Foodshutterbug’s 2nd annual 626 Summer Run
Did 4 bangs the same day in July 2023 - one less than last year.
Will provide more food deets in individual threads later.
Started on a Saturday in July 2023 at 11:30am
Stop #1
Pre lunch appetizers at
Tasty Box HK Bistro, Diamond Bar. I only had dimsum, but hoping to go back for char siu rice plates during late fall or early winter.
Verdict: 
4/5
Stop #2
Eat Joy Food - Taiwanese in Rowland Heights
Lunch with SGV friends I hadn’t seen since May 2022.
Verdict: 5/5
Can’t wait to go back for more.
Still thinking about the taste of the pickled Cordia seeds accompanying the steamed black cod 
Stop #3
Sheng Hui Dim Sim in West Covina
Items ordered to go:
-Steamed char siu bao
-Tofu skin roll (not pictured)
-BBQ pork crisp
-Steamed egg yolk bun
Verdict: 3/5
Honestly, I prefer Hong Kong Dim Sum House in San Gabriel, another mom-and-pop shop for to-go, but if I’m in the area, I’ll go for the BBQ pork crisp (pastry) - meat is not of premium quality, but it’s all about the crumbly cookie crust encasing the diced charsiu pork. The woman working Sheng Hui’s register strongly and proudly recommended this and I’m sure glad she did!
I feel about this the way I felt about pop rocks as a kid - I know I shouldn’t, but it’s a fun junky snack to have once in a while 
Stop #4
Thuan Fat El Monte Superstore
After being unsuccessful in trying to find Koon Chun thin soy sauce at 99 Ranch markets in SGV, Gardena and Van Nuys for the last 2 years, I finally scored a bottle here.
I was so excited and happy about this! It might not be the best soy sauce, but while living in San Francisco for over 3 decades, the Chinatown Hong Kong Cantonese shopkeepers always promoted Koon Chun products as the best.
Finished 626 run around 4:30p and then headed back to WLA/SaMo.
PS: Stop #5 was supposed to be Big Softee in MP, but was saddened 
to learn they permanently closed. Loved the black sesame and ginger soft serve twist ice creams I had there last in Summer 2022.