See through kitchen. Pretty snazzy for a Chinese place!
Happy Harbor Cuisine in Alhambra kinda screwed themselves over when they first opened a little while ago. They poorly targeted their demographic-cheap, Chinese people! Originally, they tried to tout itself as a high class restaurant for noodles, congee, breakfast and snacks. They would have $5.88 deals for breakfast that would end up being about $10 when the customers actually paid their bill. NO BUENO. You see $5.88, may sound like a steal but they would charge customers an extra $1 for a side, an extra few bucks here and there for their drink. Typically Chinese places do not charge for basic tea. So them Chinese were PISSED and Happy Harbor wasn't so happy anymore. (FYI, their competition have deals that will give you soup, rice, the meal, and free drink for about $6 or less.) They finally ran a slew of ads on Chinese radio to lure people back by saying they added more food and lowered prices. Viola- in comes me!
Spicy pork kidneys. Sounds gross but it's rather delicious!
They are known for their wantons so I had to have some. They also brag that their Hong Kong style milk tea is really good. It's not bad.
Not bad... I don't know if I would come soley for that.
Here was something different. Not your typical noodle roll. The inside was stuffed with salted tofu.
Here's the inside.
Of course we had to buy some to go. It's so far to get to San Gabriel for me that we usually buy a few day's worth of food each time we visit. String beans for the win. Pretty good!
Chicken with Chinese style spaghetti.
All in all, this place was pretty nice. I know their yelp reviews were so so. The place was decorated really nice and clean. There are multiple flatscreen TVs playing inside while you eat so you don't have to talk with your family while you eat. (I swear traditional Chinese people don't have much conversation with their kids.) Tiger mom status! The TVs were tuned to Phoenix TV and American TV. Plus point for the foreigners or the people who just don't read, speak, or care about Chinese programing.
Last point, this place was Gwai lo/Non-Chinese approved. Their menus were colorful and neat and easy to navigate through. They had really traditional dishes and everything was properly labeled in English not Chinglish. In fact, I was learning some English names of things while I was there. This was a great place for non-Chinese people to visit for good authentic Hong Kong food. Usually the San Gabriel Valley isn't too welcoming to non-Chinese but this place seems like a place that could fill that void.
Approved by me!
736 E Valley Blvd
Alhambra, CA 91801
Alhambra, CA 91801
Happy Eatings!