Chong Yuen Fong 狀元坊 (CYFKitchen) — Restaurant in Alhambra

Located next to Kang Kang food court in Alhambra, Chong Yuen Fong holds the vision of Jay Leung( don’t know if there is such person existed), a dreamer with roots in the vibrant cities of Guangzhou and Hong Kong. His ambition to bring a piece of Macau to Los Angeles through a boutique restaurant unfolds a tale of aspirations and mixed experiences.

Upon arrival, my anticipation met a reality far from the online hype. The absence of a displayed menu and the need to beckon for service shadowed the initial excitement. It was disheartening to witness a lack of presentation and service enthusiasm in an establishment claiming a unique culinary experience.

Despite these shortcomings, the Macau egg tart managed to salvage some hope. While not reaching the pinnacle of perfection with its non-crispy shell, it presented an adequate flavor profile, albeit falling short of the anticipated excellence.

Amongst the offerings, the creamy cheese tarts stood out, offering a delightful contrast to the disappointment encountered elsewhere. The interior décor evokes a nostalgic, retro charm reminiscent of Hong Kong's heyday, adding an intriguing layer to the dining experience.

For those expecting to witness the buzz and relish in an exceptional culinary adventure, Chong Yuen Fong might leave you yearning for more. While the flavors strive to capture the essence of Macau, the overall experience misses the mark, beckoning for refinement in service...

This place takes me back to Hong Kong based on the decor and menu. For 8 people we ordered 5 different bowls, 1 bok choy dish, 1 soup, and multiple egg tarts. For the claypot, you can choose up to 2 different proteins and add additional toppings like a fried egg.

Minced Pork & Preserved Meat Claypot Mushroom & Chicken Claypot Beef Brisket Claypot Char Siu Rice Bowl

All the rice dishes were solid, with the best proteins being the minced pork and char siu. Highly recommend doing the minced pork + char siu combo in a claypot! The char siu was succulent and tasty!

Given that the main offering are rice dishes, I recommend that this restaurant offers more side dishes or the option to purchase the meat as is. In fact, we ordered another beef brisket bowl but told him to hold the rice. We saw that another lady coming in who wanted just the char siu for takeout but she left because she was told it had to be a rice bowl.

The egg tarts are really good here! The pastry is standard but it’s the filling that really takes it over the top.

The prices are SO cheap compared to every other restaurant these days. We even ordered more to-go. The total for 6 bowls, 8 egg tarts, 1 veggie, 1 soup, and a...

Food was ok but the Portuguese Egg Tart, is worth repeat orders! Thats the menu item that I’m giving that extra star to rate froyo ✨ 💫 Will add this to my rotation of to-go for groups. Secret favorite… I typically pick up Porto’s Chicken Empanadas and Potato Balls with spicy beef but this is a great alternative depending on proximity or commute route 🏎️

Highly recommend you order in advance and do it through their preferred app, chowbus. I tried to call and also walked in but person working as a cook and handles the counter does not speak English.

I didn’t notice the QR codes placed on each table but fortunately had a nice English-speaking patron help me order. To streamline, I asked her to order the best sellers. The restaurant was completely out of cha siu so here’s what I ended up with:

Claypot with sausage and cured meat. Claypot with Chicken, mushrooms, and spare ribs. Two variations of the chicken soup with ginseng and emperors herbs. And of course, a box of Portuguese Egg Tarts.

In terms of atmosphere, they went for a traditional interior design… see...