Pearl River Deli

"Laura Hoang, the pastry whiz and chef de cuisine at the Cantonese restaurant Pearl River Deli in L.A., is developing a whole new repertoire of recipes, including a coconut pudding she’s excited about. She leans on her Vietnamese background for culinary inspiration and remains committed to gas station snacks and wonton soup as comfort food."

"We’ve been ride-or-die for the Hainan chicken at Pearl River Deli since day one. But if 2022 proved anything, it’s that this new-wave Cantonese spot in Chinatown is more than a one-trick pony. With equal passion, we love their sweet-sticky glazed char siu, the plump wontons, and the fried Macau pork chop bun brushed with a delicious layer of crystallized sugar that would make any dentist wince. Those dishes alone warrant a high rating, but Pearl River Deli keeps things interesting by mixing in unique specials (spicy mungbean jelly salad) and seasonal desserts (kabocha cheesecake) that we track on Instagram like a hypebeast following a sneaker drop. Basically, we’ll find any excuse to grab lunch and/or dinner at Pearl River Deli and think you should do the same. " - brant cox, nikko duren, sylvio martins, garrett snyder

"Pearl River Deli makes the best Hainan chicken in Los Angeles, period. Fragrant, juicy, and served over garlic rice that's been cooked in chicken stock, this dish is on par with the genius of Beethoven or The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement. In addition to the poached chicken, Pearl River Deli’s limited menu includes char siu and glossy gailan—both of which are available Friday to Sunday from 11-3pm (or whenever they sell out). You can pre-order on their website or head straight to the counter inside their dining room, right next to Thank You Coffee and Sesame. Although most people take their poultry to go, there are plenty of wooden tables here for a great, informal lunch. " - Kat Hong, Nikko Duren, Sylvio Martins, Brant Cox

"Pearl River Deli makes the best Hainan chicken in Los Angeles, period. Fragrant, juicy, and served over garlic rice that's been cooked in chicken stock, this dish is on par with the genius of Beethoven or The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement. In addition to the poached chicken, Pearl River Deli’s limited menu includes char siu and glossy gailan—both of which are available Friday to Sunday from 11-3pm (or whenever they sell out). You can pre-order on their website or head straight to the counter inside their dining room, right next to Thank You Coffee and Sesame in Chinatown. Although most people take their poultry to go, there are plenty of wooden tables here for a great, informal lunch. photo credit: Jakob Layman" - Nikko Duren

"Following a monthlong reset, Chinatown’s Pearl River Deli from chef Johnny Lee is back with a new menu and outlook. The new lunch menu focuses on noodles and may incorporate 'some old mainstays from the previous menu' over time, according to an Instagram post. Lee hopes to add dinner service in the future along with beer and wine options." - Cathy Chaplin