Tasty Garden

Hong Kong style cafeteria-style cooking in Arcadia.

I first went into Tasty Garden by mistake…in a way. Me and a pal were headed somewhere else, and came in here instead.

Tasty Garden is something like you’d find in the heart of Downtown Hong Kong. It’s usually packed and active. It reminds me of a cafeteria, even though there are waitresses and servers. It’s just so active. It’s a place where if you’re working in a high-rise in Hong Kong you come down for a quick bite at lunch or before going home.

If you are new, or unfamiliar with Chinese cooking, there is nothing on Tasty Garden’s menu that’s familiar, or will make you feel 100% comfortable. If you are experience with, or very familiar with Chinese cooking, there is nothing on Tasty Garden’s menu that’s familiar, or will make you feel 100% comfortable. But that’s the point, come inside, get a taste of the real China. Try something you haven’t tried before. Eat outside your comfort zone.

IMPORTANT SAFETY TIP, PEOPLE: You’ll notice that none of the links on this page don’t link back to a Tasty Garden Website.  That’s because…there really isn’t one.  So I’ve linked to places that talk about Tasty Garden, instead of Tasty Garden itself.

WHAT SHOULD I GET?: Okay, there is a lot of stuff on the menu that…frankly…you may not be totally down with. Frog, for example, is on the menu. Pig’s stomach is on the menu. But there are some real gems on the menu. One of them is (or rather was) the Honey Glazed Fried Chicken, which was really good. I don’t see it on the menu anymore, but I do see a lot of things I would get in its place: Filet Mignon in Black Pepper Sauce, Chinese Style-Sausage with Rice in Hot Pot, Filet Mignon with Ginger Hot Pot. I could go on, and on…

Also, for a hyper-Chinese place (as in a Chinese Restaurant that won’t necessarily be seeing a lot of non-Chinese clientele) Tasty Garden has got a lot of boring American Stuff on the menu, like: French Fries, and Club Sandwiches, and Baked Bolognese Pasta.

PARKING: At the Arcadia Location, there is a massive Parking Lot out back. It’s free of charge, and still somehow fills up fast (What a shock!). At worst, you might be pushed more toward the back of the lot. I recall there being some spaces dedicated to a nearby Bank of America, so you should wary of that.

MAP DIRECTIONS:
Tasty Garden
1212 S. Baldwin Ave
Arcadia, CA
(626) 445-9388