Baccali Cafe & Rotisserie — Restaurant in Alhambra

If I could do half stars this place would be a solid 3.5. The food is ok, nothing I ever eat here makes me say “Wow! That’s the best _ I ever had!” So starting there, this place gives you an AWESOME bang for your buck. I posted photos from 2 separate trips - one set from dinner and another set from the breakfast menu.

Dinner: We ordered 2 fried rice plates that no one could finish. Fried filet of sole that came with a big slab of fish and a side of mushroom gravy, filet mignon and chicken combo plate, filet mignon and shrimp pasta, lamb chops and beef plate and finally a spam and egg over instant noodle for the comfort food diner! The plates are definitely loaded with food. A few of us could have just shared each plate without packing all the leftovers afterwards. The meat is nicely cooked but it doesn’t taste like much other flavoring except salt and pepper. So as I mentioned, nothing special. Their rotisserie chicken is also nicely roasted and wasn’t dried out but you really do need side gravy to help the plates by adding a little flavor to everything.

Breakfast - Breakfast is served until 11am so if you want to try their breakfast menu, be seated by 10:45am to avoid “missing” the golden time to order! That said, this place is packed for breakfast but don’t fear, they move people in and out quickly to turn over tables. Six of us arrived at 10:30am and were seated within 10 mins so be patient and don’t worry, they will seat you. The breakfast menu has a number of options available. We ordered grilled pork chops (comes with toast, eggs and coffee), porridge (comes with your option of a noodle), steak and eggs, instant noodle with spam and eggs as well as a fried chicken sandwich. My friends like this place because it’s such a good deal for breakfast but food is ok.

Service - overall service is quick and efficient. The waiters are multi-dialect in Chinese and speak English as well. They will keep your never ending lemon ice tea filled as well as your milk tea. Once you clear a plate they’ll grab it to keep things moving. They also offer outdoor, tented seating but when it’s hot and sunny outside that can be a bit rough so we normally opt for...

Oh Baccali, how awesome you are! With more and more restaurants starting to resume services at 100% capacity, you are given an opportunity to finally sit inside the restaurant or outdoors in their makeshift EZ-Up tents. I came with a friend for dinner and the service was great, probably because there wasn't that many guests inside the restaurant; not complaining though!

As you enter the restaurant, they workers do not take your temperature or take your name down anymore. I think at this point, most people who go out to eat have been vaccinated and they no longer want to waste time to contact trace. Whether you like it or not, the workers are still masked up and most of them have gloves on just as a safety precaution for them.

My friend and I both ordered grilled chicken steak with their black pepper sauce with a side of veggies and pasta. As other reviewers have mentioned, you're able to substitute pasta for rice or fries. It's always been my go to HK Style dish at any HK Cafe's in the SGV. Weirdly enough, I don't ever order that dish when I visit relatives back in Hong Kong. Not long after we ordered, the food came out steaming hot, literally steaming, so you know it wasn't sitting on the counter waiting for a server to take it to us. The chicken was cooked perfectly, especially how they made the skin extra crispy. Don't get your hopes up during their peak hours because it'll most likely be crowded and the server busy running around. However, please be courteous to the servers because they've had it hard this past year and they're doing their best to catch up and do their jobs.

If you're ever in the area, definitely check out Baccali's because you won't be disappointed with the variety of choices...

Returning to Baccali Cafe & Rotisserie after my last visit during the pandemic, I was delighted to find that the quality and variety of the menu have only gotten better. In the competitive realm of Chinese Cafes, particularly for breakfast, Baccali stands out as a gem.

On a typical weekday morning, one might expect a quiet atmosphere, but Baccali defies the norm with a bustling crowd of patrons eagerly starting their day. The secret to their success? A unique breakfast menu that elevates the traditional Cha Chan Teng experience with innovative offerings. Instead of the usual congee and pineapple buns, Baccali serves up sizzling fried noodles and an array of Western breakfast items. It’s a refreshing twist that sets them apart from other HK-style cafes.

Their beef chow fen and Singaporean-style fried vermicelli, typically reserved for lunch, are available early in the day, much to the delight of breakfast adventurers like myself.

The beverage selection is equally impressive, featuring authentic HK milk tea and refreshing ice lemon tea—perfect complements to the hearty meals. Service is attentive and swift, with our corner table receiving the same prompt attention as those in the center of the action.

The highlight of our breakfast was undoubtedly the fried rice noodle with ham and fried vermicelli with congee. Each dish was a flavor explosion, brimming with the coveted ‘wok hei’ that is the hallmark of expertly crafted Chinese cuisine.

Now I understand why Baccali is the go-to spot even on weekdays. Word to the wise: weekends see a longer wait, so an early arrival is recommended. If you’re seeking a breakfast experience that’s both unique and satisfying, Baccali Cafe & Rotisserie is the...