The top eight cities with the most number of Chinese-Americans in the United States are located in the San Gabriel Valley. It's got all the businesses you might expect in an Asian enclave: exotic grocery stores, cheap foot massages and hundreds of restaurants. It can be nearly impossible to choose a place to eat. Luckily, I was recommended Newport Seafood.
The place is always packed with Chinese families of anywhere between four to twelve people sitting around big round tables speaking Mandarin and sharing in fresh garlicky greens, steamed fish and king crab pulled right out of the tank, pots of soup boiling over small burners, eggplant and stir-fry beef.
For the Chinese, spending time with multiple generations is always an occasion for a feast. These big groups easily ring up tabs of $400.00, but they don't think twice about coming back.
My friend and I ordered the lobster, beef loc lac and pea sprouts. We would have had enough had we just gotten the surf or turf, but we wanted the full works. The lobster and beef were both impeccable. The whole lobster was steamed and then lightly breaded in a crisp layer of garlic, salt and pepper. The seasoning added an extra dimension of flavor, but didn't take away from the freshness of the meat.
The beef loc lac was made with filet. The perfectly tender pieces sat in a bed of grilled onions dripping with savory soy marinade. It was the type of meal that's so good you can't stop eating even when you know you've had enough. We finished every last bite on our plates. Last night when I left I swore I would never eat again, but this morning I'm already planning my next trip back.
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