The Top 2 Places to Eat and Drink in Temple City

Behind a strip-mall facade in Temple City, an expansive dining room in red and gold serves royal Manchu cuisine from the Qing dynasty's imperial kitchens. Signature dishes—shrimp fried whole and crisp, black pepper Angus beef—suggest the place favors opulence over restraint, best tackled with a group.

A narrow Taiwanese counter in Temple City that opens at 11:30 and closes hours later, drawing lines of regulars who know the rhythm: scan the wall menu, order quickly, eat faster. The fiery beef noodle soup and sesame dry noodles arrive in minutes, their depth belying the speed of service. You'll be gone in twenty minutes, making room for the next shift of hungry eaters.