O T Kitchen, Fu Kang Deli Open Up In Monterey Park

[Chandavkl]

A couple of new openings within a block and a half on Garvey. O T Kitchen has opened up at the former site of what most recently was Macau Street, then Hometown Kitchen, 429 W. Garvey. This one I don't understand. The interior seems to be the same as when it was Macau Street and Hometown Kitchen, so I wouldn't be surprised if it's the same ownership as those two operations, just a new name and menu. The menu is straight Hong Kong food, lunch specials, no cafe items despite the cafe style decor. Nothing unusual or interesting spotted on the menu. Nevertheless there was a pretty good crowd inside. Perhaps people are just used to going to that venue and eating there no matter what's on the menu.

Moving a block east to 305 W. Garvey, the sign outside still says Sweet Blanket (though the business there called themselves H & M Dumpling), but a new sign in the window says Xi Xi Hand Made Fish Ball Shop. But my final conclusion is that the real name isn't Xi Xi (or H&M or Sweet Blanket), but Fu Kang Deli. This is a strange place. They have no menus and the lady there speaks no English. What they do have is a big sign with pictures and prices of maybe ten dishes. My impression is that their main business is sales of their frozen products. The lady there was busy the whole time folding dumplings of some kind. I bought a two pound bag of their hand made fish balls. That's where the label said Fu Kang Deli at that address. If somebody has a better explanation of what's happening here I would appreciate it.

[peppermonkey]

macau street had the best egg custard...where's the next best one?

[Chandavkl]

A lot of people think Elite's Portuguese egg tarts are better. Probably more expensive, though.

[andytseng]

I think Elite's are up there.

[peppermonkey]

Elite's are good but I don't think they are as good as macau st were

[ipsedixit]

JJ Bakery.

[Mr. Roboto]

Any particular branch or are they all the same?

[ipsedixit]

Arcadia ... but that has more to do with convenience than a preference based on quality (or differences in quality).

[luikwong]

Surprisingly Lincoln Garden in Lincoln Plaza Hotel serves a very good egg custard tarts in the morning during the dim sum hours. You may have to ask for it as they are gone in very short time.

[Chandavkl]

Since the follow up on Fu Kang Deli was part of the best Chinese in LA thread that got deep sixed, I thought I would revive it over here. The discussion there raised the topic of differences between Chinese food in Los Angeles and New York, and particularly the lack of Fujianese style food in Los Angeles, compared to New York Chinatown where it is ubiquitous. The reason is that New York is the primary port of entry for immigrants from Fuzhou, and given that many Fujianese immigrants don't have documents, they can only travel to places they can reach by bus from Manhattan Chinatown. Consequently, while Fujianese dominate the Chinese restaurant industry throughout the East Coast, Midwest, and South, few have made their way to California.

In response to the observation that Foo Chow Restaurant in Chinatown, which shamelessly plays up the filming of the Jackie Chan Rush Hour movie on their premises appeared to be the only Fu Zhou style restaurant in the L.A. area, I confirmed that fact. However one remnant of Fujianese cusine which can be found locally is the Fu Zhou fish ball, a fish ball made with an outer core of fish paste, but an inner core of ground pork. These appear almost randomly from time to time at a few local Chinese restaurants, such as West Coast Seafood's buffet in Hacienda Heights. Also, there are a number of small Fu Zhou grocery stores which carry 3 to 5 pound bags of frozen Fu Zhou fish balls. However, currently the best place to get them is at Fu Kang Deli. It's $3.75 for a bowl of these fish balls in soup, and they're far superior to the store bought ones, presumably because they're hand made on premises. A frozen two pound bag costs $12.99.

[Thi N.]

Also Little Fat Sheep, or whatever the hell it's called these days, has a nice Fo Zhou fish ball to chuck into your hot pot. They're frozen, though. Wonder if they're the same ones you find in the grocery stores. They're pretty juicy and great.

[bulavinaka]

>>However, currently the best place to get them is at Fu Kang Deli. It's $3.75 for a bowl of these fish balls in soup, and they're far superior to the store bought ones, presumably because they're hand made on premises. A frozen two pound bag costs $12.99.<<

Chandavkl, I'm glad you mention this - I was actually going to create a post asking where one could get Fu Zhou fishballs that might be more worthy than the ones at the supers. If I may ask, what is Fu Kang Deli's address? Thanks.

-----
Fu Kang Deli
305 W Garvey Ave, Monterey Park, CA 91754

[bulavinaka]

D'oh - I was rereading your OP and found it - was going to say never mind, and Chow's autolink function posted it on my above post - double d'oh!! Will seek them out soon. Thank you.

[TonyC]

FWIW, this is still the same restaurant that opened nearly 8 months ago: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/6335...

They merely got new signage. It's always been called H&M/etc. Try the desserts posted on the wall. They're quite fantastic, and the flavors can be mixed/matched.

Also, their frozen dumplings, albeit small, are the cheapest in the W. SGV. 50 for < $10.

[Chandavkl]

Yeah, but the method of operation has changed significantly. H & M had a printed menu with 50 items including Chinese breakfast. There is no longer a printed menu, just pictures of 15 items hanging from the ceiling. Fish ball soup used to be $4.99, now it's $3.99. Business card is entirely different except for phone number and address.

[luckattack]

I've tried "Sweet Blanket" a few months ago. Went in there at breakfast time because Yi Mei was closed that day. Got some noodle soup dishes. Nothing really special for me to remember. Been meaning to go back to try the fish ball soup.

As for O.T. Kitchen. Sign says they are a Chinese BBQ shop too. Anyone know if they have the take out roast pig and duck and stuff?