Recently in El Monte Category

If obvious and simple business names had contests, I'm certain Dumpling 10053 restaurant in El Monte would be in the top 10.

This Chinese/Taiwanese restaurant sits in a small corner off of Valley Boulevard. Address: 10053; food served: dumplings.

I stopped in to this little restaurant one chilly evening, looking to pick up a warm, comforting dinner. Good dumplings can be comforting. There was only a couple diners seated for a dinner out, but I wasn't alone in ordering out, as a few other customers came in after me to pick up their phone orders.

I perused the menu and, thinking more with my growling stomach than with my eyes or wallet, I went for an order of green onion pancakes ($3.75), two orders of pan-fried pork dumplings ($5.95 each order), one order of beef steamed dumplings ($6.50) and a side of vegetable fried rice ($5.50).

Okay, so the vegetable fried rice wasn't so much a side than a whole meal on its own. Though it looked tasty with vegetables and plenty of egg, it seemed to lack the "fried" in fried rice and needed a little salt.

The green onion pancakes were greasier than other places I've tried. Not bad but nothing spectacular either. The dumplings were big compared to other dumpling places I've been to, but that may have affected how they were cooked or their flavor.

The beef steamed dumplings had a big piece of juicy beef inside but the dough was bland. The pan-fried pork dumplings also had a good size portion of tasty pork inside and though the dough flavor is enhanced when they are pan-fried, it was just okay. 

I can't say I won't come back to Dumpling 10053, there prices were decent, good and quick service and good portions. But they're will definitely be some Sriracha (rooster) sauce around.

Dumpling 10053 is open from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

They are located at 10053 Valley Blvd., Ste. 2 in El Monte. For to-go orders, call (626) 350-0188.

Though I have been spoiled with homemade tamales from my mom around Christmas time for years, she has not given in to pressure this year and will not be laboring away to make any.

So that leads me on a quest to find warm, tasty tamales elsewhere.

Though I have had a few homemade tamales already this season, (thank you Eloisa), I knew it was time to give those tamale vendors and bakeries a try.

Although an email I received from a blog reader last year about where to find good tamales was deleted long ago, I remembered the name of the bakery he suggested and thought I would give Maria's Bakery in El Monte a shot.

I also have passed by a tamaleria (shop specializing in tamales) in East Los Angeles many times and I thought I would try Sandra's & Lolita's Tamales as well.

SANDRA'S & LOLITA'S TAMALES 

I have heard that Sandra's & Lolita's can have a long line out the door just days before Christmas but this morning it wasn't that busy.

What I instantly liked about Sandra's & Lolita's is they offer a variety of tamales - pork, beef or chicken in red sauce; pork or cheese in green sauce; cheese; and sweet ones with pineapple chunks and raisins.

I tried the beef, chicken and pork in red sauce and a pork in green sauce. I'm not a big fan of raisins so I skipped on the sweet ones this time.

When I unwrapped the tamales, there was sauce everywhere, which seemed like a good sign. The masa was so moist the tamale just opened up in the middle.

The red sauce was the tastiest with a slight spiciness. The green was good also but not as tasty as the red.  

They weren't very big or meaty tamales but for $17 for a dozen, I guess that's what you get. They also sell masa by the pound and champurrado.

MARIA'S BAKERY

Maria's wasn't as hard to find as I thought thanks to my Sprint navigation but if you don't have one, just be sure to slow down on Peck Road as the parking lot entrance is the first one past the CVS Pharmacy.

So even though this is supposed to be a bakery, there wasn't too many pan dulces (sweet bread) or bolillos (Mexican rolls) to be seen but from the front counter I could see plenty of women working hard in the back in every stage of tamale-making - cooking meats in large pots, making masa, shredding meat.

At Maria's there is only two types of tamales available - pork in red or green sauce.

I grabbed a few of each ($1.60 ea.) and a couple of pieces of pan dulce that was available. They had a lot of flaky pastry kind which is not very common in Mexican bakeries anymore.

What I instantly noticed from the tamales were how heavy they felt in the bag compared to the ones from Sandra's & Lolita's.

Once I unwrapped them I knew why they felt heavier, there was plenty of meat coming out the top. The masa looked thick and intact which worried me that they would be dry - no bueno (not good).

But once I took a fork-full, I was happy they were not dry and were pretty moist and tasty. The red sauce wasn't as spicy and tasty as the green sauce but still good. 

The masa had a nice texture and taste that I could imagine frying up some tamales the next day and it tasting so good. Heck, it would probably be good just to fry up the cooked masa by itself.

So they may not have been made at home by my mom, but these tamales sure tasted very homemade and hit the tamale spot for me.

Sandra's & Lolita's Tamales are at 5390 Whittier Blvd., East Los Angeles, (323) 722-2961.
Maria's Bakery is at 4743 Peck Road, El Monte, (626) 444-8109.

Note: Both locations are not plastic-friendly so be sure to bring your green (cash).

What's your favorite place to get tamales?

By Claudia S. Palma

News Cafe & Sushi in El Monte is like two worlds in one.

The counter on the side facing the open kitchen and the signs for breakfast specials give the place a diner appeal.

But the table settings and chairs make the cafe look like a small Japanese joint. As you look around and head towards the back, the Asian decor and sushi bar counter say they mean business when it comes to sushi.

The menu is expansive. There is a separate list for sushi items, which were not all available during lunch the last time I went.

The menu is expansive. There is a separate list for sushi items, which were not all available during lunch last week.The cafe menu featured typical breakfast and lunch fare, from country breakfast to cobb salad and pasta dishes to a bacon cheeseburger.

There are also plenty of vegetarian and salad choices.

The Japanese lunch special featured a bento meal, with items such as chicken or beef teriyaki, miso soup and choice of California or spicy tuna rolls. There were also cut rolls such as caterpillar rolls and crunchy rolls.  

Unfortunately for me, having too many choices is not always a good thing. I am not a very picky eater and want to try everything. I eventually just gave in and tried something from both worlds.

The crazy salmon roll, $9.95, called to me, as well as the Reuben sandwich (nix the sauerkraut).

The Reuben sandwich combo, at $7.95, came with either a pasta salad, cole slaw or fries. I went for the pasta salad (which I regretted later when I saw someone else's plate with huge steak fries - darn, I love thick fries.)      

The corned beef, sandwiched with squaw bread and cheese, was good but could have used more pepper or seasoning and I would have preferred it more moist. The pasta salad was made of colorful rotini pasta, some crunchy pieces of bell pepper and onion and a light, tasty vinaigrette.

The crazy salmon roll featured spicy salmon, avocado, cucumber and rice rolled in seaweed and completely covered with long strips of raw salmon and topped with a special light sauce and sesame seed.

The whole roll was surprisingly good but I wouldn't make it my favorite. Having their own separate sushi chef was a good call though.

The spicy salmon wasn't as spicy as I expected. Usually when I order spicy anything from a Japanese restaurant, it really does have a kick.

Warning - the cafe was pretty busy when I went around lunch time and there didn't seem to be enough waitresses for the crowd swarming in for some cafe food. Be patient or call ahead of time if you are picking up. 

News Cafe & Sushi is located at 11357 E. Valley Blvd., next to El Monte City Hall. They are open from 6 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday to Thursday; 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday to Saturday; and 7 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Sunday.

For information or delivery, call (626) 443-2603.

By Evelyn Barge

Forget chicken soup. When I've got the aches or blues, Chinese dumplings are what my soul craves.

Trying out new dumpling houses in the San Gabriel Valley has become a favorite pastime of mine. That's why I was excited to visit Dumpling 10053 in El Monte to check out their offerings.

As it turns out, the mysterious number in the second part of the name is actually a helpful forget-me-not. 10053 is the restaurant's street address on Valley Boulevard.

Dumpling 10053 has a wonderfully expansive menu. There are nearly 60 separate menu items, which is a lot compared to other dumpling houses in the area that limit their menus to a few specific things.

I knew a couple things I just had to try, before I even set foot through the door.

First up was the steamed dumpling with pumpkin and shrimp ($6.50). I actually first read about this particular specialty in Los Angeles Magazine's food issue, so I knew it would be stellar - and it was. I love pumpkin-flavored anything, but even my dining companion, who is usually not so inclined, said this was his favorite dish.

My hands-down favorite was the pork, crab and sea cucumber boiled dumplings ($6.95). To paraphrase Red Lobster, the seafood lover is definitely in me, and these savory morsels satisfied my every craving.

Our final order of dumplings were boiled and stuffed with fluffy rock cod ($7.50). These dumplings were remarkably light and airy, the perfect complement to balance out our meal.

Moving on to other parts of the menu, we also ordered a newly available item that our waitress recommended, the homemade cuttlefish ball soup for two ($6.50). It was a simple yet tasty concoction with a hearty serving of fish balls floating in a clear broth.

The green onion pancakes ($3.75) were also delightful and had more flavor than some I've sampled in other restaurants, including at a very famous dumpling house in New York City's Chinatown. (Not to upset fans of Joe's Shanghai, because I was blown away by the powerful soup dumplings I devoured while visiting the Big Apple.)

Since we were on a roll, my dinner partner and I decided to order a few items to go: shrimp fried rice ($6.25) and crispy fried pork intestines ($4.95), which were saved for a midnight snack.

The wait staff at Dumpling 10053 is refreshingly helpful. During our recent weekend visit, the waitress engaged us as we made our meal selections and she was quick to offer up recommendations and answer questions.

Although we splurged and ordered a veritable dumpling house feast, every single menu item at Dumpling 10053 is reasonably priced under $10. Here, a lunchtime or solo diner could easily get away with a bill totaling $10-$15.

That's the beauty of dumplings, where each steaming platter arrives with 10 pieces that you can have all to yourself or, if forced to, share with others.

Just don't be surprised when, instead of lousy chicken broth, your wandering appetite desires dumplings. They are the ultimate comfort food.

Dumpling 10053 is located at 10053 Valley Blvd. #2 in El Monte. The restaurant is closed on Tuesdays. Call (626) 350-0188 for more information.

By Eric Terrazas

One city I visit frequently is El Monte, which features a few of my favorite eateries.

That list of favorites includes Tito's Market, which serves delicious sandwiches and other good food.

My favorite item on Tito's menu is the salami sandwich, which comes in two sizes. A small salami sandwich, which I usually order, costs $3.29. For those with bigger appetites, a large costs $6.59.

Tito's salami sandwich, which also includes tomato, cheese and mayonnaise, tastes very good. It makes for a delicious lunch.

Other cold sandwiches on Tito's menu include submarine, ham and cheese, pastrami, capocolla, roast beef and turkey. All cold sandwiches include tomato, mayonnaise and cheese.

For those craving a warmer meal, hot sandwiches are also offered.

Tito's hot sandwich offerings include breaded steak, meatball, steak fajitas, hamburgers, veal, New York steak and filet mignon.

The hot sandwiches, like their cold counterparts, come in both large and small sizes. Most small hot sandwiches cost $ 3.79, while most large sandwiches cost $7.19.

Tito's side orders sound good as well. On my next visit, I plan to try their ribs. Both pork and beef ribs are offered for $7.69 a pound.

Other items on the side order menu include chicken wings ($5.49 a pound) and spicy chili cheese peppers ($5.99 a pound). Spicy fries and onion rings both cost $3.99 per pound.

A favorite Mexican food of mine is an empanada, which is a turnover. For $1.19, you can order either a chicken or beef empanada.

In addition to sandwiches, Tito's also offers several kinds of potato chips, soft drinks and dessert.

Tito's Market is located at 9814 E. Garvey Ave. in El Monte. For information, call (626) 579-1893.

Going by a small poll take by me, people are split about eating food made at 7-Eleven stores.

Some may be ashamed for some reason I don't understand, to admit they do while others may not even dare to try anything cooked there.

Here's what I say - just like fast food restaurants, it depends on where you go.

I am not ashamed to admit I occasionally will have a spicy hot dog from 7-Eleven and just recently I tried the Go Go Taquitos.

Each 7-Eleven is individually owned, so though they may offer what most stores offer, their commitment to quality may be a little different.

To prove my point, I went to a 7-Eleven today in El Monte, just to use the ATM. My plan was to get cash and get lunch somewhere else.

But not wanting to drive around anymore I thought I'll just go ahead and pick up something to eat while I was there.

I got two taquitos, Doritos and a V8 Fusion drink.

I first tried the taquitos about a month ago at a 7-Eleven in La Puente, and was surprisingly satisfied. I tried the Monterey Jack and Chicken flavor.

They were nice and tender with cubed pieces of chicken and melty cheese on the inside and a crispy spicy seasoning flavor on the outside.

I mean for a prepared meal that they just warmed up on the little rolling grill they have there it was pretty tasty.

So when I picked up taquitos from the 7-Eleven in El Monte I thought they couldn't be that different - you just warm it up right?

Wrong. Apparently they don't think to time them because mine were overcooked and hard at the ends. Funny enough, I was going to try the steak and cheese one but the guy said he had just put them on the grill so he didn't think I should get those.

He should have also warned me about the other ones being on the grill for too long.

I don't know if I'll try the other flavors but I will probably have a spicy hot dog next time - yummy.

You take your chances. But I will say that I have never gotten sick from anything I've eaten at 7-Eleven unlike some may think.

Hey, I'm not looking for a high-quality meal when I go to a 7-Eleven, just something quick and convenient that does the trick until dinner. 

It was getting close to lunch time after an assignment in El Monte today and as I was leaving saw a nearby burger joint.

Ironically, the assignment was about a story on woman's health and fitness, (I'll start the diet on Monday).

'Art's - The Art of Burgers" the sign read for this small location on Valley Boulevard. The set-up reminded me of a typical In-N-Out or Tommy's stand.

Drive-thru on both sides, walk-up window, small parking lot and a few tables nearby.

Coincidentally there is a Tommy's right across the street.

The menu was typical of a burger stand - hamburger, cheeseburger, double-cheeseburger - with a selection of sandwiches as well. Chicken, steak, etc.