Undiscovered homestyle Chinese food - Alhambra

[hlymacro]

I found this restaurant by accident, and have been back there almost every week - it's in the middle of a little strip mall, you have to really look out for it.

A & J Restaurant
1269 E. Valley Boulevard
Alhambra, CA 91801
626-284-3549

Chef Chang is a master at this cuisine. Every dish we have had there has been really flavorful and expertly prepared. Some favorites: bean curd/peanut small dish with special sauce, spicy beef tendon noodle soup (handmade noodles), fried pork chop on rice, cold spicy noodles, and amazing potstickers and scallion pancakes. Plenty of choices for vegetarians too.

The restaurant is small, clean, and the staff is great but not particularly conversant in English, so don't get frustrated if you call. Prices average $6, small plates $2-$3

I think they are open from 11am, and closed on Wednesdays. Not sure when they close every evening.

Enjoy!

[ipsedixit]

Undiscovered dim sum place in SGV!!!! 888 Seafood Restaurant!

[J.L.]

Shh!!! Don't tell people about 888!! And ESPECIALLY don't tell people about their king crab!!

[raytamsgv]

Stop telling people about it. It's too darn crowded as it is. :-)

[Chandavkl]

Actually A&J is pretty well known for a couple of reasons. It's been at that location in Alhambra for over 20 years, plus it's part of a chain that opens and closes locations in a variety of geographic locations.

[hlymacro]

Really? Well, glad it's there because the food's fantastic. I hope they stay put.

[Chandavkl]

Yeah. Branches in Montebello, Rowland Heights and Torrance opened and closed after the Alhambra location opened and I think the Irvine location is still open. They were also in San Jose, though that may have been sold to an employee, as well as Rockville, MD.

[wilafur]

don't forget the outpost in irvine as well.

[TonyC]

I'm not convinced the Alhambra A&J is still "Taiwanese" owned. can someone confirm/deny this?

Got an o ah jien craving.. right.. now.. What I absolute detest, at A&J, is the cigar-esque opened-ended potsticker. Horrendous rendition of a fried dumpling. Inedible. No one can do this right, not even Mandarin Noodle Deli

[slacker]

I'm trying to transliterate o ah jien, but can't make it out. What kind of dumpling are you referrring to?

[wilafur]

tony is referring to oyster omelette.

[slacker]

Ah, thanks. ho see omelette. I've never noticed that on the Mandarin Deli menu, but then I always zoom in on the beef stew noodle soup there. The best!

[kelvlam]

I would say around Irvine, they are my best pick for Chinese noodle. Nice time Deli can't remotely compare. The Ay-Chung Flour-Rice Noodle would be a close 2nd. And Samwoo is more of a cantonese style wonton or bbq soup noodle place, very different.

[condiment]

I think the Alhambra store is owned by different people than the Irvine A&J - Irvine seems to be much better, especially for the noodles.