Papa Lu’s Kitchen 陆家村

Disappointing experience. I don't understand why some of the Xiaohongshu reviews are raving about this place. The dishes on the menu are wayyy overpriced for their taste and portion sizes

The rice (39$, extremely overpriced for what it serves) is too salty and SOOO greasy, you pretty much only taste the soy sauce

The chicken dish is under-seasoned and lack any real flavor. Ick

The waitress was quite pushy with her recommendations. I initially intended to order just one dish since I was dining alone, but she kept suggesting additional items, likely to increase the total bill and, consequently, the tips. She returned four times to recommend more dishes, and I eventually gave in. I regret doing so, as the second dish I ordered didn’t improve my experience—it only made it worse.

There were only two occupied tables other than my table on a Friday evening, and that just further proves how bad this restaurant is. I won't ever be returning to this place

Atmosphere: 2

Food: 2

Service: 2

I had the opportunity to dine at Papa Lu’s Kitchen in Baldwin Park, a restaurant specializing in Taishan cuisine from South China, near Guangzhou—a region my ancestors are from. Many classic American Chinese dishes have roots in this area, as the first wave of Chinese immigrants, including my ancestors, came from Taishan to build the railroads in the U.S. The food at Papa Lu’s stands out from the usual Cantonese fare.

Their Taishan Yellow Eel Claypot Rice was a highlight for me—richly fragrant with perfectly cooked rice, tender eel, and a unique flavor that you won’t find elsewhere. Another standout dish was their braised goose, which took me right back to my childhood, when my grandma would prepare similar meals. The goose, slow-braised for hours, was full of deep, savory flavors.

Papa Lu’s also offers a variety of Taishan specialties like Roasted Chicken, Pork Tripe with Chicken Soup, sticky rice stuffed intestine, and Vegetable Fruit Claypot Rice. This family-owned spot not only serves delicious food but also delivers great service with a friendly, welcoming atmosphere. If you’re looking to explore beyond typical Cantonese cuisine, I highly recommend trying Papa Lu’s for a taste of Taishan’s unique flavors.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 4

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Clay Pot Rice, Char Siu, House Special Noodles

The price was little higher, but the portion of food was good and delicious .

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 4

Service: 4

If you want to eat authentic Taishan cuisine, you must try this restaurant! Claypot rice is so delicious~

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Food portion is very small! I order the lamb stew, just skin and bone, no meat for 30$?? So expensive!

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 1

Service: 1

Vegetarian options: There's some good vegetarian dishes, and we were able to order the bitter melon dish without meat.

Parking: Busy plaza, so parking availability somewhat varies.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 4

Vegetarian options: There's some good vegetarian dishes, and we were able to order the bitter melon dish without meat.

Parking: Busy plaza, so parking availability somewhat varies.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 4

All dishes are the taste of hometown, and the five-flavor goose is highly recommended.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

After a day of running around, it is a blessing to have a nest of pork belly and chicken soup to drink. The price seems a bit high

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 3

Service: 4

Very delicious restaurant! Three people ordered three dishes, and the portions were generous, with some leftover. The eel claypot rice is very fragrant and the eel has a crispy and smooth texture. The barbecued pork is fat but not greasy, and has just the right amount of sweetness. The glutinous rice sausage is a little more ordinary, but tastes good. I really want to try roast goose next time

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: BBQ Pork

Really impressive and great food. Will definitely recommend and come back for more dishes to try.

Vegetarian options: There are some vegetarian options.

Dietary restrictions: Not salty which is great.

Parking: Narrow spaces. But still plenty of parking.

Kid-friendliness: Family friendly.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Hot & Sour Soup, Pan Fried Noodles

Very disappointed and

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 2

Service: 1

Not too clean, weird taste, bad

Atmosphere: 2

Food: 3

Service: 2

Price is

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 4

Service: 4

Hearing that there is pork belly chicken, here we come! The taste is really good. It’s just that the portion is really big? Two people ordered a claypot rice with lamb cubes and a soup, and they couldn’t finish it. I think it would be great if these two kinds can be served for two people, so that I can order some other dishes. This feeling is more suitable for several friends to eat together.

Parking: The plaza can park for free. If there is no parking space, you can park on the side of the road nearby and walk over.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 5