JTYH Restaurant: Where to get your mu shu cat ears, chicken paws and noodle pimples

When Josh told me JTYH Restaurant was descended from the famous Heavy Noodling, which I never went to before it closed, I was all like, "Hand cut noodles! Sign me up!" Driving east towards Rosemead, Valley Blvd. becomes increasingly Vietnamese, but the inscrutably-named JTYH is Chinese, with a page of the menu devoted to Shanghai and Sichuan dishes as well as the signature noodles. Sinosoul has already waxed over this place at length, so I'll boil my noodle broth down to the essence:



JTYH is a small place in a minimall with plenty of parking. Its large ceramic chicken looks to have flown the coop from Sea Harbour down the street. But the menu is much broader than most noodle joints, so it could work for full dinners as well. There are entire sections devoted to soup noodles, fried noodles, dry noodles, pancakes, dumplings and buns. There's also a Chinese-only "snack" box. Sinosoul says it features Chicken noodle pimples, which sound akin to spaetzle. Appetizers include spicy chicken paws (feet, I would guess) and the usual cold seaweed, dried fish and cucumber dishes.


Everyone seems to get either the Beef stewed noodle soup or the Lamb noodle soup. We chose the beef, with tender brisket, a decent broth and oddly-shaped, beveled handmade noodles with a great rustic texture.

I had to try Mooshu "Cat Ears" -- there's no pancakes involved, just the Chinese version of orrechiete noodles topped with scrambled egg and pork. A very comforting dish that would be great for breakfast.

When I ordered leek dumplings, the waitress made a swooping motion with her hands that I took to mean "These aren't your normal dumplings, they are large like a plate." And that's exactly what they were, more like a pie stuffed with chopped leeks and bean thread noodles. Very cool, if not exactly dumpling-like. Mix up some chili sauce and black vinegar to dip them in, if you wish.

JTYH is open from 11-9:30 every day except Tuesday (why are Chinese/Vietnamese restaurants closed on such random days?)
JTHY Restaurant
9425 Valley Blvd.
Rosemead
626-442-8999