Kimberly L.
Yelp
[Review #462]
2019 Yelp 100 Challenge (117/100)
Sue's Kitchen has been a Mandarin Szechwan staple in the South Bay for a couple of decades. My surrogate brother introduced this hole-in-the-wall because of my love for 紅燒牛肉麵 (beef stew noodle soup), & I always enjoy this classic noodle no matter the time of the year; it's also great when I'm recovering from a loss of appetite.
The restaurant is located in a small strip plaza just north of Torrance Crossroads. Parking is limited & tight, & goes in 1 direction. The dining room is cramp, providing seating for 14? I rarely eat at the restaurant nowadays because I feel rushed to get done, especially during lunch/dinner rush so I'm unable to enjoy my meal at a leisurely pace.
For its size, the menu is quite vast & our family probably had eaten through 1/2 of it over the years, skipping through some in preference of our favorites, & it's a long list. SAUTÉED A CHOY VEGETABLES (炒A菜) is unique to the Taiwanese; it's aka Taiwan lettuce, AA Chop Xin, stem lettuce, asparagus lettuce, celery lettuce, celtuce, wosun. Its stalks reminds me of cucumbers, leaves like romaine, & remains crisp after a quick sauté. Their HOT BRAISED STEW BEEF NOODLE SOUP (紅燒牛肉麵) has an unctuous soup, spicy yet tender beef, & consistent al dente thin noodles. =D The ever-popular WONTON IN HOT CHILI OIL (紅油炒手) is a fav if me & my husband, but sometimes the filing is a bit skimpy so it tastes mostly of wonton skin. :-| I had my 1st CHINESE BURRITO (牛肉捲餅) in SGV, & Sue's version isn't one to be missed; it's essentially the onion pancake without the onions, & stuffed with seasoned beef. =) My kiddos love the ONION PANCAKE (蔥油餅) & has been burned on occasion for their enthusiasm, they have since learned to wait for it to cool down; their other fav is Pork Fried Rice (肉絲炒飯). It's another really good dish but sometimes it's a bit too oily. I noticed that when it's busy, their executed dishes tends to be oilier than norm.
Takeout is great! Even when they're busy, your order can be ready between 20 - 30 mins.; their mise en place is excellent, allowing for quick turnaround. Once I place my order, I have to immediately leave because it's usually ready upon my arrival. Fast & efficient service, mostly great & definitely affordable, Sue's Kitchen is a hidden gem in the South Bay!
Secret Tip: While it's assumed "cash only" (because there's no cc sign posted), they'll accept your cc for purchases over $20.
Recommended: Hot Braised Stew Beef Noodle Soup (紅燒牛肉麵), Preserved Pork Noodle Soup (榨菜肉絲麵), Minced Pork Noodle (炸醬麵), Pork Fried Rice Cake (炒年糕), Pork or Chicken Fried Rice (肉絲和雞炒飯), Sautéed A Choy Vegetables (炒A菜), Braised String Beans (干扁四季豆), Vermicelli in Hot Meat Sauce (螞蟻上樹). Steamed Sole Fillet of Fish (清蒸龍利), Wonton in Hot Chili Oil (紅油炒手), Chinese Burrito (牛肉捲餅), Onion Pancake (蔥油餅), Hot & Sour Soup (酸辣湯), Shredded Bean Curd with Celery Carrot (涼拌干絲), Shredded Pork Ear with Soy Sauce (滷汁耳絲).