Alhambra

Yang’s Kitchen is known for its brunch; prepare to wait at least fifteen minutes for a table on weekend mornings. But it’s well worth it for just about anything on their menu. Their breakfast plate may sound simple, but the hash browns are the best we’ve ever had. We also love their gluten-free cornmeal mochi pancake, which is worth sharing if you want to bump your meal into more decadent territory.

When GP posted her New Year’s picnic on Instagram, we were intrigued. Turns out, the to-go spread was from Lunasia, an Alhambra-based restaurant known for its traditional Chinese cuisine and crazy-delicious dim sum (Cantonese small bites traditionally served with jasmine, oolong, or green tea). They do all the classics, from shrimp har-gow and pork siu-mai to sticky rice and pan-fried turnip cakes. But the best thing on the menu might be the baked char siu bao: a crispy, crackly bun stuffed with sweet BBQ pork. Order online or through their app, swing by for curbside pickup, then hit up the nearest park, blanket in tow, and enjoy.

You can find respectable banh mi joints locally, but hardcore foodies will tell you this hole-in-the-wall deep in the San Gabriel Valley is the real deal. For about $6 you can get a warm baguette packed tight with anything from chicken to grilled beef to BBQ pork, all the fixings, and the option to add an egg on top. (Tip: Always add the egg on top.) They also make excellent Vietnamese iced coffee.