2012 in the San Gabriel Valley: A List of Restaurant Openings + Closings

Jim Thurman

Spicy City, San Gabriel

As the calendar prepares to turn the page on yet another year, it's tradition time here at Squid Ink. A time for us to look back on the year and note restaurant openings and closings. When attempting to do this with the San Gabriel Valley, where an estimated 600 Chinese restaurants make up a vibrant scene with all the stability of quicksand, this can prove difficult. Restaurants that change names, change English names, change owners while retaining chefs, change menus and regional cuisines or relocate under entirely new names are all part of the SGV's grand pageant and maddening for those attempting to keep track.

It all adds up to a task more Sisyphean than Herculean. But, thanks to the record keeping of David Chan, Tony Chen's Meanwhile, In SGV updates at Eater LA, some folks at Chowhound and our own legwork, we came up with the following list of 2012 openings and closings in the SGV. And, as usual, a few opened and shuttered in the same year, with at least one space housing three different restaurants in 2012. We've listed those under closed, as there's no need for redundancy. We're bound to have missed some, so let us know in the comments or by e-mail. We fully expect a few additions to both sides of the ledger before 2013 dawns. Turn the page.

Opened in 2012:

85°C Bakery Café: 2626 E. Garvey Ave. S., West Covina; (626) 915-7885
88 Beef Noodle: 1045 S. Baldwin Ave., Arcadia
818 Shaokhao: 250 W. Valley Blvd. Suite P, San Gabriel; (626) 282-9900
Ah Sham Tseng BBQ Shop: 203 W. Valley Blvd., Alhambra; (626) 570-9851
Albert Mexican Food: 2600 W. Main St., Alhambra; (626) 457-5743
All-in Crab Cajun Restaurant: 8966 Garvey Ave. Suite C, Rosemead; (626) 569-0139
Atlantic Seafood: 500 N. Atlantic Blvd. Suite 200, Monterey Park; (626) 872-0388
Avalanche Shave Ice: 401 W. Main St., Alhambra; (626) 282-2925
Babyface Restaurant & Bar: 10602 Lower Azusa Rd., El Monte; (626) 279-2789
Banana Leaf: 5835 Temple City Blvd., Temple City; (626) 309-0209
Beijing J K Tasty House: 8118 Garvey Ave. Unit B, Rosemead; (626) 573-3062
Boba Link: 9566 Las Tunas Dr., Temple City; (626) 309-9685
Boiling Point: 250 W. Valley Blvd. #J, San Gabriel; (626) 300-9800
Boiling Way: 18457 Colima Rd., Rowland Heights
Café Maji: 56 E. Duarte Rd., Arcadia; (562) 677-5595
Café Cau Vong: 3365 Walnut Grove Ave. Suite B, Rosemead; (626) 288-8614
Cha Bei Bei Tea House: 7709 Garvey Ave., Rosemead; (626) 280-3718
Cha Bei Bei Tea House: 1328 E. Valley Blvd., Alhambra
Chonitos: 2505 W. Valley Blvd., Alhambra; (626) 284-8601
Chuan Ma Noodle House: 18438 Colima Rd. Suite 31, Rowland Heights; (626) 888-6318
CoCo Fresh Tea & Juice: 400 S. Baldwin Ave. Suite 231, Arcadia; (626) 447-0290
Curry & BBQ Plu$: 9567 E. Garvey Ave. Suite 1 & 2, S. El Monte; (626) 279-6854
Dalian Small Stone Restaurant: 7637 Garvey Ave., Rosemead; (626) 280-3128
Dog Haus: 410 E. Main St., Alhambra; (626) 282-4287
Duo Pot: 1228 S. Golden West Ave., Arcadia; (626) 446-6933
Emperor Noodle: 800 W. Las Tunas Dr., San Gabriel; (626) 281-2777
Farm Cuisine: 122 W. Garvey Ave., Monterey Park; (626) 280-3276
Four Seasons Seafood Restaurant: 18558 Gale Ave. Suite 128, Industry; (626) 964-8833
Four Seasons Kitchen: 1700 Batson Ave., Rowland Heights; (626) 581-1888
Ganache Patisserie & Café: 141 N. Atlantic Blvd. Suite 102, Monterey Park; (626) 943-8688
Garage Restaurant: 123 N. Lincoln Ave., Monterey Park; (626) 573-9088
Gelatissimo: 2682 E. Garvey Ave. S., West Covina; (626) 549-0729
Gen Korean BBQ House: 68 W. Main St., Alhambra; (626) 289-2150
Golden Noodle & Grill: 965 S. Glendora Ave., West Covina; (626) 337-1888
Good Life Tea House: 8522 Valley Blvd. Suite A106, Rosemead; (626) 898-2869
Guppy House: 5743 Rosemead Blvd., Temple City; (626) 285-0288
Ha Tien Quan: 529 E. Valley Blvd. Suite 178A, San Gabriel; (626) 288-1896
Hai Phong Pho Ga Bac Ninh: 8930 Mission Dr. Ste 102, Rosemead; (626) 288-9999
Haige Star Bouelvard: 172 E. Valley Blvd., San Gabriel; (626) 288-1357
Hao Yu Lai: 9679 Las Tunas Dr., Temple City; (626) 286-9996
Hot Red Bus: 31 E. Main St., Alhambra; (626) 576-2877
Hot Spot: 18246 E. Gale Ave., Rowland Heights; (626) 965-6969
Hui Tou Xiang: 704 W. Las Tunas Dr. Suite 5, San Gabriel
Hunan Mao Restaurant: 8728 Valley Blvd. Suite 101, Rosemead; (626) 280-0855
Imperial City Hot Pot: 227 W. Valley Blvd., San Gabriel; (626) 281-6111
Js House: 9461 Las Tunas Dr., Temple City; (626) 287-5500
K C Y Restaurant: 501 W. Valley Blvd., Alhambra
Kim Kee Noodle House: 9646 E. Garvey Ave., S. El Monte; (626) 448-4448
King of Shrimp Roll: 18438 E. Colima Rd., Rowland Heights, CA
Kung Fu Tea Bar: 2215 S. Atlantic Blvd., Monterey Park; (323) 268-8268
Ladybug Tea House: 1457 E. Valley Blvd., Alhambra; (626) 316-3197
Lao Dong Beef Noodles: 1015 S. Nogales St., Rowland Heights; (626) 964-1188
Little Sheep Mongolian Hot Pot: 140 W. Valley Blvd., San Gabriel; (626) 307-1901
Luscious Dumpling: 919 W. Duarte Road, Monrovia; (626) 821-0518
Macchiato: 141 N. Atlantic Blvd. Suite 110, Monterey Park; (626) 872-1351
Mama's Lu Dumpling House: 501 W. Garvey Ave. Suite 101, Monterey Park
Milk & Honey Café: 534 E. Valley Blvd., San Gabriel; (626) 927-9133
Mita Ramen: 18406 Colima Rd., Rowland Heights; (626) 965-6123
MJ Café & Teahouse: 17521 Colima Rd., Rowland Heights; (626) 965-7778
MJ Café Express: 18455 Colima Rd., Rowland Heights; (626) 581-2034
Monja: 18558 E. Gale Ave., Industry; (626) 264-8849. (new management)
Muse Tea House: 227 W. Valley Blvd. Suite 118B, San Gabriel; (626) 789-0688
My Way Hot Pot: 1261 E. Valley Blvd., Alhambra; (626) 300-6673
Nha Trang: 742 E. Garvey Ave. Unit A, Monterey Park, CA 91755 (626) 288-8825
Oasis Tea House: 1841 S. San Gabriel Blvd. Suite E, San Gabriel; (626) 288-8399
One on One: 400 E. Valley Blvd., San Gabriel
100 Dumpling House: 331 W. Garvey Ave. Suite D, Monterey Park; (626) 371-3309
Opus Sushi: 1027 S. Baldwin Ave., Arcadia; (626) 447-1027
Park Avenue Restaurant: 855 S. Baldwin Ave., Arcadia; (626) 445-3700
Passion Tea Lounge: 1900 S. Del Mar Ave., San Gabriel; (626) 572-7381
Pho Island Express: 741 E. Valley Blvd., San Gabriel; (626) 280-8788
Ramen Fujisan: 529 E.Valley Blvd. Suite 138-B, San Gabriel; (626) 288-1774
Ramen Yukinoya: 1423 S. Baldwin Ave., Arcadia; (626) 821-0901
Remy's Noodle Palace: 18211 E. Gale Ave., Industry; (626) 965-2887
Sea Dragon: 1 W. Main St., Alhambra; (626) 289-7938
Shang Ming: 301 W. Valley Blvd. Suite 110, San Gabriel; (626) 282-5953
Shanghailander Palace: 1695 S. Azusa Ave. Hacienda Heights; (626) 839-7777
Shawn Café: 1220 S. Baldwin Ave., Arcadia
Silk Road Garden: 18920 Gale Ave., Rowland Heights; (626) 999-6165
Souper Shabu: 288 S. San Gabriel Blvd. Suite 102, San Gabriel; (626) 286-8293
Spicy City: 140 W. Valley Blvd. Suite 208, San Gabriel; (626) 280-0186
Spirit House Bar: 123 S. Lincoln Ave., Monterey Park; (626) 872-0353
The Square Dot: 1124 W. Valley Blvd., Alhambra; (626) 457-1888
Sweethome Grill: 402 E. Valley Blvd., San Gabriel; (626) 288-0099
Szechuan Hot Pot & BBQ: 111 N. Atlantic Blvd. Suite 349, Monterey Park; (626) 576-0553
T G Kitchen: 608 E. Valley Blvd. Suite A, San Gabriel
Taipei Bistro: 704 W. Las Tunas Dr. Suite E3, San Gabriel; (626) 293-8128
Tasty Café: 18558 Gale Ave., Industry
Tasty Dining: 301 W. Valley Blvd. Suite 101, San Gabriel; (626) 570-1234
Tea Barrel: 405 W. Main St., Alhambra; (626) 570-1689
Tea Brick: 501 W. Garvey Ave. Suite 105, Monterey Park; (626) 759-3021
Tokyo Love: 2099 S. Atlantic Blvd. Suite J, Monterey Park; (323) 263-5555
Tokyo Ramen: 812 S. Atlantic Blvd., Monterey Park; (626) 281-0188
Venus Café: 972 N. Grand Ave., Covina; (626) 339-4108
Xu Garden: 18500-18536 E. Gale Ave., Industry