Does anyone know what happened to Yu Garden? Drove by today and it's been replaced by a place called Yue Lai Restaurant.

What about Lucky Noodle King?

I have seen it at the 99 Ranch in Gardena. That might be the closest place for you, TeaMe, or perhaps the 99 Ranch in Van Nuys?

Beijing Pie House has pan-fried or steamed dumplings with pumpkin, pork and shrimp. I like them very much.

I think that Pho 4000 (on Western at 4th) is the best pho in Koreatown. I think Pho So 1 in Van Nuys is a notch better. I'd factor in distance/traffic and get your boyfriend healthy.

The backyard vegetable bed is producing arugula at an astonishing rate. Thoughts on non-salad preparations? The more I can use, the better.

Another big fan of Lucky Noodle King. Never too crowded and wonderful food. I even think you could get the dan dan mien without pork if you asked.

Thanks, Cutiepie. My kind is of the dried variety. I'll do the soaking.

I'm following a recipe for vegetarian dumplings that includes dried beancurd in the dumpling. Do you figure it's necessary to soak the sheets first, or can they just be added to the filling mixture and will soften up when the dumplings are cooked? Thanks.

Have you checked 99 Ranch (Sepulveda and Victory)?

Luckattack has it right. I think you'll find it in the freezer section of just about any medium-sized Asian grocery store in the SGV. They're cheap too.

Indian markets are probably a good place to start. I like Samosa House, on Washington Blvd. in Culver City.

You can find them at Top Valu in Culver City.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/top-valu-mark...

I think it was around six dollars. The pork was excellent, and I'm pretty sure the mayo spread was homemade. Obviously not SGV prices, but worth it to me.

Right in the heart of Sawtelle is a lovely new "cafe" that serves fresh, tasty, reasonably priced Vietnamese food. As someone who has been driving to Van Nuys (and the SGV) for pho and/or bahn mi fixes, this place is a welcome addition to the neighborhood.

Portions might be a bit smaller than some of the other Vietnamese places I've been to, but the quality of the food and ingredients is at another level. Didn't try the pho, but the bun dishes were very good. Got a bahn mi to go and it was also very good.

Looking forward to exploring the menu further on my next visit.

We're a group of 6 adults and 3 kids (ages 2-5). Adventurous eaters going to see a kids play near Echo Park tomorrow morning.

I've been tasked with finding a good place for lunch. Chinatown recs? Other places in the area? I'm a westsider and out of my comfort zone. Suggestions greatly appreciated. I'd be inclined to head east to the SGV but it might be a bit too far for our group.

Thanks.

I'm finding a few places on-line to buy it, but wondering if I could find it anywhere in Los Angeles. Thanks.

I'm on the westside but willing to travel. A friend is having a fondue party and I'm on the hunt for him. He saw some at the Beverly Hills Cheese Shop and was floored by the price.

You recall correctly, Westsidegal. I love both places (as well as the owners of both locations.) It's always a drag for me to have to choose one over the other.

I'm trying to find a recipe that corresponds to the wonderful Mexican-style cheesecake I had this morning. (I'm actually assuming it's Mexican-style, given that the bakery was Mexican.)

The recipes I've found on line didn't seem to include flour. Could they possibly be right?

Attaching an image below that looks more or less like what I ate.

Thanks.

They have them at Samosa House (on Washington Blvd, near the 405).

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Samosa House
11510 Washington Blvd, Culver City, CA

Whenever I buy tofu gan at my local chinese market, if I leave it in my fridge for more than a few weeks, a viscous sort of goo forms around it in the plastic wrap. It has no smell, washes off the tofu easily, and as far as I can tell, has no taste either (at least once I've cooked it.)

Anyone know what it is? Should I toss the tofu gan and replace with a "fresher" supply?

It's a pretty dreary place if you are eating from the steam trays, but if you order off the menu, San Hing on Palms and Sepulveda can get the job done. Their salt-and-pepper specials (they do chicken wings, shrimp-with-heads-on, and pork spareribs) are all very good.

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San Hing
11136 Palms Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90034

This is a bit indirect, but what about salt-and-sichuan-pepper dusted edamame as an appetizer, just to get them ready for the experience?

There's lots of ways to make them. Here's one recipe. (I don't usually bother with the pink peppercorns. Just salt and sichuan peppercorns)

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/foo...

When my wife was pregnant, pho was the food she craved the most.

I have to have my car repaired at a place on Pico, just a few blocks west of Crenshaw. The whole thing might take up to 4 hours.

Any good cafes in the area where I might get some work done?

Had a delicious plate of braised oxtail at Liang's Kitchen in Monterey Park, CA. The version we had was without noodles, and the sauce was browner and thicker, but the picture I'm linking will give you a pretty good idea of what it looks like. (It's the second image).

http://insatiablegirl.wordpress.com/2...

A few recipes on line include tomatoes, but I'm pretty sure there weren't any.

Anyone have any ideas on a recipe?

Thanks!

Thanks for the suggestions, everyone. We ended getting food from Xiang Wei Lou (take away). My guests (and I) were very happy. We had the steamed fish (excellent), green beans and smoked bacon, tofu gan with celery (very good for the non-spicy eating kids), lamb with cumin, mapo tofu, smoked delicacies, and a few other dishes. My friends from Hunan decided they didn't want to try the intestines until they had verified the quality of the other items. Happy to report that on our next visits, the intestines will be on the menu.

Thanks again, CH'ers.

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Xiang Wei Lou Restaurant
227 W Valley Blvd, San Gabriel, CA 91776

I have friends visiting from Houston, who originally come from Hunan province (50 years ago). I took them to Hunan Seafood a few years back, which they enjoyed, but I was hoping to try a new place. Suggestions?

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Hunan Seafood Restaurant
8772 E Valley Blvd, Rosemead, CA 91770

Replying to my own post, but wondering if anyone has any news. Are they open again?