Located in Temple City on 9618 E Las Tunas Drive, and in Alhambra on 27 E Valley Blvd, Kang Kang Food Court is a food court specializing in Chinese fast food that gives customers a wide range of options. It is great for people looking for a hearty, quick, and hot meal. 

Specific Foods & Taste:

Shang Hai Pan Fried Bao:

This dish is Kang Kang Food Court’s signature dish: thick, chewy dough topped with sesame seeds, wrapped around a tender piece of meat and soup ready to burst out the moment you bite into it. Every bite felt like I was literally taking a sip of pork-flavored soup. Furthermore, the black sesame seeds on top not only add color contrast, but also a roasted taste. My recommendation on how to best enjoy them? Dip the bao into the vinegar that the staff provides: it cuts through the thick and chewy dough and gives the juice a slightly acidic flavor. Lastly, a word of warning for anyone planning to order this on their next outing: the soup was very hot, and there was a lot of it. I burned my tongue when trying to eat it multiple times, and as evidenced by my brother somehow squirting soup onto my phone when I was across from him, it can get messy quickly.  A good tip would be to first bite a small hole into the bao, and then drink away all the soup from it. That way, there is no mess, and no soup stains to spend 20 minutes wiping away. (Thanks, Luke.)

Simmered Beef Rolls:

These fresh and warm beef rolls tasted delicious, and were a great appetizer before the other dishes came out. Thinly sliced beef was wrapped in crispy, chewy dough, all while a layer of a sweetish-tasting sauce helped with the leanness of the simmered meat. Not only that,  the cilantro and the bulb of a green onion were a necessary addition to the dish. First of all, it adds color, making the dish look prettier in general (and you know the saying how one eats with their eyes first). Secondly, it cuts through the glutinous dough and lean meat, adding a spicy onion flavor. ( the one when you bite into a raw onion) making it taste like a complex blend of flavors.    

Kang Kang Wonton Noodles:

Wontons, for anyone unfamiliar with them, are a type of dumpling originating in Northern China. They are known for their thin and fragile wrapper, and are usually either fried or boiled. Kang Kang Food Court’s wontons are boiled. The wontons themselves have that classic delicate wrapper, and inside was a filling composed of pork and shrimp, all tender and juicy. The soup itself was warm but not scorching, perfect for a cold day. It tasted like pork with a slight sweetness, and crunchy bits of napa cabbage provided a change of texture from both the soft wontons and noodles. My only complaint would be that after drinking the soup, it left a salty aftertaste, the kind that makes you want to drink a lot of water. Other than that, I highly recommend this soup for anybody looking for a comforting meal to share with others.     

As stated before, Kang Kang Food Court specializes in Chinese fast food. That means quickly prepared, often wok-fried dishes given to customers in familiar Styrofoam boxes. In the restaurant there are large deli cases displaying many foods, ranging from fatty braised pork belly, warm creamy porridge, and even a popular favorite in dim sum: gelatinous and boney chicken feet (that one is definitely an acquired taste, but I think you should try it before you judge it!).  Each one is ready to be eaten with a warm bowl of white rice.

Price/Menu:

The food at Kang Kang Food Court ranged from $10 – $20, making it a good deal for someone looking for a quick bite. Not only is it affordable, but it’s also decent portion sizes with a lot of carbs, so you’ll eat your fill quickly. As for the menu, as is typical for many Chinese restaurants, it is huge. There are signs hung right above the deli cases for meals that take longer to cook, such as soup or beef wraps. Not to mention there’s a separate drink menu that ranges from tea to smoothies.   

Decor:

If you’re not ordering to go, then there’s a large dining area for customers. Cozy yellow paint decorates the walls, while lazily rotating ceiling fans spin above. Meanwhile, there are many wooden tables placed everywhere, all while a humorous sign states a valid warning. The warning being: “Warning, all soups and foods are extremely hot. Please blow.” 

Conclusion: Perfect if looking for something fast and comforting.

I’ll be honest, Kang Kang Food Court wasn’t the first restaurant I thought I would be writing about. (I was actually going to be writing about a sushi place, but oh well!). But it was definitely worth checking out. Its food is not only affordable and delicious, but it’s also comforting. After a long day of homework, nothing beats having a quick meal that fills the stomach with meat and carbs. The best part? They do DoorDash if you’re feeling extra lazy. So visit and experience what Chinese fast food is all about.