Kat's 9 Lives

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

California weather has been temperamental this winter season with its freezing nights and heavy rain. I love eating hot pot in SGV when it is cold, as do everyone else. The only way to finish off a heavy meal is dessert. Ms. Lin and I were both too lazy to drive further for the shaved ice at SinBala or Half & Half. We gave up the notion of having a refreshing shaved ice on one of the coldest nights. Still, I wanted to get a drink at Phoenix Inn Boutique so we made a detour.
The place was packed to the brim and steaming up the windows because every single person there was drinking a hot dessert soup. I immediately ordered my Fresh Mango, Coconut Milk, and Sago drink. I love the smooth creamy sweetness with little bits of mango to nibble on followed by tiny little sagos with a bounce. Impulse buying was the theme of the night. I wanted some durian pudding but they no longer make that and they told me the Coconut Durian Roll was just as good. Each roll had a slice of durian. Stinky good! lol
There was only a few brave souls who shared a shaved ice that caught my eye. I looked on their menu and found that they had Mango Shaved Ice. Originally this was a drop and go but I had to call Ms. Lin to let her know about what they had and asked if she wanted to come in for the shaved ice. The portion was actually very generous and we thoroughly enjoyed it. At first people might have thought we were crazy because it was freezing outside but after seeing how tasty it looked, people would start pondering on ordering one. I loved that there was sago mixed in with the mango. They also drizzle a mango syrup mixed with condensed milk that makes it so sweet and tasty. A great way to end a heavy meal!
After watching so many people sipping on the piping hot Sweet Sesame Soup, Ms. Lin caved in and ordered a cup to eat with the shaved ice. We like it hot n cold apparently. The black sesame soup was very well made. Yes, it is similar to the ones you can buy and make at home but the one here was very reasonably priced. It was thick and flavorful. Definitely a great treat on a bone-chilling night.Phoenix Inn Boutique
220 E Valley Blvd
Alhambra, CA 91801
(626) 299-1918

**Insert Monkey Noises** In the jungle, the might jungle... the lion sleeps tonight! Aweeeeeeeeee-eeeee-eeee. Now that I have deafen everyone with some wild singing. Tucked away inside Yes Plaza is Jungle Tea. The outside only says Tea Bar until you go inside to see the Jungle Tea sign. It is adjoined with Country Chicken, a gaming area, and more. There are tables and chairs for people to sit and an arcade area for you to "prowl" afterward. Trying to find a parking spot in this plaza on a Friday night is murder. Tons of ferocious beasts out there waiting to pounce on the next open spot.
I loved their decor at the counter. They do tend to be busy on a Friday night when all the young ones come out to play. I wanted to try one of their drinks and they do have an extensive menu. Of course I chose the item with no description, Milky 102. E and I laughed about the name and elusiveness. I asked and they told me that it was Black Sugar and Pudding with Milk. They assured me that it would be sweet. I actually really liked this drink. It was sweet and the pudding was tasty.
One of the main reasons I came here was that I saw they offered Mango Shaved Ice. We didn't see it on the menu but you will see the signs at the counter. The shaved ice was topped with Mango Syrup and lots of Mangoes. They aren't fresh mangoes, instead they are the pre-soaked sugary ones. I am not complaining because I wouldn't want to be munching on sour mango cubes. They must have added another syrup that was very reminiscent of Cool Whip along with the mango syrup. There was a slight creamy kick to each bite, which didn't resemble condensed milk. Still, overall it was a generous portion and sweet.
All in all it was a fun place to check out. I almost gave up and left after circling the lot endlessly looking for parking. In the day time the lot is pretty empty but come Friday night, woowee! I recommend checking this place out at a less crazier time. =)

Jungle Tea

I was so sad to find out that the Genki Living across from IVC closed a while back. They had a great Fruit Tea and decently priced crêpes! =*( Whilst on a girl's night out with my evil twin and PK, we wanted something sweet nearby. Lucky for us that PK always has her iPhone and she found a Genki Living in Garden Grove. We set out for some more dessert after a fattening meal of Korean BBQ. O=) This location is tucked away on the corner of Garden Grove Blvd and Brookhurst behind a bank. I really like the decor here. It was very cutesy and nostalgic. The floor is nicely painted and the walls have cute drawings of classic games. While we were waiting for our food, Kat and I noticed the archaic Street Fighter arcade game. Both of us pulled out a quarter and began the "challenge". =) It was a nice workout! lol
Since we were pretty full to begin with, we decided to share a Shaved Ice. The toppings we chose were Condensed Milk, Pudding, Mochi, Strawberry, and Green Tea Ice Cream. It was a good size for the 3 of us. They were pretty generous with the toppings. I wasn't a big fan of the green tea ice cream. The quality was a bit sub-par and had gooey texture. I felt the flavor of the green tea really fell flat and the tea had a weird after taste. As shaved ice goes, it is just so-so. The flavors and components fell a bit flat for me. I think I have been spoiled/ruined by SinBala and Half & Half Tea House. There really aren't many places that serve shaved ice around where I live and it's even harder to find a good one! =*(
Even though we were pretty full, we were greedy. I saw that they served Taiyakis and if you buy 3 you get a deal of it being $4.79... we have 3 people so why not! lol Of course I had to choose the more expensive ones to make it a better deal. O=) The Red Bean with Mochi and Peanut Butter with Mochi were the most expensive. Our third one was a normal Custard Taiyaki. They were all just okay but I find them super fun to eat. They are really just Japanese Waffle shaped like a fish and stuffed with ingredients. The ones with mochi inside definitely have an intriguing texture. It is both chewy & thick from the mochi and a slight chewy texture but a more airy density from the waffle.
All in all it is a quaint little find. We just enjoyed our time together and satisfied our sweet tooth. I have been back recently to try all new things and new taiyaki. Of course I couldn't resist playing a quick game of Street Fighter. O=9 Since the Genki Living close to me is gone, beggars can't be choosers. I just have to settle for this now. Even though they have the same name and are part of the same chain, they sure don't taste the same. I will have to try the one near SinBala one day. ^_^

Genki Living

Ever since the Diamond Jamboree Plaza has been built, it has become a hot spot for locals. They have a dessert place called Guppy House that attracts the "young'uns", especially late night. Hey, it is the OC... not much to do and even less to do at night. This place tends to be busy at night. The first time I went there was a long line for a seat inside. HT and I opted to sit outside in the freezing cold to eat ice cold desserts! lol Yes, we are that crazy. O=) Some seats don't even have heat lamps! Of course we ended up in one of those. lol *shivers*
From a long time ago, Ms. Lin told me that they have a combo deal that was not bad for a group of people. Of course I ordered the combo even though there were only 2 of us! O=) For $19.99 you get Popcorn Chicken ($6.99), a small Shaved Ice ($11.95), and a Brick Toast ($6.99). It is not a bad deal as a whole. I they they are WAY over-priced normally. $12 for a small shaved ice? Are you kidding me? I'm Asian and $6 is pushing it! lol Albeit the shaved ice is HUGE, but you know the main component is water! lol The shaved ice was humongous and they do put a lot of fresh fruit on top. Still, you can easily make this at home... but at least the big size and plentiful amount of fruit help justify the price. That day we had a pretty decent amount of condensed milk seeped into the shaved ice, so the flavor was very good. Needless to say, I brought many boxes of leftovers home! lol
The Popcorn Chicken was not bad. To me, the flavor was just okay because it had more of a curry flavor. It didn't taste like the typical popcorn chicken I'm used to. The chicken had a different breading that makes it not as crispy, but still good. It's just a matter of personal preference. Ordering this combo allowed me to try a lot more things here that I would if I ordered separately.
What really tempted me to try out this combo was the Brick Toast because I have been a big fan of brick toast ever since Half & Half Tea House. The brick toast was very different here. Now I can sort of understand why it is so expensive here. It's super thick and glossed with tons of sweet syrups. I think I still like the simplistic way where there is only the special milk powder atop a beautifully buttered piece of toast. The toast they use here is huge and the ratio with the special milk powder is lower but of course the plentiful sweet syrup helped to compliment the huge chunk of bread. Still, $6-$7 for a brick toast is quite hefty in my opinion. Good thing is I will finally be making a trip to SGV and I can get me some more yummy brick toast. O=9
Since it was so freezing outside, I decided to get a large cup of Hot Milk Tea. The drinks here are so-so. You can taste the subtle flavor of the tea. All in all we were freezing to death, but we still enjoyed our time. The downside is there was absolutely no service at all! Yes, we may be sitting on the outskirts of the store but we are still paying customers! They didn't really have a bad attitude but I just couldn't get anyone to serve or help us as we were freezing away. I had to go up and wait to ask for boxes to take home. Then it took forever to get the bill and nobody came by to take the check away. We probably could have left without paying and they wouldn't have noticed. HT went to the bathroom so she went up with our bill. Whilst she was there she was observing them work and she noticed that they use the same knife to cut fruit and non-fruit items without washing. She was a bit grossed out at how they don't separate which knife is used to cut what and she wasn't too happy about service so she left no tip. I was a little taken aback because I always feel bad not tipping but she convinced me that no service means no tip. -_- It made me a bit frightened that the next time I come that they might spit in my food! lol I got over this and have been back since. O=9 **and yes I tipped**

Guppy House

Ice Cream & Cafe really brings back a lot of childhood memories. I remember that this was the first place that made me fall in love with Beef in Sesame Pocket. The place has not changed much. It really is just a hole in the wall. There are only a few tables to sit and eat but luckily it's never that busy. This time around we were just strolling around and wanted some shaved ice. It might not be as tasty as the one from SinBala or the one from Half & Half, but it's good in its own way and cheaper.
What I have always liked from this place is the simplicity and cheap prices. Of course they are no longer as cheap as when I was a child but still a good deal in the area. We got the Shaved Ice and you can choose your toppings. When I was really young, I never chose any topping. All I want on it is the Sugar Syrup and Condensed Milk. ^_^ That is all you need to make it yummy! lol
You can't see the toppings but they were on the bottom, but I provided different shots of the yummy top! It's obvious what makes the shaved ice.... mMmMM good. I wish we had more shaved ice places that are actually good down in OC! In the end I gave away my toppings, which were never on top but on the bottom... lol I just like eating/drinking the sweet shaved ice. All in all it's a good place just for a quick snack at a reasonable price. Is it to die for? Nah, but it does its job. ^_-

108 Ice Cream & Cafe

After hearing so much about the infamous SinBala, PK took me on our way back from SF. When we arrived it was not that busy and then suddenly a bunch of people started to come in. It's a tiny place inside the shopping center. One down side is that the place was freezing. I guess it could be a plus in the summer but it was raining that day and we were there to grab a quick meal then finish the evening with delicious shaved ice. Being cold and eating cold dessert just makes your body freezing cold. Probably why we are all sick and still recovering from the trip. Still, it was worth it!

Since it was my first time being here, I just let PK order because she knows what is good here. She believes that they make the best Taiwanese Sausage with Garlic in all of LA. Boy, was she not kidding. The flavors are wonderful and a perfect blend with the fresh slices of Garlic. It is sweet but not too sweet. The sausage by itself is packed full of flavor and a great plump texture. I feel that the raw garlic really adds another level to the flavor. It lowers the sweet taste and adds a kick. Keep in mind that I really LOVE garlic! They have a huge drink menu. In fact when you first look at the menu you wonder if they only served drinks or is there another menu for food. Hey, it's okay if they don't have a huge menu like Cheesecake Factory as long as they know what they are doing with the items they do serve. I got a large Watermelon Juice and PK decided to get one as well. It's simple and good. Fresh blended Watermelon that has pulp. Be sure to mix well if you let the drink sit for a long time. A typical Taiwanese dish is the Oyster Pancake. The one here is extremely flat with a few Oysters. This resembles an omelette as the outside has an Egg layer. I like the thin chewy translucent cough lining the inside. "The gelatinous dough is made of a combination of corn starch, sweet potato starch, and rice flour, which gives it its chewy, sticky, and gelatinous texture and a greyish translucent hue." This dish has a light flavor enhanced by the sauce on top that is sweet and tangy. The flavor and texture was good. One of my favorite dishes is Cold Noodle with Shredded Chicken because it is simple and good. It is great for people on the go. I asked PK if it was good here and we ordered one. It comes in a typical already prepared box with sauces packed in individual containers inside. There is Noodle, Shredded Chicken, Shredded Vegetables, Chili Oil, Minced Garlic Water, and Sesame Paste. You open the sauces and poor it over everything and mix. Voilà! It is full of flavor. I love it when the garlic flavor jumps out at you. The noodles are not over cooked and has just the right chewy texture. PK also ordered "Gong Won" that is a Pork Meatball Soup with Vegetables. The soup was very light on the palate but full of flavor. I liked the simplistic pure flavor of the broth. For me, I could do without the vegetables. =9 Still, I ate and drank the whole thing to warm myself up since it was freezing inside. It's great for a rainy day. She recommended the Fried Chicken Leg Rice. I have never ordered this because I love the Taiwanese Pork Chop Rice more. Since PK recommended it and I am always open to trying new things, why not! lol At first I thought it would be whole chicken thigh but it turned out to be strips of thigh meat nicely battered like the popular Taiwanese snack Salt & Pepper Chicken, "Yen Su Chi". The flavor was on point with a great balance of savory and hint of sweetness. all the pieces were very tender yet retained a crisp texture from the outside coating. I really enjoyed the Corn and Scrambled Egg sides on the plate. Normally I hate eggs, but they were well seasoned to compliment the chicken, corn, and rice. This might look like a simple dish but full of flavor and complexity. Drum roll please... What everyone has been raving about here is the Shaved Ice. You get 5 choices of toppings. Condensed Milk not included, you must choose it as a topping. We all know that you can't have shaved ice without Condensed Milk! lol For their sugar syrup they use a black sugar that is so fragrant and tasty. All you need is their special sugar syrup and Condensed Milk! Yummy!!! ^_^ PK and I wanted to share one because they are pretty big and we were pretty full. Sadly we couldn't agree on the toppings. Like I said, I just like it plain. She decided to get the Small Red Beans, Taro Balls, 2 orders of the Flan, and Condensed Milk. The pudding is really good and tasty by themselves. When I mix them with the sugar syrup and Condensed Milk, I feel that they are overpowered and their own flavor disappears. It is better to eat them separately IMHO. I'm a purist at heart. All in all the food was great, prices reasonable, and I went back 2 weeks in a row even when I was sick! lol That night I ordered an extra Taiwanese Sausage with Garlic and Cold Noodle to take home for lunch the next day. It is so convenient and simple without losing any of the great flavor. What more can you ask for? lol Did I mention that I live over an hour away, yet I keep coming back. O=9

SinBala
651 W Duarte Rd Ste F
Arcadia, CA 91007
(626) 446-0886

I have been going to Little Bean in Rowland Heights for a long time now. They have never disappointed me and it was great on a hot day. What is up with the weather these days? Are we in a heat wave? BOO! While I was waiting for my hair cut appointment I decided to stop here for my favorite Mango Shaved Ice. It's 10k times BETTER than the one served at Tea Station. After having the bland shaved ice there I needed to come back to this place to remind me how good it can be. As usual the service here is pretty good. They are very friendly and the place has not changed at all. It's part drink, part dessert, and part snacks. There are tables there to dine, games, and TVs.
The Mango Shaved Ice here is always plentiful. Albeit that the mango is not freshed. Instead they are marinated in a sugary syrup that makes it more flavorful and less sour. It's fine by me, but I know some people are sticklers about fresh mangoes. For the price, deal with it! =9 I think the shaved ice is still $4, which is not bad because it's huge. Every time I go I ask for extra Condensed Milk and Syrup. They drenched it on this time and every inch was covered by delicious sauce. Every bit was heavenly. I wish I lived nearby because I'd go there every day in the summer to cool off! ^_~
I usually pick up a drink as well. They kind of messed up my order this time but I was okay with it. I wanted Passion Fruit Milk Green Tea, but they just gave it to me without milk. They are usually really nice so I didn't want to say anything and just drank it. Tasted fine. This place is the only place I will consider getting the tapioca pearls. That does say something about their food quality since I abhor most tapioca pearls since they taste like rubber most of the time. The ones here are usually pretty good. Haven't had them in a while, but I believe in them.

Ms. Lin saw a ton of people with Shaved Ice at the Cherry Blossom Festival, so she was on a hunt to find where to get some. While we were waiting in line for the Takoyaki, I went to get the snacks mentioned below and finally rejoined Ms. Lin. After we finished the hot snacks, she went to the KaGaMi Kai booth to get some Shaved Ice with Watermelon and Pineapple. This was her resolution of solving her thirst. Sadly, they made it super sweet. It was not what she expected. They must have really liked her and pumped way too much syrup into her shaved ice. The entire thing was drenched from head to toe, so it was just like drinking syrup. Since I wasn't the one who wanted the shaved ice, she had to finish the whole thing herself. I did help though! Like two bites... O=9

I always stop by this place. There are tons of other stores around, I believe they are franchised and the items differ from store to store. I really like one of the owners here, she is always very nice to me. Customer service is very important! Especially since I go there so often. There pre-made food is always really tasty. Funny this is that the lady who makes a lot of the stuff is one of my friend's bf's mom. Confusing huh? Small world too.
Ever since I was young, I have always loved Beef in Sesame Pocket. It's a typical Taiwanese snack, breakfast food. They do a decent job here and you have the option of spicy and regular. I am not a big fan of spicy but now I get the spicy because it has more flavor and it isn't too spicy. They toast the pocket and fill it with marinated beef, cilantro, green onions, sesame oil, & soy sauce.

Today was hot so we also got the Shaved Ice with 3 toppings for $3.95 and a Milk Tea. It was very refreshing and cooled me off.

All in all I like coming here a lot. Nice service and lots of yummy Taiwanese pre-made food! They also sell different types of jerkys and snacks. I love the Fruit-flavored Beef Jerky! It's kind of expensive, but definitely good. Stop by some time check it out and pick up a snack to give them a try! Don't forget to get a stamp card if you get a drink or shaved ice!