Kat's 9 Lives

On my first visit, I decided to try the chocolate covered waffles.  They have a variety to choose from and they all looked very delectable.
The waffle was crisp and had a nice bite.  They have just the right amount of chocolate coating.  The taste was light and could be dangerous as you may not realize how much you have eaten until it is too late. lol
For my first 3D Latte Art, I chose a bear and a kitty.  For the drink, we chose the Matcha Latte and Espresso Latte.
As for the matcha, it was a little bit sweeter.  You can taste the sweetness more as the drink cools down, which should not be a problem because we took our sweet time taking thousands of photos!
Many people have no discovered this place and I feel like they have had more practice with the 3D artwork and it is getting cuter and cuter.
When I first went, they did a good job too but I feel like the animals are shaped more precisely and have a cuter expression.  It could also be who was making it of course.  On my most recent trip we got a bear, dog, and pig.  They were all super cute! Even though my dog was deflating, they were all very adorable.  =)
If you look at my photos of the interior, you will see that no one was there and we had the whole place to ourselves.  This really worked in our favor so that we can freely look like dorks and take our photos with our super cute drinks and snacks.
Besides the lattes, we decided to try their Signature Italian Soda with Yogurt and Fruit.  They recommended the pineapple flavor.
To be honest, I didn't like the taste of this drink.  It sounded like an interesting combination but it didn't come together for me.  Maybe it is the tangy flavor of the pineapple that didn't go well with the yogurt.
It could just be me, but I wouldn't be inclined to get the Italian soda again.  I'd definitely stick to the 3D art for fun.  The staff here are very sweet.  It is a very small and cozy place.  They have a section for live music but I have not seen anyone play there just yet.  I would say that people can come here and have the place all to themselves, but as I have seen recently the secret is out and the whole place was packed when we went.  Due to its rising popularity, the prices have gone up a lot too.  When I went in September last year, the 3D Latte Art was only $4 but now it is around $6 plus tax.  The drinks are just so-so but the drinks are undeniably cute =).
Love To Go
307 S Mission Dr
San Gabriel, CA 91776  
(626) 264-8195

If you know me, I am all about Taiwanese food and drinks. I have been meaning to go to Pa Pa Walk for some time to try out a new place and add to my repertoire. Alas, I don't know why but all Taiwanese places are not open on Tuesdays and somehow I end up going to San Gabriel Valley on Tuesdays only to be turned down! lol They are located right across from San Gabriel Square and their restaurant entrance is behind the wall so it may be easy to miss.
My default dish for Taiwanese restaurants is Fried Pork Chop with Rice, $6.95. It's a simple and comforting dish. Although I felt that the pork chop itself was just only okay. I wished the batter was a little more flavorful to match the rice. However I did enjoy the different side dishes they served here. They had your typical light cabbage. I liked the egg and tomato scramble to add some sweetness and the bean sprouts were just alright since I am never a fan of bean sprouts. As pork chop rice goes, the one they serve here is definitely nothing to write home about. I feel that it is getting harder and harder to find a tasty pork chop rice to become part of my daily diet. =*(
The best part of the meal was their drinks. Ms. Lin has gotten me on the yogurt drink craze. So very Taiwanese! I must admit that I get a chance to try the real thing out in Taiwan! Here, they make it with powder versus the real deal in TW. They are $3.75 each and I thought the drink was pretty tasty the first time around, but when I went back recently it was a little bland. We tried the Yogurt Green Tea and the Yogurt Lemon Juice. I think that the yogurt complimented the green tea best. The subtle fragrance and bitterness of the green tea is enhanced by the tangy sweet flavor of yogurt while the lemon juice just drowns out the flavor. Still, not a bad place for yogurt drinks when you have a craving.
Ms. Lin had to have their Pork Rice Cake with Cilantro, $5.25. If you have never had this before, I think it is important for you to know that this is made with pig's blood. Their menu labels it differently, but these pig blood cakes that many Asians enjoy. They attempt to serve it like how they do in Taiwan but I think the flavor was lacking. Needless to say, there were quite a few left over that we took home to add into our hot pot. I don't think Ms. Lin got what she quite wanted.
Even though this was only suppose to be a snack stop, Ms. Lin was being super greedy and wanted to have an order of Sole Fish and Cilantro Dumplings, $6.75. These were pretty juicy and light. I thought the flavor was just alright. Personally, I prefer the dumplings at Luscious Dumplings but I guess they were something new. I was surprised that she would actually order the fish dumplings because she has never been a fan of cooked fish.
My friend was there and decided to have an Organic Brown Sugar Konjac as her snack. She actually changed it up and it ended up just being konjac and condensed milk. Uh... ewww.... a little too healthy for me. To me, konjac is a little bland and boring for me. The normal texture is very similar to agar.
For my dessert, I had to have the Mango Snowy! I was hoping that it would be the like one you get at Class 302 in Rowland Heights. It wasn't quite what I had hoped it would be either. Their snow was not as flavorful and aromatic or as smooth. The mangoes were fine and plentiful but I was still let down. It made me pine for Class 302 even more.
All in all I wasn't too impressed and feel I can get better elsewhere. I almost feel like I am comparing a new boyfriend to an ex at this point, but sadly they just don't measure up! Pa Pa Walk just isn't going to cut it to be on my repertoire when I am in SGV. I need a man who can fully satisfy me and bring a smile to my face! Well at least they did make me laugh since I was facing the bathroom sign where it shows a man peeping in on a girl in the bathroom. I thought it was just a sign, but it turns out that the top of the door is slanted and their really is a hole for people to possibly peep in! Lol (don't worry it's too small to see but you can see it when you go to the bathroom)
Pa Pa Walk
227 W Valley Blvd
San Gabriel, CA 91776
(626) 281-3889

A great new place to set your mouth on fire! Who doesn't love a flavorful savory dish at a reasonable price? Upon a friend's recommendation, I sought out the Lucky Noodle King for their infamous Fagara Spicy Pot. It's hard to imagine that I would find a new tasty dish that can turn my head. I enjoy that it is a small mom and pop shop offering lots of tasty traditional Sichuan dishes.
They have a simple decor and limited seating so it is best to go during down time to get seated easily. First off they serve some starter snacks, Roasted & Salted Peanuts. Great to much on and begin the savory journey.
To start off, we had to have my current favorite spicy dish of Boiled Fish and Intestines. You can always choose one item or have a combination of items. I normally get fish but my love for chewy fatty intestines has been rekindled and I just have to have them in every dish. Ms. Lin concurs with me that the intestines were super tasty in this particular dish.
I thought the spicy flavor was there and it had a nice kick. The fish was not bad but the intestines were definitely the star of the show. Overall it was definitely a solid dish. Normally I would think that this would be my favorite dish until their infamous Fagara Spicy Pot came out.
At first I didn't know what to expect. I only heard the name Mala Tang (麻辣燙) and I was sold. Sounds like a fun new dish to try and who can turn down eating spices that will numb your tongue! Little did I know that it was an assortment of unexpected vegetables, meat, and seafood.
Who would have thought to put real seaweed with potato slices and making it work?! Well, it does and I like the funkiness of this dish. They also have tender pieces of shrimp that is boiling away as the dish is brought out to you. Be sure to take the out and soak in the flavor fast because you don't ever want to eat overcooked seafood. My only qualm is that they are not peeled but I guess that preparation has its own special flavor. I peeled all the shrimps with my teeth only since I was lazy and didn't want to get my hands dirty.
While the fire is still going, be careful of the popping oil from the heat. Constantly stir up the dish a little bit to make sure that nothing burns on the bottom. Take each bite carefully because the items tend to be piping hot and may burn your turn. You have to keep those tastebuds functioning until the end. Full of flavor and spice, this dish is definitely their signature dish! Worth the drive just to try this new spicy culinary concoction. We brought the left overs home for the family and they reveled in the taste. Going to be back this Wednesday to satisfy the craving again!
We started off with the best dishes of the house, so we got a bit greedy. Other dishes that people recommend here is the Pot Stickers and I didn't think they were anything special. They looked pretty but not quite the way I would want pot stickers to be pan fried. The skin was not quite right and the stuffing lacked flavor. I prefer the ones at Luscious Dumpling a lot more.
Before the pot stickers came out, we thought that everything spicy here must taste really good since the first two dishes were so superb. Don't fall for this deception by ordering the other highly recommended dish, Authentic Sichuan Dan Dan Noodle. Normally we'd enjoy a super flavorful dan dan noodle but the one here really fell short. Maybe the first two dishes gave us too high of an expectation that this dish fell FLAT.
The noodles were a bit overcooked and lacked the al dente touch. It wasn't spicy at all and lost the savory essence that dan dan noodles should have. We barely touch this dish and took it home. I say stick with the Mala Tang (麻辣燙) and Boiled Dishes. Those were the stars and if you can only choose one, then take the Fagara Spicy Pot that is number 39 on their menu. Be sure that you plan to get a nice milk tea or shaved ice to finish off a spicy meal!

Lucky Noodle King
534 E Valley Blvd Ste 10
San Gabriel, CA 91776
(626) 573-5668

I almost don't want to share this hidden gem. I will only divulge Luscious Dumplings Inc. if you promise to make room for me when I go or share a yummy dumpling with me! =D Tucked away in a tiny strip mall, they are only open certain hours and have very limited seating space. Often you will find people standing outside waiting to get in with the sheet below in hand all filled out. I've been here a few times where the parking lot is overflown, but don't worry there's tons of local street parking.
Fair warning, they do take vacations in the summer. It might be safer to call ahead to make sure they are open and their hours. The staff is friendly and quick.
Once we were seated they brought us a small plate of Marinated Seaweed that was savory and spicy. This is a typical Asian side dish that's healthy and flavorful. A good source of iron.
My favorite item here is Pan Fried Pork (Potstickers). I have tried the steamed dumplings but they really lack the oomph, texture, and flavor for some reason. After trying most everything on the menu, I can clearly say that this is my favorite item on the menu and the one I highly recommend to first timers.
They are nicely pan fried on the outside to add that extra bite in texture. The natural juices and flavoring of the filling encapsulated inside. Pipin' hot and delicious! I wonder if they sell these in bulk frozen so I can pan fry some up at home to satisfy my craving and hunger!! Whenever I come, I order tons extra and take home for the next day... still good! Not crispy but the flavor is still there. You can order any of these dumplings in combination with noodle soup at a great price too.
Even though the base filling, pork, is relevantly the same. A few more ingredients can really change the flavor and texture. I've had the Pan Fried Napa, Pork, and Sole. There's huge chunks of ginger embedded to help mask or tone down any fishy flavor from the sole. The inner texture changes greatly with a soft piece of fish like sole. Overall the flavor isn't as persistent or flavorful with the addition of fish. Of course this makes the dumplings lighter and healthier, which is a trade off in flavor here.
Growing up we always made Pan Fried Chive, Pork, Egg, and Glass Noodle Pockets. I am always on a quest to find ones comparable to the ones we make. Luscious Dumpling does a great job! I can't stop chowing down on these. The pungent flavor of the chive illuminates through the thin pan fried crust that's just like a piece of heaven to me. They are so flavorful here that I don't even bother adding soy sauce and vinegar to give it an extra kick. These are also great the next day, minus the crispy crust. Of course if you want to regain some of the crisp texture just take out a pan, put a little oil, heat, and throw on the leftovers. Pan fry until it is heated thoroughly then let it cool off and voila! Great leftovers!
All in all I love this place for pan fried dumplings! It is mine and I am not sharing! O=D Darn my website and eagerness to share good food. Just promise to save me a seat and bite! They do run out of certain items if you come late. What makes this place good? Simple! Their homemade skin has just the right thickness and texture along with a flavorful good base filling, the pork. This is what makes them stand out from the rest. I have had many dumplings, pot stickers, buns, chive pockets, and more. When it all comes down to it, the skin makes a HUGE difference because it can make or break the filling inside.

Luscious Dumplings Inc.
704 W Las Tunas Dr
San Gabriel, CA 91776
(626) 282-8695

As many of you know, I LOVE my Sugar Cane Juice. I am always on a hunt for delicious sugar cane juice and a good price. KFP recommended Fresh Roast a while back. I've probably passed this place a million times and never noticed it. One day I decided that it was time we try this place. If you read Chinese, it says right in the front that they serve sugar cane juice. I took Ms. Lin on my first visit. When you walk in you get a whiff of herbs from the surroundings. That actually kind of put me off but as you walk further in the place it feels very quaint. The surroundings and decor do produce a calming feel and it is extremely quiet there so you can study or just surf the internet. There are also computers in the back that allow customers to go online and I am sure they offer wireless internet as I saw some customers with laptops open.
The people were friendly. Ms. Lin and I decided to get 2 Large Sugar Cane Juices. The prices were a bit steeper than what I am use to. Still, this is pure sugar cane juice. The first time I decided not to get any kumquat juice in sugar cane and Ms. Lin did the same thing. I thought the flavor was waaaay too much and it was different from the Vietnamese sugar cane juice that I usually get. This sugar cane juice tasted more waxy and potent. I was not a big fan and gave my drink to Ms. Lin. Even though I didn't quite like it the first time, I have been back to give it a second try. This is one of the rare times I think kumquat juice inside helps mellow the flavor, but I still taste that waxy feel. It is most likely the type of sugar cane used that makes the difference. The first time we bought this drink, Ms. Lin watered it down because it was so strong and luckily we grow tons of kumquats in our backyard for her to add in! ^_^ Even though it is different from the Vietnamese sugar canes I have had, it is still worth a try. I would recommend it if someone asks.
This picture had to be used because they are cute yet scary! These turtles are right at the register when you pay. I thought they looked cute and were extremely lively. Although the look in their eyes at times.... eek! lol They are saying, "You better pay up!" lol
Fresh Roast
308 S San Gabriel Blvd
San Gabriel, CA 91776
(626) 451-5918