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Mon-Sun. 10:30 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
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After going here countless times and having to face occasional closures due to "remodel" or possibly changes due to poor FDA ratings, they finally recieved an A!!!!! So its "safe" to eat here now.
I always get the noodle soup #30 with beef ball, beef and flat chow fun noodles. The beef chow fun (wet) is pretty good. I've had the roast duck here before during cultural celebrations etc. Not sure what else I like at this place, but its quick, close, and fast chinese food that tastes home cooked.
They speak teo-chew, khmer, mandarin, cantonese and of course english.
reminder: They take CASH ONLY!!!!!!
I have been going to Kim Tar since I was a little kid. When LA county first implemented the grading system on restaurant cleanliness, I recall seeing a score in the 60's, which meant they did not even have a letter grade HAHA! However, Kim Tar has cleaned up their score and raised it up to a B.
My personal favorites are the wonton soup, beef steak over rice, and seafood chow fun.
Usually I order the bbq duck over rice. It's good, simply. I've had the bbq pork and crispy pork, good. The noodles has a strong punch of msg or I'm just tripping haha but they are still decent. Sometimes I also get the intestine.
I don't like the hanai? chicken over rice - more particularly I don't like the sauce given.
Depending on the server, it's either you have crappy service or fun, lively service. There's one main man I like there who you wouldn't expect. He's fairly old, past 40 for sure, but he jokes around and what not. I think I ordered chow fun HAHA but I forgot if that's the crispy noodle or the soft flat noodle.
As for the letter grade, truthfully I don't think you should worry as long as no one is smoking, wiping their nose, whatever as they prepare your dish. Some times it could be the wrong temperature in the refrigerator [well it can be a bad thing if that is how it is ALWAYS = bacteria build up] but our body should be strong enough to fight off the little things.
Large portions! What I do sometimes is order the 3 types of meat over rice [like bbq duck. crispy pork, and intestine] and it's SO MUCH! enough for two! Especially for the price! It's a nice little spot to eat at. It's just funny but sucks when you get there late because they will want to close up and leave early and they already put the duck or pork away if there were any left. Sometimes they'll get it for you and microwave it haha. But hey, it's kinda like having a little taste of how it is in another country - where they usually could care less. -don't take it the wrong way haha this place is much cleaner than at another country, whether China, Cambodia, or Thailand but it's not a high class restaurant so they don't need to be perfect, imo [:
I just don't like how they leave the bones in haha but that's just me being lazy.
I've been going here for years, like many others, since this restaurant had a C rating, and its finally an A now! You can't go wrong with anything on the menu' I usually order the beef chowfun or crispy chow mein. The Wonton soup and Roast Duck/Pig are also good choices.
Seeing Chinese People in here is very comforting. I get scared if I dont see a whole lot of people of the restaurant's origin in the restaurant.
In my opinion, a crowded restaurant with a C grade is much better than a damn-near empty one with an A. For a place your not familiar with, follow the crowds.
I was brought here by my sister's boyfriend. Not quite what i was planning that first visit, but the food did impress. Im a fan of roast pork and roast duck. They have it here and its pretty cheap. The sauce that accompanies it is pretty tasty, too. I also like bbq pork. So Im set.
My sister likes the sweet and sour shrimp (or is it called pineapple shrimp?) and she HATES seafood, so that says something. They also have Thai Tea here.
The place itself is in the back of a strip mall off Pioneer, near Diho Market. If it werent for the big yellow sign, I dont think I would personally be able to find it. I like sitting in 1 of the 2 booths in the back, i think its a nicer table. The service is all business. Not all smiles and rapport but definitely not condescending and evilness. Nobody here is gonna wipe your ass and im perfectly ok with that. They get me what I want and bring it in a timely manner, so thats all that matters to me.
Just a word of advice, dont expect the best quality hot meal if you come later, like within 2 hours of closing. Some options run out and you might be disappointed if you had your heart set on something-like i did. Also, late dining might bring you lukewarm or dried out food.
i wouldnt walk through fire to eat here but if you're in the neighborhood and want good chinese, go for it.
I've had a few beers and I'm in a rhymey mood tonight. So you will get rhymes. Enjoy your rhymes!
Ten thirty PM with nothing to do,
Me and O-San are talkin' bout food
I'm marginally hungry and pretty close to upset
Cause my stomach is now wondering if it's time to eat yet
I tell my stomach,
You crazy bastard it is almost eleven o'clock at night
We're just gonna sleep and try to skip the snack, alright?
He replied,
No you fat idiot, go put something in my belly!
And we will not sleep until you get a couple hours with the telly!
I said to O-San,
What on earth can we possibly get to eat?
My stomach has been growling and my will-power smells defeat!
O-San said, and I paraphrase
We can go to Kim Tar for a bowl of tasty duck noodles,
Slurp it up and play some games and maybe we'll say toodles!
I say OK! And then we drive up Pioneer
Only to hurry in cause closing time was near!
I order the noodles and he gets the same thing,
We stare at the prices as we sit there waiting.
Then the bowl arrives, with little to no fanfare
And the soup was fucking lukewarm, my life is just not fair.
The noodles were alright and the broth tasted okay
But this bowl of joy could easily have brightened up my day!
Instead I tasted what happens when you leave food out too long
And why I don't go places late at night instead of catching Z's at home.
EL
Whether it's got a C or a B, I'll still come here. The duck is deeeeeelicious!! But the main items I keep coming back for: house fried rice and house chow mein with fried noodles. The house fried rice is a great meal on its own, loaded with carrots and peas and all kinds of meat... including shrimp! Add the ever so important sriracha and I'm in friend rice heaven. Then the house chow mein with fried noodles. The sauce itself has lots of flavor. I love eating the noodles after they've been semi soaking in the sauce for a minute, the perfect crispy but still a little soggy texture.
Call in ahead of time and take it to go. Your order is ready in less than 10 minutes. Or atleast mine always is :o].
I've been going here for years and they have never let me down. Very cheap prices, great food and alright service. Good tripe and noodle dishes. This is a must try for anyone in the cerritos/artesia area!
I had 2 dishes when I swooped in here for lunch. Results:
BBQ pork - hard and dry.
Beef w/ Black bean chow fun - average, slightly oily, and surprised by the addition of egg.
I dont care what other reviews say or what health grade they have, their food kicks ass. We visit this place once in a while and we never went out not satisfied. Their shrimp fried rice is to die for, their duck is too.
Their service, like any other Chinese restaurant that I've been in, is sub-par. I think it comes with the culture, or maybe its just in their language but they seem to be rude every single time. That doesn't spoil my appetite though.
Cheap food yet amazing. I dont mind their low health grade --- people are being too delicate these days.
Ah, Kim Tar. Look at the photos of this place. It goes without saying that this is one of those places in Los Angeles County that has a fluctuating grade from the Department of Health. Sometimes it's a B, sometimes it's a C. Once, it actually closed down because it got a D.
But it's back and never been better. (I've yet to see an A grade, but hey, C's get degrees, so shouldn't that also apply to the restaurant where you're eating?)
The first thing you'll notice is the hanging BBQ ducks on display at the window, which is pretty good actually. They also have BBQ'ed pork hanging nearby as well. I personally like coming here for soups and noodles dishes though any of them is good.
I suppose Kim Tar would classify as a "hole in the wall", but it's actually quite popular with locals and the Asian community in the area. It's retained the same kind of retro Asian restaurant charm since the 1980s (which would be a lack of ambiance, but great food). Most people place orders and just pick it up. Dining there may not be worth it if you're local. Leave the place to the people who drove from far to get here.
I just hope they can pass the next round of inspections. Best duck in the Artesia/Cerritos region, by far.
My Mom and I ended up here late one Friday night because we had an event that went late and we were starving when it was over.
This place is pretty divey, I think it was a "C," but hey, it was open at like 11pm, so that counts for something.
We got a few dishes; it was pretty cheap, taste was nothing spectacular, but not too bad either.
I'd come back... but only if it was late like that and nothing was open!
I've been coming here with my dad since I was a boy and have grown to love this place. The place looks a bit ghetto with their tacky red and yellow sign and roasted ducks hanging behind the window but this place has got some BOMB Chinese food. We always get the BBQ pork over rice and House noodle soup with extra noodles. My grandfather also visits this place often and brings home roasted duck, which I cannot get enough of. Their Chow Fun is also exceptionally good and their Chow Mein isn't too bad either.
this place has to be the last of the great chui chow restaurants....their combination rice noodle soup has the be one of the best in all of los angeles county including the san gabriel valley. Thier portions are great, noddle just the right stiffness and soup base is very tasty.
I don't care what anybody says.. this place kicks ass.
Their noodle soups are TO DIE FOR.
Their BBQ is DELISH.
Their deep fried tofu MELTS in your mouth.
Not to mention, the food is extremely CHEAP.
So what if there's a B.. or even a C??
If it's open, its safe to eat!
LOL.. i love this place.
The place doesn't look every enticing at all. Especially at night - the place looks run down but the food is decent. Ok, the food is great! The owners are Cambodian although they do speak Thai.
Had the bbq pork and the egg noodle soup. good stuff although the service is really really really slow. and you have to wave down the waitress if you want something - more water, order more food, the check etc.
It's open late - 10pm so night owls like me can still get a good meal.
Its good and quick. Everytime I go to L.A. I eat here with my dad. The roast duck wonton noodle soup is a winner. The bbq pork is good too. But I remember way back in the day it got a "C" for its cleanliness. I still ate there. But now its a "B" so its stepping up in the world. But they are open late and a noodle soup will do you right if you have a hangover or are just hungry.
When I think of Kim Tar, I always think of all those Ducks hanging in the window. LOL!
Kim Tar has always been there ever since I was a little kid. They are well known for their duck and chicken plates, and many people come here to order a duck plate to go.
However, they also have good tasting duck noodle with soup. The decor is a little dated, but like I said, they have been there for so, so long, you can't expect them to look like the newest joint in town.
Overall, a good place to grub Chinese food.
If you need to get BBQ Pork, Roast Duck, Roast Pork, Soy Sauce Chicken, etc... this place ROCKs!
I grew up coming here and nothing seems to compare.
As for their other items.. not so much.. but mainly their Chinese BBQ stuff kicks ass.
You will not regret ordering BBQ Pork and Roast Duck.
My family calls this place "the hole in the wall". We drive 25 urban miles for their food. I like it better than Chinatown. The waitresses take great care of us.
Warning: If you request very hot and spicy be prepared to receive just that! I love it!! We always order a plate of bar b q pork to start with...it is the best!
Best Won Ton Noodles ever!!! it is to die for!!!
I can't vouch for any of the other offerings at Kim Tar, but their mi (egg noodle soup) is kickass, owing to the fact that they can chop any of the deliciously barbequed meats right into your bowl of soup. Lord, it's ridiculously good and all mi shops should have BBQ meats!
My favorite is the Soy Sauce Chicken Egg Noodle soup ($6). Ga xi dao or soy sauce BBQ chicken is my favorite kind of chicken, so when there's hunks of it floating in my mi, a noodle slurper like me couldn't ask for better. The thin mi noodles here are pretty fantastic - firm, with a crisp bite, but the large mi noodles (banh lon) are great, too. Ask for both in your bowl, you won't regret it.
Make a dipping sauce by scooping a bit of chili lemongrass paste (in a jar on each table) onto a dish and add a few squirts of soy sauce and red vinegar. Dunk the BBQ chicken or duck into that .. I'm practically drooling just thinking about it. My only grumble (other than being 30 miles away from me) is that they don't have their own dau chao quay or crispy breadsticks! Surprising, considering that's THE proper accompaniment to any bowl of mi. Hmph. They're lucky I'm geeky like that and would totally bring my own.
And they close at midnight. Awesome. Don't forget, it's cash only!
*Update 7/10: Make sure you ask for white meat if you're getting the BBQ'd chicken chopped into your bowl of mi noodle soup, lest you get stuck with the fatty chunks with nary any meat like I did this weekend. Boo.
*Update: 3/15/08: KIM TAR STILL HAS A "B" GRADE, woo hoo!!!! P.S. Get the BBQ'd soy sauce chicken as a side dish to put into your soup. You'll get the good hunks of white meat this way. Unless you like the janky stuff.
Okay lets get one thing straight...their duck is the best duck around my area. Their service is great too, the workers make me feel welcome. BEWARE: The cleanliness of this place though is .... let's just say....last time I checked, they had a red C posted by the door. Wow..Don't get me wrong.. I'll still come here, but I'll just get take out instead of eating it in the restaurant.
recently, I've been having craving for cheap ass Chinese food...perhaps it's the guilty feeling of spending 200 a person on the other nights...feast or famine...tonight, it's famine.
After reading several reviews on Kim Tar, I had to give it a try. First off, the place is clean for a Chinese joint...you want to see dirty, go to SAM woo on Garvey...that shit is authentic dirtiness in HK...minus a couple roaches...They do have a B rating...but that just means tasty to me..
I ordered the egg noodle with duck & wonton......well....it's nothing special.
The duck is mostly fat, skin and bone. I'm a lazy ass eater...i hate spitting bone out on every bite. I had to on every damn bite. I'm too afraid to swallow the duck pieces perhaps choking on the bone....
The noodles taste like packaged noodles. Nothing special. The wontons were lacking in size and juiciness. My parents use to run a Chinese buffet...we would get away with serving tiny ass wontons in our wonton soups...the foreigners wouldn't know the difference (the restaurant was in San Diego)...this is unacceptable in the asian community though...
And lastly, they WATER DOWN THE HOISIN SAUCE!!! Shit, that was a technique my mom had...that's another story. Because it's watered down, you couldn't dip chop stick to hoisin sauce to noodles...the proper way to eat noodles.
Bottom line, Kim Tar is cheap as shit...6 bucks. I'll go back on a weekday. I'll even bring my parents (anything over 10 bucks for them taste like shit). I haven't tried other dishes yet...perhaps they'll get another star later.
Kim Tar is a favorite of my parents. After being dragged here unwillingly (I'm not a fan of C or lower health inspection ratings) and reluctantly downing the noodle soup, I finally get it. This stuff tastes good enough for you to forget the myriad stains and unidentifiable substances on your table.
Food: Anything soup here is good. I especially like the wontons with the rice noodles. I'm usually not a huge fan of the yellow noodles (the chow mein type) but even that kind of soup really hits the spot. Anything else on the menu is fine but not spectacular.
Atmosphere: As I said, it's dirty. It's also loud. If you're not Chinese or Latino you might get a lot of looks from people though. I don't think this is out of the ordinary for a lot of really authentic Chinese restaurants.
Service: I can't really tell if the service is good because I can't understand the server, but I don't remember having any bad experiences because of it.
Parking: There's a large parking lot (OC style) which is connected to the supermarket lot next door.
Synopsis: Yum. This is what Chinese noodle soup is about. If you want to know what it should taste like, check it out.
This place rocks...its open late....the servers are rude ...so I like to fuck around and tease them...see if I can get them to smile.....
Its super casual......really tasty...and cheap......
Love the chow fun....but almost everything I've ever had is tasty....
So its small, dirty and hard to find.......but for any of you that have actually eaten in China....then you will agree its clean by those standards....and the service is super fast....for those of you expecting a gourmet restuarant...your at the wrong spot.....look around you...the customers are all Chinese for a reason...this stuffs authentic...
I go to Hong Kong at least once a year and one of the things that HK is known for is the incredible food especially their egg noodle. Well, believe it or not, this place is the closes you are going to get to HK without needing a passport. After a while, I get this weird craving for egg noodle wonton soup, among their many other specialty dishes that is reminiscing of HK street food. Everything from the duck and pig hang in the window, the smell, the grease on the floor, feeling like you are going to need a tetanus shot as soon as possible.
The roast pig and ducks are absolutely delicious, and their lunch menu is beyond reasonably priced. Their dishes are very traditional and it will feel like walking into another country. True, the place is dirty, the staffs are not so friendly, and there is nothing of ambiance...then again, I've just described half the good Chinese restaurants in So. Cal.
It's been a few months since I've been back, I remember the health department shutting this place down every few months...yeah but there's usually a huge line waiting to get back in once they open back up. I remember years ago, (allegedly...legal disclaimer) they were posting an "A" grading on their windows for months. That became an ongoing joke with the regulars. It turnout (allegedly) they somehow acquired "A" Grade and posted, I think the health department caught on and shut them down for a bit. Truth be told...despite their recent "B" Grade, I will probably not return until they get their grade down to a "C" or perhaps almost failing. The food just seems to be better, either that or it brings back memories of HK for me.
I know I know. Their health quality rating sucks. It's always a number or a D or a C at best (rare), BUT it's Kim Tar dude!
You only come here if you're down with the Asians and their duck hanging by the window. hahaha :) That's how we roll.
Seafood Chow Fun, Wonton Soup with no noodle, Thai iced tea with boba, and we have a feast! Add some sriracha sauce and I am good to go. That's what my friends and I get every friggin time! Someones an occassional beef dish, but usually just that.
Good. Cheap. Big Portions. Fast. Attentive staff (because they remember we actually tip).
Case Closed! :)
This is one of the best cheap authentic Chinese food you are going to find. Don't let the ever constant "C" rating fool you. The BBQ Pork is better than Sam Woo up the street. They have best noodle soup in town.
Service is not the best and will never be confused with Four Star Restaurant. This place is like a pure Asian Heaven for me because of the authenthic Cantonese food you'll ever find. Please don't compare it to Sam Woo or some cleaner restaurant because it's just not a comparison.
Spend only $10 and you'll get plenty. Oh, there's also a take out of pig, roast duck, roast chicken, BBQ pork. Just the fact that the pig is hanging on the window for people to see is just FANTASTIC. It freaks out every Caucasians who walked by. Just love it!!
I went to go pick up chau sui for my mom and it had a closed to health inspection violation sign up. We only go to the bbq items now but I really don't ever want to go back even after "they clean up their act" temporarily.
Guess what?! I think their health code rating is now a B!
I posted a picture with the rating for you…
Read more »
Screw Cleanliness. If they can serve great food filled with dirt and crap that they supposedly have according to the C rating this place has or once had, then by all means keep doing what you are doing because it's damn good crap.
I remember craving some food from this place once and I saw that it was closed down by the health inspectors or whatever and I still wanted to eat there. A ratings are overrated. In Asian restaurants A means that they care more about being clean then cooking good food(sometimes).
Reccomendations:
-Chow fun
-egg noodle soup
-Everything else is good but inconsistent which is why I had to take off a star.
I love duck. Especially brown deeply roasted juicy duck hanging in open windows on hooks attached to their heads. Then when the chinese chef with rolled up sleeves grabs one bird and chops it up expertly with a cleaver over a large round of lumber, I love duck even more. And when those delucious tender pieces of meat are laid gently over a bed of rice with some veggies on the side, I love duck even more than more. And finally when I take my fork and scoop some of the rice and meat into my mouth, that's when I love duck most of all.
Kim Tar is the best place around that offers me such duck love. And for that, I love Kim Tar.
Kim Tar, I love you.
also, my chinese friend tells me this place is open until 4 AM every day! I don't know if that's true, but if it is, I could eat a knob at night. And by knob, I mean duck.
*correction. open 'til 11pm all week, according to their schedule. :( *
If you've eaten in Asian restaurants in SoCal long enough, you'll learn to ignore the health safely ratings (which in this case is around a C or D). But it's interesting how some of the tastiest Asian food seems to be inversely proportional to that rating (yes, I'm a math nerd).
Oh, and if you're expecting friendly service, ummm, not so much here.
The soy sauce chicken egg noodles was unlike anything I've had recently but still good, despite the soup base make the ocean by thirst quenching by comparison.
When I lived in Cerritos, I used to come here practically everyday. The one thing I always order was the wonton noodle soup - only because the shrimp inside the wonton is massive. The entire meal was so yummy and so cheap. I wish I was still living in Cerritos.. Because this is the kind of restaurant that would become every college student that's living on a budget's "best friend".
OK for those that have been here, yes I know the place looks like a complete dump... and I know it is very dirty and smells.. but come-on, the food.. the food will make all the dirtiness and smelly blah be blocked out.
Man..oh man.... this place is so ridiculously dirty... It was so dirty in fact that my whole family stopped coming here for years(not to mention it got shut down twice). However, couple yrs ago, I happened to come back w/ one of my friends and now im sucked back in. I have now come to terms w/ the dirtiness and just pretend im eating in a 3rd world country whenever i go.
The noodle soup here is packed w/ an overwhelming amount of msg but its so good that i eat it anyway.... SOO... if you don't mind msg and you dont mind terrible ambience... then this is the spot for you.
Kim Tar has been around for a long time. Man... since I was in high school, their safety rating has been from B to C to D and down to a number at one time because it was lower than a D standard to a 65-68% compliance for safety. The weird part is that they are always full of people. Alot of filipinos and some Chinese.
I will be 100% honest, I eat at B's and C's all the time and this place has kick ass Salted Fish Fried Rice and fried pork chops, but thats about it. Their noodle soups are OK-- there are definitely better ones out there. When I come here, I always think of this place as a low class Chinese food-- its definitely really cheap and their quality is cheap too.
I would eat here on a Wednesday night with my husband because its not a real special day AND they do have some good dishes, but its not the best.
Good and cheap "hole in the wall"!!
Best "big white noodles" in town! However, I think they are the only "big white noodles" in town too...Hehe.
I go here for a quick and satisfying noodle-soup fix (They have fast service - be ready to order 2 minutes after you're seated!) I find Kim Tar noodle soup to be especially delicious on a cold and/or rainy day.
Also, I love that they are open late - it's open when you've got a late night craving, or when you're on the way home from an evening out.
It's not the cleanest...don't go if you're squeamish about those pesky letter grades on the window, or if you're looking for ambience. It's a very straightforward place -- get in, eat, and leave...hehe. Also, I actually don't really like much else on the menu except the noodle soup.
It's your typical hole-in-the-wall joint. It's like the trieu chau in Artesia, only difference is its not as good. One big plus about this place is it does not close at 5pm like trieu chau. Anyways, I been going here for the past 4 or 5 years for lunch. Prices are fair, but it's been raised over the years.
Well, I bought my dinner here tonight and it wasn't as great. The only reason was because my food was microwaved. Think I wouldn't notice huh you kimtar bastards...? I still like your food and will frequent here, but tonight just DID NOT cut it!!!
3 out of 5 stars.
Yay for MSG-laden food!
The food is good and cheap, which is why I'm always willing to risk getting an MSG-induced coma by eating here. The rice and noodle dishes run about $5 a plate. I like the triple BBQ combo rice or the duck and wonton egg noodle soup... hubby likes the House special noodle soup.
This is definitely one of those places where you order your food, eat then leave. There is no ambiance whatsoever (unless hanging roasted pig heads floats your boat).
it was only a matter of time before i reviewed this place. however i find it ironic that for all food i've had from here, i've never actually visited the place. so the review is ONLY for the food.
you see, the first time i had kim tar it was duck. back in the summer. mike l. brought some to the house for my birthday party. never having had duck before i thought it was good.
then last week on wednesday night, as i sat defeated from my foot surgery, having walked on crutches all day at work, and experiencing a lot of pain, i decided i was going to stay home for the rest of week. it was just no use to go if i ever planned on healing. then soon after i began to dread the thought of not having any food to pig out on while in convalescence.
that is, until the most super awesome linda n. offered to bring chicken to my house! special delivery. in rubber ducky PJ's even! and from where else but kim tar's?! a whole chicken too! you rock linda! i can't thank you enough!
i've had about 2 thirds of the chicken since and think it's really good too. just like the duck i had last summer. i like the roasting process and the sauce they use to roast it with.
now i want to actually visit and try some of their other items. soon.
Artesia, CA
Category: Chinese
Artesia, CA
Category: Taiwanese
Artesia, CA
Category: Chinese
Artesia, CA
Category: Juice Bars & Smoothies
Cerritos, CA
Category: Chinese
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