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Arcadia is a special place. Wild peacocks passively stroll through its neighborhoods, overflowing from the massive arboretum. Rows of jacaranda trees rain purple flowers in the spring. There’s a spectacular view of the San Gabriel mountains at any point in the city, with an abundance of hiking trails.
It’s not just the nature. Arcadia is home to one of the largest populations of Asians and Asian Americans within Los Angeles county, and this demographic reflects in its food. It’s easy to find robust beef noodle soup, Taiwanese comfort foods, bubbling hot pots, and endless supplies of boba milk tea within the city’s ten-mile radius. And, of course, it wouldn’t be a city in Southern California without tacos, too. Here are some of our favorite spots.
Sushi Kisen
Newcomer Sushi Kisen took over the original Din Tai Fung location in Arcadia back in 2022 and is a welcome addition to the neighborhood thanks to its incredibly fresh fish and expertly executed rolls. Executive chef Hiro Yamada is an alum of Little Tokyo’s Sushi Gen and Shiki Beverly Hills and brings a wealth of experience. Whether opting for omakase at the bar or selecting dinner sets complete with miso soup and tsukemono, the attention to detail and balance of flavors is available in every bite. Drinks include a lengthy selection of sake, plum wines, and shochu.
1108 S. Baldwin Ave, 91007. Closest Metro lines and stop: Bus Line 268 - “Baldwin/Duarte" or Bus Line 179 - "Huntington/Baldwin."
Taco Lita
Eating at Taco Lita is a rite of passage for Arcadia High School students. This unfussy institution down the road from school has been serving up American-style crispy tacos and massive burritos since 1967, alongside its cult-loved taco sauce. It’s a classic haunt for any Arcadian on a budget, including the alleged ghost that lives in its bathroom.
120 E. Duarte Rd, 91006. Closest Metro line and stop: Bus Line 287 - “Santa Anita/Duarte.”
Lanzhou Beef Noodle
As their name suggests, Lanzhou Beef Noodle specializes in hand-pulled noodles drowned in their signature beef stock. Each bowl of their signature beef noodle soup is loaded with thin slices of beef, fiery chili oil, diced green onions, and cilantro. There are eight types of noodles to choose from, from thin strands of angel hair to noodles streaked with chives (we are partial to the wide flat noodles, which have a satisfying level of chewiness). Beyond noodles, Lanzhou’s addition of tea eggs smashed cucumber salads, and spicy sheets of tofu skin make for ideal sides. And after all the heat, a taro milk tea is an excellent method of cooling your palate.
411 E. Huntington Dr., Suite 102, 91006. Closest Metro lines and stop: Metro A Line or Bus Lines 179 and 287 - “Arcadia Station.”
Kazu Mori
Tucked away inside H-mart’s food court sits Kazu Mori, where you’ll find the best katsu in Arcadia. Whether you’re a fan of chicken, pork, or impossibly gooey cheese katsu, Kazu Mori has it all. You can eat your fried proteins with curry or a version of Bulldog sauce, and each order comes with a shaved cabbage salad and miso soup. The best part is how economical this spot is; one order is easily large enough for two meals.
1101 W. Huntington Dr, 91007. Closest Metro lines and stop: Bus Lines 179 or 267 - “Huntington/Sunset.”
Menya Hanabi
The noodles at Menya Hanabi are unlike any other bowls of ramen you’ll find across LA. Their mazesoba—or soupless noodles—hail from Nagoya, Japan, and feature sharp green onions and chives, chewy noodles, spicy minced pork, and shredded seaweed tossed in an intensely creamy umami-forward sauce. The noodles are finished with a soft-boiled egg and intended to be stirred vigorously so each bite contains every element of the dish before devouring.
733 W. Naomi Ave, Suite K, 91007. Closest Metro lines and stop: Bus Line 268 - “Baldwin/Duarte" or Bus Line 179 - "Huntington/Baldwin."
La SinBala
For Taiwanese comfort food, SinBala can’t be beaten. Whether opting for a snack, like popcorn chicken and fried fish cakes, or full meals of pork chop and sausage rice or beef noodle soup, SinBala’s food tastes like it was crafted straight from the island nation. Milk teas and shaved ice make for a refreshing dessert.
651 W. Duarte Rd, 91007. Closest Metro lines and stop: Bus Line 268 - “Baldwin/Duarte" or Bus Line 179 - "Huntington/Baldwin."
Young Dong Tofu
A meal at Young Dong starts good—small plates of banchan and their crispy mung bean pancake is hastily dished out with every order—and only gets better. The namesake soft tofu soup, or soondubu, arrives boiling hot with options of beef, kimchi, seafood, and more. To round out the meal, opt for grilled short rib, bibimbap, or japchae.
1311 S. Baldwin Ave, 91007. Closest Metro lines and stop: Bus Line 268 - “Baldwin/Duarte" or Bus Line 179 - "Huntington/Baldwin."
Sesame Grill
Once upon a time, Sesame Grill was a French-influenced fusion restaurant with impeccable chilled calamari and an incredibly affordable three-course meal deal. During the pandemic, the owners behind the decades-old restaurant were forced to pivot. Now, Sesame Grill specializes in hot chicken tenders and an assortment of pasta dishes. I can’t tell which version of the restaurant I prefer; whether they’re whipping up French classics or fast-food favorites, Sesame Grill does it well.
308 E. Huntington Dr, 91006. Closest Metro lines and stop: Metro A Line or Bus Lines 179 and 287 - “Arcadia Station.”
Shabu Lin
Arcadia is home to many excellent hot pot choices, but Shabu Lin is a favorite for their all-you-can-eat option. Lunch clocks in at $23.99 per person while dinner is $33.99. The price includes nine different protein options that range from lamb to fish to thin slivers of pork belly as well as eight different broth choices. A selection of condiments is available for customizing dips while unlimited vegetables, noodles, and seafood are replenished at an attached bar. Limitless sliced fruit is ideal for finishing the meal.
101 S. 1st Ave, 91006. Closest Metro lines and stop: Metro A Line or Bus Lines 179 and 287 - “Arcadia Station.”
Moffett’s Family Restaurant & Chicken Pie Shoppe
Moffett’s opened their doors in 1975 and has provided Arcadia’s community with comforting chicken and beef pot pies for over four decades. The interior remains like a vintage diner, with bar and booth seating and checkerboard wallpaper trimmed with illustrated chickens. While you can dine in—and get bread pudding or a slice of apple pie if you do so—there’s also a case of unbaked pies to take home.
1409 S. Baldwin Ave, 91007. Closest Metro lines and stop: Bus Line 268 - “Baldwin/Camino Real" or Bus Line 179 - "Huntington/Baldwin."
Villa Catrina
Villa Catrina brings a taste of Jalisco to Arcadia with an expansive menu of soups, enchiladas, tacos, and more—even the hard-to-find regional Jalisquillo dish of carne en su jugo (thinly sliced beef stewed in a tomatillo broth with beans). The highlight is an all-you-can-eat Sunday brunch, which rings in at $25 per person and includes a taco bar, made-to-order omelets, menudo and pozole, and three glasses of mimosas; perfect for celebrating a special occasion with the entire family. Fresh handmade corn tortillas are constantly being churned out, perfect for enveloping hot plates of chorizo and barbacoa. If there’s room for dessert, the flan is worth every custardy bite.
251 N. Santa Anita Ave, 91006. Closest Metro lines and stop: Metro A Line or Bus Lines 179 and 287 - “Arcadia Station.”
