Diamond Bar, Calif.--a city of just under 60,000 located east of Los Angeles--has a sizable population of citizens with Chinese and Taiwanese heritage. The city has a number of Chinese restaurants, as well, ranging from cheaper take-out style Chinese food to small, cafe-style places to larger, gourmet-style joints. Add this to my Recipe Box.
East 180
East 180, opened in December of 2008, is a clean, stylishly decorated restaurant that has been compared by clientele to P.F. Chang's. With an outdoor firepit, fine wine list, organic food choices and a professional waitstaff, East 180 is a bit fancier than your average Chinese restaurant. Portions are large, and plates range between $10 and $20 as of October 2010. Dishes include clay pot beef, ma po tofu and stir-fry scallop.
Diamond Palace Chinese Seafood
Diamond Palace Chinese Seafood has been praised for its quick service, "authentic" dishes and affordable prices (most plates are under $10 as of October 2010). Though the restaurant is known for its seafood, it also gets good reviews for its kung pao chicken, Mongolian beef and spicy salt pork chops. Diamond Palace does not serve alcohol, but patrons can bring in their own wine.
Mandarin Taste
Mandarin Taste--around since the early 1990s--serves typical but Americanized Chinese fare, from orange chicken to Mongolian beef. You can expect to pay around $15 for individual dishes as of October 2010. On Sundays, you can enjoy an all-you-can-eat champagne brunch.
Mr. Wok
Mr. Wok, a mom-and-pop-run little restaurant, is known for affordable food served in incredibly generous quantities. Some reviewers have noted that the restaurant's food is a bit bland. Typical plates--any under $5, and all under $10 as of October 2010--include orange chicken, barbecued pork and kung pao chicken. Most customers go to Mr. Wok for takeout, but there is a small seating area that is fairly plain and undecorated.
Jade House Seafood Restaurant
Jade House Seafood Restaurant has a large menu and serves your typical Chinese dishes. Many Diamond Bar residents visit the restaurant for takeout, though the restaurant does have a small dining room and offers competitive eat-in prices and specials, especially during lunchtime. Dishes like Peking duck and beef chow fun--are affordable and portions are generous. Service is said to be quick and efficient, if not especially friendly.
A&J Chinese Restaurant
A&J Chinese Restaurant, located in Diamond Bar's Country Hills Town Center Shopping Center, serves traditional Chinese and Taiwanese fare. The restaurant, which formerly had a location in Irvine, serves dishes like pai gu fan (pork chop rice), beef noodle stew and pan-fried dumplings. Plates range between $5 and $10, as of October 2010. The restaurant is open for breakfast, and has a special breakfast menu.
Fong Ling Bistro
Fong Ling Bistro, next to Albertsons, has been praised for its authentic, low-priced Taiwanese food. Serving items like fried pork chop, steamed mini pork buns and Shanghai dumplings, Fong Ling Bistro has cheap meal deals and specials. The restaurant itself is comfortable and nicely decorated, though take-out is popular as well.
Mimi's House
Mimi's House, open since 2006, serves Taiwanese dishes like pork stew, stewed pork ears and popcorn chicken. Additionally, the restaurant offers a full range of boba, fruit smoothies, black teas, green teas and other flavored teas on its menu. All dishes are under $6 as of October 2010.
Tags: October 2010, Diamond Palace, Fong Ling, Fong Ling Bistro, Ling Bistro, under October, been praised