This month, we visited two great locations to satisfy the pallette. First, should you choose to venture to downtown Sacramento, work there and need another place to take the staff or you just really enjoy authentic Chinese food, your next stop may be May Flower on L Street, just east of Alhambra.
It is some of the most affordable food in town, Chinese or otherwise. Larger than most diner/dives and welcoming with staff that quickly deliver a hot bowl of soup to your table, its about going beyond the numbers to what the manager Charlie recommends.
Charlie has been there for 17 years, and while he would not let us take his picture, he is as much an institution as the landmark restaurant itself. The usual clientel is made up of a mix of State and County workers, police officers and the local lunch bunch. The motif is very traditional and they boast a menu that includes clay pots, Hong Kong style noodles and some of the best chinese broccolli with oyster sauce our table had ever had. With good Asian cuisine it’s possible to get away with pretty mediocre fried rice; but for goodness sake, don’t mess with the veggies. May Flower does them right with what appears to be a good stirfry so they are blanched just right and tender crisp. It’s rare that a side dish makes its way to the center of a food review, but this is worthy of praise. My friend appreciated the hot and sour soup -- I myself am partial to a heartier war-wonton. May Flower’s is packed with shrimp and pork and comes in a massive bowl fit for a king. Charlie tells us that during the winter, they sell about 60 bowls (more like baths) of war-wonton a day!
If you order the Hong Kong noodles or any other “pasta” dish, make sure you realize that this is a place with “GI-NORMOUS” servings. Anything is going to fill you up. Make sure to ask for no MSG, especially if you have food allergies or sensitivities - they are happy to oblige. Go with the dishes that are your favorites and be prepared for a taste adventure!
On Mondays they have $2.99 Lunch and $3.99 Dinner deals.
Secondly, there’s a brand new business that is showing signs that entrepreneurs are getting creative in the current economy. Check out the latest spot for hungry Antelopians: Yogurt Time in the Bel Air shopping center.
The staff let me know that the owner, Doug Yund, who works in the construction industry, decided that while work was pretty slow he would try a new venture -- frozen yogurt!
The inside is pretty simple. There are some tables and stools and the now-familiar-machinery found in chain stores that pumps out a myriad of flavors ranging from vanilla to peanut butter. I went for the pistachio and was pleased as a peach. Flavors change by the week so get ready for pomegranate, dark chocolate and cake batter!
They weigh everything per ounce (39 cents per) and have a number of fresh toppings like mango, blue and blackberries, as well as the less-healthy-but-oh-so-tasty options like various cereals, chocolate and candy bits. Add cheesecake nibbles, cookie crumbles and mochi (the most delightful, delectable deliciousness ever) and it’s a full bar! They have something on the national chains like Pinkberry and Big Spoon: PIE. There are other baked goods, including mini cinnamon rolls, that you can add to your yogurt for an additional charge. I guess that is how they justify that it’s not just yogurt, but an actual cafe :)
Any way you slice it, having a yogurt spot in this neighborhood is something that has been needed and desired. It’s a local hang out for the high school crowd, but it’s fun for anyone who has a sweet tooth - especially after the unfortunate closure of the Coldstone next door to Wingstop and Little Ceasar’s. (More on the business that filled that spot next month)
Yogurt Time Cafe has only been open for a number of weeks, so go in and catch some of the fresh, local flavor while supporting the neighborhood. You can also check them out on Facebook at www.facebook.com/YogurtTimeCafe. Online deals are available!