Lunar New Year is a Chinese festival that celebrates the beginning of a new year on the traditional Chinese calendar. It is a major holiday in China and Taiwan and is also celebrated worldwide in regions and countries with a significant Chinese population. I invited my friend Dean to try a relatively unknown South Bay restaurant, A-1 Chinese BBQ.
The reason A-1 Chinese BBQ is largely unknown is because the restaurant looks like a one-hour photo shop situated on the edge of a parking lot in Lomita. Further, the exterior lacks windows and the only indication that they are in business is a small neon “OPEN” sign. It is easy to miss because other nearby businesses have better signage.
This year, 2020, is the Year of the Rat. People born under this Chinese sign are optimistic, energetic, and likable by all. On the financial side, they like saving and can be stingy. However, their love for hoarding will sometimes cause them to waste money on unnecessary things. Famous people born under this sign include Prince Harry, Katy Perry, and Jimmy Carter.
The interior of A-1 Chinese BBQ is similar to many inexpensive Chinese restaurants with minimalist decor. While we waited for our food, the staff was busy unboxing and storing the ingredients needed for today. Less than 30 minutes after opening, the restaurant was already full and the place was buzzing.
We began with egg rolls with sweet accompanied by sour sauce. Egg rolls are eaten during the Lunar New Year as a symbol of wealth and prosperity. The next dish, which greatly pleased Dean, was the eggplant with garlic sauce. He enjoyed the delicious sauce and wished that the dish contained more garlic.
One of their most popular dishes is Fried Tofu with spicy sauce. The tofu was sliced in square pieces and served with a red chile sauce that looked deadly. The tofu was fried long enough to crisp the exterior and was quite tasty. The sauce was not as spicy as I expected.
Noodles represent happiness and longevity and our order of Dan Dan Noodles was an attempt to increase our fortune. Egg noodles were tossed in a sauce made with soy sauce, ginger, garlic, vinegar, and other items. The noodles were topped with fresh bean sprouts and chopped peanuts. While the dish was tasty, I was a bit disappointed that it did not include ground pork.
A-1 Chinese BBQ delivers solid Chinese food and reduces the need to drive to the San Gabriel Valley for good Chinese food. While the ambiance isn’t there, the food and the lack of the drive more than makes up for it!
A-1 Chinese BBQ, 2014 Pacific Coast Hwy, Lomita, CA 90717; 310.325.6709