Kang Kang is a Can Can
One of my friends thought I was nuts when I suggested we meet at Kang Kang Food Court for a late lunch. He went on to explain to our other friend that he went to Kang Kang a few times back in his college days. Apparently, back then, the place was known for being shut down every so often for health code violations. Personally, I think the place had changed ownership and cooks a number of times since his last visit. I didn't discover Kang Kang until some time last year, and my experience was very different from my friend's.
Last year, I was told that Kang Kang had the best pan fried baos/dumplings ($5.77) in town, and I had to find out for myself if that was true. It definitely was good and very reminiscent of the ones I had in Taiwan a couple years ago and in China three years ago. Kang Kang's, however, was really sweet. I am certain sugar was added to the pork filling. This is just fine by me because you eat these baos with vinegar, and the two together makes a perfect combination. It's for these pan fried baos that I suggested to my friends that we go there, so that they, too, can experience them.
What was a bit ironic was I warned my friends that they should bite into the pan fried baos carefully, as they were filled with hot juices. Not two minutes after I gave out this warning, one of my friends squirted the juice all over her pants. I couldn't help but let out a small "I told you so." As fate does not favor people who say "I told you so," about 10 minutes after that, the same thing happened to me. So my advice, dear readers, is order the pan fried baos but just don't wear nice pants or skirts when you eat them, and don't be an "I told you so."
Other foods we ordered were a beef wrap ($5.42), glutinous rice and pork shaomai ($4.99), and oyster omelet ($4.57). The beef wrap is filled with thin slices of beef, raw green onions, and surprisingly, a crepe-thin layer of egg. Most places overdo it with the plum sauce, but Kang Kang gives just enough to accent the beef and onion flavors. I ordered the glutinous rice and pork shaomai from Kang Kang for the first time out of curiosity. I have had this dish many times at Din Tai Fung, which I have to admit is better than Kang Kang's though more expensive, if I recall DTF's prices correctly. Even though DTF's shaomai is better, I did enjoy Kang Kang's, too. It just seems they used more soy sauce for the glutinous rice than DTF. The oyster omelet was one of the best I've had in some time. It wasn't overly starchy and had whole pieces of oyster.
At the end of our meal, the friend who tried Kang Kang ages ago admitted that it has changed a lot (for the better) from when he last visited. The other friend bought a whole lot of food to go for dinner. As for me, I got to hold on to my reputation among my friends for recommending places for good food.
Miscellaneous Notes:
The menu can be a bit overwhelming. The menu is mainly separated into regional cuisine - Taiwanese, Northern Chinese, Eastern Chinese, Southern Chinese, and Cantonese (Hong Kong). For first time visitors, you might want to grab a to-go menu, find a table, and review the menu to figure out what you want so you don't hold up the line. You have to go up to the counter to place your order. The staff will bring you your food, but they don't do table-side orders. Each table has a number. Take note of the number at your table because you have to let them know where you're sitting when you place your order. Also, Kang Kang is cash only.
There are also a lot of dishes ready to be packed into combo meals. It is simply ridiculous how affordable the combo meals are. 1 item with soup is $2.73 and $3 is you want rice, too. All other combos come with rice and soup: 2-item - $3.70, 3-item - $4.25, 4-item - $5.17.
The pan fried bao is number 79 on the menu. It seriously is the best thing on their extensive menu. There's even a huge banner hanging over their door that says their pan fried bao was recognized as one of the top ten recipes of 2009 by the LA Times.
Kang Kang is located in a plaza where parking is in the rear. The parking lot does get pretty full at peak hours and there are people who speed through there, so be cautious as you enter and leave.
Kang Kang Food Court
27 E Valley Blvd
Alhambra, CA 91801
Phone: (626) 308-3898
Hours: Mondays to Thursdays 7am -11:30pm, Fridays and Saturdays 7am - 12am
Last year, I was told that Kang Kang had the best pan fried baos/dumplings ($5.77) in town, and I had to find out for myself if that was true. It definitely was good and very reminiscent of the ones I had in Taiwan a couple years ago and in China three years ago. Kang Kang's, however, was really sweet. I am certain sugar was added to the pork filling. This is just fine by me because you eat these baos with vinegar, and the two together makes a perfect combination. It's for these pan fried baos that I suggested to my friends that we go there, so that they, too, can experience them.
What was a bit ironic was I warned my friends that they should bite into the pan fried baos carefully, as they were filled with hot juices. Not two minutes after I gave out this warning, one of my friends squirted the juice all over her pants. I couldn't help but let out a small "I told you so." As fate does not favor people who say "I told you so," about 10 minutes after that, the same thing happened to me. So my advice, dear readers, is order the pan fried baos but just don't wear nice pants or skirts when you eat them, and don't be an "I told you so."
Other foods we ordered were a beef wrap ($5.42), glutinous rice and pork shaomai ($4.99), and oyster omelet ($4.57). The beef wrap is filled with thin slices of beef, raw green onions, and surprisingly, a crepe-thin layer of egg. Most places overdo it with the plum sauce, but Kang Kang gives just enough to accent the beef and onion flavors. I ordered the glutinous rice and pork shaomai from Kang Kang for the first time out of curiosity. I have had this dish many times at Din Tai Fung, which I have to admit is better than Kang Kang's though more expensive, if I recall DTF's prices correctly. Even though DTF's shaomai is better, I did enjoy Kang Kang's, too. It just seems they used more soy sauce for the glutinous rice than DTF. The oyster omelet was one of the best I've had in some time. It wasn't overly starchy and had whole pieces of oyster.
At the end of our meal, the friend who tried Kang Kang ages ago admitted that it has changed a lot (for the better) from when he last visited. The other friend bought a whole lot of food to go for dinner. As for me, I got to hold on to my reputation among my friends for recommending places for good food.
Miscellaneous Notes:
The menu can be a bit overwhelming. The menu is mainly separated into regional cuisine - Taiwanese, Northern Chinese, Eastern Chinese, Southern Chinese, and Cantonese (Hong Kong). For first time visitors, you might want to grab a to-go menu, find a table, and review the menu to figure out what you want so you don't hold up the line. You have to go up to the counter to place your order. The staff will bring you your food, but they don't do table-side orders. Each table has a number. Take note of the number at your table because you have to let them know where you're sitting when you place your order. Also, Kang Kang is cash only.
There are also a lot of dishes ready to be packed into combo meals. It is simply ridiculous how affordable the combo meals are. 1 item with soup is $2.73 and $3 is you want rice, too. All other combos come with rice and soup: 2-item - $3.70, 3-item - $4.25, 4-item - $5.17.
The pan fried bao is number 79 on the menu. It seriously is the best thing on their extensive menu. There's even a huge banner hanging over their door that says their pan fried bao was recognized as one of the top ten recipes of 2009 by the LA Times.
Kang Kang is located in a plaza where parking is in the rear. The parking lot does get pretty full at peak hours and there are people who speed through there, so be cautious as you enter and leave.
Kang Kang Food Court
27 E Valley Blvd
Alhambra, CA 91801
Phone: (626) 308-3898
Hours: Mondays to Thursdays 7am -11:30pm, Fridays and Saturdays 7am - 12am