Maybe you’re tired of deciphering menus with 50+ soup dumpling varieties. Or perhaps you’ve circled the same blocks for 30 minutes, realizing every parking spot in San Gabriel has been claimed since 1995. Whatever brought you here—authenticity quest or hunger emergency—you’ve arrived at the right list. These 13 restaurants don’t just serve incredible food; they define what makes this culinary epicenter worth the pilgrimage.
Spicy Charm
$$ | (626) 283-5055 | WEBSITE
Hot pot can make you think of communal dining and warmth, which is why it’s an especially good choice on a chilly evening. When you visit Spicy Charm, get the dry pot or hot pot, and don’t skip the customer-favorite beef noodles from La Meijia. All of which can help you pretend you’re having a family gathering in your dining room, with 100% less cooking and cleanup.
Hey Chicken! 叫了个鸡
$ | (626) 888-9192 | WEBSITE
Hey Chicken! has our favorite fried chicken in San Gabriel, even though some chicken purists will (wrongly) complain that it’s not technically authentic. But you know where you don’t have to listen to that kind of negativity? Your car. Ordering is simple: Get the spicy drumsticks, and enjoy the crispy, juicy chicken in peace. Unless you’re dining with a purist – then you’re on your own.
Papa Johns Pizza
$ | (626) 457-8989 | WEBSITE
If you remember that scene from Home Alone 2 where Kevin orders room service, you’ll appreciate why having Papa John’s delivered is a great idea. Because nothing says ‘I do what I want’ like getting an entire piping-hot pizza delivered to your house. This is also a good opportunity to wear sweatpants while eating at your Ikea coffee table.
HK Macau Bistro
$ | (626) 225-3228 | WEBSITE
HK Macau Bistro is a lively blend of Hong Kong cafe and late-night hangout, and while we enjoy dining there, trying to snag a table can feel a bit like a mahjong tournament (since they don’t take reservations). But our go-to dishes, like the Macau-style Curry Beef Brisket, hold up really well to takeout, and the Seafood Chow Mein is consistently satisfying. The only downside to ordering in is that the excellent Westlake Beef Soup doesn’t really travel well.
But you do have to venture out eventually to soak up that neon-lit, old-school Hong Kong atmosphere.
Trinity
$ | (626) 270-2727 | WEBSITE
You might only know Trinity as one of the 13 best restaurants currently operating in San Gabriel. But this place also makes a fantastic Sunday lunch buffet. It’s generous, it goes perfectly with Trinity’s peaceful atmosphere, and it has just the right proportion of quality to value. Get the weekend buffet (we like to request extra turkey) with the attentive service, plus a family gathering.
Bonus points if you also try the solid and satisfying dishes, which magically stay fresh throughout the meal.
Pizza Hut
$ | (626) 451-5900 | WEBSITE
If you’re craving comfort food that delivers, Pizza Hut has you covered. In fact, you can measure your hunger level by how many pizza boxes are stacked on your table. Whatever else is going on in your life, you’ll appreciate that they prepare everything carefully, and always make sure you have enough dipping sauces to go with all the pizza you’ve ordered.
Get the gluten-free option, pepperoni, and both the cheese and meat lovers pizzas – which they’ll thoughtfully put in separate boxes, so you don’t have toppings mixing together.
Tacos Jalisco
$ | (626) 342-3107 | WEBSITE
Tacos Jalisco is one of the best food trucks in San Gabriel, so unsurprisingly, finding a parking spot near the truck can be hard. Luckily, you can also park at the nearby Starbucks. Which means that it’s technically possible to eat things like the delicious Pastor and Carne Asada tacos without circling the block for twenty minutes. Unless, of course, you want to eat while you watch the line grow.
CHICHA San Chen – San Gabriel
$ | (626) 766-1512 | WEBSITE
This is the San Gabriel location from the same people who run the original CHICHA San Chen, and the drinks here are also (obviously) tea-focused. But this place has a wider selection, with standout options like the Fresh Milk Brown Sugar with Bubble, Peach Green Tea with Mousse, and seasonal fruit teas. Also, we’re still trying to figure out how they manage to deliver perfectly chewy, fresh boba – which you should definitely try, and probably sip first.
New Elite Restaurant
$$ | (626) 656-6228 | WEBSITE
New Elite Restaurant does everything the old Elite Restaurant did, including that incredible clay pot rice. And luckily, your craving for comfort food also goes really well with Cantonese classics. Order the eel clay pot, plus the stir-fried veggies to round it out. Then dig into the homemade chili sauce and pretend that the team behind this spot (who also have a dim sum place in the works) are actually in your kitchen.
Newport Seafood Restaurant
$$ | (626) 289-5998 | WEBSITE
If you’ve ever sat down for a family-style meal only to find that everything arrives at different times and gets cold, you know that timing really matters. And that’s especially true when it comes to Chinese seafood. Newport Seafood might not have the absolute most refined flavors in San Gabriel, but the dishes here are perfectly satisfying, and this place is really, really good at group dining. Everything is carefully served together, so you can share it all family-style when it arrives.
Chanos Drive-In
$ | (626) 451-0663 | WEBSITE
Sometimes you just want to stuff your face with huge portions of reasonably-priced, delicious Mexican food, in the comfort of your own car. When that’s the case, turn to Chanos Drive-In. Get the crispy carne asada tacos or the bean and cheese burrito with red salsa, both of which go really well with a cold horchata.
El Pavo Bakery & Restaurant
$ | (626) 285-0270 | WEBSITE
San Gabriel has several Mexican bakeries, all of which are still really popular. And while it’s easy to hate on something everyone else likes, that doesn’t change the fact that all these spots are actually very good. El Pavo Bakery & Restaurant, which serves Mexican pastries and food, is the one to get for takeout. Order the butter-stuffed empanadas, the flavorful conchas, and some Pan de Muerto. The best part is that you don’t have to deal with the San Gabriel Valley crowds to enjoy it.
Oriental Express Cafe
$ | (626) 292-1868 | WEBSITE
Chinese food is the ultimate comfort meal, and that’s why there are multiple options on this list. Oriental Express Cafe serves authentic home-style cooking, which you should be eating in your apartment where no one else can see you. While the San Gabriel restaurant itself is primarily a no-frills cafeteria, you can get huge portions delivered. The vegetarian options and the meat dishes are the best ones – just be sure to ask for the free soup and house milk tea. Trust us on that.