Spiceology is a family owned mom and pop Taiwanese restaurant that serves delicious and affordable Taiwanese bento boxes. This place was packed on a Monday surprisingly. An hour into opening, we waited for about 30 min to get our food. I definitely recommend calling it in. We got the popcorn chicken rice and pork chop rice and it was only $12 each. You never see these prices anywhere anymore especially with a combo deal like this. Come during lunch time on a weekday and you'll also get a free tea as well! Everything was also very yummy. Popcorn chicken had really good flavor and had a nice crunch. The pork chop on the other hand was seasoned well but I wish it was a bit more crispy. I love the veggies that come with it too. Well balanced in all the macros. Overall, this is such a good place to hit up for your Taiwanese fix. Worth it for the price, flavor, and serving size! read more

Spiceology - Popcorn Chicken Rice - Taiwanese Near Me - Arcadia, California

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Thought I should update my reviews from over 11 years ago since a lot has changed. I stop coming here over the years because many times I walked by their sign always say closed. The few times I did catch them. I came in for their shaved snow. The difference between shaved snow and shaved ice is the snow has a softer fluffier consistency and melts in your mouth like cream. Shaved ice is essentially crushed ice into small pieces. I usually get the mango set, but if mangoes aren't in season, it can get very tart. My last one was very sweet. It's a nice cooling dessert for the over 100 degree LA heat. Be prepared, they are often out of many items, so even though it's on their menu, it may not be available. They're usually not busy so seating is not a problem. I haven't tried their lunch menu for a long time but plan to go back and will update my review afterwards. * Shared parking lot in a plaza. Tucked in the corner right next to Dollar Tree. read more

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I'm very frustrated. Perhaps even mad at this place. Here I am trying to save money because of the recent economy, but the food was so damn good the first time I'm coming back again. I ordered the popcorn chicken (side) and crispy tofu (side) medium spicy. My advice for y'alls? Eat it fresh piping hot. I mean yeah, you could get it delivered and it'll STILL be good - but why wait? Shove that hot Taiwanese tradition into your cakehole. Then do the "Hot Potato Mouth" while the tender chicken and crispy outside makes you want to savor it more and burn your mouth. Don't forget about popcorn chicken's BFF - Crispy Tofu. It may not look like its cousin, Agedashi Tofu, but their heart is still the same. Crispy on the outside and freakishly soft on the inside. Note: soft silken tofu is already hard to handle...try it. If you can pick up silken tofu with chopsticks I'll call you Dragon Warrior or Sifu - your choice. One reviewer said it'd be better to add the spice into the batter. NO BRO! You'll mess up the batter and how it's emotionally-dependent stickiness to the food. It should be seasoned afterwards. And if you're wondering YEAS...the seasoning is amazeballs. Don't forget to eat the delicately fried basil leaves along with the T-Pop idols. Also, those that call the low-light situation "creepy" ambiance? You should be whipped. It's called being eco-friendly. Don't waste time with kimochi (気持ち) and just do what you do, boo... good food. I should try their other foods which I don't doubt its friggin' goodness but I can't shake my addiction. Please help...I know basketball legend Michael Jordan...I'll stop it and get help. read more

This review is purely on a take out order for popcorn chicken. Looks like I found another place to popcorn chicken from. The chicken was juicy and seasoned well. The only thing that would've made it better is if they mixed in the chili powder instead of just poured on top. The staffs were friendly and helpful. They take cash or Zelle, so that was a plus. It was pretty empty when I arrived to pick up my order so come out and support small businesses and give this restaurant a try. I will definitely come back to try other dishes! read more

Spiceology - Popcorn chicken - Taiwanese Near Me - Arcadia, California

My absolute FAVORITE popcorn chicken in the 626! I grew up eating at Spiceology and the quality stays CONSISTENT. It's so hard to find a place that stays consistent over 10+ years but they have. They're located in the same plaza as 626 Hospitality and Dollar Tree. It might be hard to find their store but it's in the 90 degree corner of Dollar Tree. There's plenty of parking spots available for customers regardless of the nearby busy businesses. They have plenty of seating to choose from and you can do your homework, catch up with friends, and eat their food! They offer shaved ice, rice plates, and appetizers/snacks. Food: Popcorn Chicken (10/10): We got mild spice for the popcorn chicken and it was the perfect amount of spice. You can definitely choose no spice or go even spicier. They fry the popcorn chicken fresh to order so it might take a bit for your order to come out. The chicken is still moist regardless of the fry and the best part is, there's an amazing amount of crunch with each piece. read more

Spiceology - Popcorn Chicken - Taiwanese Near Me - Arcadia, California

COVID-19: Social distancing is not enforced at this establishment. Some of the staff wears a mask. All customers are not expected to wear a mask. It's optional now. There are some hand sanitizers available for customers to use. This place is open and available with limited capacity. They are not sanitizing in between customers. I mention these things in my reviews for the sake of protecting immunocompromised people like the elderly and people sick with cancer and other illnesses. COVID-19 Vaccination Proof: This establishment currently does not require proof of vaccination. While I was here in this establishment several days ago, I asked if they had any special offers, and they are offering a free small green tea, black tea, or barley tea if you order a bento box. 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, but keep in mind that they share the lot with several other establishments, so the lot can get full. Some parking spots are smaller than others so be careful where you park. Establishment: The establishment itself is very clean, neat, and tidy. I wish they would play music or something because it's awfully quiet in there. Also, they turned off most of their lights, so it's dimly lit. I know that they are trying to save money on their electricity bill, but it's lowkey kinda creepy. Besides the creepy vibes, the food was lit. I had ordered a Taiwanese sausage rice bento box ($11.99) and a mild popcorn chicken ($6.50). They are currently doing a promotion where if you order one of their bento boxes, they will give you either a free small green tea, black tea, or barley tea. Take your pick. I chose to get a black tea with my Taiwanese sausage rice. The Taiwanese sausage rice is reminiscent of my time in Taiwan. The sausage was just so juicy. The minced pork on top of the rice was also very flavorful. The zucchini, corn, and cabbage were slightly seasoned with sesame oil, sugar, and salt, which made them taste 10x more delicious. I loved how tender the cabbage and zucchini were. The half egg was soft and had a bit of a runny yolk, which is something I enjoyed because I put the yolk all over the minced pork, which helped enhanced the rich flavors of the minced pork. Overall, everything was very delicious. I also love how juicy, tender, and crunchy their popcorn chicken are. The black tea was strong, bold, and smoky. Loved it! Portion sizes are great for the price. Totally worth a visit. Staff: I came here for lunch a couple of days ago (TO GO), and while I was waiting for my food, I was chatting with the owner. He explained to me that business has been extremely slow, and he wished he had some more customers. Please go check out Spiceology if you haven't yet. The food is delicious! The staff here are very friendly, welcoming, and kind. If you do visit this lovely Taiwanese spot, just an FYI, they only take cash or Zelle. No credit card. read more

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This mom and pop shop selling yummy Taiwanese food. I enjoy the plates and rice bowl. They even have a deal to get tea with it for an extra dollar. The lychee tea is my favorite. The popcorn chicken plate is shareable and super crispy. I definitely would come back. read more

Spiceology - Popcorn Chicken Rice - Taiwanese Near Me - Arcadia, California

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Came here for the popcorn chicken and honestly it's one of the best in SoCal... but only if you eat it fresh. When it first comes out, it's super crispy, juicy inside, and seasoned really well. Perfect crunch and flavor. Definitely one of those spots that hits when it's hot. Only thing is you HAVE to eat it within like 10 minutes. If you wait too long, it gets soft and loses that crisp, and it's not as tasty. So don't let it sit in the bag. Overall still really good and worth coming for. Just timing is everything. read more

Spiceology is another small Taiwanese spot located in a random plaza. Most people seem to order takeout over the phone and just come by to pick it up. The prices for their bento boxes are really good. Everything in the photo together was only $20. The food was very comforting, and I don't have any complaints. I'd definitely come back again. read more

Spiceology - Taiwanese Near Me - Arcadia, California

I called in and ordered their popcorn chicken rice and it was so flavorful, crispy, juicy, and meaty! The rice was good as well, they use short grain rice! also got a honey green milk tea, it was perfectly made not overly sweet and had a great tea taste. Definitely my new favorite popcorn chicken spot! read more

Spiceology - Popcorn Chicken Rice & honey green milk tea - Taiwanese Near Me - Arcadia, California

If you're craving Taiwanese food, Spiceology is worth trying. Just a heads up! This place is cash only and has more of a casual, self-service feel, so don't expect a full-service dining experience. The popcorn chicken bento box is a must-try! The chicken is crispy, flavorful, and comes with that classic Taiwanese comfort food feel. The spicy wontons are also delicious and packed with flavor. Finish it off with their mango shaved snow for a refreshing treat. A great spot for Taiwanese favorites! Just bring cash and come with the right expectations. read more

Hands down BEST fried tofu I've EVER had. My family and I ordered snack sized popcorn chicken and fried tofu to go and we were NOT disappointed one bit. Very pleased we came across and chose this option as there are many to choose from in the area. I wanted to make sure I wrote this review as vibe wise in there, they definitely could use more business as food wise this place was a "sleeper" as they would call it. DEFINITELY come here for a bite or meal. Based off what we had it's worth the visit. read more

Been coming here since high school and this place has never let me down. What stands out most is the price -- it's always been cheap and has barely budged even with how bad inflation has gotten everywhere else. That alone says a lot about how they run this place. The food is consistently good. The spicy fries are incredible, the shaved ice is some of the best I've had, and the popcorn chicken is solid too. The owner is always cool and the overall vibe is welcoming. This is one of those spots you keep coming back to for years and it never disappoints. Highly recommend. read more

I got some popcorn chicken for my daughter's party and it was soooo good! Fried basil, crunch and a depth of flavor! You won't be disappointed!! read more

Spiceology - Taiwanese Near Me - Arcadia, California

best popcorn chicken ive had in a long time. super nostalgic vibes in the restaurant. We got one mild and one medium spicy. The popcorn chicken only costs $6.5 which is unreal compared to other places now. They also have super affordable lunch plates that come with a tea for around $12-$15. They make everything to order so please be patient!! also bring cash/zelle! read more

Spiceology - mild(left) and spicy (right) popcorn chicken only costs $6.5 each - Taiwanese Near Me - Arcadia, California

located in the same plaza as 626 ice cream, dollar tree, and bon appetea! parking is very easy in a shared huge lot with the plaza. they have both dine in and take out options. i think their prices are fair, especially for the high quality of food you get in exchange! i personally recommend the fried chicken leg rice, a chicken thigh cooked in a popcorn chicken style. the pork chop rice is also a close second, a lot less fried and crispy than the fried chicken leg rice. the staff are friendly and professional as well. the restaurant itself is clean and has a lot of seating. 10/10! a more than worthy place to try with amazing value :-) read more

Spiceology - Popcorn Chicken Leg Rice - Taiwanese Near Me - Arcadia, California

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This was a place I used to come a lot with a friend pre-Covid because their popcorn chicken and shaved ice were always great. Now after a few years, I heard good things still and I wanted to go back for their meals. We ordered to go and the staff was straight to the point, asked us spice level, and answered all our questions. They only accept cash or Zelle, no card. They open at 12pm but they start taking orders at 11:30am for pick up. I wish I knew since we went at opening to order. The place looks the same, warm and welcoming and similar color scheme. We ordered: -Appetizer, Popcorn chicken: very crispy, portion matches the price, tastes great. The pieces precovid were smaller, so this change I am very happy with. -Bento box comes with a drink during lunch special (11:30am-2:30pm) and you can choose from green tea or black tea or barely tea: I love their container, better than the foam box. Everything fits in its own section neatly. --The pork chop rice with green tea: Portion of meat was good, it comes with a half boiled egg, minced meat on rice, nice portion of cabbage, corn and pickled cucumbers. I enjoyed this meal and the pork was slightly sweet and savory, there's bone so be careful when biting into it. The green tea is slightly sweet and refreshing. --The fried chicken leg with black tea: I think this meal's meat was the best in terms of flavor compared to the pork. It didn't come with the egg, rice was plain, but still had cabbage (less portion than the pork one), corn and pickled cucumbers. I think the black tea was good, since we ate at home I added half and half in it and made milk tea! Overall, I enjoyed the food here. Wait wasn't long for our order and being next to dollar tree mean we can explore the store for a bit and be back for our food! read more

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Mom and pop store in the dollar tree plaza. I love their shaved ice here since they actually flavor the ice before it's shaved. They use fresh fruit so their flavors really depend on the season and what they have in stock. It is large enough for 2 people to share. Their popcorn chicken is also delicious, and staff is super nice. read more

My new favorite place for popcorn chicken!! It's so crispy and juicy--perfectly fried and seasoned. I wish they didn't use soft tofu for their fried tofu because I like mine medium firm but still good! Cash only or they take zelle too. read more

We have been coming for years. My favorite drink is the kumquat lemon green tea. And of course their fluff ice!!!! It's amazing.

$11.99 for a bento box that comes with a drink! I like that the leg is deboned. It also comes with a drink. I paid extra to get it with boba. Service a friendly but they are understaffed so everything comes out a bit on the slower side, but it's so worth it. It was seasoned well and the meat was juicy. I really enjoyed the cucumber salad that comes with it (I ate it before I remembered to take a photo). Lots of seating. I came here with my bookclub. read more

Spiceology - Fried Chicken Leg Rice - Taiwanese Near Me - Arcadia, California

Decided to come here to grab dessert after brunch. Friend suggested this place because of the popcorn chicken and shaved snow. Plenty of parking in the plaza. Stepped inside and thought this place was quite simple with a good amount of tables to sit at, relax and eat. Noticed that this place is run by a family. Ordered the popcorn chicken a la carte and mango set shaved snow to share. The mango set shaved snow came out pretty quickly but the popcorn chicken is cooked to order. There were also people coming in during peak time so orders take a while, but you can tell the family is hustling.. looks like there are 3 generations helping with business. The popcorn chicken had a good crunch, flavorful and tender. The shaved snow had the toppings on the side and was delicious and perfect for a hot summer day! Pricing is reasonable compared to other popcorn chicken and shaved snow spots. This place also serves a fair amount of teas as well. I would definitely come back to try their other foods and drinks! read more

Spiceology - Mango shaved snow set - Taiwanese Near Me - Arcadia, California

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Cozy, Taiwanese food spot in a good plaza! The drinks are around $5 and popcorn chicken for $6.50! Worth it! My QQ Fusion had pudding and jelly, no boba, which make senses since it was a bit slower and making boba takes a lot of time and needs to be fresh. They only accept CASH OR ZELLE. read more

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I always get their shaved ice because they are waaay cheaper than other places and tastes equally delicious if not better! This is me and my mom's go-to spot to satisfy my shaved ice cravings without causing a damage to my wallet. They also have plenty of topping options and the portion is perfect! read more

Spiceology - Matcha shaved ice + rice balls + egg pudding - Taiwanese Near Me - Arcadia, California

I came here just to get popcorn chicken. I pre-ordered via phone so I wouldn't have to wait in person. I arrived in about 10 minutes, and surprisingly my order wasn't ready. I waited an additional 21 minutes on site, 31 minutes in total from making my phone order to receive my side order of popcorn chicken. At the 20 min mark I was very close to asking for my money back and just leaving. But luckily for them, I had some work related things to deal with on my phone so I ended up waiting longer. 31 minutes for popcorn chicken?? Do better. If I come back, I'll make sure to order 25+ min in advance. Taste - 5/5 - it's popcorn chicken, you can't mess this up Promptness - 1/5 Cleanliness - 4/5 - didn't look much, but it was empty and fairly clean, I think. Ambiance - 3/5 - kind of dead inside and plain. Looks low budget. read more

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I have known this place for a long time. Do not let the interior change your mind about this place. Their food is very traditional and delicious. My favorite Taiwanese Snack place that's around my place. They are a small family business so the service is slow, so please be patient with them. The owner is also very kind. read more

Have been coming here for over 7 years now and it's become a staple in my comfort food rotation. Well-priced taiwanese box lunches that come with a free drink during their lunch special hours. Service is friendly at the counter and it is a small family business. Would recommend for anyone looking for a solid and reasonably priced meal. read more

As part of my popcorn chicken quest, I checked out Spiceology. Their popcorn chicken are my new standard for what popcorn chicken should be -- moist, well-seasoned, flavorful and perfectly crispy. Their fried tofu is also very delicious. For dessert, I had their mango shaved ice. Again, another new standard for Taiwanese shaved ice. The mango ice tastes like mangoes, not overly sweet and finely shaved so that it melts immediately in your mouth. Perfection on a hot summer day! They only accept cash or Venmo. Most orders were for take out, but they do have no frills seating. This is an order at the counter type of restaurant. If you are obsessed with popcorn chicken like I am, you need to give this place a try. read more

We tried their shaved ice. They ran out of 3 flavors. They ran out of more than 1/2 of the toppings. The sitting area, especially around the ceiling corners had HUGE cobwebs that looked like they have been there for 3 years...imagine what the "non-public" areas look like. read more

I came on a Monday afternoon for some shaved snow for dessert. I ordered the Caramel snow set and Green Tea snow set, each for around $8 to share amongst 3 people. The toppings the Caramel set came with are pudding, boba, condensed milk, and caramel; the Green Tea set came with red bean, boba, rice balls, and condensed milk. You can also build your own snow and pay additional for each of the toppings you choose. Although the snow was tasty, perfectly fluffy, and go great with the toppings in each set - we were disappointed that we had to wait almost 30 min for our 2 shaved snows. They're really short staffed and it is also inconvenient that they only accept cash as well. Half of their tables that used to be available to sit at are now closed off, which discourages patrons from staying to enjoy their food. Overall, still a solid place for dessert if you are prepared to wait and have cash on hand. read more

Spiceology - Caramel and Green Tea Snows - Taiwanese Near Me - Arcadia, California

I've been coming here since I was in highschool! It's always been an amazing spot to study or get food with friends would highly recommend!

Spiceology is one of my favorite spots for a quick and tasty lunch! They've got a good variety of bento boxes at really fair prices, and I love that they throw in a simple tea drink with the lunch deal. I almost always go for the popcorn chicken bento, it's super crispy, perfectly seasoned, and never disappoints. My only tiny complaint is that they don't open until noon. Sometimes I'm craving lunch a little earlier, so I end up going somewhere else. But honestly, besides that, this place is awesome. Great food, good portions, and definitely a go-to for bentos and snacks! read more

Delicious, affordable, taiwanese snacks/lunch! Came here since I was craving some Taiwanese popcorn chicken, and I was NOT disappointed. I got the popcorn chicken bento whole my husband got the spicy chicken bento. The bento comes with a free tea, which I totally appreciate. Bento comes with rice, corn, and some brocolli. Lots of seating inside with booths, good for large parties. Service was friendly, cash or zelle only though. Would definitely come back for some more delicious taiwanese food! read more

Spiceology - Popcorn chicken bento! - Taiwanese Near Me - Arcadia, California

Parking: Spiceology is lcoated in the plaza with the 99 Cents Store. The parking lot gets a bit crowded during lunch time since there are a couple of other small restaurants in the plaza. Interior/Exterior: There is no seating since it is takeout only. Service: The food is usually done by the time I place my order and drive over (15 minutes). The employees are nice but sometimes seem a bit overwhelmed. Food: The food comes in a decent sized portion and is very cheap and affordable. I usually order it when I want to grab a quick lunch. I usually get one of the bento boxes. The popcorn chicken bento is probably my favorite one from here. read more

Spiceology - Popcorn chicken bento box - Taiwanese Near Me - Arcadia, California

I love this restaurant, especially their popcorn chicken! It's super flavorful and their rice is perfect. Although, it does take long but I'm sure it is because it is fresh. They only take Zelle or cash. read more

Spiceology - Popcorn chicken bento - Taiwanese Near Me - Arcadia, California

Good Taiwanese bento box place! I like getting their minced pork rice, popcorn chicken and a green tea! They used to have the best beef noodle soup, but the chef got sick and now they've simplified their menu to bento boxes such as sausage rice, pork chop, fried chicken leg to name a few. Their shaved snow is really yummy for summer months. It's literally like snow (similar to class 302), not the icy kind. Service is good, it's a hardworking wife and husband team. Ambiance is ok, could use some music. There's a few tables but more of a take out place. read more

I'm giving this place 4 stars because their prices are still mostly pre-Uber inflation prices. You can get a bento box for $10 and snow ice for $8. I highly recommend the mango snow shaved ice and it comes with slices of fresh mango, and Mochi and condensed milk for $8! I also highly recommend the salt and pepper fried tofu cubes. They are bite size and super flavorful; crunchy on the outside with soft tofu inside. The inside is dim and not the most beautiful. It's a great place to get take-outs or for a casual eat-in. Service was fine. It's located in the 99 cents plaza and there is free parking. read more

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There was no wait at 3 PM on a Friday. We got their bento boxes! Very cheap and affordable prices. There's so much variety to order from. They take cash only so be aware of that! Each bento box comes with green beans, cucumbers, tomato eggs, and corn! Service was very quick and fast. Excited to come again and try more stuff! Pork chop rice - 9/10 Stewed pork belly rice - 7.5/10 read more

Spiceology - Stewed Pork Rice Pork Chop Rice - Taiwanese Near Me - Arcadia, California

Food/Taste/Flavor: 5/5 - Mango Set Snow which comes with mango flavored ice, mango, rice ball, and condensed milk. Loved the texture of the snow since it is fluffier and smoother than shaved ice. They had the toppings on the side with condensed milk so it was a bit difficult to get the additional condensed milk onto the snow... Wish there was a bit more rice balls but yummy dessert overall Ambience: 3/5 - half empty shop with a huge section blocked off. The tables were sticky and the furniture looks worn. Not the restaurant's fault but lots of screaming high school kids so not too fun of an environment to be in (I feel so old just writing that...) Service: 4/5 - they were slammed with coming out with orders so while there was no one in front of us, we did have to wait a bit. The poor cashier was on a crutch and trying to move around and work one handed. It took about 25 minutes to get the food Value for price: 4/5 - a bit pricey for such a simple dessert with minimal toppings. Would consider again should the craving hit but definitely considering option for takeout read more

Spiceology - Mango Set Snow - Taiwanese Near Me - Arcadia, California

I came here from a tiktok video about their popcorn chicken and it was no lie. I loved the popcorn chicken from here! Crispy, juicy, and full of flavor! Perfect amount of saltiness and had basil leaves so it was a 10/10! I also called ahead of time and the order was ready pretty quickly. It's a quiet place but I definitely will be coming back for more popcorn chicken! read more