Some of the best BBQ pork sticky buns, steaming hot dim sum, and flavorful bibimbap can all be found right in the San Gabriel Valley. The Valley is the absolute mecca for the best Asian cuisine around. Hard to believe? It’s true.

Why is the San Gabriel Valley the most popular for Asian food culture when cities like New York hold the most Chinese population? According to How L.A. Became a Powerhouse for Chinese Food, food journalist/blogger, Clarissa Wei, wrote, “Chef pedigree, regional diversity, and a strong local food community are part of the story.” In the same article, Clarissa provided an interview with Los Angeles attorney and long time food hobbyist, David Chan, who’s eaten at more than 6,000 Chinese restaurants. According to Chan, when San Gabriel Valley homes started being advertised in Asian newspapers in the 80s, all the action shifted out here, and the newcomers brought their food with them. “That’s when Chinese food in Los Angeles experienced a major upswing,” said Chan. Now there are up to 600 Asian restaurants just from South Pasadena to Rowland Heights, making the SGV the epicenter for Asian fusion culture.

Sure, it’s common to know the best sushi spot in town, but it’s time to venture out of the comfort zone and try something different. After all, San Gabriel Valley residents are extremely fortunate for living somewhere that is surrounded by so much culture. Spots like Szechuan Impression in South Pasadena are just waiting to be discovered and it shouldn’t be hard when they are dishing out items like their Tea Smoked Ribs. Now, these tender yet crispy ribs are a special dish that is actually off the menu, but they are available to anyone if they were to ask. Being that these ribs are smoked, it would be easy to over cook them, utimately making them too dry, yet, the meat was falling off the bone and incredibly juicy. They are a modern take on the traditional Sichuan tea smoked duck, but instead of poultry, they went with ribs, and the choice produced something mouthwatering. These ribs take two days to prepare, but once they are ready, they’re topped off with crushed peanuts, chives, and red pepper, producing extremely intricate flavors.

Hole-in-the-wall places like Szechuan are all around. The coolest part about so many of these restaurants is that they are so unique, creating not only a delicious, but also a fun dining experience. Interactive dining plays such a large roll in Asian cuisine such as, Korean BBQ spots, or MYO Sushi in West Covina. Like an Asian version of Chipotle, MYO, standing for “make your own”, allows the diner to create their own dish according to their taste. Options like making a sushi bowl, or sushi burrito are just two examples of what makes this place so unique. The sushi here is always fresh, partnered with seasonal veggies, and isn’t expensive at all. With such a variety of ingredients and textures, it’s almost impossible to take a break in between bites.

This place is so close to college students attending Mt. San Antonio College or Cal Poly Pomona, providing the perfect lunch spot.

According to an article written by Wei in LA Weekly, the west San Gabriel Valley still has the most Asian restaurants in Los Angeles, but the rate of restaurants opening up in the east is larger than that of the west. Soon, cities surrounding Mt. SAC will be even more enveloped in Asian culture. Head over to Rowland Heights for example. Cruising Nogales Boulevard alone, one can find dining spots like Phoenix, a bakery and noodle spot, or Sno-Crave Tea House, a brick toast and boba tea shop.

There is no need to venture out into bumper-to-bumper traffic towards Los Angeles or Korea Town for Asian cuisine when the most sought after Asian food is located right in our backyards.

Photos Courtesy of Yoann Pinon and Brittni Rae