Welcome to Meanwhile, In SGV a regular feature in which TC, our fearless leader in all things San Gabriel Valley, brings word of restaurant openings, closings, and other unsung, curious neighborhood goings on.
1) San Gabriel: R2 Kazoku is set to open on March 15. This is the third effort by the R2 Ray Ray Restaurant team. The other two R2 restaurants are tea cafes, but Kazoku is a yakitori-sushi concept. R2 Kazoku replaces the unloved Ton Ten Ko, and hopes to cull customers from its popular online presence. 162 W. Valley Blvd.
2) South El Monte: Miss Bun-Bo-Hue grand opens Saturday, March 9. Tay Do Quan Hy was the previous tenant. If Tay Do Quan Hy couldn't survive the ownership last year, how will Miss Bun-Bo-Hue do? 9805 Garvey Ave
3) Alhambra: Francesco Sari and Maria Tomasi bring a taste of Sardinia to Alhambra with the recent opening their restaurant, Caffe Italiano. Italiano's chef Paolo Dessena last helmed a kitchen in Picadilly, and has introduced "ancient" Sardinian dishes such as fregola sarda with seafood and pane guttiau. There is a custom coffee program roasted by Jones Coffee while lunch time will have sandwiches as well as pastas. Think of this as Alhambra's very own Maccheroni Republic.
4) Alhambra: The second branch ofSham Tseng didn't last long on this bustling section of Valley Blvd. Tan Hai took over in late February. The Chiu Chow seafood style restaurant eliminates the Cantonese style roastery, and aims to compete against popular spots Seafood Village and Newport Seafood. 203 West Valley Blvd
