I don’t know why I rarely visit the San Gabriel Valley. When there’s no traffic, it takes less time than driving to Venice Beach, and it’s filled with all kinds of fun things to do – like super cheap foot massages!
There are a ton of businesses competing with one another, which is why you can get 1 hour for only $18. I ended up at Kortry Foot Reflexology – a good choice because not only do they have female masseuses (the Chinese dudes remind me too much of my father) but also these comfy purple massage chairs that fully recline:
It’s really more of a full-body rub – they do EVERYTHING – even your ears! I asked for my face to remain untouched, since I’m paranoid about zits.
Not the best massage in the world (akin to what you would get at a nail spa or at a street fair) but definitely not the worst. And for less than $20 for 60 minutes, who cares?!?
While I was getting high at the foot spa, a realization quickly brought me down.
That would be my wallet, sitting on my fireplace mantel, at home.
Luckily, my lunch meeting with Koji was less than 10 minutes away and he came to my rescue, credit card in hand.
Then he filled my tummy.
Newport Seafood has a few locations – this one is housed in an old Marie Callender’s, as you can tell from the exterior framework. The inside is renovated, modern, and spacious:
Apparently, things can get really crazy here at night and on weekends. Since we arrived for a Friday lunch, there were zero parking issues, and no waiting. Plus, prices are slashed.
Along with the cheaper dishes, the specials come with free soup – mediocre, but since I was famished I downed the whole bowl.
Although Newport Seafood is known for their lobster, Koji and I weren’t about to lay down $50-80 for just the two of us. Well, Koji wasn’t. I had no wallet, remember?
Luckily I had consulted Pulitzer Prize Winning Food Writer Jonathan Gold for his advice via twitter
When the Guru speaks, you listen.
I don’t think the shaking beef was on the lunch special menu; Koji ordered the Mongolian version
Sauteed Pea Sprouts
Free rice. I can’t stand when restaurants charge you for it!
Demolished two plates that looked like this
Doubles too on gravy-soaked rice
The Guru was right – his dish was my favorite – crunchy and perfectly seasoned, flavors blossoming with a squeeze of lime. I’ve never eaten shrimp whole – heads and all – but seeing that it was entirely deep fried, I figured the best parts shouldn’t be removed.
You can’t find food like this in Los Angeles. Don’t even try!!! (FYI – I’ve asked the Guru before.)
We ended the meal with a few complimentary orange slices. This is actually a Vietnamese Chinese place, but I found it to be such a straight-up Chinese touch.
Sadly, I couldn’t stop by the Great Mall of China to pick up Asian groceries or something to-go for Abe. But that’s okay, it gives me an excuse to come back to the SGV sooner, rather than later.
With my wallet, of course!
{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
The SGV rules! It’s an Asian food mecca…
Yes, the SGV has many varieties of Asian food. Check out the Cantonese-Western cafes for cheap eats that include drink and dessert. One place is called Ledo Cafe.
Ooh love me a foot massage!
I’m from SG but I’m currently living in SD for school. Thanks for this blog post, I love their food! You should spend a whole day in SG and do a post about all the different stuff you eat, I think it would be awesome! Also, if you need a partner in such an adventure, I would love to join you
Don’t get me wrong, the food looks great, but $18 for a 60 minute massage?! Dang!
After being at the mall all day – an hour long foot massage sounds like heaven.
The shrimp looked delicious!
Yikes, I would have had a heart attack if I left my wallet. I’m glad you had a good friend coming your way anyway! Tony just told me yesterday he’s craving Mongolian Beef. You just reminded me!
$18 for 1 hour? I think I need to venture to the SGV a little more often…
Totally random and unrelated to today’s post: was watching Law & Order: SVU, my go-to relaxation tv and caught the episode you were in. I paused it (yay for Netflix) and made someone look it up to make sure it was you. Awesome.
How funny! I remember they served warm chocolate chips that day on set but I couldn’t eat any b/c my mouth was stuffed with cotton for the “swelling”
A foot massage sounds amazing right now! This new walking city thing is killing them.
I feel special because I kind of knew all of this since I follow you on twitter. I could never do food massages. I cant even do pedicures because I’m so tickelish! they just stare at me as I cry from laughter thinking I must be a special needs kid or something.
Thank goodness you were rescued out of the no wallet situation. Coulda been a little embarrassing. Although I tend to do stuff like that all the time. I always grab the wrong purse WITHOUT the wallet inside. Doh!
Did somebody say seafood? Salt and pepper shrimp is definitely one of my faves to order when out at a Chinese restaurant. I’ve yet to try making my own.
Thought of you when I saw those shrimp. You and I would be fighting for every last bite!
Yay for the SGV!! I’ve never seen Newport Seafood…probably because it looks like a Marie Calendar’s.
Yep, growing up I loved my rice topped with gravy or the soy sauce from the steamed fish dishes.
That is an awesome deal for a massage! That dinner looks awesome, i haven’t had good Chinese food in too long!
I’m a big fan of Newport Seafood, especially their lobster (which you have to try). The lunch specials are such a good deal, a lot of the dishes are great.
Next time you should try the clams with basil and kung pao chicken. I’m a Chinese food snob and would usually never order the Kung Pao dishes, but trust me on this one. It’s fantastic!