big Catch Seafood. The restaurant has only recently branched out from its original location in Los Angeles, and they offer all kinds of meats and other protein sources. It's not all about the meat, either, because Road to Seoul also offers several buffet-style side-dish bars for guests who want to choose their own sides or prefer not to eat pork or beef. Just within Alhambra you can find all kinds of restaurants with buffet options. Meat-eaters and vegans alike can enjoy the food at places like Road to Seoul and Mahan Indian Restaurant, and you can have all the fresh seafood and cooked meats you can eat when you go to Big Catch Seafood or Gold Hibachi. So if you're hungry in Alhambra, you won't have to stay that way for long when you can visit one of several excellent buffets. Image “ Indian” by 22n, used under CC BY-ND 2.0