Cui Hua Lou
Explore Cui Hua Lou
Cui Hua Lou, located at 920 E Garvey Ave in Monterey Park, is a charming, unassuming gem that offers an authentic taste of Chinese street food. This small but beloved spot has earned a loyal following for its hearty, flavorful lamb dishes, which are particularly popular among those craving a taste of mainland Chinese cuisine. Known for its lamb scorpion stew, the restaurant serves up tender lamb spine cooked with tofu and vegetables-its name stemming from the spine's scorpion-like shape. The dish, beloved by many, is a perfect example of traditional Chinese comfort food, especially ideal during colder months when lamb is known to provide warmth.
Aside from the lamb stew, Cui Hua Lou also offers an array of other lamb-based dishes, including a tender lamb meat pot that’s packed with flavor, though some find it a bit salty. For those looking for a true street food experience, the lamb skewers are a must-try; they’re meaty and satisfying, far from the typical street fair versions. Diners can enjoy these skewers with an assortment of other offerings such as lamb brain in sauce, pork intestines, and chicken tendons, making it a truly adventurous dining experience for those eager to try something new.
The cozy, hole-in-the-wall atmosphere of the restaurant adds to its charm. Many find the setting reminiscent of tiny, mom-and-pop eateries from the backstreets of China, with patrons and staff contributing to an inviting, casual vibe. However, given its popularity, it's best to visit during off-peak hours to avoid long lines. While the beer selection is limited-mainly featuring Budweiser-many diners wish for a greater variety of lagers on tap to complement their meal.
If you're looking for a genuine Chinese street food experience that brings warmth, bold flavors, and a slice of mainland culture, Cui Hua Lou should be on your list. The food, though not overly refined, captures the essence of traditional Chinese flavors and offers a memorable culinary adventure.
Photos Of Cui Hua Lou
Business Info
Opening Times
-
Monday :
11:00 AM - 10:00 PM -
Tuesday :
Closed -
Wednesday :
11:00 AM - 10:00 PM -
Thursday :
11:00 AM - 10:00 PM -
Friday :
11:00 AM - 10:00 PM -
Saturday :
11:00 AM - 10:00 PM -
Sunday :
11:00 AM - 10:00 PM
LOCATION BAKERY SHOP
HOW TO FIND ?
CALL TO BOOK A TABLE & DELIVERY:
+1 626-288-2218
INFORMATION
920 E Garvey Ave, Monterey Park, CA 91755, United States
Sunday : 11:00 AM - 10:00 PM , Today :
Chinese grilled skewers, lamb brain in sauce, pork intestines, chicken tendons and a lot of other very mainland Chinese street food. Definitely a place that goes well with beer. Wish they had more options than just Budweiser. Would be a 5 stars if they had a variety of lagers on tap.
Leng Ooi
It's a small but wonderful hole in the wall. Go on off times or you may have a long line ahead of you. Best lamb soup!! And lamb casserole is out of this world.
Nina
We came here because our friends from China thought this is one of the best places for lamb dishes, in particular the lamb scorpion stew/soup (it is basically a pot of lamb’s spine with tofu and veggies and the reason it is called a scorpion is because the spine itself resembles a scorpion). It was a long drive for us just for a dinner in hole in the wall place. While dinning here, I began to enjoy myself very much as the waitress, the patrons and the basic set up truly reminded me of tiny mom and pop places in the alleys of any city in China. In China, people eat lambs during the winter months as lamb is the best way to keep you warm from inside. So, dining here in a cold night, it was pretty special considering that we were 10,000 miles away from Beijing. So, even it was a hole in the wall, I gave a 5-star on the atmosphere because this place looked its right out of an old Chinese movie. As far as the food goes, we had a scorpion pot and a lamb meat pot, both were pretty good, but on a salty side for me (which was actually quite normal for this type of dishes). The lamb meat pot was more tender with tendons and some fat. The scorpion (spine) has a lot of bones (obviously) and the meat was bit more tougher. Most people seemed to enjoy the scorpion more than the meat itself, but I prefer the meat with no bones. We also had the lamb skewers and they were very good and meaty unlike those one you get from a street fair. Finally, we had ordered “mild” for spiciness and it was pretty tame, though some prior reviewers thought “mild” was extremely spicy. I guess the level of spiciness is really very subjective. If you would like to experience a true authentic Chinese street food, then this is a good place to try.
Big Fish Dive Club
Loved it! Usually I go for spicey dishes, but I was really feeling like the lamb noodle soup, it was super tasty. Staff was fun, enjoyed the experience! Would come again if in LA :)
Жеремей Сенько
I came here for the $1.00 lamb skewers that my friends were bragging about and they did not disappoint. Not only were they only $1.00 per skewer, if you ordered ten skewers, then you got one FOR FREE. WOW. Like their prices weren't already crazy low, they gotta throw a complimentary one in there too? Impressive. The place is tiny, maximum capacity of 13 people, according to the fire department. Restaurant is clean though and not cluttered at all. Service is friendly and excellent. When you walk in, the ladies are there in the corner sliding the raw meat onto the sticks, so you know they're super fresh. I would totally make the drive for those skewers again. They were cooked to perfection- slightly fatty, moist and perfectly seasoned with the right amount of cumin. Loved it!
Kera Periwinkle
Food is SO good here..the first time we came we met the owner who is a sweetheart and made sure we had a good experience. The second time they were soo packed! The other servers are not as friendly, but its what you expect from Asian restaurants haha..food is great..so far I have tried their skewers, lamb casserole hot pot and their hot and sour noodles :)
Lani
