The Astronomer, June, and I left hungry the first time we visited You Kitchen. It was the weekend following this particularly fetching Eater write up, and the kitchen was not prepared for the lunchtime crowds. After waiting a solid 45 minutes without a single dish hitting the table, the three of us high-tailed it to Omar’s around the corner.

I returned a few days later with Tien for a late lunch slash early dinner. The restaurant was mostly empty, so we had our pick of tables and plenty to eat. Whew!

I am grateful for dining companions who insist on something green to share. My natural inclination is to never order vegetables, especially when there are dumplings and pancakes to be had, so this kind of level-headed thinking is much appreciated. The cucumber salad ($4.50), snappy and seasoned, tasted of Sichuan peppercorns, chilies, and vinegar.

Next up was the “pan-fried chive egg pillow.” True to its billing, the crimped pockets arrived chock full of garlic chives and plenty of scrambled egg bits. The flaky and crisp-golden pastry was the best part.

What initially piqued my interest in You Kitchen was the availability of new-to-me-dishes, including the “Big Mouth Pancake.” The very flaky and sesame-studded pancake was stuffed with ground pork, scallions, and fresh cilantro. It was a little messy to eat, but the flavors and textures made it more than worth it.

Another new-to-me dish was the “Hand-Grasping Cake,” a slightly sweet and wee-bit-greasy pancake that seemed to twist and fold into copious shards from top to bottom. I’d never experienced anything quite like it.

The San Gabriel Valley never ceases to amaze me with its embarrassment of riches. You Kitchen, with its solid standbys and regional gems, is another fine addition to the neighborhood. May we all gather our big mouths ’round for dumplings and pancakes.

—

You Kitchen
1402 E. Valley Boulevard
Alhambra, CA 91801
Phone: 626-977-8088

One year ago: Maestro – Pasadena
Two years ago: Mint Leaf Cuisine – Pasadena
Three years ago: Here’s Looking at You – Los Angeles (Koreatown)
Four years ago: {swoon} Blueberry Doughnut at M&M Donuts
Five year ago: Glazed and Infused Doughnuts – Chicago
Six years ago: Saw’s Soul Kitchen – Birmingham
Seven years ago: Braised Rabbit with Pappardelle
Eight years ago: Le Bon Garçon Gourmet Caramels
Nine years ago: Just Married!
Ten years ago: The French Laundry Garden & Young Inglewood Wineries
Eleven years ago: Bánh Hỏi Thịt Nướng
Twelve years ago: Ajia Japanese Fusion – Philadelphia