Malan Han Noodle

Malan Han Noodle
2020 S Hacienda Blvd
Hacienda Heights
626-369-5602

When I heard that Malan Han Noodle, made their noodles fresh, I knew I wanted to give them a try. The beef noodle soup is the main thing, but I'm not really a soup person. So I tried the chow mein. They ask you what type of noodles do you want; flat or round and what size, small to large.

They make the noodles right behind the counter and then cook it up, then either add soup or make the chow mein.



I got the shrimp chow mein, $7.95. It was filled celery, cabbage, green onions, ginger, and shrimp. The shrimp is well cooked, tender and flavorful. I noodles are cooked perfectly and you can tell it is fresh. But, the dish itself, is bland, they need to add more salt and seasoning.

Service is very good. The lady is nice and friendly. It's a cash only operation.

I liked Malan Han Noodle, but I didn't love it. I loved the fresh noodles, but the chow mein was too bland. I may go back and try the soup, but the chow mein needs more seasoning.

Pallazzo's Pizzeria-Closed

Pallazzo's Pizzeria 3228 Yorba Linda Blvd. Fullerton 714-528-7499 As readers of The New Diner know, I love broasted chicken. I couldn't believe a New York style pizza place served broasted chicken, so when I heard about Pallazzo's Pizzeria, I went right down for some pizza and broasted chicken. Medium half pepperoni and half cheese, $11.99. My idea of New York style pizza is very thin crust, with the dough so think you can almost see through it. Lots of gooey good quality cheese and a sauce that is full of flavor but not that tangy. The pizza at Pallazzo's Pizzeria, is much thicker than what I expect for a New York style pizza. The crust was pretty good for regular pizza but not New York. There was a ton of cheese, which I like, but it wasn't gooey and I don't think it's the best quality cheese. The cheese was more like the kind you get from a chain pizza place. The pepperoni was also like a chain pizza place. Nothing special or great about it. Two piece broasted chicken, $3.99. The surprising thing about the broasted chicken, you can get either white or dark meat for the same price. The breast piece came out about five minutes after I ordered. It wasn't cooked fresh to order, but it had been cooked within 15 minutes of me ordering. It was hot, not pipping, out of the fryer hot, but hot. The skin wasn't as crispy or light as other broasted chicken I've had. The meat wasn't as juicy, really it was rubbery and bland. Service was OK. The guy who took my order, who I believe is the owner, was pretty nice when I ordered. But there was a couple having pizza and he asked them about five times how everything was, but he only asked me how everything was, once, when I had basically finished eating. He had to pass by me, to get to the couple. At least he asked but why did that other couple get better service? I would not go back to Pallazzo's Pizzeria, again, either for the pizza-which isn't really NY style pizza, or the broasted chicken.

Sugar Rush Cafe

Sugar Rush Cafe
3900 Valley Blvd
Ste A
Walnut
909-869-7969

A friend has been holding out on me; she went to Sugar Rush Cafe but never told me about it, until today. So we met for lunch and she brought a friend, who was once very nice, but now she is a snotty, pretentious westsider!!! Boooooooooooo. Why do people on the westside think they are better than everybody else?

Anyways, Sugar Rush Cafe, is hidden in an industrial section of Walnut. They serve breakfast all day, and lunch. From what I understand the current owner, bought Sugar Rush from the original owners and there hasn't been any difference in food quality or service.



I really wanted to get a breakfast item but it was lunch time and I decided on the club sandwich, $9.50, turkey, ham, applewood smoked bacon, butter lettuce and tomatoes, mayo on toasted white bread, with fries.

This sandwich was huge, filled with tons of turkey and ham. Both, the turkey and ham are standard lunch meat items. It isn't the top quality brand of meat, but it was good.

The thick sliced bacon was very well smoked and crispy!!!

The bread, while well toasted, was just standard white bread.

The fries were really good. Crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. There was very little salt on the fries and I love that. Too much salt on fries can ruin the taste.

Service was great. I was greeted when I walked in and they allowed me to sit at a table, even though my two friends had not arrived yet. The young lady was took our order couldn't have been nicer. She was had a nice outgoing personality. We didn't lack for anything as drinks were refilled.

I would go back to Sugar Rush Cafe anything. I really want to try their breakfast! A true hidden gem!! Too bad, my friend held out on me for so long!!

Hop Li Seafood Restaurant

Hop Li Seafood Restaurant
526 Alpine St
Los Angeles
213-680-3939

There are some good Chinese restaurants in Chinatown, you may have to go off the beaten path, to find them. Hop Li, isn't on one of the major streets of Chinatown; Broadway and Hill, but it has very good food.

I went to Hop Li during lunch and they have a lunch special menu, with prices starting at $6.75 and $7.75. Since Hop Li is a seafood restaurant, I wanted to try some seafood items. All dishes include rice, soup, and a cookie.

But, one of my warning signs that a Chinese restaurant, in the LA area, isn't good, is when I see mostly white people like at Panda Express or Pick Up Stix. When I first walked into Hop Li, it was filled with white people, not a good start. But, I figured I'm already there and I would try it. Good thing I stuck around.



The soup with all lunch special dishes is an egg flower soup with some small pieces of pork. Thickened with cornstarch, and filled with lots of egg whites, it was served hot and was pretty good.



Squid with spicy salt, $6.75. This was perfectly fried, with a light crispy outside and a new tender inside. But, this was too salty. Yes, I know it is a dish called spicy salt, but it wasn't spicy, it was just salty. If they cut down on the salt, it could be a very good dish.



Scallops with snow peas, $7.75. I loved this dish. Fresh scallops in a light sauce with fresh sweet snow peas, awesome. The snow peas were cooked perfectly, had a nice snap and was so sweet. The scallops were also fresh and in that sauce was perfect. I would order this again.



Chicken lo mein, $7.25. I loved this dish. The noodles were cut short, they weren't long noodles and they were cooked perfectly. The chicken was tender, moist, and perfectly seasoned. There was some bok choy, that was also cooked perfectly. For the price and the large portion, this is a great deal.

Service was great. You are greeted the moment you walk into the door. The server is very nice and friendly. He makes sure you have anything you need, to make you dining experience a good one.

I would come to Hop Li anytime!!

Roger's Rib Shack-Closed

Roger's Rib Shack
8450 Reseda Blvd
Northridge
818-741-4070

A few months ago, I heard a new BBQ restaurant opened in Northridge. But, I wasn't overly excited nor did I rush to find more information about it. But, last Saturday, I was going to be in Northridge, so I figured I would kill two birds with one stone and have dinner at Roger's Rib Shack. Right in front of Roger's you see their smoker and huge bags of hickory charcoal. So that's a good start, but sadly that maybe the only good thing about Roger's.



I got the half rack of spare ribs, $12,95. The ribs are smoked, as I mentioned their smoker is right in front of the restaurant. But, these ribs are "finished" on a grill and I hate when restaurants do that. For real BBQ to be real BBQ, it should never touch a grill. How could I tell it was finished on a grill? The grill marks and char from the grill.

There isn't much of a bark on these ribs, either. The ribs were fatty, very fatty, and while some parts were tender others were tough. Their BBQ sauce was a bit too sweet for my tastes. I need a little more kick to my BBQ sauce. Overall,I wasn't impressed at all with the BBQ at Rogers.

The do have a large selection of bottled BBQ sauce. They will give you a cup of any BBQ sauce you want, you just have to ask.

Service is friendly but below average. When you walk in, you're not sure if you're suppose to order at the counter or you wait to be seated or seat yourself. I was told take a seat, so I told them I would sit outside. I took a menu, went outside and waited, and waited and waited. The lady never came outside. There were maybe 2-3 people who ordered or picked up food, but it wasn't crowded. She simply forgot. I walked inside and while she did apologize for forgetting about us, she said it was busy. 2-3 orders and maybe 8-10 people already inside the restaurant, isn't busy.

I wouldn't go back to Roger's Rib Shack again; poor quality ribs and below average service, just don't add up for a return visit.