San Gabriel Mission

  Mission San Gabriel is a historic landmark, Founded by Spaniards of Franciscan.  1 of the 29 Spanish Mission in California was built in 1771 that’s more than 240 years old!

  The Mission is consist of the church, museum and the grounds which are open to public but it closed time to time for remodel, is remarkable the shape of the mission is still pretty good after all this year.

  Not the Best mission in SoCal, that goes to San Juan Capistrano. However this is the mission to visit if you around the area, just across Mission 261 Restaurant, also are hot spot for many wedding photos.

Kiki Bakery

  Kiki Bakery is a typical HK style bakery shop in San Gabriel Valley.  Nothing there are too stand out, they use less sugar in their pastry, but hardly any whole grain one.  I got several items here, all not bad but is better than what you get from 99 ranch or Hong Kong market.  Their cake price is much closed to 85c and JJ.   The cake to pack with good amount of fruit, light sugar use, and the cake is fluffy.   They do not offer coffee or tea, so basically it stuck with the 90’s. Little has change all this years.

Rating ★★★

Rounds Premium Burgers

  Rounds Premium Burgers is a burger franchise in SoCal. It got pretty good rating in Yelp and elsewhere in other location.  So when it open on in Pasadena, in the same location that used to be Wolf Burger is a good news, this location lack any real burger restaurant.  So it make perfect sense to located here. Parking is a lot easier to manageable since they also got its own lots parking.  

 A Friend order the Western - $6.95 Which it got BBQ Sauce, Bacon & Onion Strings.  He like it a lot.

Mine was custom build $8.2 with bigger patty (1/2 LB) Garlic Aioli, Grilled Oinions, Fried Egg, Onion Strings and use Fresh Bun.  The buns is so soft! The egg was a bit overcook though, Onion Strings was excellent, the patty was medium cook which was very good.

The house large order of fries $3.50 is huge portion size, similar on what the Tops offer you, they didn't add any salt on it, but you get to pick many of its dipping sauce, the butter-ranch was very a perfect match.

The Regular Sweet Potato Fries $2.95 was one of the best, unlike most place.  This one was cook fresh and still hot when you get your hand on it, they add some salt at top make it more tasty !

The fountain drinks were $2 for regular size, and is self serve and refillable. They got 4 types of ice tea via touch screen is cool and the tea was good.

Service was excellent, friendly staff.  The food take sometime to come out consider the freshness of the food.

Decor is interesting  is still in remodel phase.  It felt a bit like a large house than a restaurant. It got 2 tv that show just about any sport channel.  If they add some speakers in the roof will be perfect.  Good amount of seating area.  

Rating ★★★★1/2

This place is better than Wolf Burger, much better burger and fries.  However it doesn't offer those Mexican dish.  For those who like nearby, there's no real need to head to old town for some good burger and watch the game.  This one is as good and better value. 

Men Oh Tokushima Ramen

Some called Men Oh Tokushima Ramen is the new Ramen King in Little Tokyo, I doubt this is  true, but I gave this a try anyway. 

Came in a weekday lunch time at noon, there were a line if you want tablets, but there were seating in the bars. The only TV in the restaurant also located there which also showing sport channel, included the Lakers game.  Serve was excellent, friendly staff however they speak mostly English. 

Their most popular dish is no doubt the Tokushima Ramen $8.95  

The Broth
- Soy sauce based at top with the pork bone base is a very strong flavor, more than what I like. 

The Noodle
- Similar to the Hakata Ramen, not as tasty as the Daikokuya one which is more chewy. 

Butabara Pork Belly and Chashu
- Typical yummy Chashu plus their the added big bonus tender pork belly which is standout from other place. 

Boiled Egg 
- The boiled egg was very good, on par with DK except is half of the egg.

Tips: 
- Aware that the price on the website is only for the bay area, different from the this location. 
- They do not serve raw egg in the ramen at this location. 
- Parking in the plaza can cost like $4 for 2 hours.

Daikokuya is still the Ramen King in this location.  But those who like Hakata ramen should definite gave this place a try, since it taste very similar except with added pork belly.  Hakata ramen gave you validating parking and is like $2 cheaper but with no egg or pork belly is a trade off.

Mikawaya

Mochi Time ! 

Who doesn't like Mochi or Gelato. This place got both ! Located in the Little Tokyo Village Plaza.  Definite a spot to stop by after a meal.   It was my first time and definite not my last time, here's the two items I order.

- This is a popular item according to the staff.  I can definite tasted the green tea and great texture of the Mochi. 

- Good chuck of pistachio but is not creamy enough, and was a bit icy. 

Mochi is what you should get here, as for ice cream is clearly not their specialty.  Staff is helpful, good value for what you get.  There is pretty of table inside.

RATING: 4 OUT 5

Daiso of Monterey Park

Daiso is basically the 99 cents store of Japan.  They have over 2500 locations in Japan and another 500 overseas. The last couple of years it started tot expand to the U.S.  40% of their items are made in China with most of their items being an in house brand.  

Thumbs UP: 

+ You find items here that you will most  likely not find anywhere else. 
+ Some item likes a $4 Fedora is hard to beat in any store. 
+ Majority of their items are actually useful in some aspect. 
+ The first Daiso opened in San Gabriel Valley. 
+ Some shoppers would like pink signs everywhere in the store, but they definitely add their own style. 

Thumbs Down: 

- The store felt more like a liquid store pack with 99 cents store customer volume. 
- Their return policy is like those found in Chinatown (NO RETURN OR EXCHANGE) 

Note: 

* Unlike typical 99 cents stores they do not carry fruit or vegetables here. 
* Avoid weekends when it's the most crowded to least avoid awful parking in the plaza. 
* Minimum of $10 required for all Credit Card Purchases (Visa and MasterCard Only) ! 

My 2 Cent 

* Everything from the store you can get elsewhere, but expect to pay a higher price.  You will not find Manga here, but it has really just a cuter and more upscale feeling than a 99 cents store with Japanese text despite it still being made in China.

Flour & Tea

Flour + Tea is the only kind that serve Asian tea and fresh barkery in Pasadena, that's good news for local resident, if

you crave for those no longer need to drive to Alhambra.

Nice decor, that display all their tea.  Didn't ask if they sell those but probably does.

Almond Whole Wheat Bread $2 - Excellent, good amount of Walnuts, there's raisin inside too, the bread was soft and baked almost perfectly fresh, well worth it.

Mango Slush Over $4 - Pretty good with good amount of Mango

Almond Milk Tea with Boba - Very soft boba which mean is good ! The milk was no good, too water-down with loads chuck of ice.

Their Boba is very softt and fresh one like you would get from Ten Ren.  But their milk tea is a bit waterdown, I tryt the almond milk tea it got way too much iced.

Their fresh made bakery is very goood.  Most of the bread are whole grain, their walnut whole grain bread is remarkable quality for $2 make this must try one. Best selling bakery is their mochi bread which contain got flavor like taro, red bean and many others.

Cool and unique decor, their trash can is sensor one, there's some seating inside.  Staff are friendly and offer free samples drinks. Don't come here if you are hungry cause there's most of the stuff here are light portion size.  Their bakery alone worth to visit but for drink is a nice bonus.  You do paid more here.

Tips:
* Don't bother find parking in the street, almost all meters, however there's a 90 minutes free parking from the Metro parking structure across the street.
* Bakery is tax free but not the drinks.

Rating: 4 out of 5