With a bustling interior and busy tables, Monarch sits in the center of Arcadia on South Baldwin Avenue. Opened on Jan. 14 by the Leon family, inspiration was taken by their first restaurant, Chifa in Eagle Rock. Chifa was a largely Peruvian-Chinese influenced restaurant, contrasting to Monarch’s Hong Kong influence. Chifa and Monarch share the same concepts of Asian hints in  Western cuisine, such as Chifa’s Chinese Fries with Chinese scallions and serrano chili. They also share a few of the same dishes, like the chef’s signature Taiwanese beef noodle soup.

The Leon family arrived in Rosemead, California, after immigrating from Peru. Wendy Leon, originally from the Tongshan County of China, was sent to work as a cook and maid at the young age of 8. Leon now translates her knowledge of Chinese cuisine and elevates it with the help of the Monarch chef

The unique interior of Monarch was designed by Humberto Leon with architect Michael Loverish. The curved blue tables with accents of gold and orange can seat up to 125 people. They followed traditional Chinese banquet halls, with the belief that butterflies can fly between worlds. The light fixtures are reminiscent of traditional Chinese restaurants, while the wallpaper and mosaic are generally only seen in Western restaurants.

Monarch is marketed as a Hong Kong restaurant, but with new takes on each dish that vary from topping dishes with salmon roe, to incorporating beets in a fried turnip cake. For example, the traditional baked pork chop rice is reinvented with additions such as gruyere cheese and tomato sauce. Despite the restaurant’s roots in Chinese culture, the serving sizes reflect those in high-end restaurants: small portions. This allows for diners to try a wider variety of food and not be overwhelmed by the large dishes that typical Asian restaurants offer. 

Many restaurant-goers have relayed their experiences to social media platforms such as TikTok. Monarch is also popular with the students of Arcadia High School. 

Sophomore Meeko Ko describes Monarch as a “very inviting environment. [His] family and [he] ate there a few weeks ago and [they] had a great time. The food was delicious but also really unique. The service was great and [he] looks forward to dining there again.”

Monarch has captured the attention of many. With a unique backstory, while honoring traditional Chinese culture, but also infusing it with western accents, their seats are constantly filled. Their special twists account for much of their success, and we can only hope that these accomplishments continue to grow.

Photo by Harini Devaguptapu