Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Half & Half Good Old Time

    3.9 (404 reviews)
    Closed 10:45 am - 8:00 pm

    Order Half & Half Good Old Time Takeout or Delivery

    Half & Half Good Old Time Photos

    Business Info

    HALF & HALF GOOD OLD TIME ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for kids
    Dogs allowed

    You might also consider

    More like Half & Half Good Old Time

    Recommended Reviews - Half & Half Good Old Time

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Menu
    Sabrina C.

    I ordered take out to try the minced pork rice. The food and service came fairly quickly. The minced pork rice felt mushy and too peppery. Personally I wouldn't order this again. Vibe: Super cute interior, giving it an old Asia kinda feel. I would probably come back and try other dishes with friends/fam!

    Sharon H.

    Really watered down drinks but really cheap prices. I can see this being good for middle or high school students who want to cool off with a sweet milk tea drink, but it was watered down and I couldn't bear to finish it.

    Inside
    Sheila W.

    We were in the mood for some authentic Taiwanese food and stumbled upon this little eatery. Never knew that Half & Half serve food! So we were excited to try. They offer several different rice and noodle options but honestly I think the ordering system is a bit confusing. You have to mark it on a plastic menu with a dry erase marker, then go place the order and pay at the cashier station. The inside decor is cute and casual. There are no chairs with back support. All they have are round stools. Parking is a bit challenging given that it's in a plaza that has several eateries.

    outside
    Tim H.

    Half & Half Good Old Time - I WOULD COME BACK AGAIN 100% FOR THE Minced Pork Pickle Rice and FRESH tea! 5/5 Food - Minced Pork Pickle Rice = AMAZING delish - FRESH green tea = PERFECTLY balanced would get again. - Taiwanese Sausage Stick = not bad 3.5/5 Parking Can be very difficult since this small shopping complex has other popular places such as Katsu Sando, Nem, Bonchon, and Hui You Xiang. 4/5 Cool service, no issues at all the entire staff was friendly and professional.

    Yolanda S.

    This spot has a nice "good old time" vibe with its Taiwanese retro-style interior. The restaurant is small, with 4-5 tables and a tiny bar area, but the menu offers a good variety of authentic Taiwanese street food. We're glad to have a place like this serving authentic food in the area. Portions are a bit small and drinks (especially the papaya milk) are slightly watered-down. The service is fast but can be more attentive. Note: There's a 3% surcharge for credit card payments.

    Jeanie L.

    I always order takeout from here when I'm craving minced pork pickle rice. It may look small, but it's the perfect portion for me since they're pretty generous with the rice. I also really like their popcorn chicken. I ordered a drink this time and even with 50% sugar, it still tasted really sweet to me. Parking can be very difficult since they're in a busy plaza and they share parking lots with Nem, Old Ferry Donut, and etc. I usually have to double park and run in just to grab my to go order.

    Sara P.

    Still can't believe I've been in this plaza a million times (hi Paris Baguette, hey Old Ferry Donut) and somehow skipped over this gem sitting right there like, "surprise bestie, I've been here all along." The inside is adorable! It felt like I got zapped straight back to Asia. The staff were super sweet and friendly, which made the whole visit even better. We got the tender tofu with century egg (10/10 comforting + refreshing on a hot day) and the chicken nuggets AKA popcorn chicken, which were tasty but could've used a little more flavor... then we found the seasoning counter after we were done eating. Comedy. Gold. Timing. Literally our fault! Drinks are cheaper and smaller than Half & Half Tea House, but the sesame milk tea? Oh honey, it's SESAME. None of that "whisper of flavor" nonsense. Just pure, nutty, glorious sesame energy. I'm obsessed and slightly offended I didn't come sooner.

    Shave ice you can 4 topping ... it was huge ... great for sharing
    Ellen H.

    The food bring you back to Taiwan!!! Delicious and close enough that you feel like you're back in Taiwan. Portion size is a bit on the smaller size but tastey is pretty authentic. It more of a self serve vibe in the restaurant You order go up to the counter and pay they give you a number and bring the food to you. There shave ice is huge enough to share and they give you the bottle of brown sugar and condensed milk . Very generous on that. The topping is a the smaller portion side tho but they give you enough shave ice to cover all that lol Ambiance is very Taiwanese bring you back to the good old times lol this the name Would recommend coming I'll definitely be coming back to try out more if there other stuff

    Caramel ice milk
    Hanna Y.

    It's a cute small shop with a few tables on the side. It is such a nostalgic place you would go to with your friends when you were in high school. I haven't gotten half and half in so long so this was a treat.we sat down at a table and they took our order there. If you are ordering to go you can just order at the cashier. I got the ice milk with caramel pudding and boba. I also shared the appetizer combo with my friend. Both were delicious! Definitely more of a place to get snacks rather than a meal.

    Linh Y.

    I was perusing around Mission View Plaza in San Gabriel. I came across Half & Half Good Old Time and thought if they are related to the Half and Half Tea Express in Arcadia. It turns out they are part of the same amazing Half & Half family. I love it! I've only been to the Arcadia location prior to this one. I intend to visit all of them as my food travels permit LOL. I looked at their menu from the outside window before walking in. I didn't know what to expect, but this place actually has inside dining unlike the Arcadia location that doesn't. There are about 5 tables plus a bar seating area. Inside space is quite limited IMHO. They serve more than just boba drinks. They also have noodle soups, noodle dishes, rice plates, tea snacks, fried snacks, soy pudding, shaved ice, cold tremella (fyi, genus of fungi in the family Tremellacea), ice cream, fresh teas, old fashion drinks, flavored teas, iced milk drinks, osmanthus, fresh juices, flavored drinks, milk teas, slushes, smoothies, coffee, yogurt drinks, and lemonades. WOW! Now that is one massive food and drink menu. Let's have a good old time, shall we? LOL I barely scratched the surface in getting one soy pudding with wintermelon juice flavor plus red bean and grass jelly. It had good portion, but it lacked red bean... wished there were more of it. Soy pudding and grass jelly were abundant. Soy was denser than I would have preferred... wished it was silkier and with more sweetness. Love the wintermelon flavor and grass jelly! The young ladies who took my order were pleasant, friendly, and helpful. Funny, I didn't know I was supposed to mark my order on the illaminated menu with dry eraser marker (provided), bring it up to the counter, place the order, pay for it, get a number, and then sit back down. I was just sitting there at the bar looking at the ladies to see which one would come on over. Anyway, I finally figured it out by watching other customers LOL. On my way out, I also got a green apple green tea because someone had ordered it and I wanted to try it. It was just okay. Btw, their drinks come in one size only... it's on the smaller size. I would definitely return here to try their other drinks and desserts plus food dishes and snacks. I love to have more good old time! P.S. I'm a curious one. Per Google, "The logo is made up of three Chinese words, "ban, ban, tong," that represent human characters drawn by creative Chinese calligraphy. A man with a spoon, a woman and a pair of chopsticks, a laughing and jumping child with a knife and fork (from left to right). Together these characters represent the mission of Half & Half, to create a place to offer the best possible drink experience to every man, woman, and child from any background and any culture." Isn't that cool! Thanks H & H!!

    Menu as of 9/3/18
    Tiffany T.

    I adore Half and Half Good Old Time. The servers are consistently friendly and helpful, reminding you that there is a cash discount. The Taiwanese dishes here are authentic, tasty, and great portion sizes and values. My favorites have remained the Tofu with Thousand Year Egg, Minced Pork Rice, and a Mango GT. They do it simple and they do it right.

    Chicken nuggets rice comes with egg like popcorn chicken
    Mabel T.

    The food was good. It is a bit pricey and the service was a bit awkward. We ordered the chicken nuggets rice and the pickled veggie with minced pork. The entree was bigger than expected with an egg and some sides but what we expected to be like popcorn chicken wasn't the best we ever had but it was still good. The pickled veggie and minced pork hit the spot. My hubby and I enjoyed both these dishes. We were happy that they offered free help yourself water cups and pitchers but didn't feel the service was friendly. The decor is cute and a nice spot for a date. I would come back to try their other items but would wish there were deals that were comparable to other places.

    Weekday special promo one free topping Mon-fri excluding boba
    Yun Ping C.

    This location is a classic and is great for both mini boba drinks as well as food! The worst thing about it is really the hours. I believe they are completely closed Tuesday and close early at about 8 PM daily except even eatlier on Sundays. I love the food, snacks, and drinks here, especially since the drinks are mini. I got a passion fruit green tea with lychee jelly, green tea (for my sister), and a Taiwanese fried chicken burger. Total was $18.87 for cash. I believe it's a 4% discount to pay in cash. Each drink is ~$4.50 and and the burger was ~$10. On weekdays, they have a free topping promo that excludes boba so I got the lychee jelly free. Everything was delicious and pretty affordable still imo. Service was great and efficient. We got it to go and ordered at the counter. The server was quick and nice. The ambiance has a homey, cozy look. I love it in there, but might not be for everyone. It reminds me of someone's house with all the knick knacks, but it's very cool! Pictures included. I've been coming here for years and it's still a solid spot my family and I like to go to!

    Menu as of February 2025.

    See all

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 3
    Photo of Emmanuel C.
    406
    105
    19

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ella H.
    201
    177
    9597

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Magda N.
    156
    1358
    2323

    4 years ago

    Helpful 8
    Thanks 0
    Love this 6
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Dee D.
    90
    51
    16

    1 year ago

    They're not open until 8 pm. Just stopped by at 7:30 on Thursday night and they're closed.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Marc N.
    18
    612
    877

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Sylvia G.
    421
    73
    77

    1 year ago

    Good nostalgia Taiwan food. Often really crowded! Miss these milk tea and food combos when I'm back in the Bay.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of P T.
    0
    87
    65

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Cheap food/snacks and good drinks! The inside has a cute old country cottage style interior that makes me feeel cozy inside :3

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Rita C H.
    71
    279
    5037

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jenny L.
    105
    15
    7

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Diana W.
    1405
    2350
    13862

    6 years ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 2 of 11

    Half & Half Good Old Time Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Half & Half Good Old Time

    Is this place out of business, second time coming here and looks like they're no longer operating?

    They're still operating.

    Are the milk teas made with dairy or is there a non-dairy creamer option?

    There are some drinks made with soy milk

    View All 3 Questions

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Taiwanese 66,781 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Luyixian

    Luyixian

    4.5
    (522 reviews)
    1.8 mi
    $$

    On the way back from Santa Ana, find LuYiXuan Restaurant in Alhambra, which serves Shanghainese and…read moreTaiwanese cuisine. This restaurant is difficult to get parking because it is located inside a small plaza on the corner of Valley and Garfield. Fortunately, I found a parking space there. The restaurant is not particularly large, But there are many customers dining there. We ordered Garlic Cucumber, Braised Pork Rice, Garlic Water Spinach, Braised Beef Noodles, Sweet and Sour Pork Ribs, Garlic Beef Cubes, and two Thai Milk Teas. I'm able to speak with the owner, who informs me that this restaurant does not use MSG or other ingredients. Everything is fresh and healthy. After tasting the food and the Braised Beef Noodles, I can tell it's really tasty and light, with no harsh components that make you thirsty and want to drink more water. So far, my family and I have really enjoyed the food here. Definitely will return and try other delicious foods next time.

    Prices and portions are fair in this little shop in Alhambra, and the pig ear here is cut thin and…read moremarinated in a classic chili sauce! Service is outstanding and very friendly, and the restroom is clean. Lots of free parking is available in the small lot outside. The restaurant is in a corner of the lot within unassuming outside exterior but very nice interior. The garlic cucumber was crunchy and light in marinade. I enjoyed the pig ear but prefer thicker cuts typically. It would be wonderful to come back to try other entrees.

    Photos
    Beautiful Flower arrangement
    Beautiful Flower arrangement
    Couple's sliced beef
    Couple's sliced beef
    Mushroom and Napa cabbage

    See all

    Mushroom and Napa cabbage
    All In Cafe

    All In Cafe

    4.3
    (174 reviews)
    15.9 mi
    $$

    Yummy Taiwanese food! Another review by David L. mentioned this place was similar to Sinbala and I…read morecan attest that it truly is similar. I ordered the pork chop rice and the pork chop had a great crispy exterior and was very juicy as well. The dish came with sauteed cabbage, half a tea egg, sauteed corn/peas/carrot mix and a bean curd. Portion was large and I was able to eat half for another meal! My friend got the chicken chop rice and the portion was even bigger than the pork chop rice! I will come back to try that one. Our group also ordered the popcorn chicken and that was juicy as well. Wished they added thai basil to the popcorn chicken but it was still delicious without it! Would 10/10 come back again.

    forgot @Jessica W. reviewed that this place changed owners. we liked their food from the past…read moreowner 牡丹/Chef. so hubby and I brought my mom and my MIL here for dinner on a Friday evening around 7pm. the place was small to begin with and it's packed with only 1 table of 4 left. the inside was upgraded/remodeled so it looked a lot cleaner than the previous restaurant. new menu design but basically the same dishes are available plus there're some Taiwanese street food. we found out the owner changed but they kept the same chef in the kitchen. when the dried tofu with pork 香乾肉絲 was served and my mom has the most picky tastebuds, without asking she said "this dish is very good". personally I was impressed with the cutting skill for the dish as both the pork and dried tofu are cut very thin so the flavor can easily get into the tofu and pork. and the dried tofu was soft like a noodle. the eggplants was also very tasty with lots of basil flavor. compared to the other 2 dishes, the braised tofu 紅燒豆腐 was ok as the sauce is a little too thick. and the fried chicken was bland. service was good and attentive. we would come back to have (don't need to try as it's the same chef) their famous "kidney with sesame oil 麻油腰花" again.

    Photos
    All In Cafe
    Good tender pork chop
    Good tender pork chop
    Tasty popcorn chicken

    See all

    Tasty popcorn chicken
    P P Pop

    P P Pop

    4.4
    (1.2k reviews)
    2.8 mi
    $$

    All of the food was solid!!! I recommend everything that we ordered. If your spice tolerance is not…read morethe best, I want to warn that the Mild Spicy Popcorn Chicken had more of kick than I expected. Also, their iced teas are HUMONGOUS. I'm not exaggerating. The pictures don't do them justice at all. FEATURED Popcorn Chicken ($10) Pan Fried Pork Bao ($13) Beef Noodle Soup ($15) Mango Green Tea ($4.99) Passion Green Tea ($4.99) Strawberry Green Tea ($4.99)

    If you want fast casual Taiwanese food, this is a good fix. Nothing amazing but still all solid…read moredishes. Whoever made our potstickers this day though, really didn't care. Others had a nice crispy lace cook on them, all held together in a nice circular formation.. and I got haphazardly thrown potstickers on a plate. Service is typical for a small Chinese place, where if you need something you have to ask, no one comes to check on you. When they're busy, you don't get a menu, so don't expect to see pictures and you'll have to kinda of know what you're ordering when looking at just the listed ordering form. I would suggest looking at pics online first so you know going into this. Love the ginormous drinks though, my strawberry green tea was deliciously refreshing with the perfect level of sweetness. Parking - free lot is small. There are some street sidewalk options. We waited a few minutes and luckily people were leaving the market so we were able to park in the lot.

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Popcorn chicken
    Popcorn chicken
    Popcorn Chicken

    See all

    Popcorn Chicken
    Yi Mei

    Yi Mei

    4.1
    (472 reviews)
    0.9 mi
    $$

    Yi Mei is a classic Taiwanese food spot. Order & pay first. Seems like their Rice Roll (Fan Tuan)…read morehas been blowing up on socials. It can get crowded around lunch time. There's a self-service area for water, sauces, utensils and napkins. I feel like the water runs out a lot, so you just have to waive down some of the staff to refill it. For the Fan Tuans, I do like that when you order online you can enter if you want the Chinese Donut (YouTiao) to be extra crispy. I guess you can tell them that too when you're ordering at the front cashier. Classic Taiwanese breakfast options are available (soy milk - sweet or salty; egg omelette; Chinese Donut; Porridge, etc.); and they have some Taiwanese staples like the Sausage, Meatball, Beef Noodle Soup, Pork Chop Rice, Dumplings, etc. They also have pastries like the Curry pastry, Sun or Pineapple cakes. Restaurant space is clean and service is fairly quick (10-15 mins). after you order. Parking is shared with plaza and they do have an underground lot. Restrooms are fairly clean.

    Came here to try the viral rice roll. It was decent. Not wow-mazing but I'd get it again if I'm…read morein the area. I enjoyed how crisply the you tiao was fried and how the glutinous purple rice was chewy and held well together as a burrito would. It looks very massive, but it's not that filling considering the you tiao takes up so much space but is mostly just air. I added pork floss and an egg as well, but felt like it could have used additional ingredients to make it feel more like a meal. I tried the wonton noodle soup as well, and thought this was alright. I liked that the noodles were a bit chewy, but thought the flavor of the soup was a bit bland, so this isn't one I'd consider repurchasing. Prices were pretty good, so I'd consider coming back and trying something else.

    Photos
    Clean interior
    Clean interior
    Purple rice roll - was ok
    Purple rice roll - was ok
    Oyster pancake - I didn't like it

    See all

    Oyster pancake - I didn't like it
    Ahgoo's Kitchen

    Ahgoo's Kitchen

    3.9
    (275 reviews)
    2.5 mi
    $$

    Once upon a time, in the 90s, the Taiwanese population was small, close knit, like the Jewish…read morecommunity. Your ex's Taiwanese uncle was the angel investor that jump started Jerry Yang's Yahoo.com. Your other friend's uncle was the VP to Terry Gou founder of Hon Hai Precision's (the company that makes all the iPhones), your friend's dad was locked up in Taiwan because he was the head of the United Bamboo Triads. Every Taiwanese person in LA and the West Coast probably had a 2 degree of separation with everyone else. And so like the Italians, you needed family restaurants to congregate at, and Aghoo precisely is that type of restaurant where Taiwanese Boomers and their children go sit down and have comfort food. This is a school of cooking that many chefs from Mainland China simply cannot replicate today. And there were only a few restaurants in Los Angeles 30 years ago capable of doing it: Happy Family Garden Pacific Plaza 新園餐館, Dumpling King 老夫子 Hacienda Heights Vons Plaza, Sin Bala 新芭樂 Arcadia, and Din Tai Fung 鼎泰豐 Arcadia Location One. That being said, I've always wanted to go back to Taiwan and apprentice under an old school chef and learn this school of stir-fry, you know, carry on the torch. In Taiwan, you used to be able to go to a street stall and order 100 different types of stir fry for dirt cheap, and so the chefs that had the grit to do it became masters at stir fry, authentic green onion beef not that fake Mongolian Beef created for the American Audience...although I equally like the American version. So yes, it was a sigh of relief when I discovered Aghoo. One of the remnants of a lost art form in the diverse world of cuisine. It was survival for the Boomer generation to stand next to a wok all day, to support the business and to support the family. Unlike Italian food, you can't premake Lasagna, Meatballs, marinara sauce and just assemble everything last minute with fresh cooked pasta. No, Taiwanese stir fry is bittersweet hard labor....very mechanical in nature, and the chef needs to understand all the inputs. So these days, Jurassic Restaurant has closed, Uncle Yu's 印第安啤酒屋 had shut down. Leaving.....Aghoos? And yes, Eat Joy in Rowland Heights. Come to think about it, if you take out Din Tai Fung from the picture, these are the last of the Mohicans..... I'll end here with my walk down memory lane. You want the Taiwanese version of that Italian style Family sit down restaurant, this is it. This is where you will find all the Taiwanese Aunties and Uncles that probably own 10,000 shares of TSMC, 30,000 shares of NVDA, and Jensen Huang eating quietly in the corner.

    Aghoo's Kitchen offers excellent Taiwanese cuisine, which is itself a fascinating blend of regional…read moreChinese cuisines. Grab a basket of the fried sesame scallion bread and get something saucy to dunk it in. Green Onion Sesame Pie: This prized basket of northern-style flatbread is probably what most people here are waiting for. The fried bread is cut into wedges with a crispy crackling exterior topped with fragrant sesame seeds. Inside, the bread layers are soft, pillowy, and bursting with green onions. Of course, it was the first thing that arrived, so we each voraciously ate a wedge on its own. Fish Filet with Bean Sauce: If you have enough self control, wait until they bring out the fish. The sauce is thick and savory. There's so much flavor from the minced garlic, fermented black beans, and scallions. The silky sauce seem to find a way into all the nooks and crannies of the stellar bread. Fried Red Yeast Pork Belly: The cooking technique of this dish is pretty cool. This is like a crispy char siu. The rich pork belly is marinated in red yeast rice wine for its aromatic flavor. It is coated in tapioca flour and then fried. The edges are crispy and kind of chewy while the meat is juicy and tender. Tofu Skin, Soy Beans, and Mustard Greens: The super thin tofu sheets and soy beans are a Shanghainese classic. With finely chopped mustard greens, the dish is a delightful study of textures: crunchy greens, chewy soy beans, and snappy from the tofu skin. The flavor is neutral and nourishing. Parking: It looks like there are only street parking spots, which there are plenty of. But, they have a lot in the back accessible through the alley by Alessandro Avenue.

    Photos
    Inside of the restaurant
    Inside of the restaurant
    Water spinach
    Water spinach
    Bamboo shoots and pork

    See all

    Bamboo shoots and pork
    Why Thirsty

    Why Thirsty

    4.0
    (674 reviews)
    2.8 mi
    $$

    COVID-19: Social distancing is not enforced at this establishment. Some of the staff wears a mask…read more All customers are not expected to wear a mask. It's optional now. The staff also wears gloves when handling food. There are some hand sanitizers available for customers to use. This place is available for take outs and has no indoor & outdoor seating available with limited capacity. They are only doing To Go orders. They are not sanitizing in between customers. COVID-19 Vaccination Proof: This establishment currently does not require proof of vaccination. While I was grabbing my food from this establishment last month, I asked if they had any special offers and they weren't offering any at the moment. They currently don't have happy hour. They also do not allow pets in their establishment UNLESS it's a service animal. Parking: The parking lot for this establishment is pretty big. They do share the lot with several other establishments. The lot doesn't really get busy, so you shouldn't have any problems with finding parking. I did notice that some spots are smaller than others. Food: I ordered a mild spicy popcorn chicken and minced bowl/ plate. The popcorn chicken was very flavorful, crunchy, tender, and juicy. Big portion for like $10. The Taiwanese seasoning mix brought me right back to the night markets to Taiwan. It's truly the 5 spice powder that hits the spot. The batter wasn't thick, so the chicken didn't taste very battery/ cakey. That's what I hate about some places that make popcorn chicken. It also wasn't too spicy for me. It was just right. I ordered the minced bowl, which is actually a plate. For like $12, it was actually pretty good and the portions was huge. The boiled / blanched cabbage and broccoli were soft, sweet, and tasty. I could taste the sesame oil on it. It wasn't salty. The sweet corn and diced juicy tomatoes combo was good too. The boiled tea egg was pretty delicious. You can actually taste the tea and soy sauce. The egg was nice and soft. And now, for the braised minced pork. The pork was very delicious and it just melted in my mouth. I love that there were some fatty pieces of pork too in the dish. It balanced out some of the pieces of pork, which had too much meat in it. Definitely a very savory and rich dish. Omg and the sauce from the braised minced pork drizzled over the rice was just so perfect! It made the rice extremely delectable. This is hands down one of my favorite Taiwanese dishes, and it was made perfectly. Staff: The staff here are very friendly, welcoming, and kind. They are closing this restaurant down in February 2026 due to rising rent and the landlord's unwillingness to upgrade the place. So sad. I'm seriously upset to see this place go. They accept both cash and credit cards. There is a $20 credit card minimum.

    I was craving pork chop rice the other day and couldn't think of where to go, but I remembered…read morehearing that Why Thirsty had a solid pork chop, so I decided to give it a try. I've only had their drinks and popcorn chicken in the past, which were decent. I called in a pickup order and the food was ready in about ten minutes. As of 12/06/25, they currently do not offer dine in and are only doing takeout. I ordered the Railroad Pork Chop, which is the traditional Taiwanese style where the chop is marinated and grilled or pan seared instead of fried. It came with rice and two veggie sides, and everything tasted fresh. The pork chop was flavorful and tender, and the marinade went perfectly with the rice. Overall, a pretty solid meal and I would definitely come back for it again. Not many places still make the railroad style pork chop like this, so it's worth trying if you're a fan.

    Photos
    Try "The Railroad" it's authentic pork chop rice
    Try "The Railroad" it's authentic pork chop rice
    Why Thirsty
    Why Thirsty

    See all

    La Sinbala

    La Sinbala

    4.0
    (1.8k reviews)
    3.6 mi
    $$

    SinBala - Arcadia…read more SinBala is one of the rare Taiwanese restaurants that has stood the test of time. I grew up eating here. There used to be several locations across Southern California, and I'm glad the Arcadia location is still here. Every visit brings back memories. I come for the Taiwanese classics that are becoming harder to find. The popcorn chicken is still one of my favorites--crispy, fragrant, and seasoned the way Taiwanese street vendors do it. The Taiwanese meatball soup is comforting, and the Taiwanese sausage always reminds me of night markets back home. What I appreciate most is that SinBala doesn't just serve street food. It brings those familiar flavors into a warm, home-style setting. It's nostalgic without trying too hard. Before you leave, save room for dessert. Their shaved ice is a must. I always recommend the brown sugar shaved ice topped with five mochi or boba. It's refreshing, not overly sweet, and the perfect ending to a meal. Taiwanese food is often overshadowed by other regional Chinese cuisines, but places like SinBala remind me how unique it really is. Simple, comforting, and full of character. I'm grateful this little piece of Taiwan is still here.

    Came for Taiwanese shaved ice. Honestly the only one in the area it seems doing it traditional…read morestyle - shaved ice not show, lots of toppings. A bit sweeter than my preference but maybe cuz I put condensed milk on it as one of the toppings. The grass jelly shaped firm and nice cubes so possible it's from a can as opposed to in house. Sausage I had as well not the best I've had but traditional flavor and served with lots of garlic on the side (wahoo!)

    Photos
    La Sinbala
    Spicy beef noodle soup
    Spicy beef noodle soup
    Spicy beef noodle soup

    See all

    Spicy beef noodle soup

    Half & Half Good Old Time - taiwanese - Updated August 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...