Iconic Neighborhood Restaurants: Temple City

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Temple City is named after its founder, Walter P. Temple, who dreamed of building a community where average people could afford to buy and live in their own homes. After discovering oil on his own property in Montebello in the 1920s, Temple bought the land which was once a part of Lucky Baldwins Rancho Santa Anita and divided the area into a series of lots facing Las Tunas Drive. He named the streets after relatives and friends: Workman, Rowland, Agnes, and Kauffman.

Today, Temple City has grown beyond a network of friends into a population of 35,600. Like many of its neighboring cities in the San Gabriel Valley, Temple City has a large Chinese community, making up 56% of its racial demographics. It follows naturally then that Temple City offers some of the most famous Asian cuisine in the SGV, as well as some other longstanding traditions that have endured the test of time.

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The Hat

Practically a historical landmark, The Hats simple menu and d cor is legendary in the eyes, hearts, and stomachs of Southern California locals. The Hat has been serving devoted customers in the SGV since 1951, boasting a spare menu of sandwiches, hot dogs, burgers, and sides. Inside, lit by fluorescent lights, an impressive row of condiment dispensers will immediately catch your eye. Mayo, ketchup, mustard, relish, horseradish, anything you could possibly want to pile on a sandwich is provided free of charge by this loving establishment. Take a seat in their distinctly uncomfortable plastic booths or just do takeout like the rest the patrons: this is not the kind of place where you sit down and gossip over endless mimosas. Rather, order the famous pastrami dip sandwich and some chili cheese fries at the window, take a rather sloppy looking picture for your Instagram feed, and finally open wide for a bite of the finest sandwich the SGV has to offer. Allow the sensation of a soft French roll soaked with mustard and pickle juice to flood your senses and dont think twice about ordering a large Orange Bang to wash it all down. Youre in good company. Other favorite menu items are the double cheeseburger and the tuna sandwich, all excellently seasoned and punctuated with spikes of relish. Visit this friendly neighborhood joint any time between 10AM and 11PM on any day of the week; your taste buds will thank you and force you to come back for more.

The Hat: 5505 Rosemead Blvd., Temple City, CA 91780 (626)292-1000

The Hat knows what it does best (pastrami) and keeps it classic. Photo by Ken N.

Pastrami set free on a pile of fries and cheese. Youre welcome. Photo by Marco G.

Dai Ho Restaurant

Dont be fooled by the sulky Yelp reviews. Dubbed the Noodle Nazi by denizens of Temple City, Dai Ho Restaurant serves up some of the best Taiwanese style noodles in the area. This bare bones Chinese restaurant is packed during lunch hours and youll see wannabe patrons standing around trying to snag a table. Really, its a jungle in there and youll soon see why. Whether you choose the perfectly portioned Minced Meat Dry Noodle, the peanutty goodness of Dan Dan Mien, or a steaming hot bowl of Beef Tendon Noodles, you will agree the quality of food is worth the glare from the aproned owner of Dai Ho. He will want you to be ready with your order by the time he gets to your table and he wont waste time with any small talk. But just as the restaurants cold dishes ease some of the heat from its spicy red oil dumplings, the owners surly attitude is also tempered by a little smile when he sees you enjoying your noodles. So slurp those sauces in peace and dont mind the spotty service. Be sure to order some pickled cucumbers and cold tofu shreds as an appetizer and if its a really hot day, the cold veggie noodles, if not the service, will be sure to lift your spirits.

Dai Ho Restaurant: 9148 Las Tunas Dr., Temple City, CA 91780, (626)291-2295.

Behind the scenes at Dai Ho Restaurant. Photo by Tiffany L.

Order a bowl (or two or three) of hot or cold noodles. Photo by Claudia C.

Phoenix Kitchen

Ah, Phoenix Kitchen. Its the Cantonese equivalent of an old fashioned soda shoppe. Here, you can find all forms of the best Cantonese desserts: colorful Chinese cookies and confections, shaved ice, black rice with mango and coconut milk, and of course, egg puffers. Its the first sweet eggy scent that welcomes you when you walk in the door and youll smell it all the way through your meal. Even if youre stuffed to the brim with Phoenixs pleasantly chewy beef flat noodles, crispy iceberg lettuce cups with seasoned ground chicken, flavorful Yeung Chow fried rice, and their always comforting house soup, youd do yourself a disservice if you skipped dessert this time. The egg puffer (or Hong Kong waffle, as some call it), a large sheet of toasty waffle batter dotted with hollow puffs of air, is perfect for tearing in half and sharing with a friend. Many of Phoenixs other desserts are just as sensational. The black rice with mango and coconut milk is equal parts sticky, chewy, fresh, and creamy. The silky tofu with ginger syrup will make you forget those overrated ice cream sundaes from your childhood. Not to be outdone by its solid counterparts, Phoenix drinks are also a standout. Milkshakes will be a distant memory after you try the Mixed Fruit Tapioca Drink, a liquid fruity ambrosia in cool coconut milk, as well as the Mango Juice with Club Soda, a peppy, sweet-tart drink you wish you could buy in a can. Ben & Jerry who?

Phoenix Kitchen: 9225 Las Tunas Dr., Temple City, CA 91780, (626)285-0988.

The modest egg tart, veiled in coy layers of plastic, will only make you want it more. Photo by Irene Hsu.

Rose Donuts & Sandwiches

Rose Donuts and Sandwiches shot to fame when it became the first bakery in SGV to serve the cronut, a culinary love child of the flaky croissant and the omnipresent donut. Rose Donuts was not only

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