Welcome to Bao Kee Cafe寶記
At Bao Kee Cafe寶記, nestled in South El Monte, diners are welcomed into a cozy ambiance where authentic Cantonese dishes come to life. Renowned for its nourishing Health Soups and homestyle classics, the cafe specializes in Toisan cuisine, delivering flavors that resonate deeply with tradition. Signature offerings like the Shredded Red Ginseng with Silkie Chicken Soup and Steamed Pork Patty stand out for their quality and tenderness. Customers rave about the attention to detail, from the fragrant rice cooked to perfection to the excellent service provided by the friendly staff. Bao Kee Cafe寶記 is a delightful culinary retreat, inviting guests to savor the essence of Hong Kong-style dining.
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9510 Garvey Ave, South El Monte, CA 91733 Hotline: (626) 474-6686
Welcome to Bao Kee Cafe寶記, an enchanting gem nestled in South El Monte, CA. This delightful Hong Kong-style café specializes in authentic Cantonese fare, promising a culinary journey that resonates with the rich flavors of Toisan cuisine. Located at 9510 Garvey Ave, it offers a cozy atmosphere and excellent service that keeps patrons coming back for more.
Bao Kee Cafe is well-known for its homemade noodle dishes and nourishing health soups. Customers rave about the Beef Tendon Noodle Soup Spicy and the Three Shredded Stir-fried Noodles, both priced at $15.99. The noodles are perfectly cooked, with a delightful chewiness that complements the well-seasoned broth. Other popular choices include the heartwarming Ginseng Goji Chicken Soup and the robust Stewed Turtle Soup, each priced from $14.99 to $16.99. These soups not only warm the soul, but they also speak to the café's commitment to health and authenticity, made with carefully sourced ingredients.
- Appetizers like the Gillette Pork Chop for $10.99 and Pork Dumplings available steamed or fried for $8.99 set the stage for a satisfying meal. Each dish bursts with flavor and showcases the chef’s expertise in balancing spices and textures.
- The Steamed Pork Patty has garnered a fanbase, especially with its customizable toppings of salted fish or duck egg yolk, a true Toisan delicacy worth trying for an authentic experience.
Visitors to Bao Kee often highlight the café’s cozy ambiance paired with friendly service, creating an inviting space reminiscent of traditional Hong Kong eateries. Regular patrons, such as Cindy T. and George C., express their joy in discovering unique dishes that are hard to find in the San Gabriel Valley. It's these personal touches and flavors that make every visit feel special.
Of course, like any eatery, reviews can be mixed; some diners have pointed out seasoning inconsistencies, with certain dishes leaning towards the saltier side. Yet, the overall feedback emphasizes the café’s thoughtful preparation and the authentic flavors that truly shine through.
In conclusion, Bao Kee Cafe寶記 stands out not only for its dedication to Cantonese cuisine but also for the warmth of its service and the heartiness of its dishes. Whether you’re indulging in nourishing soups or delighting in their signature dumplings, every meal is crafted with care and authenticity. So, if you find yourself in the South El Monte area, don't miss the opportunity to explore this culinary treasure.
Phone: (626) 474-6686 - Reserve your table and prepare for an unforgettable dining experience!
So much good food that I have a hard time finding at other Chinese restaurants even in the SGV area! The wait staff was friendly and the food was delicious. Overall a super cute spot and I will be coming by whenever I'm in the area! :)
The best steamed pork patty I can find in SGV right now, perfectly bouncy, with your choice of salted fish, salted duck egg yolk, or dried squid toppings for it. This is a Toisan cuisine specialty store and it shows in their signature steamed pork patty. You can get it in a large portion family style on right on top of rice in a smaller serving as an individual meal. The rice here is fragrant and individual grains are plump and do not stick together, excellent control of water and cooking time by the chefs on the rice. They also make an extra effort in the selection of the rice brand, and steam cook them in individual foil pans for optimal flavor and texture, they're serious about their rice and they deserve credit for that attention to detail. I also enjoyed their white pepper and pork stomach soup, the internal organ is well cleaned and washed to reduce musk, and further balanced in cooking with the whole white peppercorns. I would recommend getting the preserved meats or pork patty on rice on your first visit here to get a feel for their signature before exploring the rest of their menu.
1st time I came here, I LOVED this place. The 2nd time...everything was so salty...whhhyyyyy??? I'm also kind of sad that the clay pots didn't come with rice. -Fried Hainan Chicken: DO NOT FALL FOR IT!!! It's not Hainan Chicken that's fried. It's just a fried chicken thigh with regular steamed rice and a chili dipping sauce. -Beef Noodle Soup: Delicious! I was worried the gristly pieces would be too hard/chewy for my mom but they were cooked perfectly. It wasn't too soft and it still had structure. I don't think I've ever had it so perfectly cooked. -Japanese Tofu Clay Pot: So.Salty. Skip! -Braised Beef Clay Pot: So.Salty. But the beef was just as delicious as the noodle soup. As I was eating this I realized that the noodle soup is probably just as salty but because of the noodles, it helped with the saltiness. -Zhong: A bit on the salty side but tasty. My mom says they're much bigger than other places and at $6, a great deal!
Local favorite serving homestyle Cantonese dishes, some noteworthy is the intestine soup (pictured) and clay pot dishes. Service was mandarin / Cantonese speaking but I would guess they speak some English or just point at the pictures on the menu. Just 6 tables or so with some limited outdoor seating. Try to get there earlier or later than the lunch hour rush, we get there usually at 11:30am there are always tables available.
Pretty cute cafe and friendly staff. Food tastes authentic. I felt the sauce with the duck plate was too salty.
I wished Bao Kee was a bit closer to home. I thought their foods were amazing. Hainan chicken rice was authentic and their ginger scallion oil was bomb. Portions were ginormous. Each dish was enough for two meals. Would def order again!
Great service and cute interior. We ordered wonton noodles soup and spicy intestines noodles soup! Great flavors and generous portions. The noodles cooked just right! We finished with Chinese sticky rice in bamboo leaves (zongzi ) that's was delicious too! I'll come back to order more Zongzi for Dragon Boat Festival! Lol
Food: 4/5 Service: 5/5 Overall: 4/5 I work in El Monte, and am fairly certain that my coworkers and I have been to every asian restaurant in a three mile radius. Of the restaurants we have been to, this is among the best. I had the beef tendon noodles, and it was a good mix of everything. The beef tendon was as soft and fall apart as a lenient parent trying to be the "cool mom". The noodles were springy but not undercooked. The broth was on the saltier side, but still flavorful. Service is good here. The waitresses are available and willing to make adjustments to your dish if needed. All in all, a solid joint in the area.