This independent city bills itself as “the Gateway to the San Gabriel Valley,” but it’s too modest. It’s quickly becoming a destination for connoisseurs of Chinese food and medicine and for city evacuees looking for cozy homes, tree-lined streets, and some of the last affordable housing in the area. It’s a quick hop from Pasadena, the financial district, and the mountains. It’s also that rarity in SoCal: a walking town.

Landmarks

• Ramona Convent Secondary School • 1701 W Ramona Rd
626-282-4151
Some of the campus buildings have been here since the 19th century.

Nightlife

• Azul • 129 W Main St
626-282-6320
Dance and drink your blues away.

• The Granada • 17 S 1st St
626-227-2572
Offers lessons and three dance floors to practice on.

• Havana House • 133 W Main St
626-576-0547
Dress-code-enforced cigar lounge.

• Jay-Dee Café • 1843 W Main St
626-281-6887
Great dive bar.

Restaurants

• Angelo’s Italian Restaurant • 1540 W Valley Blvd
626-282-0153 • $$
Pizza worth the wait.

• Charlie’s Trio Café • 47 W Main St
626-284-4943 • $$
Good, solid Italian.

• Crane Sushi • 17 W Main St
626-458-0388 • $$
Half-price sushi.

• Crazy Sushi • 201 E Bay State St
866-567-1332 • $$
Rock ‘n’ Roll sushi.

• Diner on Main • 201 W Main St
626-281-3488 • $
Great food. Nostalgic setting. The Real Deal.

• El Ranchero Restaurant • 511 S Garfield Ave
626-300-9320 • $
Mexican flavors in a friendly neighborhood setting.

• Fosselman’s Ice Cream • 1824 W Main St
626-282-6533 • $
Made on the premises since 1926.

• Green Papaya • 1800 W Valley Blvd
626-282-1291 • $
Healthy and innovative Thai.

• The Hat • 1 W Valley Blvd
626-282-0140 • $
Best burgers for miles.

• Indo Kitchen • 5 N 4th St
626-282-1676 • $$
Padang-style cooking.

• Mission 261 • 261 S Mission Dr
626-588-1666 • $
Chinese fare from dim sum to dinner served in mission-style former city hall.

• Noodle World • 700 W Valley Blvd
626-293-8800 • $
Every conceivable kind of noodle.

• Perfectly Sweet • 126 W Main St
626-282-9400 • $
Decadent and deadly desserts.

• Pho 79 • 29 S Garfield Ave
626-289-0239 • $
Go for the noodle soup and dessert drinks.

• Phoenix Dessert • 220 E Valley Blvd
626-299-1918 • $$
Limited menu for fast snacks and desserts.

• Rick’s Drive In & Out • 132 W Main St
626-576-8519 • $
Fast food at its best.

• Sam Woo Barbeque • 514 W Valley Blvd
626-281-0038 • $
Chinese fast food.

• Señor Fish • 115 W Main St
626-299-7550 • $$
Eat Mexican seafood with Caltech students.

• Thai Purple • 27 N Garfield Ave
626-300-9083 • $
Small, unassuming, super-convenient for movie theaters.

• Twohey’s • 1224 N Atlantic Blvd
626-284-7387 • $
Old-style coffee shop.

• Wahib’s Middle East • 910 E Main St
626-281-1006 • $$
Very traditional Middle Eastern cooking.

• Yazmin Malaysian Restaurant • 27 E Main St
626-308-2036 • $$
Go for the curry.

Shopping

• Ross • 201 E Main St
626-281-8453
Popular discount stop for housewares, clothes, and shoes.

• Webster’s Hallmark • 147 W Alhambra Rd
626-577-0162
Huge selection of cards and doodads.