mandarin noodle house

Having grown up with an uncle in the area, I've always known that if you want real Chinese, you've got to head east to the SGV. When I do, one of my favorite local places for a casual, inexpensive lunch is Mandarin Noodle.

The food here is simple, rustic and divine. My picks for a perfect meal include the spicy handmade noodle, ordered dry with shredded pork instead of chicken, the scallion pancakes, meat dumplings, pickled cucumbers and a steaming pot of hot tea. That combination seems to hit the spot every time and if you're lucky, you'll have just enough leftover to take home and enjoy later. Not to mention plenty of cash left in your wallet to pay for gas on the drive home, since that'll likely cost you more than the meal. If you want one more item to pack to-go, the pork chop fried rice served with fresh greens and a tasty preserved egg, is another favorite that won't do you wrong.

In other reviews, some have noted less than friendly service, but I've never encountered that personally in my dozens of visits for noodle love. The place has had a couple of facelifts over the years, and they've recently gone through a change in ownership, but I'm happy to report, the beacon bright orange and yellow awnings and the quality, inexpensive food have remained a constant.

701 W Garvey Ave
Monterey Park, CA 91754

(626) 570-9795