The smell of carne asada and fresh salsa waft through the air on one corner. On another, the sweet smell of moon cakes and milk tea. This duality of culture not only exists among the people of San Gabriel, but also in San Gabriel’s food.
On Valley Boulevard near Gabrielino High School is Sunny Bakery. The bakery sits in a plaza alongside Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen but serves very different flavors. Sunny Bakery has a variety of pastries, such as their house made pound cake and pineapple bread, both of which I purchased on my trip to the bakery.
The pound cake was light and fluffy with a warm brown top. It was sweet, but not too sweet, and a generous size for its price. The pineapple bread had a fruity taste while still being light and airy. Aside from these pastries and breads, the bakery also has cakes featuring unique flavors like taro and durian.
Overall, I found Sunny Bakery’s wide selection exciting and the environment quaint and cozy. This bakery is great for a quick snack or a delicious dessert.
Rosemead Boulevard is home to another restaurant: Clearman’s Galley. Serving classic American food and doubling as a sports bar, Clearman’s Galley has been a staple of San Gabriel for decades. It was established in 1952 and is a casual sit-down restaurant with plenty of indoor seating.
Clearman’s Galley is also referred to as “The Boat” due to its unique outer design. An actual boat is right outside the restaurant facing Rosemead Boulevard, making the restaurant easy to spot, even from across the street.
While there, I ordered a double cheeseburger and onion rings. The burger was delicious; the patties were perfectly done and the toppings enhanced it further. The onion rings were delicate yet crispy, and a perfect appetizer for the table.
Between burgers, wings, and chili, Clearman’s Galley serves quality American food that’s perfect for a casual gathering. All around, Clearnman’s Galley is a great location for a fun dinner with friends and family.
Turning onto Las Tunas, a small hole-in-the-wall known as Chanos can also be found. Chanos serves a wide variety of Mexican cuisine. From tacos and burritos to agua frescas and horchata, Chanos has an expansive menu that delivers authentic food.
While there, I ordered a carne asada burrito. The meat was flavorful and the onions and salsa added a freshness that diversified the flavor. I also ordered an horchata, which was perfectly sweet yet refreshing.
Chanos delivers quality Mexican food and even hosts a small inside and outside dining area. It is perfect for take out or a small get-together and has easily become a staple of San Gabriel and a reflection of its diverse culture and food.
Farther west on Las Tunas was the final place I visited, Katsu Sando. It was opened in San Gabriel in March of 2023. Sando is a type of Japanese sandwich, utilizing fluffy white bread cut into a perfect square or rectangle. Katsu Sando is a lunch stop and mini-mart that sells these sandos with mushrooms, pork, and even fruit.
While there, I purchased a pork katsu sando. The pork was flavorful but juicy, and the fry gave it a crispy texture. Fresh coleslaw was also inside the sandwich and helped add an extra dimension to the texture and flavor. The bread itself was toasted but still fluffy, and the sauce that came with it was spicy yet delicious.
Aside from my main course, I purchased a Japanese soda from the mini-mart. At Katsu Sando, there are a variety of Japanese snacks that customers can enjoy with their sando or take home to enjoy later.
These four restaurants represent the diversity that is San Gabriel. Each of these restaurants are a testament to the city’s history and future, serving delicious food in the process.
