Savoy Kitchen
138 E Valley Blvd, Alhambra, CA, 91801
Savoy Kitchen Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Alhambra for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Alhambra for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Alhambra for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
138 E Valley Blvd
Alhambra, CA, 91801 - Phone (626) 308-9535
- Website https://savoykitchen.net/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : No
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : No
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
Categories
Pizza
Pizza is a famous Italian dish savored around the world. The entire credit for the popularity of Pizza in the United States goes to the chain of pizzerias all over the country. While the base and the texture of Pizza remains same across the globe, it's the toppings that differs from country to country. In the United States, you will find the top pizzerias serving pizzas with the toppings of mainly beef, bacon, chicken, ham, and sausage for the non-vegetarians. Other than these famous meat options, Pizzas with veg toppings such as mushrooms, pepperonis, garlic, tomatoes, spinach, etc. are also famous in most restaurants in the United States.
Irrespective of your locality, you will find a variety of different restaurants in your cities offering pizzas of all different types. Pizza is hot favorite among people of all ages in the United States. A large size pizza is enough to feed a family of 3 or 4 at large. Pizza is also the most preferred food whenever a group of friends is hanging out together. Pizza gained popularity in the United States after the American soldiers stationed in Italy returned from World War II.
Over the years, different pizzerias in the United States have developed their own respective regional variations. Pizza gained popularity as the iconic dish in the United States in the second half of the 20th century. Whether you prefer thin or thick crust pizza, you can find a pizza of your preference at the best pizza restaurants in your city.
Chinese Cuisine
The popularity of Chinese food in America can be adjudicated by the appearance of China Town in many major cities in the United State of America. The popular trend of ordering or opting for Chinese take away food isn't unknown in America. Chinese take away food comes to rescue when you're too tired from work or too exhausted to cook. No one can resist the temptation of eating spicy noodles, shrimp, chicken, beef or pork cooked in the sweet and spicy sauce. The cooking method of authentic Chinese food is a lot different compared to what is served in America.
Generally, Chinese use dark meat small bones and organs to cook dishes but this changes when you are eating American-Chinese fusion food prepared using white boneless meat cooked with broccoli, carrots and onions. Back in China, the food is less spicy and oily as they favor steaming and braising method for cooking the most popular dishes. So, if you have a taste for authentic Chinese food, then try finding a real Chinese restaurant in the city. You can also try the most popular fusion Chinese food like Pecking Duck, Chicken Feet, Hot Pot, Shrimp Dumpling Soup, Mapo Tofu, Wontons, Chop Suey, Egg Rolls and not to forget Fortune Cookies.
There are not many restaurants in America serving authentic Chinese food. A little research on Restaurant Listings directory can help you locate the best Chinese restaurants in the city. Chinese cuisine is continuously evolving, and you can find a variety of dishes categorized as the food for lactose intolerant, gluten intolerant, vegan, vegetarian, and diabetic friendly. So, if you have a group of friends with different taste patterns, save the hassle and visit the nearest Chinese restaurant in your city.
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reid i.
Hainan Chicken.. da bomb. nuff said. If you don't like it.. either you eat hainan chicken every day for the last 10 years on a bet, or you are a vegetarian or you grew up with pet chickens. Otherwise.. 5 star this shit already!
(5)Peter L.
Finally came here after reading raving reviews about the Hainan chicken. My date said she's been coming here for a while. Our order: 2 Hainan chicken 1 small garden salad 1 chicken broth 1 shrimp rolls Salad was just okay. Nothing special. I thought the chicken broth was bland. Shrimp roll is a shrimp roll. Now, the Hainan chicken was something else. SO moist and tender. Dipped in ginger sauce and a spoon full of flavored rice was heaven. It also came with chili sauce and soy based sauce. Also good but ginger sauce was my fav. I told my date that she was a cheap date as my bill came at $31 without tip. The service was great. Will come back.
(4)Tracy Y.
Hainam chicken. Enough said. Oh ask for extra sauce...so delicious.
(5)con c.
I like the Hainan chicken from here with rice. Bf gets it with salad. I usually get it to go. the wait time is 10 to 15 mins for the food to be ready. They accept cash only.
(4)Debbie J.
Casserole is yuuuumy! Service was great, and dining area has a hip look.
(4)Shelley G.
~CASH ONLY!~ Parking is on the street (Front & Rear). Sometimes you are lucky you can get a spot in front, while other times there's a bit of a walk. As for the wait, it moves pretty fast. I think the most I ever waited was 20 minutes. If you don't wanna wait, you can always get it Togo. It's the same thing, plus it's faster. Now time for the food, I only get the Hainan Chicken, since they are well known for it. This place is probably one of the best Hainan Chicken Rice plates in the SGV, and it's cheap! My personal favorite is the rice, it's so flavorful, I can just eat that all day everyday (ONLY $2 for a side order btw). The salad that comes with the rice is pretty tasty too! I really like their salad dressing. One thing you must always get here is their Lemon Ice Tea! It's free refill and you get to adjust how much sugar you want with it, since they give you sugar bottle on the side.
(4)Thomas B.
A small restaurant but always packed!!! Best to eat outside because there is like no room inside to eat. They are know for their chicken. But their real hidden gem of the place is their baked mushroom cream halibut!!! It's a must have unless you don't like delicious creamy halibut!! It is a heart attack and a half. But definitely worth dying for!
(5)Michael C.
Ate here tonight ,ordered the best Hainan Chicken Rice and chicken soup for dinner. I was enjoying the dinner and finishing my chicken soup, suddenly out of no where , a huge flies flew into my drinking spoon with soup in it, and I killed the flies ( I said you drink my soup,I kill u flies). I told the waitress about the flies and showed her, she simply said the weather was gloomy and wiped away the flies, and walked away, she didn't offer any new soup or deduct the soup from bill, what kind answer is "because weather is gloomy"? Bad service here but food is unbelievable(without the flies of course)
(2)Allen V.
Today is my first time to come here. the best hainam chicken rice in town. highly reccomend!!! beef stew curry not bad too..
(5)Mike L.
Since Yelp is a dating site, I might as well share with all of you on what is #1 Date place for all Asian Americans in LA. Savoy Kitchen wins it hands down. This place has all the elements of a Larchmont scenester's place with a nice outdoor patio set up and the inside looked like a boutique shop. It's very clean and serene with all the yuppie fallouts from the suburb descends into this mecca. Here's something that you don't think about until you were about to eat. Apparently chopsticks are not the main utensils, it's the fork and knife. For a Chinese restaurant, it got an A and putting out forks? Yeah, that is reserved for the bizarro world Jerry Seinfeld always wondered how his opposite would lived like. The ladies all love the Hainan chicken, but that is not their best dish in this place. It's the curry chicken and Cornish chicken (and not Hornisch like the horny mind I developed when I think about this chicken) that are main reason foodies would like this place. The Cornish chicken looked like a rotisserie chicken: yelp.com/biz_photos/2Czt… . This is probably the only dish that will filled you up and give you pleasures of food coma. The curry was one my favorite as it was done simple and very smooth in texture. It's not spicy like the Thai curry or thick like the Indian curry. It's one of those kind of simple quick rapid fire you want and it does one thing very well...it covers up and made the rice more edible. The killer about the Hainan chicken is the rice in this place. I think many of the ladies that reviewed this place and touted the Hainan Chicken was the fact that it was small easy bite strip size static.px.yelp.com/bphot… . They come in three different sauces that included the popular ginger sauce, soy sauce, and a mild hot sauce. It does goes great with the ginger sauce, but the rice made it hard to eat as it is overcooked and a little bit hard to chew. The rice was not very easy to swallow. If you are on a date, more likely the ladies will want to order the Hainan chicken because it's not big in portions and cut in very agreeable chew size. The guys will probably order the bigger portion like an Hornish chicken or pasta. The vibe is actually pretty good for a date place. I remembered coming here long time ago on dates, but never remembered the name of the place. With recent reminders on where to go on dates, it's interesting that people brought up this place and I instantly remembered the oldie goldie days. It's not always good or fond memories, but not as bad either. Too bad I missed it when Yelp was a drinking site 6 months ago because I had a recommendation on the hot spot for drinking! --------
(4)Aileen V.
YUM YUM! Hainan Chicken! My friend was DYING to go to this place and she dragged me along. The parking was a bit hard since it was pretty packed, but it wasn't entirely too bad. Since we had a party of two, the wait wasn't too long. Inside, its pretty small and cramped. We shared the shrimp eggrolls and both ordered the Hainan Chicken and it came out pretty quick! The eggroll were decent, nothing spectacular. The chicken was moist and the rice was yum, combine it with some soysace with ginger and chilli, oohh delicious!! CASH ONLY!! We didn't know that upon coming in, and when we finally realized after placing our order, we were about to leave, but our food came out so quick, so we enjoyed it then had to run to the bank while leaving me behind as collateral. =D So I'll be sure to bring my pretty greens when I'll be coming here again.
(4)Ashley M.
*****CASH ONLY****** Environment: When you walk by, you'll see a cute little balcony-like area with some outdoor seating. They basically only have have this small outdoor seating available. It has such a casual, relaxing, brunch feel. I loved it. There may be indoor seating, however I didn't see a lot of people go in there to eat. It was mostly for people who were there to pick up their togo orders. Service: Excellent! The waitresses are so great! Since there are only a few tables, the service is great. They're very tentative and extremely friendly. However, it did get pretty busy during lunch time, so there was a bit of a wait. Don't forget to write your own name down so they can seat you. The sign in paper is right around the corner, near the entrance to go in to pick up take out orders. Food: -Hainan Chicken ($7.30, w/ salad $8.30): SO GOOD!!! The chicken is so juicy and freshly made. Plus, there's no bones so it's very easy to eat. Even the rice is flavorful because it's cooked with chicken broth. This comes with a side of ginger sauce, a sweet chili sauce, and soy sauce. I personally loved adding the ginger sauce only. One order of this is a great amount of food for a decent price as well. -Pork Chop Rice (Monday special: $6.95): Since I came on a Monday, my mom decided to try their special. This was decent. It was pork chop on top of friend rice. The pork chop tasted like lasagna. It had marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese melted on top of the pork chop that sat on the fried rice. The fried rice tasted like the same chicken broth soaked rice they use for their hainan chicken dish. This was not my cup of tea. -Iced Tea ($2): FREE REFILLS! This is very refreshing and I love that you can add your own syrup so that you can customize the sweetness of your tea to your taste. Also when you're about to leave, you can always get a refill and cap so you have a tea to go! -Chrysanthemum Tea ($2): This was also good. But unfortunately there are no free refills, unlike the iced tea. It came at the perfect sweetness level. Very refreshing! Aside from the fact that I don't always have cash on me anymore and this place is a cash only restaurant, this place was excellent. It's great for a quick lunch with a friend. I can't wait to come back!
(5)Justin C.
called in and ordered. a baked seafood rice and a seafood curry pasta. they got our order wrong and gave us noodles instead of rice for the baked seafood. meh. sea food curry is a bit interesting. has bits of octopus and tons of scallops and i think two pieces of shrimp only... noodle for some reason had onions in it which made it weird... it was good enough i guess but should have gotten rice instead.... i think for the future, i'll stick to chicken, pork, or beef for curry.... baked seafood was pretty good. lots of mushrooms and scallops but only two different types of fish filet with one piece of each... so. debatable if it's worth the price. but meh. overall it was alright but they got our order wrong. -1 star. might stick to the hainan chicken
(3)Gary L.
One of my favorite Hainan chicken and escargot in town! Pizza bread has light flavors. Garlic and hot sauce that comes with the Hainan chicken fish is so good... Drench my rice mmmmMm.. O yea and cash only. Enjoy!
(5)Steven L.
Honestly people, their Hai Nam chicken rice isn't like before
(3)Joy C.
Their Hai Nan Chicken was to die for. It's such a small place so expect a wait.
(4)Lee L.
I never felt the need to review this place just because it already has sooo many good reivews, but since I come here so often, I need to add it to my fave list =D. Love the Hainan Chicken and cold pasta salad. Like the pasta dishes. Pass on the bread. Long wait, but very quick service once you get seated. I love chicken!
(5)Ray L.
One trick pony. Hainan Chicken is the only thing I would think about ordering, and even then I know there's a place I personally would rather go to. Not worth it unless you all want to just go there for that one dish.
(3)sophia c.
ok, this place is pretty small and parking sucks here. that's where they lost the star. but i'd like to say this place has the best hainan chicken. and their duck stuff is pretty good too! food comes pretty quick and people are nice here.
(4)Steve L.
Went for my first time yesterday and it was great. 2 ppl cost me $20 with tip! Not bad at all...they need more tables though. Waited almost 30 mins in the blistering sun. And Cash only. Meh...it's ok though! I wouldn't want to pay taxes either if I made that much on awesome Hainan Chicken!!! =-)!!!
(4)Snoopy L.
Savoy used to be my favorite place for Hai-nan chicken, but I was a bit disappointed last time I visited. The portion got smaller and the taste wasn't good as before. I don't know if they have a new chef now or something. It tasted totally different now than the past several years I had visited. I think I will still come back once in the while, but not for Hai-nan chicken anymore. I think their curry is better than their chicken now.
(3)Linh N.
Savoy kitchen is Cantonese-owned Chinese/Singaporean restaurant with some Italian influences. It sits on a corner off Valley Blvd with a few dining tables inside and a modern "Elements Cafe"-like seating lining the brick lined walls outside. Lan Q. and I wanted to try the dishes inspired by the wonderful food we had in Singapore: Hainan chicken--What they're known for. Tender, soft, juicy chicken, served with rice cooked in chicken broth and condiments persisting of soy sauce, grated ginger in oil, and hot sauce. Use all the condiments and be sure to ask for extra. Baked Halibut--my favorite of the night. Battered halibut baked in a cheesy creamy sauce and served with a slightly sweet bread. Comes out boiling hot. Seafood pasta--fettucine pasta with small scallops, shrimp and squid, mixed in a buttery/oil sauce. Not quite the highlight of the night, but as Lan Q. mentioned, it went well with the creamy cheesy sauce from the baked halibut. Creme brulee--if this was truly a fusion dish, I'd say it was fused with whipped cream--not quite as settled to the thickness of a creme brulee, and had a slight gritty texture. Chrysanthemum iced tea--a delicate cup of joy. It's no surprise why Savoy Kitchen is always busy--in case you don't want to wait for a seat, call your orders in and pick them up to-go. It seems like a lot of people caught on fast.
(4)Evelyn T.
I meant to come suggest Savoy's hainan chicken, but it looks like 200+ people already beat me to it. Yes, it's definitely the best Hainan chicken in Los Angeles (maybe something in China can compete), and i always order the curry beef along with it. I love the quaint atmosphere of the place, almost as if you were in a European diner, and my favorite part of the meal are the bread chunks they give. dipped in some olive oil, they are simply divine.
(5)Ed U.
Sometimes you just find a place that serves your favorite dishes and you simply don't question it. For instance, if there was a place that served deep-fried Oreos, prime rib and deviled eggs, I'd probably give it five stars for simply being so symbiotic with my tastes. Oh, I don't necessarily want all that on the same plate, but hey, if it were to be all on the same menu, I'd probably be a bit giddy. That's what kind of happened when Jamie W. and I ventured to Alhambra and tried this spot which appears to be extremely popular with Asian youth down there. I love Hainan chicken rice, and I love pizza, especially if it has duck on it, so I was sold on it before I took my first bite. I bookmarked this place a couple of years ago knowing that I would likely be staying in nearby Monterey Park where the more budget-friendly Best Westerns are. Sure enough, it happened this past 4th of July weekend, and on Friday night, we were not looking to venture deep into the LA freeway labyrinth where Johnny Carson as "Tea Time" movie host Art Fern would say you could get your Slauson cut off. No, we drove just a couple of miles to East Valley Blvd. where it appeared to us that every Asian restaurant known to man was thriving, including this very compact corner cafe with quite a queue on their smartphones waiting to get table space both inside and out. The line moved faster than we expected since we waited less than fifteen minutes for a most desirable table in the middle of the cafe. I knew they were serious about the Hainan Chicken Rice since they offer five variations, of which I chose the $9.30 version with dark meat only. It was just what I wanted with the chicken moist and warm, and it came with three sauces, not only the standard garlic ginger but chili and soy as well (photo: bit.ly/1CmiZvl ). I like how one of the servers came around with a bucket of garlic ginger sauce which he ladled out when he saw people run out. But before I had the chicken, we shared a small $4.95 Seafood Garden Salad. Nothing extraordinary about it but it hit the spot after a long day on a Hollywood tour bus. The iceberg lettuce was chilled, and it came with tomato slices, herbs and fresh seafood - squid, shrimp, and tiny scallops - all of it ready to be doused with an aioli with an eggy mayo, olive oil and vinegar (photo: bit.ly/1HJzOlR ). Not a fan of chicken rice, Jamie ordered the $10.95 Smoked Duck Pizza, a bargain price since it was a twelve-inch pie generously covered in sliced smoked duck, enoki mushrooms, red onion and mozzarella cheese (photo: bit.ly/1LTRPih ). While it was a tad breadier than either of us preferred, the mix of toppings really made this one a winner. There are pasta and curry options on the menu as well as some meaty Yankee entrees like a filet mignon and roasted Cornish hen. Sounds great to me. I just wish there was a place like this up in San Francisco. FOOD - 5 stars...my favorite casual dishes in one spot and very well executed AMBIANCE - 3.5 stars...tight quarters but not unbearable if you don't mind the occasional butt graze SERVICE - 4 stars...youthful friendliness and surprisingly alert TOTAL - 5 stars...oh great, now I'll be dreaming about Hainan chicken rice tonight
(5)Kate G.
Great Hai Nan chicken. You can choose between dark or white meat. Remind me of Kao mun Kai in Thailand.
(4)Carmen A.
All I have to say is: if you need some hainan chicken fix, this is the place. I moved to sf 2 years ago and have been craving from hainan chicken for wayy too long-- I've been to many restaurants in cali and savoy is the only restaurant that has captured my heart
(5)Cindy L.
PARKING Street parking available but it can be a nightmare on those busy days. You're bound to find parking driving down the street but it's not always the closest and sometimes not the safest due to bad drivers that are also bad at parking. I've witnessed a couple of cars get bumped on different occasions. INTERIOR/ EXTERIOR Small interior! You'd be surprise how many tables they can cram in such a small place - but it works. Bar seats and regular tables available inside, and regular tables available outside. I can't emphasize how much I enjoy sitting outside - it's so nice on a warm day! FOOD/ DRINKS Of course I come here for their Hainan Chicken. I always get it with rice - it is the perfect proportion for me. However, recently, I feel that this dish is either a hit or miss. During my last visit, my chicken was flavorless and dry. Even with their soy sauce, it tasted so plain! Other times, I remember Savoy Kitchen being my #1 place for Hainan Chicken. Hopefully, they can focus more on the quality and taste of their chicken and bring it up to the notch they were once at. I've had some of their other dishes such as the pasta and pizza but it doesn't taste like anything out of the ordinary to me. In terms of drinks, I always get the Iced Tea with Lemon. It's so refreshing! They give you a small cup when you are dining in, but its refillable! There is always someone going around refilling your iced tea, and if they miss you, just let them know! In addition, you add your own sugar which is a giant plus because you get customize exactly how sweet you want it. SERVICE The workers are nice! Everyone is a busy bee flying around doing something - refilling drinks, taking table orders, delivering food, taking phone orders, etc. There are constantly people coming in for pick up (they have already placed their order over the phone) but they hustle hustle! There is often a waiting list too, but if you don't mind where you sit, you never have to wait too long.
(4)Griffin F.
My family originates from Singapore and Hainan, so I've had my fair share of chicken rice. Let me say that the chicken rice is good, but I've definitely had better. The chicken was delicious, but the rice was lacking. The flavor was weak, and got bland very quickly. Maybe it was bad rice? I also got their beef-stew curry. It was very good, but a lot of the meat was mostly fat, and it was hard to eat all of it. Overall, food is A-OK!
(3)Kim K.
The limited seating here is real. My party of 4 got lucky and didn't have to wait since a space just opened up inside, but man, that spot was tiny! I saw a bigger space in the corner open up and I wanted to move but a family of 3 got it. They would've fit comfortably in our spot since their 3rd was a small child! Not 4 adults. But oh well. Everyone inside was eating hainan chicken. Of course, I got that too. It was good! I didn't like the ginger sauce, but that's me. I liked the red sauce. I also got the iced tea. Love that it's refillable and that they give you a water sugar syrup for you to add. My cup was never empty and I got to take a full cup to go when I was done :) My sister got the duck pizza because I wanted to try it, but it wasn't all that great as I expected. Oh you also get complimentary pizza bread to start. It needed marinara sauce or something. Service seemed nice and the place is cheap. CASH ONLY! PS. Fung brothers (YouTubers) got to shoot this place for their TV show, "What the Fung".
(4)Amanda D.
Cheap and tasty! FYI If you ask for more sauce they will bring you as much as you want :)
(3)Patrick L.
I usually don't buy into places due to the hype, but I finally got to try Savoy's food, and I'm a fan. The HAINAN CHICKEN AND RICE has been reviewed so many times, so I'll just break it down and make it simple. It is very good. The rice is fragrant, the moist chicken comes deboned and with either the chili or the ginger sauces, both of which work great with the chicken. I dont know if this is the best place in the SGV for Hainan Chicken, but it doesn't have to be...it's very good and worth coming here for. Also, the CURRY CHICKEN is more Indian Curry in flavor, as opposed to Japanese, which I am a fan of. I like Japanese curry, but Indian curry has so many more complex flavors which Savoy incorporates into their curry. It's a bit runny for my liking, but it pairs well with rice. All in all, very good, and worth coming to!
(4)Blessed O.
Been coming here for years and I always order the same thing. Dark meat Hainan chicken. Rice is cooked in chicken broth and is excellent. The traditional ginger sauce oil sauce is the best. Be sure to get there before 11:30, otherwise you will wait at least 30 minutes due to the limited seating. Waiters are always courteous and ice tea / water cups are always topped off. Great comfort food at a great price.
(5)E M.
Dang, the best Hainanese Chicken Rice dish in the US by far,
(5)Silvia G.
Yelp 100 Challenge! 2015: 4/100 CHINESE/ITALIAN FUSION Crowds wait to grab a sit at this small restaurant with a few tables outdoor in a corner of this street in Alhambra. My hubby is always in the mood for pizza and Im usually in the mood for Asian. We can now satisfy both cravings here! Although an interesting menu is filled with one of my favorite words, PROSCIUTTO, I decided I must try the Hainan chicken since it's one of the dishes that they're famous for. My first chicken bite was not as smooth and "oily" as expected, but once you dip it in the soy and ginger, it's pretty tasty. Rice was very soft and flavorful. Salad was just an ordinary iceberg salad. Not bad for $7. Hubby ordered a pasta with shrimp and prosciutto although we didn't find any bits of it. Flavor was ok. I ordered the chicken broth thinking it'd be full of flavor from all the Hainan chicken but was disappointed at how bland it was. A little salt wouldn't have hurt. Overall, a good meal at good prices. Not sure if I'd wait long for it though.
(4)Linda T.
I love their iced cappuccino. Their chicken is so soft and tender and juicy. While I like the hainan chicken dish, the rice made me miss my mom's chicken rice. (Mom's version has tiny bits of chicken in the rice--absolutely delicious!) The line is long and everyone working is super busy doing absolutely EVERYTHING. While you're waiting, feel free to let yourself be in awe by their efficiency and productivity. If you want something let them know all at once, for it will be a while before they come around again. Parking is tough if you just want to get out of the car and be at the restaurant. If you're willing to walk a block, park across the street. You'll be happy about the extra two minute walk when you consider how stuffed you'd be leaving the place.
(4)Sandy L.
I've never been to a place that served 3 of my favorite eats: Hainan chicken, creme brûlée, and chrysanthemum tea. It's like I have found my true love restaurant :) So, apparently you have to be pretty good at parallel parking on the streets to eat here. I just couldn't do it. Be good at parking or carpool with someone! I parked next to someone's house not too far from this place. I wished there was a parking lot! Despite that, I would still come. The Hainan chicken is soft, moist, and flavorful. It compliments the rice very nicely with the condiments on the side. Their ginger garlic oil sauce is so good. Their chrysanthemum tea is amazing. If I was to die, this would be my last meal. It's just really comforting! The place is small but I think it's cute and modern. I would definitely come back!
(5)Eli S.
I know it's all about the Hainan Chicken, but is it? I've started this review several times in the past, thinking, "I must have tried everything on the menu." Only to have one more different item brought to my attention. This is a restaurant of 1000 cultures. Ok, maybe less than a thousand. But, what restaurant has pizza and pasta, escargots, Hainan chicken, Cornish game hen, and chicken soup? This one does! Oh, and by the way, most dishes are pretty cheap. Let me start with the dishes I probably wouldn't order again: Chicken pasta (2.75/5): the flavor of their chicken and the creamy oiliness of the pasta do not fit well for me. Additionally, it felt like they cooked the pasta and added the chicken as an after thought. However, I generally don't like creamy or oily pasta. Escargots (2.75/5): the escargots are swimming in butter as they should be. Despite this, an overwhelming acidity is still present. However, the thing that really detracts from the escargots is the bread. A nice baguette would do wonders. But, their chalky, cakey bread makes eating the escargots a challenge of overcoming the dryness. It's a good thing they offer frequent refills on the iced tea. The dish I may or may not order again: Original chicken pizza (3/5): this pizza suffers a bit from the chalkiness of the bread. However, because of the baked in oils from the loads of cheese covering it, it balances out some. The chicken here tastes a bit more balanced than in the pasta. Now, the dishes I frequently order: The Hainan chicken (4/5): Really, this must be the reason people wrap the line to get in around the corner. My favorite type of the Hainan chicken is the all dark meat with rice. It is very flavorful and succulent. The sauces are great and replenished regularly. The price is unbeatable for such good chicken. It almost melts in your mouth. The game hen (3.5/5): Really the little sister to the Hainan chicken. It's a little simpler. No sauces (unless you steal some from your Hainan chicken). It has a crispy skin and excellent flavor. The price is also reasonable and offers variety in poultry flavor. The chicken soup (3/5): this is the only hot drink they have, if you want to call it a drink. It successfully warms you up if it's winter and you've been waiting outside for a while. It has just enough chicken to be considered an appetizer as well. The iced tea that keeps flowing offers a sweet balance with the simple syrup they leave at your table. I enjoy the challenge of finding the sweet spot for my tea. The people are always efficient in service and seating. No spot stays empty very long, though you might think they are inefficient from the wait. There are always a lot of people for such a small and cramped restaurant. But, going on a weekday, a little before or after the rush, is ideal for reducing your wait times.
(4)Jennifer H.
HOME OF THE HAINAN CHICKEN. Savoy Kitchen = Hainan Chicken, pretty much. It's the most popular dish to get there and if you're here, there's really no reason for you not to get it. People prefer dark meat but I think their white meat is just as good and you don't have to pay more. BUT if you get the dark meat, you do get more quantity of meat. I only get the hainan chicken rice. It usually comes out pretty fast, within 5-10 minutes. Then I cover that stuff in the ginger sauce and eat away! Don't be shy about asking for more sauce, because they have plenty! CASH ONLY. It's a small restaurant with more seating outdoor than indoor. Don't forget to put your name on the clipboard outside of the restaurant, next to the front door if there's a wait.
(4)Charles O.
Had the famous Hainan Chicken plate. Tasty rice, especially since its cooked in chicken broth. Chicken was boiled, tasted a little off, not used to it. Overall, it tasted healthy and was not expensive at all. I would order this again. A little overatted tho. I'd rather get a chicken bowl from a Japanese place and be just as happy. Not sure on what this place is all about tho other than the Hainan. Seemed Chinese but yet half the stuff on the menu was pasta??
(3)Teresa C.
We had takeout, so I can't really describe much. Food: I got the very simple Chicken. It was delicious. Nuff Said. The chicken was very tender and full of flavor. veryy good. I didn't pay for it, so I can't comment much about the price. I hear its 6-7, which is a little pricey considering all it was was rice and chicken.
(4)Smitcha B.
You know you're getting old when you're having a conversation with someone who asks you, "So what did you give Savoy?" You reply, "I believe 4 stars." Then later on she tells you, "Liar, you never wrote a review for that place!" Thanks Kiki for reminding me why I have grey hair. I first encountered Savoy when I was attending PCC in the early 2000s. I have frequently returned ever since! Yes, the hype is about their hainan chicken. Honestly, I don't think I have ordered anything else but it's not because it's that bomb diggity, it's because I will feel guilty knowing that I passed it up for something else. I do not want it to do that to me, so I have to treat it with that same kind of respect. The chicken is moist and not dry. You get plenty of chicken meat. If you're not a fan of the skin, it easily comes off. Maybe you can share this dish and have your tablemates order something else. Turn the meal into family style? I'm sometimes greedy, I want my own hainan chicken. The sauces... you get three. Dark soy sauce. Random but I have heard some people say "shoyu sauce." Where do you get the extra "H" & "U" from? Anyway, dab lightly or this may make it too salty. Ginger in oil sauce. You ever wondered what can counter Listerine? Well that's your anwer. It's also salty, so take it easy. Lastly, the orange spicy sauce. It's not spicy, don't over react but it'll give it a nice pinch of spiciness to it. When you run out of sauces, they will gladly refill and it doesn't cost a penny. Do order the bottomless lemon ice tea. You get it in a plastic clear togo style cup. Before you depart, they will ask you if you would like a refill and lid for the road. That's quite awesome. Most places would never do this. It's a waste of lids and ice tea. Savoy is the homie like that. Savoy can get ridiculously packed. Seeing a mob of people on the corner of the street is common. I highly suggest you come early or be prepared to wait if you come during peaked hours. The place isn't too big to begin with. Only a few seats inside and out on the patio. There's not much of personal space either. The service is great. The aunties are on top of things. The food comes out quick too. The restroom is in the back in a tiny alley between the buildings. You can park in the residential areas or if you're lucky, you'll find parking right on Valley Blvd. Savoy is CASH ONLY.
(4)Kimberly A.
Yum, cheap and healthy! Smitcha B. invited me to hang out with him in his AzN hood for a quick bite and I was pleasantly surprised with what this place had to offer. I tried the Hainan chicken rice plate. Steamed, juicy chicken breast over savory rice and 3 dipping sauces of ginger oil, soy sauce and chilli. Simple, yet delish! The menu also consisted of pastas, pizzas, and other noodle dishes. It's like an Italian/Asian food hybrid gone oh so right! Quick service. Food came out in 5 minutes. Unlimited refills for the lemon iced teas. I felt like this place was run by an army of mom's. They checked up on us often and kept offering more tea and condiments and to-go boxes. So very generous and caring! =] This place can get very busy and packed, so come early or be prepared to wait. Parking is available on the main street or in nearby residential streets. Yum food, great service, and cute, quaint atmosphere. Would come back again!
(4)howie w.
Best Hainan Chicken Rice in all of LA or OC. I've tried so many restaurants (even in Hong Kong) and been disappointed but Savoy is damn good dine-in or take out. If you like dark meat (most Chinese do), then the $2 extra is def worth it. Also, the shrimp egg rolls really good but you gotta eat hot and not take out.
(5)jane m.
I ordered the filet mignon with black pepper sauce--all i tasted was the pepper and bitterness. The noodles that came with it was dry and hard. My friend ordered the curry chicken with rice--oily. maybe five minutes after getting our meal, we get the bill! we ignore it as we were TRYING to enjoy our dinner. Another five minutes later, the waitress comes back and insist that we pay now cuz they were changing shift. later a third person comes to make sure that the change on the table was tips, and takes it away. So much interruption at a place with just less than okay food--very over-rated. won't be coming back to this cash only place.
(1)Robert A.
Love this spot - I always get their Hainan Chicken (all white meat) ... With lots of their sauce on top .. Popular little place so plan on a wait if u are going during lunch - service is fast though
(5)Jonathan K.
I came here for the first time after hearing good things about the food, but I left completely underwhelmed. The Hainan chicken was just okay and the portions were on the smaller side. The place was crowded so we had to sit outside swatting away flies for most of our meal. The servers were friendly enough. Cash only. Plenty of street parking on Monterey St. Overall, a very mediocre experience and I'm not sure I would go back.
(3)Bong E.
If you want to read about the food or the service, please see any of the other 242 reviews. Savoy Kitchen ... luckily you have outdoor seating, because if you didn't, there would be a long wait because the inside is so small. How small you ask, so small be prepared to sit so close to the people next to you. How close you ask, well we were sitting so close to the people next to us, I learned how to speak mandarin chinese during dinner ... so close, not only could I hear conversations all around me, I didn't even need to order my own Hainan Chicken because I just shared with my neighbor. I just reached over and had some of theirs while they weren't looking. But seriously, this place is good. I ordered the beef curry but I should have ordered the beef stew curry that my brother ordered and no I'm not a racist, I wanted to learn chinese.
(4)Charlotte C.
** 4.5 stars ** The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because the restaurant is tiny, seating is horrible, its always crowded, and parking pretty much sucks. BUT its worth it!!!!! Theres a reason why this place is always crackin and its a damn good reason if you ask me - Hainan Chicken Rice. Just like pretty much all of the other reviews, their Hainan Chicken Rice is the BEST I've tried thus far. Granted, I've only had it at one other place in Irvine, but let them go head to head, and Savoy wins hands down! I've eaten the Hainan Chicken Rice from here a few times. But this is the first time I've actually eaten at the restaurant. My girlfriend lives a few blocks away and we usually order for pick up and eat back at her place but tonight I was able to partake in the full Savoy experience... First, the wait wasn't so bad for us but it was on a Tuesday evening around 8ish. For 5 ppl, we were able to be seated within 10 minutes. (Felt like 30 since I was starving!) They seated us outside which was actually pretty nice & cozy. They put 2 tables together and we were under the heat lamp which actually worked so it was warm but we still had a nice little breeze. Second, the service was decent - at least I thought it was. The waitress was great considering how busy it was and she was running around all over the place. Lastly, we all ordered the same thing - Hainan Chicken Rice & Iced Cappuccino. It was just as I remembered it - Absolutely AWESOME! Yes, I said it - AWESOME!! Haha. The chicken was super tender & moist (yes I said that too - MOIST) and of course the greatest part were the sauces. I normally hate ginger!!! Anything ginger, I typically will refuse to eat. But for some reason, their ginger sauce has got me hooked son! Mix that with their chili sauce and you got me running red lights just to hurry my ass over there! Also, the Iced Cappuccino was very good as well! Reminds me somewhat of the iced coffee you get from Lee's Sandwiches but soooo much sweeter = better. To sum it all up - Savoy doesn't disappoint!
(4)Stewart L.
if you do come here, get EXTRA EXTRA sauce, also ask for the togo cup towards the end. I usually never eat there anymore because it's too hard to get a table, BUT, I do get the to-go quite often, probably once a week, you just have to get your savoy fix. The back should be okay to park in now when the sun goes down. Sometimes we park 2 blocks down just to get togo. Don't forget, dump all the sauces ONTO the rice and mix it real good
(5)Zed R.
Hands down the best hainan chicken in the SGV. Great tasting and satisfying portions, cheap too!
(5)Sweep J.
i can pretty much eat the same dish here everyday...hainan chicken rice is so so good here. the rice, the chicken, the sauce, everything is so good and flavored just right.
(5)Anne C.
WOW!!!! no need to add too much her e- the hainan chicken is phenomenal. But the one thing that REALLy caught me - the RICE! Okay, if you know me at all, you know that I do NOT eat rice. I rarely do, if ever.. This rice was So light, so fluffy, perfect middle between hard and soft and lightly salted. I ATE rice here. On top of the chicken, we got the seafood casserole with pasta. Delicious, lots of seafood, an interesting twist with italian dish but slightly with an asian twist. I liked it a lot! Cheesy and tomato-y :) maybe going back tonight before the flight? hmmm...oh yeah and service was great :)
(4)Eugene H.
I have absolutely no idea what is so great about this place..... I thought the hainan chicken was not good. This restaurant has a long wait and expensive prices. I was very disappointed when I came here. I think Dong Nguyen just a couple blocks down Valley Blvd. in the 168 market plaza has MUCH better Hainan Chicken. But I'll save that for another review. Nothing special here. This place is like Half & Half, everyone says its sooooo great but I was very disappointed. Try it for yourself but try to ignore the hype.
(2)Joseph C.
decided to update this, still awesome. Ice tea here is amazing, Anessa is a QT, and Nancy is very nice! love the staff and food.
(5)Jun W.
Other than the hainan chicken, everything else here is mediocre. I highly recommend avoiding the lunch hour rush. It's a small place with not much elbow space. The service is fast and the food comes out quick. The patio seating is nice, only if you don't mind second hand smoke. The one thing I don't like about this place: where do you park??? Apparently, the only parking is on the streets. And when it gets packed, you probably have to park 2 blocks away. Other than that, it's a nice place for lunch. Oh yeah, the waitress speaks English here.
(3)Hong H.
Hands down the best Hainan Chicken I've eaten. Their chili sauce is to die for. No one can beat that delicious chili sauce. The Filet Mignon with black pepper sauce is really good also, thats if you enjoy black pepper haha. Friday Ox Tail Stew is also really good. Really soft and delicious. Their creamy pastas are really good also.
(5)Jannie S.
This is my go to place for good old asian comfort food. Hainam chicken of course is hands down good here. Cooked perfectly moist along with the sauces. The beef pizza is always yummy. Still waiting to try the duck pizza, but they always seem to be out of it. I'll keep trying for that pizza.
(4)Jeff P.
Who has NOT been to Savoys?? If you're Asian living in the SGV, you've been to or heard of Savoys. It has been a go-to staple for me for many many years, and I still find myself coming back here as one of my default restaurants when I'm in town. Seating is tight and limited. Come early and put your name on the list. Prices have gone up, as expected, but you still get a good deal on their famous Hainan Chicken Rice. Eating it with the ginger sauce is the right way - Learn to eat ginger folks! I've had various other dishes and they're all surprisingly pretty good. I guess it's considered a Chinese (Hong Kong Style) / Italian fusion. Pizzas and pastas are all delicious. If you plan to get the pizza though, order while you're waiting for a seat because they take 25-30 minutes to make. They encourage you to order in advance, actually. I also enjoy the escargot and fried shrimp rolls as appetizers when with a group. Parking stinks - only street parking basically. I always get my meal with their iced tea; add your own sugar. The people working here are super nice! They're closed one of the days, either Sunday or Monday, can't remember. Plan accordingly.
(4). ..
My go-to spot for Hainan Chicken. I've been a patron for about 10 years now. Eat in or get it to go, the quality is consistently good. Eating on the premises, expect to wait, and (street) parking always suck. Random Fact: Hainan Chicken is so amazing that it's served on Singapore Airlines.
(4)Henry O.
Best Hainan Chicken I can find in SGV! I either come in for the Hainan chicken and rice or I go for the chicken salad. If it's your first time, I highly recommend the chicken and rice as an entree and then for dessert, an order of the creme brulee. Things to note: The place is quite small. so be prepared for a wait. In regards to parking, you park on the street.
(4)Kelly L.
I probably come here at least once or twice a month. I don't think you can ever come to Savoy and leave disappointed (that is unless you don't want to wait for a table). I would say if you plan to come here, come here during down times. The restaurant itself is very small, so seating is very limited. There is also outdoor seating, but is limited as well. Also, if you do come during peak hours be prepared to wait. People young and old come to get their Hainan Chicken fix here. All parking is on the street. So if you're like me (a horrible parallel parker) be sure to invite someone who can park your car for you :) Although Savoy is primarily known for their delicious Hainan Chicken, you will notice that there are many other things on the menu. There seems to be an Asian menu (Hainan chicken, curry, egg rolls) and an Italian/European Menu (pizza, pastas, escargot). I have tried many things here: Hainan Chicken Rice: This may look very plain because it just looks like boiled chicken on rice but I know after your first bite you will be a believer! The rice is flavored and the chicken is cooked perfectly. There are also 3 sauces (all refillable) that are served with it. There are many options to the Hainan chicken such as dark meat only or served with salad for those of you who don't eat carbs. Shrimp Rolls: I think these are the perfect appetizer because they are small little eggrolls almost like lumpia that will hold you over until your entree! Chicken Soup: This soup although looks plain is pretty good. There isn't much to it. I think they just boil the chicken and throw some noodles in there. I like it because it's really light. Perfect soup for when you're feeling under the weather. Escargot: I know it must seem weird to order escargot a little Asian restaurant in the 626 but this is something you MUST order. These little snails are drenched in garlic and butter (two of the best things in the world). There is also warm bread that is served with this so you can soap up all the buttery garlicky goodness! Baked Halibut: I have only ordered the baked halibut with cream sauce so I'm not sure what the other sauce is like but this is SO GOOD. Sometimes I order this on the side of my Hainan chicken entree even though I know I won't be able to finish it - it's worth the few bites. The halibut seems to be fried then drenched in a creamy mushroom saucy and then backed with cheese on top. There is a rice or pasta option. I always choose pasta. Every bite is better than the last. I have also tried the Beef Curry Stew and Roast Duck Pizza. Two things I am glad I tried and are good but there are so many other and in my opinion better options. I want to try everything on the menu but it's so hard because everything I've had is so good - I can't walk away! ** I love their lemon iced tea. I really like the fact that it comes unsweetened and you can add as much sweetener as you like. There are also unlimited refills so make sure you fill it up before you leave.
(5)Sharon T.
Yes, I am a fan! I never knew Savoy Kitchen was right next to Phoenix until last night. I was in the neighborhood and thought I needed to stop by to see what the hype is all about. I prepared myself for... Small area for indoor seating...check! Packed restaurant.......................check!! Delicious Hainam Chicken.......check!!! I didn't call ahead of time for my to-go order, but I was pleasantly surprised at how fast my food came out. I was in & out in 5 minutes! Do yourself a favor and check this place out...just DO IT.
(5)Jen T.
The best Hai Nan Chicken Rice in the San Gabriel Valley. Only downside is the wait, and how small the establishment is for the demand. Also, there is always excessive smokers in the outside area, and the cramped indoor seating will freeze you over! So bring a jacket and something to do! Best alternative is to take it home!
(4)Lisa W.
ordered the infamous hainan chicken which was really juicy and soft. it came out really quick. comes with the hainan rice that tastes kinda like ginger. and sides of sauce. i loved this dish and will def. come back if im ever craving hainan chicken! *CASH ONLY!!*
(4)Michelle W.
Their food is good. Usually people come here for the Hainan chicken rice and the curry. I come here about once a week to eat. Overall the food is good but if you come and you don't want to wait in line, don't come during lunch hour from 12ish to 2. After 2 its better. =]
(4)Linda T.
Hainan chicken is the best here, hands down. But their Savoy traditional pasta is really good too! The pasta isn't as al dente as I like, but the pasta sauce is really flavorful with meat bits/chunks and garlic. I'd love to try their other dishes but the Hainan chicken gets in the way because it's a must everytime. Although I think it shrunk in size... how sad. Cappuciano is also really good - what a pleasant surprise.
(4)Jonas T.
Fast and good service, great food. Hainan chicken rice was good, but I liked the curry and the baked halibut better. JONASAPPROVED!
(4)Paola E.
What I love: Nothing. What I don't love: The overrated Hainan Chicken and Rice. One star. Yes, just one. "But Paola, everyone RAVES about the Hainan Chicken and Rice! It's so juicy and the dipping sauces go perfectly with the chicken!!!" That is exactly why I am giving this place one star: because the Hainan Chicken and Rice are nothing to rave about. Not at all. I just saw a Bourdain episode on Singapore. He was booed by a conference room full of Singaporeans when he revealed to them that he'd never tried chicken and rice. I respect Bourdain's opinion. So when he finally tried the dish and raved about it, I was intrigued. Then a couple of days ago, a friend mentioned Savoy Kitchen. I'm trying to start a monthly eating club, and Savoy was to be the setting of our first meeting. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that Savoy's specialty was chicken and rice. How perfect. I spent much of today reading fellow Yelpers' reviews of this place. Most of what I read reached the same conclusion: "Everything you've read and heard about Savoy Kitchen is true! The Hainan chicken is absolutely delicious. The chicken is tender and juicy and the rice is flavorful and cooked in broth." Needless to say, I was excited. That's what Yelp is for: a space for discerning palates to tell you what's worth eating and spending money on. Yelp did me wrong with this one. We ordered: 1) Shrimp spring rolls 2) Hainan Chicken and Rice 3) Seafood casserole + pasta 4) Chrysanthemum tea + Diet Coke Shrimp spring rolls were good. Tea + Diet Coke, you can't go wrong. Hainan Chicken was so disappointing. Chicken was juicy, but NOT delicious. Just because chicken is tender and juicy doesn't make it delicious. It tasted bland. Hendrik P. put it best when he said he thought the simplicity of the dish would be its redeeming quality. But it didn't happen. Not even close. The dipping sauces added little, if anything, to the dish. Okay, soy sauce is a staple, nothing extraordinary there. Ginger gave the chicken some flavor, so that was okay. But the chili sauce added zero, zip, nada. Chili flakes in chili oil or something spicier would have been a lot better. Unfortunately, the sauces fell way below par. If you're going to serve boiled chicken, your sauces have to be spectacular. Look at the French. Sauces are everything in French cooking. Savoy failed. The seafood casserole + pasta were only good because the chicken and rice were so bad. The cream sauce was too rich, and as "sinfully delicious" as it may sound, a battered and fried filet of fish should rarely, if ever, find itself covered and smothered in cheesy, cream sauce. The dish needed some major contrast, and fat on fat did not provide that. Here's my biggest gripe: Everyone is entitled to their opinions, that's fine. I respect that. But Savoy Kitchen has a TON of reviews--579 at the present time. How is it that a vast majority of Yelpers speak so highly of the chicken and rice? I am struggling to reconcile my experience with the Yelps. I don't get it. But it's all good. To each his own. Hopefully I'll have the good fortune to travel to Singapore someday. Perhaps I'll have a better experience with chicken and rice elsewhere.
(1)Terence L.
When I can't make it to Singapore, I'll visit Savoy for Hainan Chicken... Well, I have only been to Singapore once had Hainan Chicken there only twice. But I do have to say that Savoy comes pretty damn close to eating Hainan Chicken at a genuine hawker center. (Oh how I wish there were hawker centers here in the States. *sniff*) I went with my cousin for a dinner-time excursion. The place was hopping on a cold winter evening, and we were lucky to find seats inside, albeit at the counter. The place "inside" is minuscule, though there is additional seating outside along the side of the building adjacent to the sidewalk. Thankfully, for those folks outside, there are plenty of heat lamps and a canopy setup to retain the heat. The two of us split the aforementioned Hainan Chicken and a beef curry. The beef curry was quite good and plentiful, but hands down, the Hainan Chicken is the star of this restaurant. As one reviewer noted, the chicken may not be the best quality and, it's preparation may not blow people's socks off by itself. The sauce is what makes me blow my wad. Maybe it's because of my Chinese DNA, but I do love ginger. And the ginger sauce at Savoy does not disappoint my Asian-influenced palate. There are also a dark soy sauce and a tangy-sweet chili sauce for you dip your chicken in. Just looking around, you can tell it is by far the number one seller. Since my cousin and I were at the counter and facing into the kitchen, I overheard one customer who came in to pick up an order of like 5 Hainan Chicken orders. Even the rice is pretty special. Yeah, I know, rice is rice, and there is an expression, "plain as rice." But the accompanying rice with Hainan Chicken isn't your standard white steamed rice. Oh no, sir/ma'am. The stock used to cook the chicken in is actually used to cook the rice. The end result is a rice that is more flavorful and with a different texture. For a place packed with customers, the service was attentive and efficient. My lemon iced tea was never empty for any extended period of time. The price was more than reasonable. So actually ordering 5 Hainan Chickens is not too damaging to the wallet. Speaking of which, Savoy only accepts cash. Parking is also kind of a hassle, as there is no private lot that I know of. Even though I prefer plastic over paper, I would spend whatever cash I have in my wallet for some Hainan Chicken at Savoy Kitchen.
(4)Chris H.
Nom nom nom nom. I gain 10 lbs whenever I'm around Au89. Came here for the Hainan Chicken which I've heard so much about. We parked across the street since this place is so tiny and they have lots of patrons there is just no way to park right next to it. Lines were long on a weekday evening but we were okay with being seated anywhere so we got to sit within 30 min. Such a cramped place inside; no joke. Well. There was no need think. We knew what we were there for and ordered right away. Servers are very friendly inspite of their chaos. I liked that. Grace under pressure. Their main dish did not disappoint. It came out pretty good. The rice is infused with the chicken broth; it is very good especially with the garlic sauce or whatever it is they service with it. This place is worth a 2nd visit. Soon.
(4)Anh-Dao T.
I've been hearing about their Hainan Chicken for so long now and after trying it, I understand the hype. The chicken was moist and tasty, the ginger and chili sauce was good w/out being too overpowering. And the portions were huge - my friend and I split one and I was stuffed. I also noticed a lot of tables ordering the escargot and the shrimp rolls, but we opted for the smoked duck salad instead. It sounded so much better than it tasted, but the chicken made up for it. I also had takeout from here once which lasted a whole road trip to SD and STILL tasted good hours later. They also have a pick-up/to-go service on the curb so you can stay in the car and they'll bring it to you. Pretty cool.
(4)Dave L.
One star because the food is terrible! I will not come to this place again. Maybe it was a one time experience that turned out terrible, but my experience with their hainan chicken was simply disappointing. Their curry beef was too salty and the portions were too small. Maybe it was just their off day. Who knows?
(1)Mary D.
Perhaps reading all these reviews prior to dining at Savoys was too much hype. My boyfriend and I walked up to the restaurant and were seated immediately. (It was about 7:30pm... I was expecting a line since that is what other yelpers cautioned about) I was happy to see that they got an A posted on their window for health inspection and it shows. Everything was clean from the counter tops to the floors. This is what we ate: Seafood salad: we got the half portion for about 5 bucks. Not too shabby. Good portion of seafood - octopus, scallops, and shrimp. I can't vouch for the freshness of the seafood. My guess is that it's previously frozen. The dressing, thank God, came on the side. Was a tad odd for a seafood salad... wasn't very complimenting. It was like honey mustard or something along that line. I would have preferred something more citrus in flavor. Hainan Chicken: meh, I really had better. They charge you $2 for dark chicken (which I did not order). However, somehow my plate was mostly dark meat. I would rather have white meat. The chicken was not as neatly cut nor thick pieces as what you see in some of the pictures posted. Mine had skin on it and the pieces were for the most part boneless. There was one wing. Yes, I agree, it was tender. Decent portion, but like I said, I have had better. Escargot: This was served with their pizza bread. I dipped the bread into the sauce and first bite was mmm... However, my first bite of the escargo was a bit salty. Good thing they served it with bread. It was 6 pieces for about 7 bucks. Caution: those tongs are dangerous haha We had flying snails... amateurs, I know. But hey, the table next to us was dropping their escargots as well. : ) Service: Good! They spoke English and was really friendly and attentive. It wasn't hard to get their attention. For this reason, I want to give them at least 4 stars... but hey... good food is weighed more heavily. Cost: about $20, dinner for 2. (No beverages) They served pastas, pizza (little odd to me), and other things like casseroles. Decent food, good service
(3)Jeffrey M.
Oh dearest Savoy.. You're where I met my girlfriend and you'll always hold a special place in my heart.. Yes indeed.. And your Hainan Chicken Rice still doesn't suck.. In fact, it's quite excellent! Your Shrimp Egg Rolls leave a little more to be desired, but your Chrysanthemum Tea still serves as a great compliment to my meal.. Yes, yes, keep up the good work and I'll keep coming back..
(4)Lia R.
The hainan chicken rice...the rest are but add-ons...good, often yummy...but nothing beats the hainan chicken rice...the reason why i come and the reason why i keep coming back. The wait, the decor, the service, the cash only policy, the limited seats...they just don't matter after you put that first spoonful in you salivating mouth...hainan chicken rice...need i say more? Examiner.com Article: Savoy Kitchen and the Hainan Chicken Rice: bit.ly/9L8VX8
(5)Natalie T.
I came here with my friend after reading some reviews on yelp! I was so excited to come here and I didn't leave disappointed! The place isn't hard to find at all, it's on Valley and you can't miss it! As you drive by or walk by, there is a crowd and from reading all the reviews, there is always a crowd. My friend and I came here around 1:30 on a Thursday and it was quite crowded but as soon as we put our name down, the lady called us and seated us inside. The place is definitely small and the decor isn't fancy at all. But it feels home-y and you just got a good feel from the people there. My friend and I proceeded to order the hainan chicken which they are known for and some shrimp rolls since we took a glance over and they looked so good!! After ordering, we realized they don't take credit cards!! Who doesn't take credit cards!? Especially in a place like this that is kind of popular?!?! It baffled us! We were about to stand up and cancel our order but we were looking forward to this meal we decided to stay! We quickly got onto our blackberries and searched for a wells fargo near by! Right when one of us was about to stand up, our meals came! So we ate and at the end of the meal, I got up to rush over to a wells fargo while my friend sat there kind of being like "insurance" for them and I got the money in less then 10mins!!! So remember!! CASH ONLY! The hainan chicken came out really quick and the quality and the taste was excellent! I love their sauce and never had anything like it! It was so delicious! Their chicken was so tender and moist, it literally fell off the bone! The shrimp rolls came out fresh and perfectly cooked! It was hot and tasty and the sauce that came with it was delicious too!!! It's not your typical sauce when you eat egg rolls! Its creamy and just there are no words to describe it... just go there and eat it!!! The parking does suck so that's why I did knock a star down!
(4)Derrick L.
A small, corner restaurant with plenty of flair and incredible food. The inside of the restaurant is like a sardine can. It's small and cramped but luckily they have outdoor seating with heatlamps. The Hainan chicken was really good. Poached chicken over rice boiled in broth. It was really good and the sauces they give you, phenomenal. The hot sauce is really where they shine. It's so good! But my favorite part was their Chicken soup/broth. They make it themselves and it is so incredible flavorful. It's a ballet on your tongue, delicate, beautiful, and awe-inspiring. Oh and the chysanthemum tea is freshly brewed, not that bottled stuff you get elsewhere.
(5)Kelvin C.
A cozy little french/vietnamese/chinese restaurant, Savoy is a good place to dine at....that is... when it doesn't have a wait line. Good luck trying to eat here on a weekend. Parking also can suck but you should be able to find street parking somewhere close by and take a little walk. Aside from that, the shrimp rolls, hainan chicken, and beef curry are all pretty good. The shrimp rolls are very crunchy and satisfying, perfect as an appetizer. The Beef curry is also very good, lots of flavor and ingredients, could use a little less salt though. The rice is served with fried shallots. The famous hainan chicken is also good, but not the best I've ever had. The chicken is shredded up into pieces for us lazy folk and comes with a ginger sauce and garlic chili sauce. Overall, this is a very good restaurant that I will definitely dine at again. Prices are cheap for very good food.
(4)Bella Trang N.
Wow, if you want an overhyped place - come to Savoy Kitchen. It was probably one of the worst hainan chicken rice I've ever had, and makes me realise how good I had it while in Singapore. The service was ok, the plate came out a mess, and the chicken was sometimes dry and not at all savory. Sorry, but never again.
(2)Dominica B.
The hainan chicken is so simple and fresh. I added steamed veggies on the side and had a very healthy dinner. Oh and bring cash.
(4)Eric T.
I don't know if it's the fact that I'm unaccustomed to Chinese/Italian fusion or the food there didn't justify the wait in line. My girlfriend and I went there to meet up with a couple of friends that came down from Sacramento. The food wasn't terrible mind you, but it was far from delectable. To my own fault, you can't hold a Chinese restaurant accountable for have shitty Italian food. That's like going to the DMV and bitching about the shitty customer service. Some things intrinsically go hand and hand. "CELEBRITY SIGHTING" - I don't know how to categorize this, as being starstruck or witnessing an urban tale materialize before our very eyes. But I have three other witnesses that could vouch for me, when we encountered the QUARTER LADY OF ALHAMBRA. There has been many myths and legends of an older lady and if you're lucky enough she'll panhandle you for a quarter in cryptic broken English. Unfortunately, our waitress asked her to leave before she got to the table we were sitting in, so we didn't have the honor. Little did she know that unsavory act towards the beloved quarter lady was going to reflect on her tip. ATMOSPHERE - Very crowded, it's not crowded to the extent you feel uncomfortable, part of the reason is the outdoor seating so all the noise isn't really an issue. There's almost a intimate feel to the place, if you weren't sitting two feet next to a loud Chinese dude who was eating and talking simultaneously. THE FOOD - I ordered the creamy mushroom prosciutto pasta. It's one of those instances where you literally get what you ask for and begrudgingly wonder why you did to begin with. It was literally a pile of enoki/oyster mushrooms on a heavy creamy garlic sauce and little bitty pieces of prosciutto on a bed of underwhelming pasta. The sauce was far too heavy and it was almost soupy with the butter floating at the top of it. In short, it was like eating a can of cream of mushroom soup with pasta underneath. Garden Salad - Pretty standard salad here, no frills. Chopped iceberg salad, red cabbage and soggy tomatoes that were poorly sliced. SERVICE - Despite my embroiled grudge against the waitress for ridding us of the quarter lady, she was very attentive to our needs and came quick with drink refills and asked us if everything was okay. Overall, the food was mediocre at best. If you want to eat here, but see a line in the front keep driving down Valley Blvd., there are far better alternatives.
(2)MossBurgerComb O.
this place is a popular chinese place that serves hong kong cafe type of food. if you don't know what that is think fusion of chinese and american diner food. simple fast and cheap meals. place is located in a small corner store among other business nothing special. its clean and they have outdoor seating. service is a little slow but the servers are nice. now for the food, some menu items are little funking...like spagetthii in meat sauce...yeah thats right...in a chinese restuarant. thats hong kong cafe typical menu item. anyway, this place has the spagetthi, baked rice dishes, or stews and curries. all taste ok. but one menu item thats better then ok and without a doubt the most popular dish here and its their signature dish...is the hainan chicken over rice. its damn good. for like $8 you get big leg and thigh steamed or poached in some chicken broth and topped over flavored chicken broth rice and a side of flavored soy sauce with ginger, garlic, and scallions. definitely recommending this dish. so if just on the chicken dish a 4 star is deserved but since rating on the whole i give an 3 star ok due to avg tasting other dishes.
(3)Thien N.
Was the 1 hour wait worth it? YES!!! The Hainan Chicken (which is their specialty) was moist, well-seasoned, and tasty. The ginger sauce was on point. The Beef Curry was also delicious and portions were perfect. The meat was tender and flavorful. The 4 stars are given for the food. Wish the restaurant was bigger. Eating outside in 90deg weather wasn't that fun...but the food made up for it. I'd definitely come back, if I have time!
(4)chico f.
Wow...crazy territory here...what's a Salvi kid know about Savoy Kitchen ! ! When I lived in Alhambra in the early 2000's, I used to pass this place on my way home and it was always jammed packed ! Fast forward to 2007. My boy pretty rick and me are in L.A. looking for hot ramen on a cold December night. We initially passed by Little Tokyo, but man the WHOLE district was crawling with peeps ! ! I mean, I've seen it busy on a Friday Saturday night...but on a Tuesday night? Must've been something going on that we weren't aware of. So rick says, plan b...let's go to my other spot ! Little did I know that planets were just about to align ! We get to the place and immediately I'm like...NO SHIITE, HERE ! ? ! ? I was getting pumped because I've seen this place and I so wanted to try it, but damn...I don't know if some Salvi kid can just walk up in there and start ordering like crazy...I don't think so ! So I give Rick the freedumb to order away....(while I closed my eyes, grit my teeth, and crossed my fingers ! ! ) DAMN ! I SAID, GAWD DAMN ! ! BLOWN AWAY ! ! Rick ordered Savoy Kitchen's signature plate, Hainan Chicken Rice w/ that wonderful orange tangy spicy sauce and a Beef Curry Dish...the name I can't recall at this moment. He also ordered these Shrimp Rolls as an appetizer, with Iced Tea to boot ! ! Everything was awesome ! ! The chicken itself totally reminded me of the way my abuelita, Mama Tonia, used to make her chicken soup. Abuela is Granmama for all you non-espanol speakin' folks. The beef curry dish was equally as impressive, to the point that me n' rick used our spoons to fight for the last portions of rice n' beef, as if we were fencing ! Yeah ! Our neighbors didn't appreciate the clamor we were partaking in ! Anyways...I definitely got to hit this spot up again in the future...and rick...I'm gonna name my first born after you ! Thanks Chocolate Cheeks ! static.px.yelp.com/photo…
(5)Mina W.
I don't know what I can possibly say about this place that hasn't been said in 100+ reviews! YESS it has great Hainan chicken.. big whoopedeedoooo.. its just chicken and rice people! I would give this place 5 stars if EVERYTHING on the menu was as good as the hainan chicken. But sadly, it's just not.
(4)Heather N.
Thanks allot Savoy... thanks for nothing! I can never eat Hainan chicken anywhere else. My palate will know nothing less then the greatness of your Hainan Chicken. Damn you! And WOW the ginger sauce was perfect, not to salty. Must go back and try their curry. I have a thing for Malaysian curry. The only thing I would pass on was the pizza bread. It's kind of sweet tasting but bland all together. What made it a little more palatable was the ginger sauce smeared on top.
(4)Jordan P.
When a friend of mine mentioned Savoy Kitchen to me, I was intrigued - because I love curry. But this was unlike any curry I had before, the flavor was in an oxymoron of subtle yet powerful. It had such good flavor of spices, yet it did not overpower our palette when we would often switch to our other dish of chicken. Yes! the food was so delicious, my friend and I ordered curries for ourselves and another plate of chicken to share - eh why not. Food coma, but so worth it - there is a gym down the street, which I passed on anyways because I was too full. More on what we had...I tried both the seafood and beef tendon curry. Both good, but the winner is the seafood curry. There were pieces of shrimp inside the curry, but every single bite had the flavor of shrimp infused. Pair your curry with the chicken entree as well. It comes with three sauces, my favorite is the ginger sauce. I want to just take the jar home. It is borderline salty, but if used sparingly it compliments the chicken very well. It comes shy of five stars because there isn't much seating, and you might have to wait awhile. Also, the establishment doesn't take credit card.
(4)Nathan T.
Haven't been to a better place for hainan chicken.. but if you do, let me know because I don't mind trying it out lol this place is great. Indoor seating is very limited however they have patio seats. Still jam packed at times. There are flies here though.. ate outdoor and every now and then I'd have to wave them away. But overall, good tasting chicken with a side of salad and tea! :)
(4)Lisseth C.
I know i rate mostly 4-5, but I guess i only write reviews on the restaurants i like and go often! Savoy is one of my favorite places to go for (and I'm sure most of the people that's been there will agree) HAINAN chicken!!!! it's THE B-O-M-B! hahahahah Its hard to find good ones now a days. My bf loves that place! He likes the curry chicken. The only bad thing about it is that their seating area is rather uncomfortable and small. The drinks are also small for my taste. Wished they also open til late night like the other places in S.G. & Alhambra. Overall good.
(4)Jenny X.
I think this place is way too over-hyped for my taste... I brought my mom and brother here during lunch recently. We came right when it opened at 11AM so we didn't need to wait to be seated. I ordered the infamous hainan chicken with salad and rice for my mom, the curry chicken with rice for my brother, and the baked seafood casserole with pasta for myself. Our views on the dishes: 1) Hainan chicken with salad and rice: I decided to order the dish with salad included because I wanted my mom to have a little bit more color on her plate for $ more. She was rather disappointed in her dish. The salad was okay, nothing extraordinary to rave about. The rice was so little, she couldn't enjoy it with the chicken. It looked like there were literally no more than 5-8 bites of rice. If you have Asian parents who looooove rice, make sure they're okay with the much smaller portion of rice or order an extra bowl on the side. Overall, my mom told me she had better hainan chicken elsewhere. 2) Curry chicken w/ rice: My brother finished it and he didn't have much to say. I tasted a bite and noticed there was a little spicy kick. 3) Baked seafood casserole w/ pasta: I was EXTREMELY disappointed with my dish. The pasta came out cold, was way too bland, and the cheese was too thick and stringy and made it too messy for me to eat. I felt like I was eating a pool of Elmer's glue! I really had to force myself to eat this dish. I noticed that some of the reviewers here have mentioned that the pasta is plain. And I definitely agree! PLEASE DO NOT COME HERE IF YOU HAVE PASTA CRAVINGS. Savoy does not have it quite right in the pasta department. I've had better pasta/casserole dishes at other Asian restaurants in the SGV. Service is alright. But, I did not particularly like how one of the younger waitresses looked impatient and rolled her eyes at me while I was finishing my order. I found that pretty rude. Savoy Kitchen... you get a MEH from me.
(2)Kate B.
I can't believe I haven't written a review on this place yet! I LOVE SAVOY!! The chicken and rice seems so simple, but for some reason I can't get enough of it. FOOD: Their signature dish is obviously the Hainan Chicken Rice, it comes with a lot of variety as you can get dark meat or white meat, or mix, also with salad or rice, or both salad and rice. The price varies depending on those specifications. The normal order with rice and mixed meat is $6.95. One of my favorite things about this dish is the sauce. It comes with a minced ginger sauce, a spicy sauce and soy sauce! For some reason, the soy sauce here even tastes better than normal soy sauce! This place must be magical. One of the things on my bucket list is to try Hainan Chicken Rice in Hainan (a city in China known as the Hawaii of China) but I can't imagine the Hainan Chicken Rice to get better than the ones from Savoy! Other than the Hainan Chicken Rice, I have also tried a bunch of other things on their menu. The escargot is really good, so is the pizza bread, and their pastas are also delicious. My friend also really likes their curry. DRINKS: ICED LEMON TEA! FREE REFILLS! YOU GET TO POUR THE SYRUP SO YOU CAN MAKE IT AS SWEET AS YOU WANT! :) DESSERT: The last time I visited, I actually noticed they had Creme Brulee on their menu and since it is my mom's favorite dessert, we got one to share between us two. I think it was the BEST Creme Brulee I have ever had in my life. I usually only like the crispy sugar top because the bottom part is usually overwhelmingly sweet. But, here, the sugar was perfect but the bottom was the PERFECT level of sweetness. I didn't feel like I was going to get diabetes like at other dessert places. I REALLY SUGGEST FOR YOU TO TRY IT! Also, I think it was only $2 or $3, so it was a great price! SERVICE: The service is actually really great given how busy they are. The servers are usually really attentive and come around with refills for the sauces. Also, they always fill up my iced lemon tea! :) PARKING: There are usually plenty of parking spots along the street since Savoy is located near a residential district. TIP: There is outdoor seating and I have brought my dog before to sit outside and the servers were really accommodating! Also, GET ANOTHER HAINAN CHICKEN RICE TO GO! CLOSED ON SUNDAYS! CASH ONLY!
(4)Alethea C.
Hainan chicken is a must-try. Chicken are super tender and juicy. The rice is cooked in chicken broth which gives it a great taste. It comes with sweet chili sauce, soy sauce, and ginger sauce for people to mix with rice and to dip chicken in. I usually dont cause the dish itself is pretty flavorful on its own. Always order my dish with iced lemon tea cause thats like the perfect match ^.^
(5)tmigs X.
This place is great if you know what to order. There's a reason everyone gets the Hainan chicken.... Because it's great. You need to use the spicy sauce and ginger. If that isn't your thing try it anyway. You might be surprised. My other favorite is the curry fish with a side of bread. Really flavorful and has a kick. Do not eat this if it's hot outside - it's a lot of heat. Been here a bunch of times and they are always consistent. Sure the place is small and it gets busy, so show up early and enjoy the food. Afterwards you can run to Phoenix for dessert. Don't expect ice cream. The best things there are the mango pudding and coconut pudding. Locals might go for the black sesame.
(5)Priscilla S.
So after hearing about this place for years, I finally decided to pick up some food for to-go today. I'm just not a patient person and there's NO WAY I'm going to wait in that long line to get in lol. With that said, even as a take-out order, the Hainan chicken rice was effing delicious x___x' The chicken was tender, the sauces that came with the rice just made the whole meal perfect. Another plus is that they use broken rice, which makes it even better because it's so fluffy and delicious! There's not much more I can say about how amazing it was; everyone else pretty much covered everything. I'll definitely be back :)
(5)Jowel G.
I driven past this place many times and always thought it was some corner type French bistro. I only realized that this was hardly that when I was on the hunt for the best Hainan chicken ( I don't really know it's the best until another restaurant proves it). We have a couple of friends who actually have been here and vow that this is one of the best in town. The kickoff started on New Year's day evening when I was craving Hainan chicken. I was disappointed to know that they were closed on New Year's day. I was reminded the following evening about it and so decided to make the trip to San Gabriel. The wait was not horribly long for a Saturday night ( I was told about the owner being a bit pushy about scooching you out if you're party has just taken its last bite). We sat outside in the patio that was equipped with wall heaters. Everyone in our part ordered the Hainan chicken (2 of dark meat and the other 2 with white). Who knew that dark meat was the white meat in this culture? I'm not a fan of chicken skin or fat (gag!) that is on the dark meat. The chicken itself was not dry, but was on the border of it. With the help of the soy sauce, minced ginger in oil helped create a delicious mix. The rice was really good. I'm not sure what they steam it in...broth with some oil? I'd like to get my hands on that recipe. Oh and I forgot to mention that we had the pizza bread to start and it came with a balsamic and oil dipping sauce. The dipping sauce tastes like it had Worcestershire sauce which our friend mentioned. i would have preferred a traditional tomato based sauce or the alfredo sauce they serve on their pasta. I had an iced tea to wash this all down with and my cup was never half full. I think the guy was just waiting for me to take a sip and fill my cup to the rim. I'm not complaining just glad that they are this attentive when it comes to refills. They have a simple sugar syrup on the table to sweeten your tea which is an easy way out of having 5 types of sugars on the table. I'd definitely come back, but hopefully I'll have the chance to try other dishes, since the Hainan chicken seems to be a favorite for me already.
(4)MIMI K.
Great Chicken. Service is great. Very small seating area. I guess that can be part of its charm.
(4)grace c.
I went there with a friend who I had not seen in over 10 years...so it was extra memorable for me. This is probably one of the better hainan chicken i've had in LA. One thing i noticed when I was browsing the menu is that they actually charge an extra $2 for dark meat! haha....I had to comment to my friend - only in asian establishments do they know that the prized meat is not the whilte meat but the dark meat. Also make sure you get their iced tea, they bring it over with a canister of sugar syrup....yummy sweetness! and they refill giving you a cap at the end so you can take it to go. Everything is quick but just be sure that you will have to endure a wait time if you go during prime lunch and/or dinner time. Next time I go back, I will definitely expand my options and try another dish.
(4)Jonathan W.
When at Savoy, it is acceptable to: - enjoy the Hainan chicken; add copious amounts of hot sauce, soy sauce or minced ginger - it's up to you - obtain as many refills of the iced tea as possible When at Savoy, it is never acceptable to: - call the restaurant by SavoyS as I often times hear; this is a very common problem - it's a singular name, never has it been plural (get it right!) Got it? Good. Go.
(4)Annie W.
SO AMAZINGLY GOOD. Been craving hainan chicken ever since seeing my sister's pics in Singapore. Anyway, just get the hainan chicken and you will be satisfied beyond belief. What a gem. Lather it up with the oily chili and ginger sauces and you'll be in heaven. Even when all the meat was gone, I ate the rice with the sauces. Bf and I were just as amazed at the rice as the meat. On top of chicken broth, I dunno what else they add to the rice but it's also addicting as hell. MUST. COME. BACK.
(5)taro b.
Best hainan chicken rice hands down!!! so moist and tender. I just wish they have a better sauce but that's fine.
(5)Maverick T.
This place is small. Very very Small. You'll be squishing your elbows with other people as well as having your chair so close to the table, it'd be pretty difficult to exhale. On top of that, if you don't arrive early you'll be regretting it for two reasons: Parking and getting an actual seat. This sounds like a typical dining experience in Hong Kong. If you can completely ignore all that, then you'll probably have yourself a somewhat okay meal. So here's the thing: People misunderstand Hainan Chicken Rice. A lot of people think there is only one variation of this dish. In case you haven't realized, this place specializes that specific dish. Of course they have other things on the menu which are pretty decent, but we'll focus on their "signature." Hainan Chicken Rice has a huge and rich history. It is of Chinese origin and is said to be influenced by Hainan Cuisine (Hence the name, Hainan Chicken Rice). Although the name is Hainanese, it has other influences throughout South East Asian countries like Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Thailand. Each of these countries do things completely different. For example: Singaporean style tends to have the chicken a bit more plump and extremely juicy. They especially pride this dish to be their signature dish of the entire country. These people are not joking, they make really REALLY REALLY good Hainan Chicken Rice. You can find it everywhere from elementary school canteens, cafeterias, street shops, street carts, homes, and so many other places. Because Singapore is very diverse, other cultures understand it and have their own small variations for it. Thailand is by far my favorite of them all. The rice that they use is jasmine long grain rice. They boil the rice together with the fatty chicken broth of the Hainan Chicken, garlic, and ginger. Together with the soft garlic and delicious infatuating broth, you get this slightly creamy, clean, rich, and fragrant rice to go along with the Chicken. The street vendors do this extremely well. Those are some of the examples and variations that other countries have. So what is Hainan Chicken? Imagine having the most tender and soft chicken along side with the cleanest and tastiest rice paired together. This whole chicken is stuffed with herbs/spices and is boiled with chicken stock then simmered to perfection. It is then skimmed to avoid any grease build up and cooled right after (Cooling the chicken prevents it from being too tough). Remember that delicious, almost orgasmic rice? Well the broth is used to cook the rice. Saute the rice with garlic and add the broth. After doing so, add a bit of water/broth and cook away. Then what do you have? Hainan Chicken with Rice. There is a lot of work put into this to make the meal memorable. Some places even maximize the flavor by using even plumper chicken. Although I did enjoy my meal at Savoy, I just think it's alright. I mean you can't compare the dish at this restaurant to any vendor in Asia (It's just not fair). I feel as if there is a lack of flavor coming from the rice and also the chicken. The chicken is juicy and dry at the same time. But don't get me wrong, it's pretty well done for a restaurant in Alhambra that has other competitors doing the exact same thing. It is a very refreshing dish and the soup that comes with it is just like bonus slice of cake when you've already finished the entire cake. Their other dishes are quite interesting, especially the pizza dough. But for a restaurant that is known for their take of Hainan Chicken Rice in the 626 area, I'd say it's pretty alright. So come try it and I'm sure you won't be disappointed at all. :)
(3)D L.
The chicken was excellent, but not worth the wait. Works nicely for takeout.
(4)Jeff T.
The 4 star is based on one dish. The hainan chicken rice. I never get anything else there.
(4)Bettina H.
With over 2k reviews, what can I say that you haven't already read. Everyone raves over the hainan chicken, no doubt that's the star of the show. Buuuuuttt have you had the baked halbut in cream sauce with linguine?! It's a pretty heavy meal, you've been warned. Don't forget to wash it down with the refillable lemon iced tea.
(5)Laura Y.
Man oh man, this place has gotta be one of my top fave restaurants in the world! I crave it pretty often.. If I lived closer, it would be game over. Hainan chicken for dinner every night! I like that this place serves a niche dish. You can't find it everywhere, only certain places but this place specializes on hainan chicken so you know damn well it's gotta be good. The chicken+the rice+sauces+iced lemon tea= HEAVEN (for the cheapest meal ever). The chicken itself is cooked to perfection--never dry, always moist and soft. The rice is infused with the chicken broth so it tastes like crack.. Literally. I try to eat every morsel of rice like a fatty. The sauces.. That ginger and chili sauce doeee.. SO good! I like to pile a heaping amount on my chicken (don't judge, I like my food saucy!). Surprisingly, the chicken isn't the only good thing here. The pizza, pasta, and shrimp rolls are all damn good! The pizza has a nice unique thick dough and the toppings, like smoked duck, pair nicely. Who would think the pizza would be bomb at a chicken joint? And the pastas are all simple but I crave the shrimp pasta.. The garlicky, saucy shrimp pasta. Shrimp rolls are just delicious. Crispy and chock full of shrimp flavor with the tasty orange sauce! I love that they're pretty attentive to your drink cup and always refill without you asking. Another plus for having liquid sweetener rather than sugar packets, which don't dissolve in cold liquids. I don't understand why liquid sweetener isn't existent everywhere else. Since there's so many positive things I have to say about this place, I gotta balance it out somehow with some negativities, which I don't have a lot of. Parking isn't ample. A small lot in the back and some street parking available. The restaurant itself is tiny so there might be a line. I've gone at odd hours so I've never had to wait. It's cash only so stop by a bank. I don't think the portions are always the same. I've had a lesser portion before and I felt ripped off but I was way too hungry to give an eff. This joint will be in my life foreverrrrrrrrr. I hope they never close. It says a lot when I say I crave Savoy more than korean food.
(5)Elleen P.
Yumzzz ... I usually don't really like Chinese food (nor do I ever come to this area since it seems to be Chinese food central) but this place was really good :') My friend took me here for lunch one day, and we drove a bit of a distance for it. She goes to ACCD in Pasadena so apparently she always comes here. For the hainan chicken dish, it was literally like $6 I think. Or maybe that was also with the sweet tea. Regardless, the prices were amazing and the food was good. Normally the chicken that looks like that in pictures kind of look dry and nasty but this was so good. Also why does their rice taste better than the one I make at home?? Please share your secrets.
(5)Phil H.
I love this place. This is the asian equivalent of comfort food for me! The chicken rice is all I need. Would eat it every week if I could, but I'm not from the area so I try to eat here every time I visit! TLDR; If you eat rice and chicken, you should eat here. *YUM*
(5)Timothy A.
I'm a big fan of Hainan chicken. I just recently learned about it, but I've gone nearly every week for the past month and a half because I like it so much. I like Hainan chicken so much that I'm willing to make the 45 min drive from my house in Long Beach to Alhambra or Rowland Heights, the two places that serve decent Hainan chicken that I know of. So, whenever someone mentions Hainan chicken, Savoy Kitchen inevitably becomes a focal point of the conversation. Given it's reputation and the sheer number of Yelp reviews for this place, I had to give it a try. Overall, I'd say that Savoy isn't bad. It's just not outstanding. The main reason that I'm giving Savoy 3 stars is that I got spoiled by having a much better Hainan chicken before I stepped foot in this place. If you're interested, you should check out Hainan Chicken Restaurant in Rowland Heights off of Colima Rd. It's a hole-in-the-wall restaurant if there ever was one, and it's cash only (like Savoy). But, it's damn good over there. Just make sure to heap on the 3 sauces they have over there, and you're bound to have a good time. Anyways, I'm not reviewing Hainan Chicken Restaurant, so I guess I should say a couple things about Savoy. Savoy has a nice feel to it, kind of quaint and homey. I like the outdoor seating area, and my friend liked the iced tea. The chicken was juicy and the rice was pretty flavorful. But, something was just missing. I think the sauces at Savoy aren't nearly as good as some of the others I've tried, so that's where all this emptiness is coming from. Oh, and we had to wait like 20-30 minutes to get a seat here. I heard that that's not unusual, and in fact it might be pretty good for a weekend. I don't know if I'm willing to wait that long for Savoy, and the parking situation was kind of funky. It would be nice if there was a private lot or at least more abundant street parking around the way. Well, I'm probably not going to come back to Savoy unless I'm coming with someone who wants to go for the atmosphere or just because it's so famous. You know where I'll be at :)
(3)Garrett G.
Really fantastic chicken...Very flavorful and tender. The ginger sauce is perfect -- brings back memories of my Cantonese grandmother's cooking... The rice is really nice as well. Went with a colleague who lived in Singapore for awhile... He had been craving the type of chicken rice he had enjoyed in the food centers of Singapore... He really liked this place, so I think that's a good vote of confidence for Savoy. As others have said, be prepared for cash only (c'mon folks, it's the 21st century!), brutal street parking, and long lines... especially tough during these hot summer months -- But, the chicken makes it worth the wait, I think.
(4)Jennifer L.
I was raised to believe that each meal - to be complete - should have vegetables...but the delicate taste of the dark meat chicken and the savory goodness of the sauces, combined with the perfectly cooked (white!) rice...makes it all okayyy. Cheap, no frills establishment with street parking. BRING CASH!
(5)Kimberley K.
Found parking just a couple cars down from the entrance! Now that's a celebration in itself already. I thought there would be a wait when we went on a Saturday evening around 6:30pm, so I even had a backup restaurant in mind just in case. I signed in on the clipboard outside, sat down on the bench, then immediately got up again because they called my name! Score. Only around 6 tables inside with some counter seats, in addition to the ample sidewalk seating, but I didn't find it too cramped nor noisy. Curry Pork Chop, which were thick-cut strips of pork in a Malaysian style curry - I think it says on the menu that it comes with either steamed rice or pasta, but we were able to get it with cubes of their Pizza Bread made from potato dough, which I think is a much better complement. It was then basically like a meaty fondue. Hainan Chicken Rice, which is poached chicken with a side of rice steamed in chicken broth, served with soy, chili, and ginger sauces - This plate was pretty good for the price and quite filling. Skin-on chicken was moist and flavorful. The containers for the sauces were too shallow for me to dip well, though; the sauces themselves were good, but the chili should have been hotter. I have my doubts about them actually steaming the rice in chicken broth. While it was fluffy and did have a very very muted chicken flavor, it had no yellow tint and was completely white. Baked Halibut, which were fish filets and sliced mushrooms baked in cream sauce and cheese, served with a plate of linguini pasta - Lots of breaded fish, mushrooms, and cheese in this yummy dish. There was however too much oil in the sauce and it kept separating out. HK cafes definitely do it better, but this dish still made me happy. Going to the restroom requires asking for permission, obtaining a key attached to a huge thingamajig, and walking down a back alley. I recommend that you skip that part of the experience.
(4)Ames D.
We called in 3 orders of hainan chicken with rice for pick up tonight. The rice was soft and fluffy and the chicken was super moist. This time we received free chicken soup, i added a few dashes of salt and pepper at home. It was good.
(5)Tim C.
It is as good as its reputation. It's the very first time for me in my whole life eating chicken without worrying about messing up my teeth, because I chewed to quickly and accidentally biting on a little piece of chicken bone or so. I'm sure everyone had that experience with fragile chicken bones. At Savoy I could enjoy the soft, perfect chicken meat to the fullest. NO BONES AT ALL. Seriously this is my first time. Savoy deserve its great reputation. The price around $10 after everything is acceptable and I'd recommend everyone to come here and tried it at least once.
(4)S D.
I came here and tried their famous Hainan Chicken Rice which comes with chicken and four different sauces. The chicken was moist and their sauces give it a touch of flavor. I also tried the Shrimp Roll which were mini rolls with little filling inside. They weren't too bad, but I'd probably try a different appetizer next time.
(4)Steven J.
Finally got to try this place out after seeing all the good reviews. Place is a lot smaller than I had expected. There are only a few tables inside which could be a bit cramped but there are tables outside as well. I tried the famous Hai nan chicken with rice. Really good. Chicken is nice and moist and the sauces that come with it are great too. I also had the shrimp rolls which were a lot smaller than I had expected but taste good. Overall, it is a good spot and I would come back again if I am in the mood. I didn't have to wait too long on a Saturday afternoon so that was a plus also. Oh and of course it is CASH ONLY.
(4)Raymond L.
The Hainan chicken is delicious here! Don't forget about the lemon ice tea :D
(5)Kelly F.
Love their Hai Nan Chicken Rice, chicken very soft and their sauces are the best. Duck Pasta was ok, nothing so special. I also like the Shrimp Roll for appetizer.
(4)Michelle T.
my friends kept raving about this place, so i checked it out a couple of months ago. i like my chicken either sweet, fried or broiled. hainan chicken was very different ! i've had similarly cooked chicken, but there definitely was a very distinct flavor to this chicken. i guess it's the chinese herbs involved? i had to admit it wasn't my favorite flavor for chicken, but my friends ate every last bit of it! the rice was tasty and the shrimp rolls were yummy. and i'll have to try their famous ice tea.
(4)Fran B.
I just read my review from 2012 and apparently I rated Savoys as 4 stars.............. obviously I was drunk. So here's a 5 star update. PARKING. Yeah it's a bitch. Just suck it up. WAIT TIME. There's usually a wait. But again, suck it up. It's not even that bad usually, because service tends to be really quick. Everything from Savoy is generally REALLY REALLY good. Of course, Hainan chicken rice is the most obvious one. That's what I usually get. The sauces + rice are what REALLY makes it though (for me anyway lol). I love their flavorful, moist, and fragrant rice, and their sauces are basically love in liquid forms. In my previous post, I also mentioned: - Comped bread: take advantage of these. They're as good as bread gets. - Pastas: I've tried a lot of their pastas, including the mushroom & prosciutto, sausage & pepper, seafood pastas and more... and they're all pretty great. Flavorful and brothy. - Curries: I think I've tried the beef curry. Or was it chicken? I think it was beef. It's dank. - Escargot: don't be scared. Just try it. Garlicky and buttery and super tasty. And now, as recommended to me by TWO friends, I have a new favorite that is up there with the Hainan chicken rice. The cold pasta salad with chicken. I know, wtf am I doing eating salad at Savoy? Well it's pretty effing amazing. It's basically just shredded lettuce and purps cabbage, tossed with some cooked rotini (or fusilli?? I think they're the same thing) pasta, and TONS of shredded Hainan chicken (I'm pretty sure... it was way too flavorful to be just regular chix) with a soy & sesame dressing. The dressing ties it allllll together. It's also HUGE. I think it's under 7 bucks for one of these babies and it will fill you up big time. Actually all of their dishes seem to be really nice and huge. And more than affordable. Service is AWESOME. They are always so sweet and so QUICK. I sat at the counter last time, and it was pretty great because you pretty much have ALL their attention lol. It was like a 30 minute dinner because it was just THAT fast. But honestly, even if you sit outside, the service is still really friendly and quick. I should really slap myself for giving them 4 stars because parking sucks. WTF?! Sorry Savoy. It won't happen again.
(5)James W.
Lately, my favorite Hainan Chicken dish is coming out a bit thin, but it is still my favorite vice for comfort food. Thank you for keeping your pricing afordable! GREAT EATS here!!
(4)Samantha R.
My parents and brother love to eat here. Personally, I feel the chicken is very plain. I LOVE the rice. It is very moist and plentiful. Their orange sauce is also very tasty. Happy that it is local and priced fair.
(4)Thomas W.
Over rated. i went there cause I was told they had really good Hainan chicken. It wasn't all that. It was a little softer than Kim Tar's salty chicken. i've had hainan chicken in other countries that taste better. Anybody knows a good one in LA? And i am not sure why they were thinking on the pizza.
(3)Eric C.
This place has decent chicken rice. whats amazing is their garlic ginger sauce. i eat a scoop per bite. They served me raw chicken here last week, but i was so hungry i overlooked this and ate away. i would dine here again regardless. Its a little pricey for a plate of chicken and rice but very tasty!
(4)Sharon C.
I'm not a big fan of Chinese dishes like Hainan chicken, where the chicken is usually not that flavorful and has a lot of bones. I've had Savoy numerous times over the past few years, and it's one of the few places where I willingly will eat Hainan chicken. It's super flavorful and the sauces that it comes with complement the chicken really well. The chicken is always juicy and perfectly cooked. However, despite the delicious Hainan chicken, I actually usually get their pasta. I've had their chicken pasta, which has a tomato sauce base, and their creamy mushroom pasta, which has a white cream sauce base. Both are extremely delicious! The chicken pasta has plenty of juicy chicken in it, and the tomato sauce is well seasoned and not sour like some tomato sauces can be. The creamy mushroom pasta is also really good; I really like the wide assortment of different types of mushrooms present in the dish. Both dishes have a lot of sliced garlic in it, which makes it even more flavorful. My only complaint is that the pasta itself is slightly overcooked, and I like my pasta more al dente. I almost forgot to mention the bread! The bread that the pasta comes with is also really good! It's warm and chewy and is great when dipped in the pasta sauces! I will definitely continue coming here for to go when I'm in the area.
(4)Melissa A.
Pretty good spring rolls and pastas here. Never had duck with my pasta before but it was a good combo. Pasta was nicely cooked and the meat as very soft and delicious. The spring rolls weren't too oily and had a very nice crisp to them. Liked the sweet sauce that accompanied it. Service was so so. Came by once to check on our drinks then came at the end to give us our check. I did like that they were pretty quick at serving our meals.
(4)Justin W.
It's okay 3 stars...the place is tiny; the hainan chicken is better than most but not the best ever like many people says it is.
(3)alan c.
This is probably the best Hainan chicken outside of Singapore. Just as an FYI, they are closed on Sunday.
(5)Bernice N.
when they said that the place was small, well it really was. but we didn't wait for too long. just about 15 minutes. i was supposed to go somewhere else to eat for my birthday but for some reason we ended up here instead. it was ok with me since this has been sitting in my bookmarks for so long. i've been wanting to try that hainan chicken that everyone is talking about. we ordered hainan chicken, curry pork chop and the shrimp eggrolls. both chicken and pork chop were just ok. i think it's not really about the chicken. but more on the sauce that goes with it. i'd rather go to sam woo for the same chicken with ginger sauce (but they don't have that orange chili sauce that i like) since it's closer to us. the curry pork chop is just ok too. nothing special. the shrimp eggrolls were bleh.
(3)Julie R.
Hainam chicken is to die for and once you have it, you will crave it for the rest of your days. I always order it when I come here and it never disappoints. The lemon iced tea is also really delicious especially with tons of their sugar water!
(5)Vee B.
Is a place still considered a "hole-in-the-wall" if there's a line of hungry food enthusiasts? Even with coming at 3:45pm on a dreary Saturday afternoon, there were at least 4 parties ahead of us. It went by quickly and we waited upwards of 20 minutes. If you wanted to dine somewhere with a large group, this is NOT the place for you. 2 to 4 people seems to be the ideal seating arrangement at this joint due to the size. There's a small dining area indoors that seats about 6 small parties indoors and a patio area that seats close to 8 parties outdoors. Be prepared to make friends with your neighbors because it can get a bit cramped. I guess you're not allowed to unleash the tummy after the meal either, for fear you might lean too far back into your neighbor's bubble. I had to wait for the walk back to the car to exhale! Our little table of 3 got the crowd favorite - Hainan Chicken Rice. Holy moly! How do they make such a simple dish so AMAZING?! Every chicken bit was cooked to perfection. The sauces were especially complementary and I wasn't shameful about asking for additional sauce. Something about that ginger sauce got me feeling some type of way... At $7.50, you definitely get bang for your buck. I wanted to hug the chef after my meal because it was that savory. Hit the spot after completing a strenuous hike! If only all hikes were followed up by meals like this! My only complaint was that they didn't offer brown rice (sigh). In the future, I'd like to return to try the other dishes: pizzas, pastas, and other fusion plates. I have a feeling I'll be ordering to-go rather than dining in, however.
(4)Priscilla H.
I can't say anything is as good as the hainan chicken rice here. I come here often and while I always try to get other things nothing is quite as good. Check your to go before you take it home... I ordered a pasta one time and in the middle of my meal back at home, I found a long thick black hair in my noodles... Yuck! Their iced cappuccino and chrysanthemum tea is also good.
(3)Tina C.
Since I am vegetarian, I didn't order their famous Hainanese chicken dish, but they are known for it. Pros: +Ample street parking. +Great hole in the wall with hole in the wall pricing. +Some choices for vegetarians. I ordered the vegetable curry ($6.95). +A good Chinese style diner with diner pricing and selections. +Free bread (quite toasted and tasty) for the table. +They have snails, steak, curry, and chicken. Talk about variety! Cons: -Cash only. -Limited seating space. -I would skip the lemon tea. It literally is iced tea with lemon ($2) although they do give you free refills.
(4)Bogard C.
Everything tastes great here. Love their escargots, chicken red rice, hainan chicken rice. Too busy most of the time need to wait Good prices I'm a regular there
(4)Dee Y.
Don't think about it. Just get the Hainan chicken with rice and the lemon iced tea. I prefer the white meat because I'm a fan of the skin that comes on the dark meat version. Of course the food is delicious here but what really sets it apart is the excellent service! No matter how busy and hectic it gets, the staff here are always super friendly and proactive. I hardly ever have to ask for a refill because they are so attentive despite how crazy it gets. It's a very tiny restaurant with crappy parking but the food and service are well worth it.
(5)Ai T.
Not sure if it's bc it's not worth the hype or because my first experience with Hai Nam chicken was at my bffs house- where her mom ( who's hai nam ) make the best hai nam chicken and to compared the 2 - this place is the inferior of the 2 dishes by far . I do like the service and the chicken is moist - not bad - just not great either ; my partner on the other hand loved his meal ( perhaps bc his mom makes the worst chicken dish I had in my life) if we were to compare her cooking to this place - Savoy chicken is by far superior . All in general - service was great - staff was friendly - chicken is above average in tasting . Perhaps it's worth it to come here if you haven't had authentic Hai Nam chicken - I won't be back
(3)Jessica Y.
Once my plane landed in LAX, I knew I had to head straight to Savoy for my favorite Hainan chicken. I've been a loyal customer for years and missed it terribly after moving to Austin. We ordered the usual, Hainan chicken dark meat, half rice and half salad. I took a bite of the chicken and was surprised by how dry it was. The meat just wasn't fresh and/or it was overcooked. We also ordered escargot for kicks and they were served in little chunk without their shells on a platter - it was not very appetizing at all. We were very disappointed in our food - I'm sad to say I will not return.
(2)Kendall N.
You know your food is good when you enter, eat, and leave the restaurant within 20 minutes.. LOL. No place makes Hainan Chicken as good as this place. There are so many copycats of this dish but their signature Hainan Chicken is what gets people coming back. The chicken is definitely very fresh and the 3 dipping sauces included in your order compliment the chicken very well. The rice that comes with the chicken has a subtle amount of flavor to it which made me want to try to make this dish at home but it's not the same! I've tried pasta and pizza here before and it's good but I'd rather come back for the Hainan Chicken. :)
(5)Roy P.
I've passed by this place so many times and always wanted to try it. It looks extremely cute. It has great ratings and and I've heard great things from my friends. Having finally tried it... I think I will stick with the rice and chicken in the future. And perhaps the duck pizza. I'm going to steer clear of the curry. It was so sweet!! I was not prepared for it. It was def not for me and I end up only taking two bites before giving up. In all fairness, none of my friends recommended it nor did they even mention it. I just thought I'd give it a try. It def knocked off a star for me.
(4)Harry P.
Best known for Hainam chicken rice. Deserve my 5 stars
(5)Keran Y.
I've been to this place for more than three times now and has never been disappointed yet. The service is excellent and the food was just amazing. Yes, they don't accept credit cards however, what they have to offer are wayyyy better. Albeit, I only order one type of dish in here because their hainan chicken is undeniably scrumptious and I just can't resist. As for the unlimited tasty sauce, they go together with the chicken pretty well. i first thought it was weird but then when I tried it, it just blew my mind. You should try it! It's too good to miss. Okay? Okay.
(5)Evelyn L.
I came here a few years too late but definitely not overhyped. If you like free refills on delicious lemon ice tea this is the place for you. Asian ladies here's take that seriously. Add that you have unlimited sugar syrup and you got a lot a happy kids! The chicken is also very flavorful and juicy plus it's nice to look at. The rice is perfectly cooked the grains fall apart easily and have been cooked in probably chicken broth because it's bomb. This is not the place you come to if you are trying to stay away from carbs because you would want to try this rice. I don't even eat all my rice usually but this place I remember was good.
(5)Vanessa H.
I am dying to know what is in that sauce they serve with the hainan chicken rice so I can make it at home. It's sooooooooo delicious! The escargots are surprisingly good too. It's a place I go when we are sick of all the usual lunch options around downtown. Parking is usually pretty easy and although the inside is tiny it tends gets really packed around lunchtime, I've never really had to wait too long for a table.
(5)Amanda L.
I love their Hainam Chicken and rice. I don't have much else to say or recommend here other than that dish. It's street parking and limited seating (indoor and outdoor) so I will always assume that there will be a fairly long wait. The salad that comes with the dish is not impressive but a nice add-on for some vegetables. They are closed on Sundays!!
(4)Lisa G.
Slightly quirky but all good. This has the closest thing to authentic chicken rice as you'll find in SoCal. sauces could use some work but not bad altogether. Don't bother waiting for seat here. You'll be much happier getting take out.
(5)Kevin L.
Savoy Kitchen has some unusual flavor combinations - it's Italian food with a Chinese twist - sort of. Pizza, spaghetti, pizza bread, and steaks are part of their menu, along with more traditional offerings like Hainan Chicken. It's quite tasty and relatively cheap. One thing that's kind of a negative is the tiny inside with awkward sitting spaces. There are a handful of tables outside as well, but it definitely doesn't scream comfort by any means. Additionally, another issue is their bathroom is about as scary a walk as you'll have, at least at night. It's outside, around the back, in a separate building with two wooden doors. I felt like I was about to get jumped in the bathroom that's the size of a portapotty. That being said, I still enjoy the food here. I've also had the spaghetti, which wasn't quite Chinese or Italian food, but had good flavor nonetheless. I was, however, more addicted to their "pizza bread" which seems to be plain bread with some pizza seasoning. But I gobbled up the generous portion of that. The steak appears to be coated in black pepper though, so be wary.
(4)Hsu B.
The hainan chicken rice here is the one of the best I ever had... Can't stop coming here! So good
(4)Craig H.
I've been coming here for a while and really love their hainan chicken and escargo/snails. It's conveniently located close to Phoenix dessert, so I can always get a great meal and follow it with something sweet. The wait can be long, so I often get the chicken "to go". Anyway, I hope this place stays around for a long time.
(5)Judith N.
Yummmm the rice and chicken. I crave it often. The facilities is small and clean but the RESTROOM was the most offensive scene I've seen yet! The last time I was there it was clogged and since there are no restrooms in sight everyone just kept going and no one checked it or cleaned it. There's one out house looking restroom for the entire restaurant. Not good. On another note, my husband got the creamy seafood pasta and he loved it. Avoid the bread it was a waste of time. Tasted like some sort of church bread - stale and cardboard like. Order the chicken broth - fresh and simple. Perfect with the rice.
(4)Tim C.
The food is good here. Quick service and large portions. At least it fills me up. I get to sit at the small bar they have inside but the outside seating is cool too. Almost makes it feel like this place should have been in Old Town Pasadena. I even ran into a cousin on the other side of the family of my Aunt's. (so not blood related) The wait isn't too bad if you are in a small group. For an Asian place, service is worthy of a regular tip. You all know what I mean by that.
(4)Heejin L.
hainan chicken rice white meat, please. really tender and moist. and a side of pizza bread. and ice tea with free refills! with sugar water. and pasta salad with smoked duck. oh and don't forget the chicken broth soup. really yum. the hot sauce and ginger are really good!
(5)David S.
Note: CASH only! A nice departure from the normal Asian restaurant dining experience. This is a fusion restaurant in the sense that you can order traditional Chinese dishes alongside European dishes. My wife and I swung by after running an errand in the area. I was intrigued by the prospect of pizza and my wife wanted the Hainan Chicken. I ordered the Italian sausage pizza and my wife ordered the Hainan chicken. Food came out relatively promptly, service was good. Server was attentive both in getting us seated (it was busy) and also taking our order. Will say I felt a bit rushed out of the restaurant as we were eating still and the waitress came and was asking if we wanted a box and started to take my wife's plate away. She did apologize and left but the check came out about 2 minutes later to our table even with us chewing on pizza. On to taste: The Italian sausage Pizza was delicious! Crust was nice and crunchy, but not burnt. Note: I am pretty picky when it comes to crust... I enjoy eating the crust and for me, the crust makes or breaks a pizza. Cheese, sausage slices, red and green peppers were generous and well balanced. Wife said her Hainan chicken was delicious and on point. Her only complaint was the garlic sauce on the side was a bit salty, but relatively minor IMO. Overall, four stars for this small yet satisfying restaurant!
(4)nancy d.
I always get ice tea and hainam chicken. Awesomesauce!!! Bomb!! Parking is on street and always a waiting list but worth it after having the best hainam chicken around. A lot of places start changing! i haven't seen anything change at savoy yet, and i hope they never do! Won't go anywhere else!!
(4)Leanna L.
I order a hai nan chicken rice, the chicken meat tastes little bit over cook. Over all it is a recommended restaurant ：）
(4)Tuan N.
This place is known for their Hainan chicken so it's pretty much the only thing I've had here. It's very good though, my favorite part of the dish is probably the rice that it comes with as it has a lot of flavor in it. The chicken is also good as it's moist and has a good texture. The sauces that comes with the meal is what really makes it so good though. I would love to come back and try some of their other stuff like the duck pizza. I was actually intending to try the pizza but I was pretty much starving at the time and the wait for the pizza was like 25 minutes which seems long. Usually there's some level of waiting for this place as its popular and sort of small but I got in relatively quick sitting at the counter inside. The service is also quite good as they constantly refilled my drink and are friendly there.
(4)L Y.
Their signature dish and everyone's favorite is the Hainan Chicken! What's so good about it? The meat is tender and moist and I think the secret is their ginger and oil sauce. Delicious!!! The place is small and there's usually a wait. Since I live in the area, I just call ahead and take it home to eat.
(5)Julie Y.
Oh Savoy-- you ish so delish. You keep me coming back for more!! :) My boss was actually the first person to introduce me to Savoy, and that memory is still imprinted in my brain. Oh glorious Hainan Chicken. Juicy strips of chicken accompanied by tangy ginger sauce and spicy red sauce + a generous helping of chewy steaming rice. So simple yet so good! But enough about the chicken. By now, everyone know about the Hainan Chicken so I wanted to talk about other food entrees I've tried: Curry Chicken: It reminds me of legit Indian-styled curry. There were so many spices bursting in my mouth that I was super glad that Savoy gave me so much rice on the side. Don't get me wrong, it was pretty good. I was just overwhelmed that there was so much chicken and flavor in this dish. Three Mushroom Pizza Pizza in itself is pretty good: crispy crunchy outer layer, doughy bready goodness on the inside. Man, I could eat this all day. I wasn't too crazy about the white cream sauce they used for this, but I loved how the cheese was all melted -- I just kept eating slice after slice just for that gooey sensation :P Pizza Bread (side order) Eh. It isn't something I would rave about, though the pizza bread was interesting. At first, I thought it was going to be like pizza but in bread slice form. NOPE! It literally is just bread, except that it has a sweet bang! from the sugar sprinkled onto the bread, and a black pepper aftertaste like that of pizza. Chrysanthemum Tea Not too sweet. Balanced. Refreshing. Me likes :) Overall, I'm pretty impressed that Savoy makes other good dishes ASIDE from their infamous Hainan Chicken. I really want to try their shrimp rolls and their pasta dishes so I'll be coming back for more :) Tips: *there is always going to be a long line, even if you come at an off hour. Just keep that in mind. *not all of the outdoor seating arrangements have heaters so come with an extra jacket just in case! * Cash only. * Parking is available just down the street so be patient.
(4)Peter P.
Hainan Chicken. Pay the extra $2 for all dark meat. Totally worth it. 3 Sauces. Ginger, chili and soy. Everyone has a favorite. Shrimp Rolls. Crispy appetizer. Use dipping sauce liberally. Lemon Ice Tea. Add sugar at own discretion. Unlimited refills. Indoor seating. Very limited. Try to get a table outside. Street parking. Practice parallel parking. Observe the signs.
(4)Cindy C.
I found this place on Yelp and heard great things about it from friends. I was super excited to bring my hubby who loves Hainan chicken rice to try things out. We ordered Hanian chicken rice with dark meat. Their meat is boneless, super tender, juicy, and flavorful. I love how the rice has this subtle chicken flavor that doesn't overpower the chicken. We had it for dinner and was already craving for it the next day! I will definitely go there again next time we visit LA. The outdoor seating is very cozy too. They had the heater on and it was fun to sit with all the Christmas light. Service is prompt and tenitive. Right now, as I am writing this review, I am craving for it so bad.....I want some Hainan chicken rice now!!!!
(5)Kim W.
Hainan Chicken, extra ginger and chili sauce, and an orange iced tea. Perfect comfort meal. Shrimp rolls are good too! I can (and have) ate the whole plate of Hainan Chicken, rice and all (which is cooked with chicken broth I believe). It's THAT good!!
(5)Diva K.
YUM! Hanian Chicken plate with white meat and rice from here is one of my favorite meals. It's always packed but the wait isn't too bad and we always get our food real quick. We love sitting on the patio on a nice day. CASH ONLY!
(5)Alyce l.
Came here in June when visiting LA & Vegas. Wow, chicken is delicious, tasty and juicy. Rice is pretty good too, not too soft and not too hard. We also ordered a spring roll, can't remember the name of it, but it's very skinny, but really good. Didn't try other food as they are know for their Chicken and rice. Came here around 1130am, right when they opened, we had 10 ppl, filled up half of the outside seating. Luckily we came here a few minutes earlier, because it was packed when we sat down! Must try!
(4)Clark Y.
The chicken is moist, tender, and does not come with bones. The rice is cooked and steamed in chicken stock. The ginger sauce is lovely. As well as the sweet soy sauce and the orange sauce. Oh, let's not forget about the lemon tea. A complete and satisfying meal!! It tends the get packed during the weekends and parking can be difficult. But, you'll just have to patient and stick it through!
(4)Bernice C.
Thank you chickens for your sacrifice. Y'all have died for a good cause. The famous Hainan chicken is my go-to dish here. Moist and even cuts of chicken over chicken-aroma-ed rice has yet to disappoint me once. I have tried to imitate the rice here and steamed it in chicken broth. NOT EVEN CLOSE, sigh. I love that EACH piece of chicken still had the skin attached. I can't stress enough how much I loveeee chicken skin. There are some places I go to where there is only skin on 3 measly pieces out of 8!!! Chicken-skin villian makes the Hamburgaler look straight up evil. I'm onto you, buddy. Also, you can pass on the escargot here, tastes just like what you think a snail would taste like. A little snail story and a glimpse into my life: my dad would chuck and skip snails on the pavement like he was skipping stones on the water. Animal cruelty, right? Two condiments that I always run out of when eating the Hainan chicken is ginger and soy sauce. Pass on the mildly spicy, orange sauce. I love the soy sauce it comes with! It's a little sweeter than the typical soy sauce, and I like to drizzle it all over my rice. Where can I get a bottle of this at?! With the ginger, I generously coat the chicken with it, and then rub it allll ovaa my rice. Cramped seating both inside and outside, so close that you could freeload a piece of chicken off your neighbor's plate. Inside, you feel like you're dining in a cafe in Hong Kong; outside, you feel like you're dining in the streets of Paris. Just ignore the parked Hondas and Toyotas in front of you on the side of the street, and focus on the quaintness of the brick wall behind you, and the strategically strung lights and vines. Also, this is a cash only establishment, and depending on the time of day you go, expect a wait. I'll be back to try the dark meat, but I'm skurred. Once you go black, you never go back right? I kid, I kid. Tip: Get the doong ling cha (lemon iced tea), and not the chrysanthemum tea. There's only unlimited refills on the doong ling cha! My friend told me it reminded her of the ones in Hong Kong. Also, don't forget to add the sugar syrup. Getting the taste jusssst right takes a couple of tries, so maybe that's why it's unlimited. Savoy must know our struggles.
(5)Luby H.
Arriving at the wait of almost 40 minutes on a weekday evening, I really expected more. It's a small cozy restaurant that is pretty limited in seating, but has an expanded outdoor seating area to enlarge it's capacity. The crowd is mostly teens for some reason though which surprised me. I guess the youngsters like them chicken. I was seated at the bar, which was quite honestly, very interesting. We ordered the Hainanese Chicken Rice, of course, with the lamb pasta that was one of the worst choices we ever made in our lives. When we left, the pasta, which we all had a bite of, was fuller than ever. I am not sure why or how the waitress can suggest such a dish to us, but sorry to say, it was disgusting. Please do not order this or your heart will also be filled with regrets. As for the Hainanese Chicken Rice, you get a place of tender chicken with green onion sauce and crushed pepper spicy sauce with rice on the side. I think you are supposed to put some of the sauces on the rice and mix it up to eat it with the chicken. For some reason, I personally feel that the chicken would taste better dipped with a chili sauce that was sweet sour, but maybe that's just me. Overall, the rice and chicken was good, but it wasn't something that I would go out of my way to eat, or wait again for over 40 minutes. I have to admit, the price was extremely reasonable though. For 4 people, 3 Hainan Chicken Rice, and the lamb pasta, our bill only came out to be around $30. That's a heck of a deal if you ask me!
(2)Marthie D.
I came here with a friend and she said the reviews were awesome online. So we came to this small place and opened the door to a room that was literally small. I swear only 15 people can actually sit at the tables there, and five at the bar area. I felt kind of claustrophobic. Since the place was so small, you could easily hear the conversation from across the room. (It wouldn't matter to me any way, since I don't speak nor understand Chinese. Most of the customers were, and I only knew that because my friend I went with was Chinese.) Thank goodness there was outdoor seating. So that's where we sat. A lot more roomy for me, and I wanted the fresh air. The outside has their own waitress who gets the food from a hole in the wall. I thought that was really cool. I asked what's good here, and I first ordered the Hainan chicken. About one minute after the waitress took my order, I saw her take the beef curry dish to the people next to us, another recommendation she made. So I quickly asked her if I could switch my plate to that since it looked so good. She told the guy in the hole in the wall (I love saying that), and he quickly changed. One minute later, she had my friend's order ready and mine in another minute. Geez, service is quick here! Thank goodness I changed my order quickly. On to the food. I never had this type of curry before so I was excited since it smelled and looked so good. Did it taste as good as it smelled? Yes. Did I really love my plate? No. I say that because it had a few beef tendons that I'm not a fan of. I thought they were bamboo at first, but kept chewing and realized it wasn't breaking down the way my teeth would break down bamboo. (Not that I'm a bamboo expert like the pandas in China.) But if you like tendons, you'll like this dish. So over all, this place is alright. Perhaps I should have stuck with the Hainan chicken. But that's another yelp review to do. Oh yeah.. CASH ONLY!
(3)Fanny L.
Savoy is one of those restaurants in the SGV that you have to try. They are known for their Hainan Chicken. Pretty much everything on their menu is good. One of my favorites is the Cold Pasta with Chicken. Every time I order it my friends & cousins always tell me how delicious it tastes. I really wish this place was a lot bigger because they have such good food. As for the service.. ehh. As long as you put your order in, get your food, and your drinks are refilled, you should be a happy camper :)
(4)Annie L.
It has been a long time since I've had Savoy's Hainan chicken and it was as good as I remember. I've made Hainan chicken from scratch before, but it's much too labor intensive to be worth the effort. Maybe I'll try again someday, but for now -- I'm okay with driving out to Alhambra for good food. Savoy is tiny -- ask for the outdoor patio and be prepared to wait for a table because it's super popular.
(4)Kiki S.
the line can be very long. Very good hainam chicken and beef curry ( hasn't try others yet). i've come there often for lunch, one of the waiter is a young woman, and she is very very very RUDE!, i mean literally. I thought it's just once but no. seems like every time i went there she's in the bad mood or some sort. anyways, the other waitresses which are the two older lady are friendly and efficient. just hope you won't get that rude waitress cause it kills the taste of the good food. :3
(4)Bobby C.
Been here once before and I didn't even know it was Savoy, fast forward a few years and I come here again after a friend said the hainam chicken here was the best EVAR so I naturally had to pop back and see what's what. -Interior/Exterior I never sat inside but it's incredibly small, a few tables for couples and maybe one table for a group of four. It's awfully cramped and as a result they have outdoor seating, they bolted a wooden bench to the outside wall and have tables and chairs sitting alongside it. The outdoor seating can seat the larger parties but all in all they can probably seat maybe 50-60 total. So they have a clipboard sitting out front so you can put your name down and wait, the outdoor seating also has a mister that they use when it gets hot. -Service The service here is what I expect from an Asian restaurant: not that great. It didn't take too long for our food to come but when I asked for a refill on water it took about 10-15 minutes, I thought she remembered when I saw her with the water pitcher but she was refilling a different table. Eventually I got my water along with the check; like I said, don't expect good service. -Food The hainam chicken that everyone raves on about here is the real reason why I came again, it's pretty cheap from what I recalled, $7-$8? Our table ordered two hainam chickens, chicken curry, and some pasta of some sort, I forget. The hainam chicken comes with two dipping sauces (chili and ginger) and I believe soy sauce on the side, you can ask for refills on the dipping sauces and they'll give you a big jug of it. As for the chicken, I didn't think it lives up to the hype. Granted my only other experience with hainam chicken is with Banana Bay and Coconut Bay, but they all taste the same to me. Steamed chicken is steamed chicken, it will lack flavor unless you add some other stuff to it which is what I suppose everyone likes at Savoy, the sauces. The rice was OK, cooked just how I imagined it would be for the hainam chicken dish. I also ordered a chrysanthemum tea which was sweeter than what I'm use to but a little sugar won't do much harm, if you want a drink besides water or soda I suggest the iced tea because you get free refills. This place is average in my book, and I would consider that to be slightly generous considering how everyone says any dish aside from the hainam chicken is mediocre. Savo(r)y Kitchen is a small restaurant among the many other Asian restaurants in the S.G.V., known for the hainam chicken but I implore you to venture out and find another restaurant that serves it and tell me what the difference is because I can't see or taste the difference. If you're looking to dine here come early and put your name down and come with a small party is all I can say, and try the hainam chicken.
(3)Heidi C.
I was taken here by my boyfriend last week and it was very good. Even though it's a small place and there are always a lot of people, it was well worth it. I would have given it 5 stars if it wasn't for the RUDE waitress there and the challenge of finding parking. Unfortunately, because they were busy at lunch time, we had to sit at island, right in front of all the work going on. The waitress who was either in high school or college, was the rudest waitress I have ever encountered. Even my boyfriend who doesn't mind bad service too much if he likes the food, was very offended by her rude remarks and service to everyone she spoke to. On a brighter note, the house special chicken was DELICIOUS! the ginger and the orange sauce is the best part and they are very accommodating with their chicken. You can order it skinless and they are never stingy with their sauce, which made me an instant fan. I will definitely ask my boyfriend to take me there again.
(3)roger w.
ok, check this place out.....the hainan chicken i admit is good....but is it $9 good? i mean the chicken looks like it died from starvation. naw, i rather get an 8pc fried chicken for $7.99...........
(1)Ashley F.
Been coming here for years now. Their hainan chicken rice pretty good. Their rice is usually very flavored and their sauces are dank. I usually order the escargot too, and they give you this garlic bread to soak the butter up. I love it :) downside is that they only accept cash.
(4)David W.
Great hainan chicken and rice. Their rice is made with chicken soup instead of water. The chicken is cooked perfectly, the meat was tender, including the breast meat. Their curry is pretty good too. Don't forget to order their shrimp rolls(small egg rolls), one order is never enough.
(5)Karl K.
Overrated, frozen chicken -------- Sorry folks, had high hopes for this place, but as soon as we sat down and ordered the house special and beef brisket curry, our interest waned significantly. The chicken is frozen. Why does this matter? Because the meat becomes mushy, and the natural "umami" of a fresh chicken is completely lost. I guess most reviewers who gave this place 5 stars have never had Hainan chicken prepared from a fresh, "running on the ground" chicken. The beef brisket curry was greasy and tough. Could make a similar (if not higher quality) curry with an off the shelf Japanese curry mix from any Asian supermarket.
(2)Linda T.
Hianan chicken (b). A must. I was first introduced to this meal in Singapore by a dear friend and now I've been reunited with the same great taste. As if I was back in Singapore...
(4)Wendy L.
Total disappointment. The rice was not fragrant- but dry without any flavoring. The grains themselves were short and small they were broken up - by being over cooked. The rice should be glossy and moist. The chicken- dry dry dry. Not flavorful and not tender. The skin should not be dried out, and the chicken should be moist, not flaky. As a Singaporean, I'm kind've embarrassed that this fake hainan chicken crap would be associated with me in any way.
(1)Jodi B.
Hainan. Chicken. Rice. I really don't have much else to say that everyone else hasn't already said. This chicken comes into consideration whenever I think about moving to a new city. Seriously.
(5)bruce H.
THE GREAT THE CHEAP AND THE GHETTO LAME SCAM This could be a truly 5 star place if not for all the crap that you have to go through here. THE CHEAP Note this place is CASH ONLY which is pretty stupid because it shows you how inconsiderate the owners and how inconvenient this can be to their customers. The owners always use the excuse that it is expensive to have a credit card machine, to that i say look at how much more revenue that could be generate. The reality is that since its a cash only business these location not only screw with the customers but screw with paying their taxes (which isn't necessarily a bad thing.) THE GHETTO LAME SCAM The other annoying thing was the fact that they tell customers the water in the city is bad so order (pay for) a drink instead. We ate at four different places in the city that day and no one else told us that. the fact was at the other places we ate the servers were happy to offer free water. TOTAL CHEAPNESS. Bring your own water hell bring your own soda if they do this to you. Or even better since the water is so bad the owners should give you free drinks for your inconvenience. And if the water is truly that bad buy some bottle water or a few 5 gallon jugs for the customers. THE GREAT SO why does this place still get 5 stars when most other places like this would get a one or two star from me. Well its is because the food is extraordinary. Its one of those few jewels in the city that serves just a few dishes but what an amazing few they are. At most places in SG the rice is just rice. Medium to long grain generic carb filler. Here it's different! Hainan chicken "Hainanese chicken rice is a dish of Chinese origin most commonly associated with Malaysian cuisine or Singaporean cuisine, although it is also commonly sold in neighbouring Thailand, and found in Hainan, China itself. So-called due to its roots in Hainan cuisine and its adoption by the Hainanese overseas Chinese population in the Nanyang area, the version found in Malaysia/Singapore combines elements of Hainanese and Cantonese cuisines along with culinary preferences in the Southeast Asian region.." (wiki) If you are a fan of Anthony Bourdain then you will remember his Singapore show here is a clip- (2:50 mark) youtube.com/watch?v=7vEt… Its about chicken and rice and I've always wanted to try it, and savoy kitchen has what i think is this quintessential dish, I think every culture has a chicken and rice dish but this one is the best. The chicken is delicate without being too dry the skin is not too gelatinous and the the texture is not mealy or over or under cooked. The rice is fluffy and flavourful with just the right amount of stock and seasoning. The accompany sauces are ginger oil, dark soy, and chili and how you combine them is up to you, but try them all because they add so much zest and zing to the dish. My robot friend doesn't like ginger and i felt so sorry for him because he was missing out on the UMAMI that the sauces add to and already extraordinary dish! I could eat this dish everyday hell five times a day. They also have curry which is pretty good and also snails not bad not bad. (edit but i've had better) Ive been looking for a true interpretation of this dish since i first saw it on TV, and i believe that I've found it. This dish is worth the inconvenience if you live 100 miles from this place it is still worth the drive. It is so nice to eat such a simple but extraordinary dish that made me so happy....Why can't all places have good food like this. I CRAVE IT AGAIN ALREADY DAMMMMMMM!!
(5)Danny C.
This place is amazingly delicious! Great food quality and low prices. There is always a small wait time because restaurant is small but always worth the wait!
(5)William N.
Great hainan chicken and cheap prices. I love the hainan chicken dishes here, it's a must have every time I come. Combine with lemon iced tea with refills and you're good to go! The only problem is it's a really small place with limited seating.
(4)Kelly C.
Savoy Kitchen Overall 4.75 Stars Gold- Hainan Chicken Silver- Fried Spring Rolls Bronze - Chrysanthemum Tea The hainan chicken here is one of the best. You can ask for all dark meat if that is what you prefer. Savoy give you a hot sauce and a ginger sauce, both are very good with the chicken. I put soy sauce on my chicken rice to enhance the flavor. The fried spring rolls here are delicious. Crispy and tasty! The chrysanthemum tea is very good. It is full of flavor and not watered down. It is the best chrysanthemum tea that I have had. The service is very fast. Some times I order my food, the server turns, and then turns again....walaaaaa the food is here on the table!! what what?? Like magic. Amazing. Savoy has good stuff!! I suggest you try it soon and see the magic for yourselves. HAPPY HAINANING!!
(4)Stan L.
I don't understand why people love this place so much. Every time I go there, there is a long wait. I think the food is okay. I only go here because it close by and that's the only reason.
(3)Minh L.
Ever other Saturday my coworks and I would come here for their wonderful juicy Hainan Chicken. It's always so fresh and the rice is so moist. Great prices, and very reasonable.
(5)Catherine M.
Best Hainan Chicken ever !!! The restaurant is kinda small inside.
(5)Vicky T.
I always order the same thing here: Hainan Chicken Rice and Iced Tea with Lemon. The one time I chose to deviate from my regular order, I regretted it and ended up "sharing" my friend's Hainan Chicken Rice instead (needless to say, I threw away their so-called pasta dish and my friend was forced to order another plate of Hainan Chicken :P haha .. Sorry!) The only reason why I'm subtracting one star from this place is because I've had some pretty bad service here quite a number of times. They have several people working, but they're so busy that sometimes they feel as though they are justified in ignoring your request. I suggest that you bust out your Cantonese or Mandarin here if you're a native speaker (it definitely helps increase your chances of being heard) lol. Also, you're gonna pull your hair out trying to find parking for this place. You're going to have to find parking around the neighborhood--sometimes even two blocks away :( .. Time to work out those legs! lol :P
(4)Kathy S.
Lov this place!!!
(5)Helena N.
Totally overhyped. Hainan chicken was mediocre at best, regardless of what sauce you used.
(3)Pamela H.
I have been to this place several times already. I usually get the hainan chicken dish. The meat quantity is sometimes inconsistent. For most days, the hainan chicken is perfectly poached and the rice has that yummy chicken essence. But there have been some days where the chicken is chewy and the rice is not as flavorful. :(. When the chicken is good though, it is awesome!! I love their spicy sauce and ginger sauce. Their unlimited servings of lemon iced tea = awesome!!!
(4)Michelle Y.
so i still don't know what hainan chicken is but i do know that it's pretty damn good. like i saw people ordering pizza and pasta here but i assume their specialty is this chicken dish so obviously i went ahead and ordered it. comes with three dipping sauces and the green one has a kick. i have no clue what each sauce was. but it was all good. place is cheap. busy as hell though. so damn busy.
(4)Esther A.
The hainan chicken here is very good but it isn't as good as Hainan Chicken restaurant. (There was more texture on the chicken at the Hainan Chicken restaurant). The sauce for the chicken is the main attraction here (5 stars!). (If only you sold your sauce to Hainan Chicken restaurant, then this would be the perfect combination!) The place is very small, but it is very fast and efficient and the workers speak cantonese! If you order the lemon tea drink, it also has free refills! (Very smart for them to do this!)
(4)Jason K.
Always call ahead for togo's... Best dagon Hynan chicken ever!!!! Is south Cali at least
(5)Joanne W.
I came on a Wednesday night around 7 ish, and the wait was around 20-25 minutes. The hainan chicken was so soft and tender! It definitely met my expectations (and more). Especially when you eat each bite with all three of their sauces.. Omg heaven! I would most definitely come back again (& again!), but next time I will most likely order to-go.
(4)Angel L.
I've been coming to this place for YEARs! Location: parking can be a PAiN! residential street parking and there's also a very very small lot behind the buildings. Seating: with their popularity in mind, this place is WAYy too small. you will feel it too.. especially if you go during lunch/dinner times. they quite literally have like 4-5? small tables inside with a counter bar lined with four chairs. outdoor seating is a little more flexible but you'll be accompanied with impatient and hungry patrons along with cars driving by. Since this place can get BUSY, and this place is soo small, the wait can be RIDICULOUSLY long. (-1 star) but what IS nice to know is that their employees are not afraid to let you know they have a long line of customers waiting to be seated once they know you've paid, and don't need anything else. Ambiance: I loveee sitting outdoors at night, they have those white xmas lights and heaters! outdoors. you can really feel that they started out as a little ma and pop restaurant. (: Food: yes, yes, the hainam chicken is really good. (: but I used to get the noodles with seafood plate and it was amazing! flavorful, and perfectly seasoned... until i got food poisoning back in the summer of 2007. Im just going to blame that on myself though.. or my mom? she left it out a couple hours before i actually came home to eat ): anywayssss.. a friend of mine always ordered the chicken salad and that was yummy too (: the pizza bread is really tasty!( you can order extra but it usually comes as a side to certain orders) Ive also had their creme brulee and it was deeeelicious! all in all, this is a MUST try (: TIP: big party? don't want to wait? order to go! ps. go before the usual lunch and dinner rush hours... you won't regret it!
(4)Lanny G.
so in love with this place... hainam chicken is my fav...
(5)Jan P.
Ehhhhh... The chicken has the distinct scent that my bf and I are not a big fan of... and the portion was a bit too small. I wouldn't go back again.
(1)Sherry V.
I love chicken. I prefer it to red meat any day. I just found it hard to come to this place for the longest time given that my mom makes hainan chicken like.. every week! Savoy's chicken is tender like my mom's. Their rice is definitely money... It's a shorter grain with a slightly mushier texture than I liked but I really enjoyed the seasoning. Now I finally understand what everyone's talking about.
(5)Shirley l.
Best Hai-nan Chicken in the area for sure. Very tender chicken and the rice is very flavorful. Nice dipping souce for the chicken, too. However, be aware of long wait during rush hours. One of the secret jewel in Alhambra. Too bad they close on Sundays.
(4)Janice T.
Four times in one week?!
(4)Steve C.
When we got there, there was a long line to get seating. Luckily we got our food to go. It's super fast that way. Ordered the hainanese chicken rice. Waited maybe 3 minutes and the food was ready to go. The chicken was moist and tender and the rice had good texture and flavorful. The sauces served with it were good--chili sauce for a slight spiciness, soy sauce for a little umami, and the ginger garlic sauce to round it out. Overall great food for a reasonable price and friendly service. Just make sure you have cash. It's the only thing they take.
(4)Rowena Y.
Best chicken rice, I always ask for extra soy sauce, chili sauce and the most important part of this meal is ginger paste!!!
(5)Holly H.
It was fast, efficient, and delicious! We ordered the hainan chicken with rice and salad. The chicken was moist, tender, and flavorful. I had a good mix of light and dark meat. The chicken to rice ratio was perfect. The rice was soft and had flavor on its own too. The sauces accompanying the chicken perfect. I'm not a ginger fan so I basically didn't touch that one, but my boyfriend ate it up (both of ours). I like that the flavors change depending on what you dip the meat in. Sometimes I would dip in it multiple sauces in one bite. SO GOOD. The crunchiness of the salad added to the texture of the dish too - ordered the version with salad because I needed to eat some veggies. It was fresh and added some nice color to the dish - just what I needed. The ice tea with lemon is good! They give you a sweetener with it so you can get it as sweet as you'd like. Free refills and they even gave us a refill after we paid along with lids so we could take it home! The service was friendly and it was fast! Soon after we ordered, our dishes came out. We came on a Wednesday around 8:30pm and had no wait!
(5)Joanne T.
There isn't much decor, or a place that has a lot of seating space. However, something about how simple the place is makes it appealing. The Hanan chicken is a must here but my other favorite is the cold chicken pasta. Yeah, people think this place is over-rated but its simple. Chicken and rice.
(4)Cathy H.
I was referred to this place for one thing only: Hainan Chicken Rice. I'm from VA and there is not a plethora of chicken rice places, so I was excited to try it for the first time, especially after seeing Bourdain murder it in a Singapore episode. I ordered dark meat chicken (of course) as well as a side of shrimp rolls (spring rolls with shrimp inside). The chicken rice: yum-o! Tender, fatty chicken with three sauces: ginger, mystery spicy, and soy. The rice had a lot of flavor since the broth is used to cook it. The shrimp rolls: hot, crispy, and delicious! Order this as your appetizer -- you will not regret it. I dined outside, so an assessment of the decor cannot be made. I haven't had the chance to try chicken rice at any other place, but I'm not sure I need to seek out competitors since this dish is excellent here.
(5)Anna C.
I PROMISE you that this place has the absolute bestest best Hainan chicken out there. They have definitely mastered it! Yum! Even though really, I think it's all in the sauce and the boneless meat ;) They use legit Chinese ginger sauce. Their Hainan chicken is so good it that I don't even think about their other items. Like don't even bother asking me what I want, you know I only came here for ONE reason. I would never miss a chance to eat their Hainan chicken if I ever go around there. The only thing that would make the Hainan chicken EVEN more perfect, would be if they had flavored rice like GreenZone. Mmm. Shrimps rolls are also pretty good :) I totally hate egg rolls, but yummm :) They have corn syrup instead of sugar here. Is that weird? No parking lot :( So you have to suffer finding parking on the street.
(5)Margaret C.
First off, Savoy Kitchen is delicious!! I went with my cousin and my sister. I got the Hainan chicken rice dish and it was really good. The rice actually has a flavor to it, but I wasn't sure exactly what it was. My sister got the creamy conch pasta and it was soo light and tasty. With an pasta order, you get bread, which is also really good. I wasn't sure what kind of bread it was, but from afar it looks like grilled chicken. It is pretty small inside, but they do have outside seating. Oh, and it is cash only, so no cards!!
(4)Pickyeater W.
Really enjoyed -- Hainan chicken rice dish (especially the 3 sauces) Suggest taking it to go, chill the chicken, and warm the rice. Chicken texture is even better when chilled! Note: Chicken is already deboned. Also tried the dark meat only combination, but didn't think it was better than the original.
(4)Wendy C.
I have no reason to not give Savoy five stars. Although it is definitely one of the smallest restaurants I have been to, it also serves the best hainan chicken I have tried! For $6.95, you get hainan chicken rice, and for two dollars more, you get the same, but with dark meat. The sauce is awesome, and you can always ask for more. Service is great. They accommodate to your seating preferences (indoor/ outdoor) and have a name-list right by the door. All in all, excellent food for excellent price. What more can I ask for?
(5)Milkie C.
Their hainan chicken rice is the best. I went to hainan and had their chicken rice there and I was still missing savoy kitchen! I always get their hainan chicken rice with dark meat. $2 extra but the meat is more tender and flavorful.
(5)Christine P.
Everyone has their favorite places. Savoy is definitely one of mine, and has been for years. The hainan chicken here is awesome, no doubt about that. But another must have I nearly always order is the seafood salad. It is so good, so order a large and share as an appetizer. The unlimited refills on the lemon ice tea are also something I love, especially since I prefer liquid sugar as a sweetener over artificial sugars. Plus you can get a lid to take it to go. Yes, the wait can be quite long during peak hours for cafe food, and parking may be a bit irritating since the lot is so small. No, Savoy does not take credit cards, so make sure you bring cash. And unfortunately it is not open on Sundays, which I still forget all the time after going there for a good 5 years on and off. But the wait staff is quick and as attentive as can be for a busy little place, there is outdoor seating, and the food is always satisfying.
(4)Peggy Y.
I've eaten at Savoy for over 10+years. Growing up in a foodie family, my parents have discovered this treasure and I've eaten their Hainam chicken + rice ever since. I've dined in (about 30 times), gotten party trays for xmas/company lunches (about 15 times), gotten to-go, etc. Majority of the time I've had good experiences. The business hours I remember is a bit tricky for my schedule. I've taken my bf once and they ran out of the flavored rice on our first date and I almost wanted to shoot myself in the head. So I do recommend coming earlier and not almost until closing time because they DO run out of things. I also am interested in their Curry beef, Cream sauce fish/seafood with pasta, and some of their drinks menu. I don't recall anything I do not like in particular. Overall their food is solid 4 stars. My Hainam chicken is always tasty, never dry, and my sauces are constantly refilled as I request (or not). You can also request white meat/dark meat. Their lemon Iced Tea is refreshing but I usually get this coffee drink, I think it's Iced Mocha/Coffee? It's SO GOOD!!!!!!!!!! Service is really not terrible but not fantastic either. It is a small spot + a little patio area, so they usually get swamped during lunch + dinner services. I really like their shrimp roll appetizier :) It's a real treat!! Never tried their pizza, don't think I need to either. Cash only. Parking on the side of the street. The only reason why it's not 5 stars is because of waiting time, cash only, and menu pretty much stayed the same for a LONG time. It's not a bad thing but I was hoping they can throw in a couple seasonal or upgrade their menu categories a bit. I'm not complaining though, food is good :)
(4)Rachel W.
Sadly my boyfriend had been trying to get me to eat here for over a year by saying it was Chinese-Italian fusion...well i just couldnt see the light. On Christmas eve while out shopping we got hungry and drove by here and he suggested this place he'd had before and I was obsessed right away. When he told me that it was that place I could have kicked myself for being such an idiot. Now we eat here about once a week and have brought many people here to fall in love with the white meat chicken and shrip rolls. i always feel sad when my food is gone.
(5)Lillian C.
It's been a while since I've been here (think early 2000's), but I think the food has definitely gotten better with age. They seem to be pretty busy all the time so be prepared to wait a bit. The inside has VERY limited seating and the outside isn't too bad and they also have heat lamps. Also, parking is pretty scarce and you may have to park across Valley, but beware when you cross the street! If you like chicken, order the Hainan chicken rice... with a extra spicy and ginger sauce. If you want beef, get the curry beef. It's really rich and tasty! The shrimp rolls as appetizers were just... OK... pretty small, but they do give you a lot though... like 8? Like many Asian food places in the 626, it's cash only!
(4)Maysa S.
All of my boyfriend's friends absolutely love this place and swear by their Hainan chicken. I for one, loveee love love Hainan chicken, so I was SO ready to try this place! After trying it.. I concluded that the rice was whack, no flavor, almost seemed like normal rice.. and well... you can't mess up poached chicken. Then we get to the sauces that don't make any sense to me... ginger, soy sauce, and some spicy sauce. All I gotta say is the Thai sauce for Hainan chicken is better. Oh, and no soup comes with the dish... say what?! why?! Ugh. When I ordered it on the side... it was insanely salty, not even chicken brothy-ish. (Boooo!!) Now.. when I come here all I get is their iced tea, which is magnificent!! But I'm watching everyone eat and saving my money for better Hainan chicken at a Thai restaurant. Yup, I said it!!
(2)Ed T.
I've never liked Hainan chicken before, but it's really good here - now I understand what all the excitement is about. Instead of the typical dish where it is mostly skin and bones and very little meat, the Hainan chicken here is very meaty with very little skin or bones. It's extremely tender and I love how they scoop extra spicy sauce and ginger for you. The ginger is a little too salty, but the spicy sauce is really flavorful without burning off your taste buds. Tried the chicken curry, which is okay but not spectacular. The shrimp rolls, however, are really, really good - definitely try these!
(4)Steph C.
food is consistent, but somehow the portion start to shrink little these days. service is good
(4)Phung D.
I remember this one friend used to rave about this place ALL THE TIME. It's been 2 years now and I finally stopped by for the first time in my life. I think we tried to come here on a Sunday last time but it was closed? Such an odd day to take off when you mostly get business on the weekend. It's such a hassle to come here and eat! No parking lot or whatso. Cash only. Place is so tinyyy = packed ALL THE TIME. When you hear Savoy Kitchen, it's all about HAINAM CHICKEN. I was never a big fan of HAINAM CHICKEN so I guess that's why it's 3 stars? I find this dish so simple and bland. It's just rice & chicken....it's something I can make at home. My friend doesn't like chicken but he said it was good so I guess it must be really good...I thought it was okie. The rice was soft and the chicken was tender. They give you ginger sauce & orange sauce (which I couldn't detect what it was). Instead of ordering rice & chicken, I got an order of Seafood Salads. I thought it was simple but yummy combination also. It has shrimps, squids, and fish balls. I don't dig the sauce at all since it was a bit too sweet. Ranch wouldn't go well with it but it will definitely taste better than their own version of ranch forsho. As for rice range, it's not too bad. $5 for a small order of salads, $7 for a plate of Hainam Chicken, $2 for a cup of iced tea. The iced tea was a plus.
(3)libs k.
so after a gruesome set of bloodwork at the doctor's office i decided to replenish with some good ol' hainan chicken - i also have a cold and i figure the ginger and garlic will do me good. and i have to say the hainanese chicken rice was pretty tasty - the meat was perfectly cooked and their sauces were delicious. i find it funny that nowhere else in la would you be charged extra for dark meat. it's not a complaint, just an observation. so is the fact that for a restaurant with 8 tables they had 4 waitresses (not including the one taking orders at the patio) and only one really taking orders - the others were comparing drug dosage information in cantonese. but hey if they can afford it, whatever. HOWEVER the waitress who thought no one could see her pick at her toenails by standing behind the cash register - now THAT'S a complaint. because no matter how good your food was, that was all i could think of during my 15 minutes there. i freaking hope to gawd she washed her hands after that. sometimes it takes more than great food to get a good review.
(3)Lakwanza W.
Pretty damn good chicken. (and I sho as hell know my chicken!) I dunno what you chinese people put into this stuff but it's like crack chicken! Boiled chicken with some flavored buttery rice - it's simple but it gets the job done. Now thats what I'M talkin bout! Ya'll get my stamp of approval.
(4)Duke F.
Living in the 626; I finally try this place and the hainan chicken that everyone talking about is delicious. It is very tender. I decided to order to go that night cause the place was too busy. Lot of youngters and parking can be an issue but overall nice place with great food:)
(4)Wilson T.
The Hainan Chicken Rice is really amazing! First of all it is a very reasonable $6.95. Secondly, the portion size is very fair, a mix of dark and light meat, with some nice chili sauce, and other sauce. The rice has a little bit of flavor too, better than just plain white rice. I also had the creme brulee which was very good and reasonably priced as well ($2.00) I always appreciate a good restaurant with reasonable prices. And this has to be one of the,
(5)Cici T.
We all know about the greatness that is the Hainan Chicken with the savory, butter-infused rice. I'm here to draw your attention to the steak in black bean sauce dish (which you can request with the aforementioned fluffy rice). I had the chicken, but D raved about the beef. It's filet mignon sitting in a plate of soupy sauce. So good he'd get it over the chicken, he says. (This information might come in handy if you'd like to order something other than Hainan Chicken or if you're thinking about ordering several entrees). Service was spotty prior to the dinner rush. And not too friendly either.
(3)Rachel L.
This place is sooo good. And I don't even like hainan chicken normally. Got the dark meat and it was really flavorful. Even the rice was good - my friend told me that they let the juices from the meat soak into the rice, giving it that awesome flavor. The only bad part is the ginger-oil sauce is crazy addictive .. I was pouring it ALL over my chicken and rice. I got a slight stomachache afterwards and I think that my stomach wasn't used to digesting so much oil. But can I just say ... the stomachache worth it.
(4)Sean B.
I saw about 500 reviews for the Hainan Chicken, so many that I almost didn't want to order it; the way some people resisted seeing "The Dark Knight" because of all of the hype. But then I remembered, that if there were THAT many reviews, it must be good, so I should give it a shot. It was very nice, albeit a bit on the simple side for me. Sometimes I like complexity. Ingredients mixed in a creative, unique, think-outside-the-box manner. This was poached chicken served with rice cooked in chicken stock, with some nice sauces on the side. I mean, don't get me wrong. It was good. But not something that would give me cravings, the way I went to "Hash House a Go Go" in San Diego for three meals within a thirty hour time span last weekend. Just didn't "grab" me. Similarly, the spring rolls were tasty, piping hot... but nothing magical. Just good. I wish there was a 3.5 star option. Three sounds more blase than I really felt, but it's not QUITE a four to me. Oh well, I'll round up (clicks)...
(4)Mara B.
I've had the chicken Hainan at Savoy Kitchen at least a few dozen times now. It's been perfect every single time. The chicken is beyond moist, the rice is airy and light, and the ginger and chili sauces you get are beyond fresh. Best quality produce in every component and it shows. My suggestion is that you mix it all up together. The chicken, rice, and sauces. I've taken friends who didn't heed that advice and they were underwhelmed. There's something about this dish when you mix it all up. Heaven. You won't get it all at once with the first bite. It's subtle. But after a few bites you realize you're eating something absolutely spectacular in its seeming simplicity. In other words, these people really care about what they serve you.
(5)Teresa F.
Love what they did to this corner property. Great for the area. Nice use of the interior and exterior space. Lots of young energy. Food was simple and tasty. Hainan chicken and rice hit the spot. Pasta with mushrooms and prosciutto were good as well,. Service was attentive. Prices are reasonable. Several people waiting to be seated on a Friday afternoon. We were seated within 10 minutes.
(4)Risey H.
I don't understand the hype of this place. I am a fan of Hainan chicken but this is definitely not that good. I had the order togo but it shouldn't makes such big difference. First of all, the chicken was tender I do give them that but it was flavorless. About 4 and a half pieces of chicken and whole lot of rice. I wouldn't mind the small potion of chicken if the rice was good. However, the rice was way super mushy and salty. Unappetizing whatsoever. The ginger sauce was just okay. The orange sauce was just salty and soy sauce of course. I have to say I am not impressed especially the rice, which was close to yuck to me. Phoenix cafe is next door should just go there instead.
(1)FoodEate R.
First time I tried this place didn't think much of it. Second time I came here I thought hmmmm not so bad. Third time, it was pretty good. Now, Im hooked and every once in awhile I crave it. Get the Hainan Chicken (chicken breast -no skin). The skin can look intimidating and ruin the chicken for some. I can eat it, but Ive had friends get a little hestitant by its appearance. Just listen to me, (breast no skin) and everyone will be a happy camper.
(4)Joel T.
Hainan chicken. Order it. Eat it. Be Happy.
(5)Christina T.
WARNING: CASH only. In the spirit of Valentine's Day, I want to say it was love at first bite with Savoy... but it really wasn't. I wasn't too impressed with the plate of white rice and unseasoned chicken that came out on a plate with with ginger, orange sauce, and soy sauce. Hainan Chicken? meh. (or so I thought.) But don't be fooled by first impressions. I left that first day not impressed...but somehow found myself craving the taste again the next day, and I've been hooked ever since. The rice is not like any rice you've ever eaten before, and the dark meat chicken is my fave! (it's an extra $2, but if you like white meat you get what you want for the regular price). To this day I still don't know the "proper" sauce to eat with what, but I end up eating all of it together anyway. If you're like my bf and love sauce drenching everything, make sure to ask for more, they carry tubs of that stuff around for refills. This dish is as delicious as it is simple. Lastly, parking gets a little bit annoying. If you can find street parking on Valley, take it. If not, you have to find parking along the residential side street by the restaurant and if you come at night, you might end up walking a half block to get to the restaurant on the corner. Side story: That awkward moment when....the entire restaurant goes silent because the owner starts screaming through the kitchen window at someone in the back: "JOSE! I told you I just wanted the ticket! JOSE! LISTEN TO ME! WHERE ARE YOU GOING, LISTEN JOSE" .. haha fun times.
(4)Elaine C.
I think this place has the best hainan chicken ever... the rice is also amazing. The chicken is so moist and juicy. The salad is also pretty good. It comes with chicken and rotini pasta noodles. I really like the bread and the sauce they give. I think this is like "their sauce" bc I can't find it elsewhere so I think you should try this.
(5)Jonathan L.
Short and sweet reviews are all this place needs. Hainan Chicken Duck Salad Spring rolls Iced Tea 10 Stars!
(5)Rick W.
i tried to keep savoy a secret as much as i could. but it's too impossible. the only place i can feel comfortable eating alone. just me and my hainan chicken rice. call it selfish. but i call it favortitism. i fear bringing guests here because you only want to hear good things about your favorite. i've had one who gave a negativity speech and i couldn't breath for a minute. maybe i did exaggerate. but 20 seconds do feel like a minute in moments like these. don't ask me about the other dishes. the chicken rice dish will be the only reason i drop by. it may not taste as good as home's, but it's the closest i can get in los angeles, let alone america. i dont know about the ginger though. it''s like how the californians use avocado in their sushi. 5.75 a plate is a steal. you can have it your way: white meat, dark meat or extra dark meat. order an order of refillable ice tea for 1.75. and of course, savoy is a cheap date place, but definitely not an ideal romantic place.
(5)Jimmy H.
I love the Hai Nan chicken. It is the best I ever had. Really good ginger sauce. Everything else is ok at that place. The seafood pasta is pretty decent. But that is about it. Everything else is so so. The inside is extremely small, only about 3 tables. Outside there is a decent amount of seating and it is typically nice to sit out there.
(4)Scott T.
When they put that Hainan Chicken Rice down in front of me, it was like I saw a green light go off. I tore through that thing like I was at the grand prix, only barely noticing a middle-aged Chinese guy sit down next to me around the halfway point, burn through a plate of chicken rice, wipe his mouth with a napkin and take off, all in about five minutes. I didn't see the checkered flag until there was nothing but a small pile of bones on my plate.
(4)Andre L.
I've lived in the area for 18+ years and just tried this for the first time....and all I can say is not very good. Granted I got the food to go, but I don't think that would be the reason why the chicken was bland and mushy. The rice was alright, the sauce was decent but the chicken was just not that great. They serve it without the bone so maybe that's why the texture of the chicken isn't that great.. I feel like plenty of other places I've been to have better Hainan chicken than Savoy, most notably Dong Ngyuen which is just down the street. I'm sure nobody here will agree with me.....so I'll see myself out, bye.
(2)Alice L.
Best Hainan chicken around the area? FALSE. First of all, this place is TINY. They do have some tables outside, but it was pretty ghetto - typical Chinese style. The service was HORRIBLE. I grew up in Taiwan, and I've been to my share of Chinese restaurants in the SGV/MP area so I wasn't expecting that much to begin with, but the service at Savoy Kitchen was even BELOW all that, if that's at all possible. I went there with my friends but I knew I had to leave early, so I ordered my dish to go (Hainan chicken dark meat - NOT worth the extra couple of bucks to order dark over white meat). There was miscommunication and they brought out everyone's food except for mine. That's ok, miscommunication. When I finally got my food in a to-go container, I had about 5 minutes before I had to leave, so I started eating out of my container because I was starving. The waitress came over and said I can't eat there because if I want to eat there, I would have to eat on a plate, not out of the to-go container. Does this make sense to anyone?! I was going to have to take my food to go regardless, so I'm only saving them from having to wash one more plate!! Since they were so insistant, I decided to just leave. So I left and my other 4 friends stayed to eat more. When the bill came, they realized they included tip already in the bill because THEY AUTOMATICALLY CHARGE TIP FOR PARTIES OF 5 OR MORE - even though this was nowhere written on the menu, on the walls, or anything!! Now that doesn't make sense - first, you kick me out because I shouldn't be eating out of the to-go container there. So I leave, but then you proceed to charge my friends tip as if I were there this whole time!? Get your story straight. Needless to say, I will NEVER come back here again. The food is alright, but I've had better Hainan chicken somewhere else. The rice was soft and soggy, the ginger sauce was way too oily, and the whole dish just looked very... oily and unhealthy.
(1)Barry L.
One of my favorite places. While other restaurants in the area like Garden Cafe, Tasty Garden, Sunday Bistro etc have similar menus, I have yet to find a restaurant that is even remotely similar to Savoy. The atmosphere is fantastic, and the outdoor seating is really nice. They turn heaters on when it's cold so you can still enjoy eating outdoors well into the winter. They're known for their Hainan Chicken but surprisingly every single item on the menu is good. Parking sucks, and the wait can be long on weekends since it's a tiny restaurant but prices are good and food is great so I can't complain.
(5)Wasin L.
Growing up, a lot of my friends would rave about how good the Hainan chicken is at Savoy and we'd end up waiting here for an hour to grab lunch. Throughout high school, I used to think this was the best place for the Hainan chicken until I discovered at various friends' family parties that homemade Hainan chicken can tastes so much more flavorful. I'm not saying Savoy isn't decent for it's value. It certainly will satisfy your craving and some of the other dishes like the seafood cream pasta is pretty good compared to the other similar cafes you find on Valley. I'm a big fan of escargot but I don't recommend you trying it here. It just doesn't taste right to me. But yes after so many raving reviews, I have to say Savoy is an overrated establishment. The white meat on the chicken here can be dry. And if you want dark meat, it costs you a couple of bucks more. The rice is too mushy and definitely disappointing because it lacks a more defined chicken taste even though it's been cooked with chicken stock. The ginger sauce doesn't have enough zest in it. And the soy sauce is just regular soy sauce. You can come here if you really crave something on their menu, but I don't think anything here justifies the wait time or the rushed service you receive at this place.
(3)Jim A.
Wow! Everything on this menu is great! I have been going here for years actually since 1994. The hainan chicken is the best in the city. Pastas and pizza are great too!
(5)Alice C.
super small restaurant with ok hainan chicken to offer. i think it didn't live up to its hype because i've had authentic hainan chicken in singapore before, so it's ok for what it is. the chicken was only justified by the ginger sauce, or else it would just be a plain plate of chicken and rice. warning: they are closed on sundays, just like chick-fil-a. apparently chickens don't work on sundays? oh, and cash only.
(3)Storm C.
One of the best Hainan Chicken rice. This is a cash only
(4)David L.
yes.. the hype is true.. everything is yummy from their Hainan Chicken, to their baked seafood casseroles... not to forget to mention their curries.. which are divine. Wish they had free refills for their chrysanthemum tea. One of the gems in San Gabriel Valley!
(5)Jenna C.
Mmmmmm so delicious! We ordered the standard Hainan Chicken of course. We called in ahead and got it to go. I highly recommend doing this, because the line is crazy and then you can enjoy the wonderful meal with your own wine at home :-) I wasn't too impressed by the sauces, but the chicken and rice was oh-so-delicious. They must put loads of butter in that rice. I only ate half and had the rest the next day for leftovers, and it was just as good, if not better than the first time! Craving it right now... might call in an order... Do it.
(4)Tawny I.
All my friends say Savoy has really good Hainan Chicken. My parents say otherwise......well, I of course believe my parents as they are from Asia but I had to try this place for myself to see what the hype was about. I'm sorry ya'll but the hainan chicken here is NOT GOOD! I was not impressed at all! My mother makes better!! Yes it's moist and not dry and the chili sauce is good but that's about all it has going for it. The rice was plain tasting, no chicken flavor to it at all. The ginger sauce was ok but it would have tasted better if some chopped up green onion was added. Another downside is that if you get the mixed meat (dark and white) the give you probably about 6 slices of chicken. I paid the extra $2 for all dark and they gave me about double the amount. We were definitely shocked at the amount of meat they gave for the mixed plate and questioned them several times and the only answer we received was "there's white meat in there and that plate costs $2 less so you get less." -_- I've never been a fan of Hainan chicken but even still I was sorely disappointed. Sorry Savoy, I will gladly pay my mother to make it for me then stop by again.
(2)Alice L.
GO EARLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My friend & his friend went last Saturday night, and they ran out of Hainan Chicken! =[ I love the Savoy Kitchen because they know how to make it properly. Served with rice, its easily one of the best Asian comfort food dishes EVER! Be prepared to wait. For all the times I've been, I've waited an average of 20-30 minutes before sitting down. It's almost impossible to sit inside because it's really small, but I'm proud to say that I'VE ACTUALLY SAT INSIDE OF SAVOY!! You really cannot go wrong with anything on the menu. Besides the Hainan Chicken, my other favs include the chicken curry, seafood pasta, and their pasta with sausage. Each made wonderfully with fantastic flavors that literally explode in your mouth. Super deelish! you HAVE TO HAVE TO HAVE TO order their iced tea!! They brew it fresh every single day, and it's the perfect accompaniment to a delicious meal :)
(5)Annie C.
Free refills on their Doong Ling Cha! I was told to try their Hainan Chicken over rice but to be honest, the unlimited sippage of doong ling cha was what drew me to Savoy. They have outdoor seating which is nice, and since it's winter they have some Christmas light decorations up, but since it's winter, it's also a little nippy so we opted for an indoor seat. The place isn't too big, probably like a 20ish people capacity. Asian place but had a cute diner vibe. Hainan Chicken came with soy sauce along with chilli and ginger sauce on the side. I wasn't too big of a fan but nothing to really complain about either. I was all over that unlimited tea though. Don't forget to add the syrup to sweeten it and refill before leaving, just sayinnnnng
(4)Crystal L.
if you're just driving by this restaurant, you can easily miss it- the sign is made of christmas lights that ONLY light up at night. that being said, monterey park is such a small tight community that you really dont need a sign to know where THAT good restaurant is....the crowd at the door is a pretty good indicator. since savoy is famous for their hainan chicken, that is exactly what i got. my conclusion: the dish is very bland looking- a mesh of yellow and white- BUT it IS one of the freshest chicken ive ever eaten. combined with the sauce, you get perfection. i had to restrain myself from giving this place 5 stars though, because again, its not SUPER special- just chicken and rice- nothing that i really crave. also, there is only a very small selection of drinks.
(4)Josephine H.
I'm debating between 3-4 stars, so I'm going to be fair and go with the in between. 3.5! But how preposterous, right? For a place that's one of the highest rated restaurants in the SGV. No, I'm not playing devil's advocate, I just honestly feel like it's slightly overrated. The good? The limited menu. I like places that have a limited menu because that's their specialty. I prefer a restaurant be great at one particular thing, rather than average in everything. So I opted for their famous Hainan Chicken. The chicken is extremely tender, even the white meat. There's not much fat under the skin, so it's bearable to eat with the chicken. In fact, it gives it a little more juice. I tend to avoid chicken skin because of the grease and oil that is trapped underneath. As for the service, it's acceptable. The waitresses come around with more sauce every so often, which is a definitely must to douse your chicken. The bad? but not really bad, just more like so-so? The rice: I know they cook their rice in chicken broth. I can taste the chicken broth, but what I was hoping for was more chicken flavor! I think what would've been a flavorful addition to the rice is a tad of lemongrass. Other than that, the rice was definitely moist. The sauce? I know many have said the sweet chili sauce and ginger is amazing. But I must say, I've had better. What's my problem with it? It lacked a kick. The ginger seemed a bit bland for ginger, perhaps even watered down. Indoor is cozy, but also cramped. I had my chair right up against someone else's chair. Outdoor, during a winter's night, nothing but cold. Final thoughts: I've always gone to Dong Nguyen, which is in the plaza of 168 Market and CVS. But I'll write that comparison review when I have eaten it more recently. I'm not doubting the food, just doubting the hype. It's decent. But nothing more.
(3)Shirley W.
Yes, I said 5 stars, aka as good as it gets--but the important conditional clause is "when you take it to go". Their food is amazing, anything you could find on their menu, they will make an unforgettable impression on your taste buds. However, here comes the not so 5 star part, their parking lot, wait, did you say they have one? Yep, there is almost never any spots open, either on the side street, or on Valley blvd. Besides storing your ride, their restaurant is designed to serve around 20 guests, and there is usually 200 of them waiting to get feed at dinner or lunch hour, so word of advise, come when you are not feeling hungry so when you finally get to sit down, the hunger nerve would kick in just in time for the feast, or call in to order and pick em up. There is a short green curb for pick up only. Well, that's my trick of getting the best HanNan Chicken in town without waiting in line. :) Enjoy!
(5)Dena N.
On a road trip up north, my friend got hungry and was craving some chicken and rice from this place. We took a detour here and she ordered some chicken to go. Since I haven't had it before and wasn't too hungry, I opted out. Big mistake! While I was driving, my friend was eating her chicken and rice and it smelled sooooo good. I gave in and she fed me some. The chicken was tender, moist and perfectly seasoned. The soy sauce and hot sauce made it even tastier. After that trip, I came back to this place a few times even though the drive is a bit out of the way. I usually order the chrysanthemum tea to go with my chicken and rice. They also serve regular tea and provide liquid sweetener on the side, if you prefer. The restaurant is not too big, but they have some seatings outside. I haven't seen the inside so can't describe it. I've been here on a busy day before and the wait is about an hour long. Also, if you go while it is crowded, parking will be hard to find. You may have to park way down the street and walk over. Also, I have never been able to use the restroom here. There is only one restroom outside in the back of the restaurant. It is always taken and for some reason people take forever and a day to use it. So I recommend using the bathroom before getting here, unless you have a strong bladder. :)
(4)Richie W.
I get the same thing here every time. Hainan Chicken w rice... lol. It's better here. Get extra chili sauce. I love that stuff. My friend ordered a baked halibut which was surprisingly tasty. This place is old, but still super popular for a good reason. Good food for cheap prices! Seating is very cramped indoor. There's slightly more space to outside on their patio area. Getting take out isn't a bad call if you're in the mood for some Savoy Kitchen. I wish I could tell you more about their other dishes, but I only come here for the chicken.
(4)Simon L.
I like the Hainan Chicken Rice. Very delicious. The chicken brooth is also good. But they sell the chicken brooth separately. The waiters served me and my friends politely and served the food fast despite of the restaurant was full.
(4)Odona N.
This is like one of those small businesses that is very well known all over the county. If you come here, be prepare to wait. It's usually busy during lunch hour or even a little after because it's a Hong Kong style restaurant. However, if you don't mind the wait, the servers are nice and fast, the food comes out quick, meaning as soon as they are done. And if you get lemon ice tea, it's refillable. Yes, this might be overrated, but it's worth going to at least once or twice if you are in this area. For an Chinese Asian person like me, this is a very good place to eat. I always bring my friends or people that don't live around here, to this place so they can at least try this awesome place and decide themselves if they ever want to come back.
(5)Mabes C.
Oh no, no, NON. You poor souls. I don't understand the hype about their Hainan Gi? It's not great at all. I've had way better in SF. They served me sloppy, thin slices of chicken here. Nothing special.
(2)Vicki C.
I LOVE THIS PLACE!!! My parents and I come here at least once a month, if not more. The food is excellent and the service is great. There is outdoor seating available, so our puppy is allowed to hang out with us. There are few dishes we rely on, in order of yumminess. HAINAN CHICKEN - (duh). We always ask for dark meat. Double yum. CONCH LINGUINI - So simple. So yummy. Duck salad - Sometimes this is amazing, but sometimes the duck can be a little dry. We also get this with smoked beef. It a relatively easy salad, that's really fresh tasting. I think it's the dressing that really makes it. ESCARGOT - YUMMY! You must sop up the butter with the bread Seafood Curry Shrimp eggrolls (the thin type, very crunchy) Halibut (in a cream sauce, my brother likes to get it with the noodles. I personally think it's a little bit heavy) My mom often gets the iced cappuccino. We got the iced tea today, which is real good once you get the simple syrup and lemons in there. Their bread is also AMAZING. I love it, and it goes perfect with all of the entree's' sauces and dressings. One of my all time favorites. You can usually find parking in the residential areas.
(5)Pearl C.
I LOVE HAINAN CHICKEN. However I don't love Savoy. I don't hate it either. If I ever want a quick and easy place to get Hainan chicken TO-GO, I may consider this place. SEATING: The restaurant is on a corner with limited seating. The owners have miraculously been able to accommodate it's growing popularity by transforming itself into a quaint side-walk like cafe. Also since it's so small and seemingly popular, there seems to be a long wait for tables. I've never had the opportunity to go to Savoy when it was busy. So I've usually never had an issue getting seated immediately. PARKING: There isn't a lot. Street parking is a must and expect to walk at least a block or so. FOOD: The food is okay. Not bad. I usually get the Hainan chicken (dark meat) but don't really use their sauce. It's not bad but kinda bland. The rice was cooked correctly for Hainan chicken compared to other places that claim to have Hainan chicken but it's really just boiled chicken with steamed rice. I tried their pizza but it didn't impress me. The dough was thicker with a lack of flavor. Toppings and sauce was mediocre and did not stand out. SERVICE: Typical service for an Asian place where you need to wave down the waitresses. They'll never come check on you. Luckily the place is not that big so you can easily get their attention.
(3)TheLaborLawGuy L.
The Hainan chicken and rice here can't compare to what you can get in Singapore, but it is certainly the best I had in the Southern CA area. The chicken itself is rather bland, but it is consistently cooked well. The rice is also definitely cooked the proper way in broth. The wait for a table can be frustratingly long at times, but it is worth it.
(4)Connie L.
I come here often and always get the Hainan chicken with the fried shrimp roll. Sometimes i will switch it up with the beef curry. Usually there is a wait but worth it.
(4)Rosa S.
I totally agree with Frank S. review for this place. The hainan chicken plate was ok.. The good thing is that the rice is good because it tasted like it was cooked in chicken broth. Other than that, the chicken was just chicken boiled. It had no flavor. The ginger sauce was bland and the soy sauce is just regular soysauce. Nothing special. I also got the baked halibut with noodles and that was only okay too. I was debating about trying this place because I thought what can be so good about chicken and rice for me to make a drive to la from oc? Well the hype got to me and now I finally got it out of my system.
(3)Yg M.
Yes! I LOVE IT... Iced Coffee so good and don't miss Hainan Chicken, you can choose dark meat or white meat chicken. 2 dish & drink not over $20...good price..
(4)Jacqueline C.
This review will be short and sweet because I normally order the same thing and it is ALWAYS good every single time: the Hainan chicken + salad only. I usually get dark meat because I'm not a fan of white meat but no matter what part of the chicken you're eating...it's always good. Definitely make use of the sauces they give you because they're all necessary in order to make the "experience" that much better. The salad dressing is a little sweet and it goes perfectly with the rest of the meal. I usually don't get the rice but I've tried it. It's flavorful, not just plain rice...tastes like it has a little bit of ginger and something else I can't quite put my finger on just yet. But nevertheless...GOOD stuff. They are cash only so make sure to have enough cash on hand. But normally...two plates for two people is under $20. The staff is always nice and they always greet you with a smile which is refreshing. Mad cravings will occur once you start coming here.
(5)Andrew O.
Great Hainan chicken & rice.
(5)JT L.
I really want to give a small Chinese restaurant with good service higher than 2 stars, but after eating their famous Hainan chicken rice & Baked Seafood Casserole, it is unfortunated they only got 2 stars from me.... Let's start with Hainan chicken rice, the checken is tender and soft...Close to soggy... Nothing more nothing less..... Couldn't figured out why over 1000 yelp review and averaged out 4 stars came from..... Baked Seafood Casserole is worse. On top of the frozen seafood, it is very salty. So I will pass next time.....
(2)Jenny L.
Savoy is famous for their Hainan Chicken rice and lpasta, but when I go there I actually look forward to eating their escargo...that's right, you read correctly, this asia hainan chicken place has really great escargot, you know french for baked snails. The best part is that all the work has been done for you, and the escargot is out of it's shell. The dish is baked in butter, herbs and spices, with a hint of sweetness, that is perfectly complemented by the bread that comes with the entree. It is a perfect appetizer to share. Now about their best seller the hainan chicken rice, to me it's okay, not really all that great. The chicken is really bland without the sauces. I prefer the hainan chicken rice at Cafe Spot down the road a little better. But to each their own, they been at their tiny corner spot forever, and there's a reason for it.
(4)Karen H.
Their chicken is a little dry sometimes but I usually drench it in the yummy sauces anyways. The portion is good for the price you pay. Their lemon tea is pretty good and definitely worth the price because it's free refill :D they're also closed on Sundays!
(3)Beverly B.
Im a Singaporean so Im a big fan for chicken rice since Im living away from home. Even though its not up to par to what I have at home... I will always come here to satisfy my craving. Tried the pasta and baked rice... did not like it that much. Whats also a plus with this place is that they are very generous with extra ginger and chili sauce! WARNING: JUST ORDER the HAINAN CHICKEN RICE... dont try to be special lol
(4)Rachel C.
This is the first time I've ever had Hainan Chicken, and now I'm afraid to try it at any other restaurant because my expectations are really high after eating here! CHICKEN The chicken is super duper moist, and it looks super healthy because it barely has any fat or unhealthy skin on it. The flavor of the chicken can be bland, but you can definitely taste the broth that it was soaking in. I love that the chicken is cut into convenient little pieces that makes it easy to pick out and eat. Not to mention it is very photogenic. SAUCE They give a combination of chili sauce and ginger sauce with the Hainan Chicken. The chili sauce is the typical red, spicy sauce that has a nice kick to it. The ginger sauce is all the rave here, though. It consists of minced ginger in the sauce. I personally don't like the ginger sauce, because the ginger is just too spicy for me, and I don't really like the taste of strong ginger. (Don't hate me). BUT, everyone else really loves it so you should try it too! Mix them together and soak your plate with it. RICE Ohhh the rice is super light and fluffy. I think they put some kind of chicken broth in it, because it's definitely not just steamed rice. I love that they include the broth in the rice because otherwise it would be a really plain dish. It might be subtle, but you can definitely taste the difference. LEMON ICED TEA Just get it. Make sure you put in the sweetener though! And they give free refills. Just do it. SETTING This place is really tiny, and it's really popular. These factors can only lead to one conclusion = A long wait. I think I waited 30 minutes to eat here. It was worth it, of course, but the wait was a lot longer than I expected. The indoor area is really small and there's barely any space to move, but they do have an outdoor area that's pretty cute. It's funny because I get a completely different feel when I'm indoor and outdoor. The indoor area is like a fast food, slightly run down place. The outdoor area is like a cute, hipster cafe. The service is good though, they try to accommodate you as quickly and efficiently as possible. CASH ONLY! I will definitely be coming back whenever I'm in the area. :)
(4)Andrew D.
Mr. Savoy loves Savoy. This place gets quite packed during peak lunch and dinner hours. The best things on the menu are the hainan chicken, cold pasta salad with smoked duck, conch pasta, seafood pasta, baked halibit and baked seafood casserole, shrimp egg rolls and smoked duck pizza. You also get free refills on ice tea! Mr. Savoy definitely loves Savoy
(5)Maivy N.
My favorite! I figured that since I literally got hainam chicken from here about once a week last month....it was time for a yelp review. I love the hainam chicken because it has no bones and comes with chili sauce, garlic sauce, and a sweet soy sauce that complements the flavor of the chicken and rice so well. It's a healthy meal that I don't feel guilty eating--which is probably why I ate it so much last month. I always get the hainam chicken with half rice half salad (love their salad dressing). I also always order togo and then pick it up...so much better to avoid the long wait.
(5)Justin T.
We love the hainan chicken. I love the dark meat. Service was ok, need to be improve little more.
(4)blank b.
It's so strange to walk into an establishment that is in such high demand but yet never fails to excel in service and consistency in food quality. This past Saturday, they sat me and my family 10 mins before their posted opening time. Where do they have the audacity to be mindful of waiting patrons and seat them early (ref: Mama Lu on or near Ynez) ? The servers are like off the meds schizos but the high functioning variety. They're always checking with you for refills to a point where you're pissed (kidding, can you ever be pissed at free refills? Impossible I'd say). Plus they provided my kids with plastic spoons and bowls ready before I placed my order. That's really how I judge good service and whether they deserve an American sized tip. If it wasn't for the non existent/ Boiling Crab like parking I'd frequent this place more.
(5)Marty M.
What's all this hype about? Yes, the Hainan chicken rice is good... but it's not spectacular. I ordered the curry beef stew. Quite bland if you ask me. It's not spicy enough and not "curry" enough. Overall, Savoy is a decent place to go if you're in the neighborhood. I wouldn't wait or go out of my way to eat here. There are many other places that serve the same food, but better. Forget the hype.
(3)George Y.
I usually get Pizza bread, Escargot and of course hainan chicken (white or dark meat) no rice with extra salad. If you don't want to wait buy it to-go . Service is fast . Definitely considered to be one of the Gems of the 626 area. A must try for newbies.
(4)Angie H.
Firstly - take this review with a grain of salt, because I don't like Hainan chicken, which is what Savoy is famous for. also.. its CASH ONLY. Which I didn't know until I got there, but I lucked out and actually had cash on me for once! I came here last week with my brother, around 8pm on a Thursday, and they were able to seat us right away. Street parking was a cinch to find. Service was prompt and courteous, but some of the wait staff are a little difficult to understand in english. Luckily I speak mandarin! I ordered the Escargot and the Chicken Curry. My brother ordered the Hainan Chicken. Escargot - You get about 6 pieces of escargot, served with a side of bread to mop up the deliciously herby, buttery sauce. The escargot were a little too salty, and not what I expected, as they didn't come in the shell ( which is how escargot is served in France ). The meat was also a bit too soft, instead of being sturdy and chewy, which is how I prefer escargot. On my scale, the meat itself only ranks about a 2, but the butter sauce bumps it up to a 3. Chicken Curry (Rice on the side)- It's pretty tasty, but the dish unfortunately looks unappetizingly oily. The portion is decently sized - with the escargot, I could barely finish half the plate. I took the rest home for my boyfriend, and he liked it a lot, despite having to reheat it, and he disagrees with my perception of the dish's oiliness. I actually don't mind the texture of the curry, which is less creamy than typical japanese curries but a little chunkier than thai curries, and thus thoroughly unexpected. The only thing I wish is that the curry contained some sort of veggie, or they offered veggies on the side, but oh well. I'd definitely get it again, so this dish ranks at a 4. Hainan Chicken - I didn't try this, so I can't remark on the taste, but I'm told it's good, and wayyy better with the chopped ginger .. its not really sauce, but you eat it with the chicken. The portion was unexpectedly small ( think a normal asian rice bowl full of chicken, inverted), but luckily my brother eats much less than I do, and he had a hard time finishing the food. Overall, my dinner at Savoy was definitely an enjoyable experience. If there were more than a 15 minute wait, I'd probably not stick around ( or I'd just call ahead and order to-go ), but otherwise, definitely a San Gabriel must-try.
(3)Matt C.
I wasn't impressed with the chicken... I'm not a huge rice + chicken fan so I ordered the Garlic Chicken Pizza. The dough was very bland but the ingredients were good. Decent prices too!
(3)Virginia T.
I grew up eating Hainam chicken and Savoy was one of the more popular places. Their chicken isn't too dry or too salty. I really enjoy their sauce that they provide for you to dip your chicken in. The portion is decent for it's price and whatnot. Although this is really close to home, I have never really tried anything else but the Hainam chicken - but the pictures do look good and maybe next time I will try it. Because most of the time that I do pick Savoy to eat is cause one or more of the group is craving some Hainam chicken - well of course cause that's what they're known for! The seating area is kind of bad when it gets busy because indoor can probably only seat about 10 or so people. Outside has another 15-20 seating area but since it's right next to Valley Blvd, sometimes I don't prefer to sit outside due to the noisy cars and dusty streets. (I'm kind of a germaphobe!) When it comes to lunch or dinner time, the lines can get very long and parking on the residential streets and Valley can get very difficult. Best best would be for you to have someone do the parking while someone signs you in and wait in line for seats.
(4)Luis D.
I like the chicken very much. It's like they use vapor to cook their chicken. Very unique and tasty. Try the chicken in any of their dishes. It will definitely be the one thing you remember about this place. It gets busy during rush hours so come before or after.
(4)Jason J.
The hell, the chicken is whatevers, portion so small I can eat two but I don't want to because it's not good
(1)Yo L.
Love the hai nam chicken here but need work on there sauces.
(4)Jacqueline T.
Came with a friend and ordered the hainan chicken and the creamy mushroom pasta dish. I liked the hainan chicken dish, rice was flavorful, as expected. However, what was disappointing was the pasta dish. Tasted like they used canned cream of mushroom soup as a base. Wouldn't order that again. Would come back for the hainan chicken and the quaint outdoor seating. I hear it gets packed during rush hour, it is a pretty small place. Service was fast too.
(3)Denis K.
Too bad we don't live nearby anymore. I can eat this everyday. 3 meals a day.
(5)Monica L.
I've been wanting to come back to Savoy since I used to come here on a weekly basis when I lived around the neighborhood. It's been over 3 years since my last visit and was surprised to find that there was no wait at 6PM. Quickly got seated at the indoor table, ordered the hainan chicken (all dark meat), chicken broth soup, and iced tea. the chicken was not as juicy and moist as I remember but the hot sauce and ginger made up for it. Ask for more sauce!!!!!!
(4)Hang N.
as good as it gets hainan chicken. i think a lot of people who are giving this place a bad review don't really understand the point of hainan chicken. it's not meant to be coated in marinade so yes, it is bland. it's about extracting the true sweetness of the chicken and making the accompaniments out of the amazing chicken broth. savoy does it well. their rice has enough flavor to eat alone. i love the chili and ginger sauces. i wish the chili sauce was a bit spicier but at the same thing i think it'd take away from the simplicity of this dish. also good items: -their bread. don't know what it is, but it's crack. love it with some balsamic and oil -their salad dressing. when you order the half hainan and hald salad option, the salad comes with some rdiculously delicious and addicting dressing. i also dip the bread in the dressing too -escargot -shrimp eggrolls i like the outside seating area. also good to pick up togo. parking situation is a bit tough.
(4)Vic C.
I have been to Savoy Kitchen a few times when I was much younger with my dad and have always enjoyed the food there. It's just a shame that they are not open on Sundays so that my dad and I could go after church... but anyways, on my most recent visit here, I came with my husband and 2 of our friends. I picked this place because my friend was craving chicken and rice and thought this would fit the bill. Anyways, when we arrived, I wrote my name down on the list and waited maybe 15 minutes before we got a table inside. There is outdoor seating but people were smoking and I am not a fan of having a side of smoke with my dinner. Also my friend is pregnant and rather not have her future child get exposed to 2nd hand smoke, especially so early. So we waited a bit longer for an indoor table. Inside, there are so few tables... maybe 5 or 6 tables? It is pretty cramped inside, so really this place would be better to order food to go. Well anyways, on to the food already right? Well since this place is well known for their hainan chicken, I decided to order it. I got the hainan chicken meal special that comes with a salad. The chicken was tender, warm and delicious, as I had remembered when I was a child (delicious consistency). My friend enjoyed her hainan chicken order as well. Our husbands went with something different though. I don't recall what my friend's husband ordered but my husband ordered the curry and thought it was just okay. He definitely enjoyed my chicken as he was helping himself to my plate. Service was pretty attentive, we had our drinks refilled pretty regularly. Pricing for food is pretty fair, especially for their well known chicken. Overall, will keep coming back here. By the way, parking is only street parking. Also, just in case you were wondering, there is a restroom here available for customers. But you have to ask for a key. Oh and lastly, this place is CASH ONLY.
(5)P W.
After lunch today, I now understand there are lines out the door on the weekends and for weekday lunch. The place is nicely appointed and I waited for an outside table. Ordered the staple hainan chicken with salad. We liked the ginger and red sauce. I look forward to going back and trying the other items...table next to us had the escargot which smelled and looked great!
(4)Tiffany L.
1 word: Delicious!!!! Heaven!!!!! (Ok, maybe 2 words...) The food here is soooo good but it is best to get it to go. This place is very small and always crowded. On another note, everyone has to try this place at least once because you will be addicted after a try. Service is friendly and quick so you won't suffer a long wait for the food. (Getting a table is another matter..) Chinese food is the way to go when you're in the san gabriel valley!!
(5)John L.
Best Hainam Chicken around! The dipping sauces that come with the dish are superb. Great lemon iced tea as well!!!
(5)Justin Y.
When I think of overrated restaurants a few places come to mind.... One of those is Din Tai Fung and the other being Savoy.. I've heard about this place for years but never bothered to come until recently.. Food: Hainan Chicken: Their bread and butter... I wasn't impressed. I wasn't blown away. Some people hype this place up as if it's the 2nd coming of Christ however the chicken was just very average to me. A bit plain and not too much flavor. Curry Chicken: I knew the Hainan Chicken would be a bit dry so I opted to have something a bit more saucey instead. The Curry chicken was decent for the price and glad I opted to get this as opposed to their Hainan Chicken. Shrimp Rolls: Another popular item I just thought was Meh... Seating: Cramped... I recommend sitting outside if you have the option otherwise you'll feel like a sardine sitting indoors. Parking: Street. Price: Relatively inexpensive CASH ONLY Staff: Kinda friendly? *It's alright. Not my cup of tea but I can see why certain people would enjoy eating from this establishment.
(3)John H.
I love this little eatery near the corner of Valley and Garfield Ave in Alhambra. The food is good, the menu diverse, and it is very inexpensive for the food you get and a nice, simple dining experience. I had the beef curry and was a little disappointed by the somewhat chewy, sliced beef used. But it was good enough, tender, and the curry itself flavorful, hot, and perfect over steamed rice. I've also tried the Hainam chicken with dark meat and found it flavorful and moist, with the accompanying sauces perfectly matched. Everything on the menu looks worth giving at least a try, and I plan on seeing a lot of it in the future. This place is very intimate inside with not much room to walk to your table. A nice patio lines the street outside for dining, and if no seating is available you simply scrawl your name on a clipboard hung outside the door with the number in your party, and wait to be seated. It's a very busy place most hours with people dining, take-out orders being picked up, and busy street parking means watch your move as you approach. Cars are often coming and going and stopping here or there in the street dropping people off or looking for an open space nearby. So it can look like a "maybe next time" as you drive up, but if a wait it's well worth it. As is a block or so walk if no parking nearby. It has great food, a diverse and inexpensive menu, and "to go" is encouraged here. What's not to like about this place? Oh, did i mention it's cheap! Almost insanely so imo. Not that it matters much, but if parking is a hassle and the wait a bit long at least you can say "but it was good, after all. And we both ate for $15!" Which is possible here if you stick with water as a beverage. And all other things being equal thats a pretty good thing, indeed.
(4)Anthony L.
These guys are consistent even though the price is a little higher than most places. That's OK though because their food is good. It's always crowded, so I typically stick with take-out. I'm here at least once a month though.
(4)William H.
Great Food. Must order the Hainan Chicken half salad and half rice with a side dish of egg roll. Always go here once a month.
(5)Andrea P.
Savoy is one of my favorite places in LA/SGV. I find myself craving their hainan chicken at least once a month. The best part about this is that I can get take-out and it tastes perfectly delicious when heated up the next day! I always order the hainan chicken rice with white meat per my preference. Their sweet soy sauce, ginger and AMAZING HOT SAUCE (seriously I love their hot sauce) are the perfect pairings. The chicken is always moist and the chicken flavor infused broken rice is super yums. I also love their chicken broth soup, perfect side for only $1.75. If I'm really hungry, I can usually finish everything and I'm pretty much burping up chicken by the end of it lol. My mom liked their smoked duck salad a lot. She actually wasn't that impressed with the hainan chicken as she could tell they don't use the best quality chicken or rice. But she did compliment their soup and flavors. Savoy is really casual and more of a hole in the wall, so not much ambiance. The outside patio is cuter but seating is overall a little cramped. There's almost always a wait but usually not too insanely long. Definitely a must try if you live in the area. Cash only!
(5)Crystal L.
I dont get the hype ... parking sucks there really isnt a good amount of chicken that comes in every plate it isnt super moist either ... maybe i just had a bad batch? on the plus side, the tea is really yummy and i like that there are a lot of sauce options. but yeah ... i've definitely had better hainan chicken elsewhere.
(2)Mia L.
Five!!!! Y? Yes they have no parking and there's always a wait. But for me I usually find parking and the wait is not that bad. The service is super speedy, they don't miss a thing surprisingly. I have had other dishes besides their infamous hainan chicken. For that dish I prefer the all white meat and the rice n salad. Their rice is unexplainable, its that good, So moist and fluffy n full of flavor. Most people don't order with the salad, but you should try it cause the dressing is different and home made. So good! Other dishes I have had was their chicken pasta and mushroom pasta which was good for a Chinese restaurant making it. The last dish I had there was their oxtail stew, delicious and full of fat like oxtail should b. But every time I order something different I definitely make sure whoever I'm with is ordering the hainan chicken so I can have some lol. I want to try most of their dish so next time my next dish is their baked halibut. Love how this place is not expensive great pricing. Please stay that way. Until next time. ..
(5)Ni D.
Curry chicken. Nuff said.
(4)Denny C.
Savoy has been on my to-go-to list for probably over a year. Time tends to heighten expectations, as do thousands of extremely positive Yelp reviews. When I finally got the chance to come this past week, I was a little nervous. I haven't had Hainan chicken in the States, only in Singapore and Malaysia (where the dish is most famous). Asian food usually tastes a bit different this side of the ocean. The wait for a party of two would have been nonexistent even at 7 pm on a weekday if we wanted to sit outside with the heaters, but we opted to sit inside, so the wait was about 10 minutes or so. Again, not bad considering the crowd that can form outside the restaurant on the weekends. Note that the inside of the restaurant is very small and kind of cramped (imagine being able to hear neighbor's conversations pretty clearly). I ordered the Hainan chicken rice, dark meat only at 8.5 oz for about $9. My friend got a slightly smaller portion that included white meat for a little less. I love the rice here. It's fragrant and obviously cooked in chicken stock, oil, and salt. You can't go wrong. In fact, I might have liked the rice more than the chicken itself. I felt like the chicken was a little dry for being dark meat, which was unfortunate. Everyone raves about the sauces, which, don't get me wrong, were good, but not particularly life changing. And with that, the meal ended. Rice completely and satisfyingly devoured, and although there was no chicken leftover, it did leave something to be desired. Service: Very friendly! They did make it clear though after we were done eating that they wanted our table for folks waiting outside, which is understandable. Bottom line: Savoy is okay. In my book, it's a little overhyped. The quest for SoCal's best Hainanese chicken continues!
(3)Joanne L.
I love this place mainly because they offer their hainam chicken rice with white meat (WITHOUT BONES)!!! I usually don't like ordering hainam chicken + rice because of the bones. Then I discovered you could order the chicken + rice with added a salad. Just as tasty and awesome. I have also tried to curry beef along with the baked sole filet with pasta. Everything here is good, prices are good, and food comes out fairly quickly.
(5)Karina H.
cash only i always get: hainan chicken-- YUMMY with ginger sauce and chili sauce. I usually go for the white meat no skin. salads both chicken and duck the salads come with bread if you order the large ones and the bread is amazing my friends got escargot and pizza and coffee and they said they really liked it the place is kind of small. you can sit outside or inside. the outside is pretty cute. has nice lights. you dont feel like youre on Valley. lots of street parking. they dont have their own lot
(5)Nancy N.
My mouth is watering as I'm recalling the taste to write this review. This place serves the best hainam chicken in my opinion! I bought my mom an order too and she thought it was nothing special. She also had an issue with how it didn't come with any veggies. Yes, it's just chicken and chicken broth flavored rice. However the chicken is boneless, extremely tender, and the rice is very soft and moist. But what makes it so delicious and what I crave the most about it is how the 3 sauces accompany it so well and enhance the flavors tenfold! Parking is street only (I did not have any trouble finding street parking around 4pm on a Saturday) and the restaurant itself is very small, so take out is highly encouraged. $6.95 for the hainam chicken cash only. But the service is very quick and friendly. p.s. Don't have a craving on Sundays because they're closed.
(5)Irma P.
Heavenly heaven chicken rice ... Do not worry about seating out on 'patio' because it has heater right above. I usually order chicken rice, escargot, and ice (lemon) tea. The combination is very forgiving. The lady does not hesitate in supplying us with endless sauce, chili, and extra hot sauce. Be ready to be in line on rush hour. It is worth the wait
(4)Peter N.
overrated place, average food, above avg chicken. not 2000 review worthy though that's for sure. hits the spot when your hungry though
(3)adum w.
Hainan Chicken and fresh sweet tea.
(4)N. Danny S.
Hainan chicken, enough said! This is the best place for this dish. I've also had the macaroni salad and sometimes get a bowl of soup on the side. Can't be beat and the prices are good, just often has a long wait.
(4)Jessica L.
Savoy is a popular eatery down in the SGV! It's always packed during lunch time due to their small indoor seating area and a slim patio seating area i'm surprised they've never decided to relocate or expand into a bigger store. I came here around 3pm with my little sister hoping to have avoided the lunch rush on a Friday afternoon, but there was still a couple parties ahead of us. That's how popular this place is! There was a little stand outside the door for customers to sign in, so i wrote down my name for a party of 2 and took a seat on a bench outside. However, a couple that came a couple minutes later went inside and were seated immediately. What the heck right? They didn't come outside to see if anyone put their name on the list outside or anything so i walked straight inside to get seated as well. After being seated i couldn't wait to order and get my food. I decided to go with their baked seafood pasta and hainan chicken rice for my sister. We waited for our food, BUT the couple that came in 10 minutes after us and ordered after us got their food FIRST!? I didn't understand because we put our order in first, i was a bit annoyed with their service since nobody came by to fill our lemon iced teas. After i got my food it did taste good, but the food wasn't spectacular for the 30 minute wait. Service was definitely lacking and the servers weren't particularly friendly either. When i paid, i didn't even receive my change back since i'm guessing they took it as a tip? That was definitely the 3rd strike! Overall, this place was ok i'll be back when a friend wants to grab lunch, but i won't be returning anytime soon.
(3)Kenneth S.
Savoy's most popular food item is definitely filling(or it should be anyone). I ordered the hainan chicken and the Thursday special. It was some kind of pork dish. I was stuffed after eating the hainan chicken. The chicken was made well. It tasted like chicken and was moist. That should be a standard from any restaurant though. The rice and sauces were not the best i've had. That's why I'm giving them a 3. I didn't like the Thursday special. it tasted ok, but it was just too heavy for me. The sauce had cheese in it. Cheese and rice is just a little funky for me. Usually, I'd stay away from specials, but I wanted to see what they could throw together back there. Overall, the menu confuses me. I don't even see an oven back there, so I don't know how they are making pizza. Therefore, I won't order the pizza. The price to getting full ratio is good. I'd probably stick with the Hainan chicken, but that dish can be made way better. Personally, I'd like a few cucumbers on my plate or some kind of vegetables. I do want to stress that it's an amazingly good price for what you get. I would go there for lunch most days of the week if i worked around there.
(3)Kevin C.
Chicken is great. Sauce is great. Service could definitely use some improvement.
(4)Suzane C.
Juicy Hainan Chicken I just went back to this place recently having not gone back for a long time due to the long lines and the closed sundays. It's still definitely delicious!! I have missed this place for a very long time and have ordered hainan chickens at other restaurants and this place is still the best. I actually vowed to never order the hainan chicken anywhere else except for this place. I always end up regretting ordering it from other restaurants since it's never good. This place really is the best and the sauces they have is also the reason why people keep coming back. The cappuccino was very good. I know their breads are always good. I have to try the other items on the menu. I don't remember the other items being excellent. Just really come here for the hainan chicken. Tried the egg rolls recently and it was just ok. It was a bit expensive for what you get. The place is too small and I really wish they would open another location since this location sucks. I'm sure they sold enough hainan chickens to open up another location. So hopefully we can really enjoy eating it more. The place is clean but just feels dirty especially when you go to the restroom.
(4)Tiffany Y.
I heard about this place from different people and how they were crazy about its Hainan chicken. Being a real Cantonese, I listed this place as one of my must-try. I finally went there with my cousin, who had gone before. She didn't give me a direct opinion when I asked how was this place. Anyway, we went on a Saturday lunch, and it was packed as expected. Seeing so many people were waiting, I was expecting good food. After a long wait (about 30 mins and more), we wet finally seated. I of course ordered a Hainan chicken and my cousin chose a spaghetti. The waiting for food wasn't too long, I received my chicken first; it came with rice, chicken, and the source, nothing else. I took a few bites of the chicken, I could barely tasted any favor, and the chicken was not even soft and tender. Then I tried the rice; Hainan chicken rice supposed to have a special favor and sticky feeling to it, but this one did not. When they brought my cousin's order, the spaghetti source looked more like water than thick source, and it barely had any taste either. We were not happy with this result; I mean, the food was bearable, but I expected them to be much better than this since most of the reviews here were positive. Personally, I will not go back to this place nor recommend it to my friend.
(2)Jason L.
The Hainam chicken is the thing to get. The meat itself is good. Probably not the best, but definitely not bad. The portion looks underwhelmingly small when you first see it, but they've de-boned it for you so it's actually more meat than you think. The rice is decent. Hint of chicken broth flavor. I kind of wish they steamed it along with the chicken but that's not how large restaurants do it. Where does Savoy win my heart? It's sauces. The red chili sauce and the ginger oil is BOMB.COM! Eat it with anything and everything. Awesome sauces. We also got the escargot which was cooked in butter and garlic. The flavor was simple and enjoyable but i'll say they charred it just a little too much. One minute less and it would have been perfect. The bread that comes with the escargot was crunchy and a little bit sweet. It left a little bit to be desired but once I added the ginger sauce to it.... BOMB.COM.... Check this place out. There are always people outside but they move pretty quick so the wait shouldn't be that bad.
(4)Alisa C.
Dang - my first review in a while! Sorry I've been kinda busy the past few months! Anyway here's my review: Hainan chicken is obviously delicious. The tastiest I've ever had. I recommend just ordering to-go. It's a little cramped inside and not the best sit-down experience. I think the best would be to just get it to-go and eat the most savory Hainan chicken in the comfort of your own home. :) If you are vacationing/touring here, I don't think this would be the most fun "LA experience." However, you MUST come to Savoy Kitchen if you live here!
(4)Justin C.
The restaurant is small, with only a few tables inside and a few outside. If you come with a big party, be prepared to eat outside in the cold. Due to the size of this place, the wait time is also quite lengthy. The food here is delicious, especially the Hainan chicken rice (a MUST try), which makes up for the waiting time. Oh, did I also mention the fantastic customer service? The waiter was very friendly and gave us a lot of help with the menu. He even came back to check up on us to make sure we were enjoying our meal. I would absolutely recommend this restaurant! I will be sure to come again some time during this week.
(5)Sam G.
It's what I'd expect. It's a very basic dish, the $6.95 Hainan chicken. White or dark chicken meat, broken rice, and dipping sauces. The portions are generous, and is a healthy lunch for many. Many people order ahead and pick it up during lunch, which is a definite plus if I were working in the area. It gets crowded rather easily due to the limited seating and fame of this place. There is a waiting list, and the logistics are simple and straightforward. I'm a fan.
(4)Becky G.
The food is great. But its packed and they have horrible customer service! The people that work here are so rude to customers its not even funny.
(2)Rick M.
Look no further than Savoy Kitchen should you need a bite from the Mexican platter. This one's quite an interesting place to fill your cravings for some of the yummiest dishes - pass the bucks to its amazing culinary skills if you feel like dropping over here time and again. Personally, Savoy Kitchen deserves maximum attention in Alhambra - great customer service and even greater food! The restaurant has actually got an intriguing décor and pure authenticity. Just shake and bake the price printed on your bill, nothing comes easy without a good value. However, a fantastic place as your day winds up. By the way, don't you forget to try their Hainan chicken (the only thing that keeps me driving back to this one)!
(4)Kevin W.
Best Hainan chicken I've had. Kids loved it too. Small place with not much seating but got everything to go.
(5)Polina T.
I always get the hainan chicken rice with salad and an ice tea. Sometimes I get the chicken soup too. SO FREAKING GOOD and at such a good price. I love this place and go whenever I'm in LA. It's cash only, closed Sundays, and usually has a wait around meal times.
(5)Louis I.
Best Hainanese Chicken Rice! It's definitely the place to visit when I miss the food. For those who never had it, check out this place.
(5)Carl S.
Hainan chicken. Used to be #1, but now is relegated to #2 by Green Island in Temple City. When you order here, opt for the noodles with the chicken or even the salad. Your blood sugar levels will love you for it. The escargot (my car go - 160 swiftly) I digress... it used to be amazing. Now it's just frowns at me in a pool of butter and minced garlic. Sad. Stop by if you want a quick protein bite. Great for flying solo as they have counter-style dining. Togo orders are quick as well. hint: they have a giant chicken processing factory out back.
(4)Rich Z.
My favorite of course is their Hainan Chicken over rice all white meat & salad! CASH Only !
(4)Allen C.
I love Hainan Chicken. Actually, let me rephrase that. I love Savoy's Hainan Chicken. How big of a difference could the Hainan Chicken be at Savoy vs other spots? Well.. not as many as you would think, I mean it's really just chicken and rice haha. First off, the chicken is always tender and fatty. It's a creamy morsel every bite you take. Make sure you ask for dark meat. It just tastes better! Next, the rice. I believe they use basmati rice. Whatever it is, it's delicious. They add a healthy serving of chicken drizzlings which make it flavorful and moist. Lastly, the sauce! You get some soy sauce, some ginger, and chili sauce. Smother that chicken in chili sauce, some tangy spicy sauce.. delicious! Other notable items on the menu: Shrimp Rolls: Crispy meaty goodness.. and the sweet chili sauce is superb! Escargot: Drenched in garlic butter, these things are really chewy and delicious. Baked Halibut: Tomato or white sauce sprinkled with cheese then baked! Lemon Iced Tea: Free refills and simple syrup you mix to your liking. Salad: Lettuce and tomatoes with a side of honey dijon dressing. I've never been disappointed at Savoy! Honestly for the longest time I never even knew they served anything besides Hainan Chicken but i'm glad I eventually explored a bit and found some other favorites.
(5)Oulie T.
Hainan chicken is what the Savoy Kitchen is known for. Pickup to go is a good option if the Hainan chicken is all you plan on ordering. The restaurant is small and ambiance is crowded and they are pro's at packing up to go orders. The Hainan chicken dish seems like something that would be comforting if you are sick. The rice is mushy soft with a gingery bite. The spicy chile sauce on the side adds a nice kick to the dish. I can't get enough of the minced ginger they provide as a condiment. It's like crack. Double me up please.
(4)Minako S.
I don't think Savoy has the best Hainan chicken in the world. I've had some pretty good ones in Singapore and even sometimes in NorCal. Savoy's is definitely not on the bottom, but not necessarily the best. The chicken is flavorful and tender, but it can be even more tender. I'm giving it 4 stars because it's one of the better ones. Their rice does need work though. Even though turnover is high, the rice tastes like leftover old rice that they had cooking for a long time and you are the only one who's finally ordered it... But a plus for unlimited free iced tea!
(4)Jackson Y.
2013, still the best Hainan Chicken in the 626. All you need is some chicken, rice, and that ginger sauce. Came here recently and redid a review, but in video form, check it out youtu.be/q0U0-2xviPM .
(5)William Z.
Service super slow, nothing special about the chicken...don't know what all the rave is about.
(2)Tim C.
I dream about Savoy Kitchen when I sleep. Well, actually, more so their Hainan chicken. I really pray that they open up something close to it up here in Nor Cal. WE NEED PLACES LIKE THESE!
(5)Tina Z.
Regular customer-once a week. 5 star chicken+5 star rice+5 star sauces=awesome!!! I always order via phone in advance and pick to-go, cause parking is horrible.
(5)wan w.
Food is really good and tasty, but minus one start is the service can be bad sometimes...especially if you go on a busy time/day. Hainan chicken rice is what they are famous for and the 3 sauces come with it....it's just too special to skip! I love their spring roll and it's a must try. The chicken soup is home made and very fresh! Curry is good if you hate creamy curry and prefer straight non-milk/dairy kind...you come to the right place. I guess the food is good enough for me to tolerate some of the abuses occurred occasionally here! :) Oh, if you order pasta dish, they come with the homemade bread, which I found it's the same as their pizza dough. Sometimes, the bread is good, sometimes they are too hard. Hope they can be more consistent with their bread, that's why I hardly order pizza from them cause I am a "doughy" kind of person and always eat my bread for pizza.
(4)Brandon L.
Their hainan chicken rice is pretty delicious, and possibly the best one in the SGV area!
(4)Ava L.
BAKED HALIBUT. totally underrated here!! I came here before knowing nothing of the legendary hainan chicken and got a pasta of some sort, and it was horrible.. just watery tomato sauce... Came here again a year later, armed with the knowledge of yelp reviews and had a delicious hainan chicken rice which redeemed the restaurant. My go-to cafe foods are baked foods at cantonese cafes in sgv. Baked bologanese, baked fish with spinach in cream sauce, baked chicken/pork chop with tomato sauce, whatever it is, I LOVE IT. Came here today and ordered take out for a baked halibut and it was piping hot and steamy. Opened the lid box and an aroma wafted out that immediately had my tongue falling out of my mouth. I Immediately tried the sauce and a bit of fish and could have declared it my new favorite baked food ever. I proceeded to mix all the rice into the sauce and broke up the fish pieces. It was savory, creamy, buttery, flakey, and melt in your mouth all at the same time. That dish basically redefined baked foods for me and my tastebuds were reborn and having the grandest time of their life. My boyfriend usually hates baked food, but this, he could not resist my dish. He was helping me take off the tinfoil and had gotten a little piece of heaven, I mean sauce on his finger and licked it off. Immediately exclaimed, "That's really good.. " It is a bit heavy though, with all the cream. Try it! Might be your new favorite instead of the hainan chicken. TIP- cash only, take out orders are finished within 10 minutes. -Baked foods enthusiast :)
(4)Wen R.
Hainan Chicken. What more is there to say?
(5)Susy C.
all dark meat hainan chicken over rice , to go. honestly this tastes like the chicken my mom makes. I don't really understand the hype. I mean it's good, but nothing special for me. I guess i'm spoiled since I eat chicken like this on a weekly basis *shrugs* hot sauce is bomb though. still, I'd eat this place but I wouldn't wait over 10 minutes for chicken here. Sorry!
(4)Abby C.
Food/Cost: (4/5) Of course I got the Hainan Chicken Rice ($8.50 w/tax & tip) on my first visit here today. I felt the price a slight bit high for the amount of food, but the quality of food was well worth it. The chicken was amazing; it was impossibly succulent and tender, even though I chose white meat and not the dark. The slight zing of the chili and ginger sauces pairs with the chicken delightfully. And surprisingly, the rice was equally delicious -- it was flavorful and moist. You won't find any pretenses here. The food is simply made and simply presented; at Savoy you just may learn why simple is best. Ambiance: (3/5) My party arrived at 6pm and the place was already packed with dinner diners. After 20 minutes, there was a pack of people waiting for seats. Not to mention the constant stream of people picking up their orders. Don't expect much in terms of decor or atmosphere. Simple benches, black plastic chairs and old wooden or plastic tables fill the space. Its a small, no frills restaurant -- you feel like you're dining in a small add-on to the kitchen, which seems more the star. There are only about 4 tables inside, 4-5 counter seats, and perhaps 5 outdoor tables. Given the limited seating here, large parties are definitely well warned to stay away. Take-out is a much better option if you have any more than 4 people (and that's already a stretch). Location: (4/5) Located on the corner of Valley Blvd. and Monterey Street, this brick and black umbrella-ed establishment is visible, though small. The area isn't the best, but it's not bad either. Very residential. Savoy's patrons can find free street parking all around the block. Still, if you come at peak times you may find that a short stroll is required. Service: (4/5) The ladies who served us are pleasant and caring. The particular lady who waited on my table was very motherly and made sure that we got more sauce when we packed up out leftovers. The speed of service is extremely fast (perhaps because 70% of the diners ordered the same dish -- Hainan Chicken Rice) and diners go in and out in short spurts. Don't forget, cash only! Overall: (4/5) Despite the lackluster ambiance and a near certain wait during peak meal times, I most definitely am returning here for the Hainan Chicken Rice. Even as I write this I am yearning for more of that addicting chicken and rice. Darn, I should not have allowed my mom to eat my leftovers already...
(4)Andrew L.
Their Hainan chicken is always great and about the only thing I ever get there. Couple that with the lemon tea and you've got yourself a good and simple meal! Accompanying your chicken and rice are three dipping sauces: dark soy sauce, ginger and a chili sauce. Mix them all onto your plate and it's a flavor explosion. Definitely a must-go if you're in the 626 area.
(4)Clara K.
i guess this is the place to go for hainan chicken. their chicken is pretty good, and i like their rolls that they make out of pizza dough, but the insane wait and the super tiny cramped indoor seating area drive me crazy. they have some outdoor seating as well, but if you get seated indoors, be prepared to deal with a bit of claustrophobia. still worth checking out if you've never been and you're a hainan chicken fan.
(3)Tiffany W.
I've been coming to Savoy since before I could walk or talk. My family knows the owners and the staff, and they've always treated us very well with excellent service and speedy seating. The quality of the food has diminished some over the years, but they still have some of the best Hainan Chicken, pasta dishes, and escargot in SGV. Hainan Chicken - Most of the time I get the Hainan Chicken. They give a good mixture of dark and white meat, which is very tender. The rice used to be more oily and had good chicken flavor (both qualities that I love), but nowadays it's more bland. Baked Halibut in White Sauce with Pasta - Sometimes I like to switch it up and order the baked halibut. The sauce is to die for and it's baked in some cheesy goodness. My friend also suggested getting this dish in red sauce with rice and that's just as good. Escargot - This has got to be one of the best kept secrets in Alhambra. I love this dish, and it's especially good when they serve it with their bread and you dip the bread in the delicious buttery goodness that the escargot is baked in. Love this dish. Savoy will always be my go-to place whenever friends from out of town need awesome restaurant recommendations in Alhambra. It is a very small restaurant though, so you'll be sitting mighty close to the next table. Just make sure you go during non-peak hours because there is always a line outside during lunch and dinner.
(4)Wes C.
Savoy Kitchen has always been one of my favorite places to dine back home in the L.A. area - My mum has been taking me here since I was a kid. I always always always get their seafood salad (LOVE their dressing) and Hai-Nan chicken. I just can't bring myself to order anything else, but have tried a few other dishes my mum has ordered - all delicious and worth trying!!!! I'll definitely have to try something different next time. Their Chrysanthemum tea is super addicting - I always end up drinking 3 or 4 cups. It's a pretty small kitchen, maybe 7 or 8 tables inside and they have outside patio dining as well, but I prefer to sit inside. Expect a wait during lunch and dinner hours, but it usually goes by fairly quickly - food comes out within 10-15 minutes. Savoy Kitchen is worth any wait & I can't wait to visit home to eat here again!! :)
(5)Beatrice T.
I think the biggest appeal of their Hainan Chicken is that it's boneless. My favorite part of this dish is usually the rice so I'm not a fan of how Savoy does theirs. Typically, the rice is slightly glutinous and greasy with a yellowish hue after being tossed and cooked in the chicken fat and broth. At times, the ginger spices are even steamed into the rice, adding even more richness. Their rice was much too soft, like it was overcooked in soup, and didn't have the complex salty savory flavors I love. But it's super fast service, and being boneless, it's a no mess quick lunch fix.
(3)Sabrina L.
My mom thought the Hoi Nam chicken wasn't even as good at Savoy Kitchen compared to some places in the Bay Area. It wasn't as moist or flavorful as I expected too so maybe we were on an off day? Good Hoi Nam chicken has so much flavor that you don't really need the ginger/green onion sauce or other sauces but Savoy's did. We got one plate of Hoi Nam chicken and another of the daily special which happened to be Ox Tail stew. It probably was a bad sign when the food came out only literally 2 minutes after we ordered. My mom and I imagined the food all sitting back in the kitchen just waiting to be ordered. I don't think we'll be coming back here again. Considering the menu is so simple with only a few items to choose from, we really wanted to be wowed but weren't....
(3)Carolyn P.
Another review seems excessive but I really have to say that the Hainan chicken and rice is really THAT good!! We also ordered the smoked duck salad, escargot, and the conch and prosciutto pasta. All were delicious. The smoked duck was a bit dry but the salad dressing was very tasty. Aside from the Hainan chicken, the escargot really stood out...I couldn't stop dipping more bread into the garlicky butter. I can't wait to go back and try more of their menu. The service was prompt and the prices were fair. We easily found parking on the street right by the outdoor patio. I definitely recommend this place to any one going out to the San Gabriel valley!
(4)Kyle D.
How have I not reviewed this place yet? Savoy is THE place to get Hainan Chicken. That's it. That's my whole review. If you want to know more, the chicken is moist and tender, the rice is so flavorful and the sauce is amazing. Who knew sauce could be this important? If they didn't have that orange spicy sauce (no idea what it actually is), I would actually just say their Hainan Chicken is pretty good but not 5 star wonderful. They also have this minced ginger that people seem to like but I hate ginger so I can't really give that part a fair review. I've heard the other food they have is also good (apparently the escargot is really tasty) but I haven't tried it because I always come here for the Hainan Chicken. The only negatives I can't knock them down for - their location is a bit small so sometimes parking and seating is a hassle but I'm crossing my fingers that one day they move to a bigger location. If you go at the beginning of dinner rush, there's no problem - and you can always get the food to go. Also, they're cash only but many Asian places are so I don't mind that. The prices are good, the service is fine, the food is delicious. What more could you want?
(5)Jeffrey J.
Savoy was phenomenal in the sense that the flavor and style was unique to what I usually find in 626. Things I didn't like was the small venue and limited menu. Its a little on the upscale side as you won't find a good meal for less than 7 but damn they are so good. Hainan chicken is a must. Take out accepted. Cash only. Lines are pretty long.
(4)Lawrence L.
Everyone comes here for their famous Hainan Chicken Rice and after having it a couple of times, I would agree that it is one of the better tasting ones... A lot of the success of the dish has to be attributed to the rice, which is moist with a lot of flavor infused in, mostly chicken flavor, there is suppose to be ginger taste element but it is subtle. The chicken itself is moist, tender, and flavorful; if I had a complaint, it would be that the chicken is sometimes not chopped as masterfully as it could be, the pieces are uneven presentationally. Something that my late dad would say is something to the effect that they don't know how to chop chicken, which is something of a faux pas in my native Cantonese cuisine. It comes with three dipping sauces, two of which I never use on my Hainan chicken: the spicy one and the one that looks like hoisin sauce. The third sauce is an oil and salt mixture which I favor. My family used to make this using seasoned salt which is lightly wok fried, and oil, and fine julienne slivers of green onions, I grew up on this and loved it... The place opens for lunch at 1100am and a steady stream of people start coming right when it opens. The place is pretty small. Most of the time, a wait forms. On my first visit it was a Friday and I was solo. It took me about 15 minutes to get seated at the counter where I order the daily special for a Friday, the Oxtail Stew with rice. Not bad at all... It was while I was sitting at the counter that I noticed that people don't even bother trying to wait for a table and order to go instead. These guys are so organized that this seems like a very viable option for a lot of people... I have since been back a couple of times and have tried other dishes besides their signature Hainan Chicken. On Thursdays, they have a Beef Brisket Noodle soup which is alright, but not the best that I have ever had. I have also tried their Curry Beef Stew, the curry is a milky Malaysian style yellow/brown curry with a very distinct green chili flavor. Not bad... Overall, this is one of my favorite takeout spots on Valley Blvd. The prices are very reasonable, and they have Hainan Chicken takeout down pat like a well oiled machine...
(4)Huong T.
YUM. Hainan Chicken. $7.56. Simple dish. Healthy and easy to eat. I love their chili dipping sauce--not very spicy but great with the ginger! My favorite part is the chicken rice (basically rice cooked in chicken stock). So good that even after I finished all my chicken :( I ate the rice alone. CROWDED. Call in your order.
(4)Anthony L.
My pops made Hainam chicken for us all the time when we were little kids; and since I am a fairly poor cook who hasn't learned a single thing about cooking from him, it's nice to know I can come here and have something pretty comparable (his food still, and will always be #1 to me!) Came here with a couple buddies around 7-8 on a weekday and it was preeetty packed; it's a pretty small restaurant with no more than 10-15 tables inside and a handful of tables outside. The three of us ordered the Hainam chicken over rice; the chicken was definitely real moist and tender but I would have liked some more flavor. Rice was fine; I prefer to just a light hint of broth taste/smell to my rice and that's exactly how it was served (some people like more flavorful rice). Everyone around me was also ordering the escargot; and I'd like to think that I'm down for most things but uhh, escargot for 7.50 at a chinese restaurant in Alhambra?Yikes, a little too adventurous for my tastes. All in all, for ~8 bucks? Easily worth it to satisfy the cravings.
(4)Esther K.
Came here this past weekend for dinner with friends and loved it. Street parking was easy to find, and I actually ran into a family that I know here. Great minds think alike. We came a little early, around 5:45pm, so we were able to get seated inside right away. By the time we left, however, there was a really long line! So pro tip: get there early. I got the Hainan Chicken, of course. Dark meat. It was tender, juicy, and delicious. Loved the chili and ginger sauces that it comes with, as well as the soy sauce and the rice. The entire dish was perfect. One of my friends got their baked escargot with pizza bread and loved it. I am not that adventurous of an eater so I stayed away from the escargot, but that garlic sauce with the pizza bread is delish! Good food, decent prices, easy parking. And Phoenix is right down the street for dessert! Thanks to Abby C. for reviewing this place and inspiring me to try it~
(4)Meemo W.
savoy has been here for quite a few yrs and has never stopped having great food if you're craving hainan chicken, this is the place.. their chili sauce is absolutely delicious.. i've also had their black pepper filet mignon, it's pretty good.. lots of pepper with ONE broccoli and you can ask for chicken flavored rice which is simply made with chicken broth.. the pastas are pretty decent as well as pretty much anything else you see on the menu.. although, the cornish hen can be slightly dry from what i remember i would've given 5 stars but this place is severely lacking on space.. can't blame them though, it's not like they can suddenly reconstruct more space.. that means it gets packed very easily at any time, unless you go right when they open at 1100hrs when parking on the street, read the signs carefully
(4)Dorothy L.
Go for the hainan chicken, stay for the pizza! (Take someone with you, so you can get both!) Enjoy some shrimp rolls with chrysanthemum tea while you're at it. The food is really good and inexpensive, which explains the popularity of this tiny little corner restaurant. Sadly, it's closed Sundays (which always seems to be the day we want to eat there).
(4)Christine J.
Great place for lunch. Doggy friendly brought my puppy here. :) recommendations: -Hainan Chicken.. DUHHH.. if you like dark meat, just order the regular plate because it is mostly dark meat anyways.. the rice that comes along with the dish is really good because it has a salty tastee to it & the sauces they give you.. USE THEM :) thats why they give them to you -Shrimp Rolls - tastey egg rolls! It always gets busy around dinner time, but its perfect wait on a weekday for lunch!
(4)Arthur S.
Savoy Kitchen is not bad @ all. The chicken itself is not the best....HOWEVER their garlic sauce makes up for it. It's bomb, I always ask for more because its just that freaken good! The rice is not bad either, has a lot of taste. Just be aware though, everytime I step out of that place my food coma status goes high. The tea is not bad (you can add your own sugar) and the service was pretty decent as well considering it to be an asian restaurant. Good place to check out but be aware of the REALLY long waits. Get there early kids!
(3)Ivan T.
the best hainam chicken in town! nuff said!
(5)Helen K.
Savoy is definitely one of my favorite restaurants in Alhambra (this and Boiling Crab!). What else can I say that hasn't already been said about this place? The chicken is amazing, so is their rice! I love how when you get your iced tea in a to-go cup so you can refill and take it with you! Parking is not too bad because you can usually find a spot on the street, but if you go during peak hours expect a wait. Since I don't want to be repetitive and talk about the amazing food, I will just share my last experience at Savoy. My last visit was quite some time ago (Sorry, I have neglected you... )., but it was the most memorable one. It was sometime in 2008... I can't remember the month or day... But, as me and my dining companions were chowing down on their infamous chicken and delicious pasta, we hear a loud screeching sound right outside the restaurant! Everybody dining inside the restaurant turned and gasped! An older man who was trying to walk across the street got hit by a minivan! The driver of the minivan came out and was helping him up, and after he was up he was trying to leave! Everybody around were urging this older man to stay and wait for the ambulance, but he refused and started walking off. It was a very scary sight to see.... When the ambulance arrived, the patrons that were dining outside, let the medics know what happened and which way the victim was heading. Hopefully they caught up with him and made sure he was alright... But, all in all, the food here is delicious! I always recommend this place to friends who always ask for a new restaurant to eat at!
(5)Jan D.
RECOMMENDATION: Hainam Chicken (for those who don't know it is steam chicken (salted) over white rice along with dipping sauce. Savoy is only good when you go for the hainam chicken. the thing is that my grandma makes the best hainam chicken so i guess you can't really compare, but this place is known for the hainam chicken. so i suggest you go there for that. Other than that they have other things like pasta, fried egg rolls, and some lemon tea, thai tea, and etc.. it is a very small place so again, parking is hard to find and it gets pretty crowded.. so if you are hungry arrive early.
(4)Amy C.
You have to go here during odd hours to avoid the long-line! Not a place to go to if you're in a rush. The service is fast once you get seated. My favourite to order here is the Hainam Chicken w/ White meat no skin, Half rice/ Half Salad with extra Chili and garlic. :) For Appetizer the SHRIMP EGG ROLLS is the way to go. Everything in the menu is pretty good regardless.. a Must Try if you haven't! P.S. Closed Sundays! Cash only! :)
(5)Jasmine C.
I looooooove this place! I've been coming here for many years and I will never get tired of it! Yummy yummy in the tummy!
(5)Edwin C.
Cheap and good. I can never choose between which of the 3 sauces i like best when getting the Hainan chicken, they're all so good. Sometimes theres a wait, but never too long, and it's worth it.
(4)Jason H.
See!!! I'm trying more Chinese food. :) although most will say its Singaporean..but its chinese to me! I've been hearing about this Hainan chicken left and right and people raving about all the time. But no one would go with me....til one day I found a sucker to go with! yah!!!!! you get a choice of white or dark meat....I happen to like white meat so I opted for that and guess what???? it's cheaper! woohooo. A great price especially for the white meat and it tasted good too. I didn't like the skin, but you can just take it off....no biggie. I liked their orange dipping sauce. it's a bit spicy and sweet i would say? do you all agree? The place is quite small but we were able to squeeze in and enjoy our meal. Parking could be a little hard to find, but just drive around and find street parking and walk a little :P (although I found a spot right in front! yipeee). It is an interesting place as they have pasta and pizza too!!! At a chinese place??? weird...but I almost wanted to order a pasta dish just because...perhaps next time... Who wants to go? I know you do!
(4)David C.
One of my most favorite spots of all time. I've eaten here 3-4 times a week before and it never gets old! The waitresses are great! I forgot to bring cash one time and she said to pay her back next time! Seriously, how cool is that? Wait is horrendous if you're going around 12 or 6. 4pm is the best time to go. I recommend the hainam chicken, escargot, and the occassional chicken pasta.
(5)Alison W.
*Update* The extra $2 for the dark meat is so worth it. The regular portion comes with both the white and dark but it's all dark meat for the extra money is a lot larger in portion. And don't forget to get the iced lemon tea. Unlimited refills and it's already in a to-go cup to take with you at the end of your meal. Oh the sweet, sweet liquid syrup theyy give you to put in your tea is so the bomb! I can't decide if I love the rice or chicken more. But the Hainan chicken dish definitely combines two of my favorite foods. I shouldn't tell you that they probably cook the rice with sweet, sweet chicken broth and lots of oil which makes it as addicting as crack. And the chicken may seem like just plain old chicken to the untrained eye. But it's moist, even the white meat, and plentiful. Props to Savoy for removing most of the bones and taking away that chore away from us. I don't even touch the hot or ginger sauces because it totally doesn't need it - just a sprinkle of that soy sauce. I wonder if that's plain old soy sauce or some variation but when it's mixed in with my meal, it makes it taste darn scrumptious. And you already know that the place is tiny, there's no parking and at peak times, there can be a loooonnng wait. So I always take it to go. I don't even have to call beforehand and usually I'm out of there in 5 minutes. The last time I bought it, I couldn't even wait till I got home before I started devouring it in the car at a red light. The people in the nearby cars must've thought I was a pig. But I'm pretty sure pigs don't eat chicken.
(5)Russ V.
Discovered by my friend in L.A. and became a definite must 'hit up' by the way he described their reknowned Chicken Plate and dipping sauces.. Hainan Chicken Rice: Poached chicken, white rice steamed in chicken broth, with ginger and chili sauce on the side. I paid an additional $2 for dark meat?.. Yeah, an upgrade to Dark meat NOT White! More tasty Less healthy = More Money.. Interesting equation!.. They served a decent sized skin-on portion of extra tasty chicken, a generous portion of rice that carried that same flavorful chickenness and the dipping sauces just brought it to another dimension of deliciousness! The minced ginger wasn't overpowering, just right and the chili sauce had a roasted and mild heat to it that had a good after taste to it.. Never had anything quite like it. Also came with soy sauce on the side, that I lightly poured over the rice and that just amplified every bite!! Very Nice Dish and for the Price, it is hard to pass up! Baked Halibut: Decided on creamy sauce and thick spaghetti pasta. Another good portion of filet that had a fluffy breading, smothered in a white cheesey sauce. Fish wasn't fall apart as expected with halibut but broke off easy and the sauce was mild.. safely seasoned?.. Not bad. I combined the fish/sauce with the pasta and the starch went well the richness of the cheese.. It was better this way. Creme Brulee: Definitely an individual sized portion, actually never seen it served this small before. No wonder it was only a couple bucks! Well, I thought it was a great idea because it was just enough to satisfy. Their version was on the milky side and less dense compared to all others I've had. A Definite Hot Spot in the San Gabriel Valley, we came on a Wednesday night and we had to wait about 20 minutes to get seated. I would of waited 45 minutes with no complaints.. Service was Very Good, Prices Definitely Cosumer Friendly, Sitting outside with that typical upper 70 degree weather was a Plus and the Hainan Chicken Dish was 5 Star Worthy!! (Overall 4 stars because the fish and creme brulee didn't do it for me)
(4)Danny S.
My girlfriend told me about this place, so i decided to take her here the other day. We ordered the hainam chicken and beef curry. I have to say the Hainam chicken was great. The curry was ok, I've had better. This place is known for it's Hainam chicken though so i wasn't disappointed. The price is pretty fair for the amount of food you get, so i would recommend this place to anyone who's looking for a place to eat with good chicken for a good price. The con about this place is the available seating, which isn't very much.
(4)Carina L.
I know I shouldn't compare this Hainan Chicken rice with the ones in Singapore but.. I can't help it. Already hungry from the long waiting time with the waitress giving false hopes that we are the very next, I was very disappointed from the point it was served to me. The plating was awful, it looked like the chef got fed-up and dumped the chicken on my plate of rice in a mess. It was nothing like the primary picture I see in here. :( Then, when i taste the chicken, it wasn't flavorful at all..Okay..perhaps not how I've been accustomed to. So what they have the ginger chilli and the chicken rice to go with it. However, If this combination is what the folks are looking for, then honestly speaking, this is the place to go.. coz there isn't any other? I truly hope they would improve on their Hainanese chicken and their service standards.. everyone deserves a really delicious plate of Hainanese chicken rice! Enough said! Thanks for hearing me rant!
(2)Lynette T.
One more down on our "Gotta check it out" list! How the heck did we not notice Savoy in all our years of living in this neighborhood?!? Why did we not hear about it from our foodie friends? It took seeing this restaurant on Yelp's Welcome page in the "Hot on Yelp" section for me to take notice. Good thing we went for the 11am opening. I read about how small it was, but it was smaller than I imagined. Within 15 minutes, all the tables were taken & there were already people waiting for tables inside. It was pretty muggy outside, so I understand wanting to wait. A steady stream of people were coming in to order take-out or pick up phone orders. We were only there about 1/2 an hour, but there was so much activity going on. I knew what I wanted - the Hainan Chicken & Chrysanthemum iced tea. If that's their signature dish, I had to see what all the fuss was about. It was what I expected....GREAT! This dish is healthy & light, not over-seasoned. The rice, the rice...I could go on & on about how good the rice is. Whatever that orange sauce is, I'm in love. I'll have spicy food at my own risk of suffering later. This sauce is worthy of the pain. (Edited to add: It's been 4 hours & no reaction to the spicy sauce! I'm officially hooked!) My husband wasn't quite sure what he wanted, so he ordered the special of the day, Brisket with rice noodles. He had assumed it would be the brisket & gravy over noodles. When they brought out the pho soup, I had a moment of panic thinking that he might want to switch dishes with me. He's not into soups, especially on a hot day. He sat there looking at his bowl for a few seconds, got his chopsticks & poked around for a few more. Took a sip of the broth....."Hey, this IS good!" Me: *sigh of relief* Hubby was enjoying his dish so much, he was looking around at the other tables to get ideas of what he wanted to try on future visits. There was a seafood pasta on the next table & some pizzas across the room. That's good news for me! Savoy is now on our "Favorite Places to Go" list.
(5)Shelley Z.
Man, everybody raves about the hainan chicken. Nobody cares about your opinion when it's exactly the same as everyone else's! Therefore, I'm going to say... SHRIMP ROLLS!!! OMFG the shrimp rolls.
(5)Yin C.
Hainan Chicken is so good there. Also the escargot is much better than any other places.
(5)Kristine J.
It's all about their hainan chicken. So succulent and tender. The sauces perfectly compliment the meat. Mmmmm mmmm good! Just remember to bring cash!
(5)Stephanie H.
Stopped by here during a week night to grab some dinner. Glad I wasn't driving because parking is pretty horrible. No parking lot was in sight so, you have to street park. Didnt get to step inside, because they had my party of 5 sit outside. Tables are woobly and set up tightly to one another...so be ready to hear other ppls conversation. I liked how the tree was wrapped in white lights. We ordered the shrimp rolls as an appetizer...I wasn't impressed? Very thin looking like thinner then don jose frozens taquitos...and didnt taste much of the shrimp. The dipping sauce was pretty good. I ordered the Hainan Chicken with Rice (white meat). Portion is huge I gave some of my rice away to my friend. The ginger sauce is def good. I saw everyones salad and wish I woudlve ordered it too. It was alright, wasn't like OMG I got to come back...staff was pretty rude too. I guess if your in the area and feeling chicken and rice...why not? My plate was about $8.00 and this place is Cash Only!!!
(3)Kevin H.
very good hainanese chicken as good as singapore.
(4)Jenny L.
The best Hainan chicken ever! So moist even the white meat is moist. When I visit LA, I make sure Savoy Kitchen is on my list of places to eat! They have other items on the menu but you come here for one thing...the Hainan Chicken! Even the rice is delicious! Get the chicken and you won't be disappointed!
(5)Baloo B.
Wow seafood casserole with pasta and the seafood salad is so good it will make u slap yo mama .
(5)David S.
Hands down the best Hainan chicken I've ever had. Don't be that guy that tries to change it up and try something new. If you're not going to get Hainanese Chicken Rice, then don't come here! Parking sucks and the line can get pretty long.
(4)Sally C.
Best Hainanese chicken I've had in my life. The meat is incredibly tender and flavorful. Also very cheap. Don't bother trying the other stuff here. Just go with the chicken! There was a pretty long line for three on a weekday night and the overall feel of the place was kind of grungy, but that's to be expected from this type of joint. Don't expect anything fancy but expect to be wowed by the chicken. Would definitely come back again just for it!
(4)Ayumi S.
CASH ONLY. This place is really tiny inside, and freakin' freezing cold lol. They do have an outside patio, which has more seating. I got their Hainan chicken, and bf ordered their beef curry. The food came out fairly quick, and a generous sized portion. My chicken was luke-warm :/ . It kind of grossed me out, and it had a lot of fatty skin attached to it. The rice was really good, and the chili sauce it came with was yummy. My bf's beef curry was flavorful, but that shit STAINS. Lol. His lips, fingers, and tongue turned all highlighter yellow. Overall, this place is just okay. Not worth a second trip, though. Total came out to be 18 and some change. Big portions, cheap price, decent food.
(3)Jack L.
Review based on 20+ visits. Well, this place has pretty much become a SGV legend. I'm surprised they're still going strong. Never had anything here other than the hainan chicken. Personally, I still like the dark meat. I have friends who like the white meat though. Shrug. The lemon iced tea is pretty good(if you dine-in). I think mostly because you add your own sugar syrup, for your desired level of sweetness. Why can't all places do it like that? With so many reviews, nothing much more to say. Difficult parking. Way too many people. Way too small. No restroom. Cash only. I recommend you call in and order, then pick up. Normally, I'd give 4 stars due to the parking, waits, etc.. However, the hainan chicken is just too unbelievable for me to do such a thing. Especially as a restaurant in the SGV! Overview: Small place. Long waits. No restroom. Horrible parking. Delicious hainan chicken(No, really?). Delicious lemon iced tea(if dine-in). Recommend you order over the phone and pick up.
(5)Caroline N.
Like everyone else said, the Hainan chicken is the must-get dish here. Juicy and flavorful chicken, and the ginger and chili sauces go amazing with it! You can ask for extra sauce when you run low. I wish the rice had a little more flavor though, and maybe a little less rice (or more chicken!) since the chicken-to-rice ratio wasn't very good. The boyfriend also got a mushroom pasta, it was yummy! Inside seating is a little cramped. Seating at the bar was awkward because the stool was too high - the table was low and close to our knees! We switched to a lower table when it vacated.
(4)Isma S.
We came here expecting the best hainanese chicken rice after reading the reviews and boy were we disappointed. I think this place is overrated. Maybe because I'm from Singapore and we have THE best chicken rice! Lol! Here's the summary, we got a whole lot of rice, not enough chicken. overall taste? What taste? Ordered the chicken curry as well but nothing special. Sorry guys!
(2)Cecilia Z.
Prior to 7 years of vegetarianism (which ended a few months ago), I used to eat at Savoy frequently during my middle school years. I visited again for a late lunch date recently, with fond memories of the hainan chicken rice in mind. This time around, however, this famous dish was not all that mind-blowing. I ordered the hainan chicken with half rice and half salad, trying to be semi-healthy. While the ginger and sweet chili sauce was every bit as tasty as I had remembered, the chicken itself was just too greasy and a bit gelatinous for my liking. I'm not sure if it's the skin that they leave on the chicken or the way it is cooked, but all of the white meat was coated with a weird fatty, gelatinous layer of grease that just was not very appealing. The rice, which appears to have been steamed with chicken broth, was much better than the meat. If it weren't for the fragrant rice and delicious ginger and chili sauce, I probably would not have been able to finish my dish. From what I can remember, most of the other menu items I have tried are pretty bad here. I have tried the baked sole with rice, seafood salad, fried shrimp rolls, and some of the pastas and pizzas. I personally am not a fan of Asian-style pastas and pizzas, so I find the pizza here to be strangely bready and bland. Truth be told, I'm finding Savoy to be a bit overhyped now. I'm not sure if the hainan chicken really is not as good as it used to be, or if my palate has changed... whatever it is, I can't say I'll be missing this place much afterall.
(3)Alex C.
1) I've been eating at Savoy's for at least 15 years if not more. You know what that means? I don't have to order anymore. Jessica (server) and Bao (runner) knows my order. They even give me my drink while I'm waiting. Now that's service! 2) Eat outside if you can. Sitting inside is way too packed. It's crazier than eating at a dim sum joint. Have you ever tried going to the counter for the restroom key? Good luck navigating through those tables. 3) You can order the Hainan Chicken plate three ways: regular which is all rice, half salad + half rice, or full salad. I usually get the half & half. Note that prices are different. 4) If you're not down with the Hainan Chicken, then you need a CT scan my friend. Otherwise, order the Chicken or Beef curry with rice, the Wednesday special crab noodle soup (if it hasn't sold out yet), or the sausage pepper pasta. Order the shrimp roll if you want an appetizer. Also try their iced cappuccino. 5) Watch out for Monday street sweeping days. Check the signs. And do not park in the white zone. Or else you just had a $40 plate of Hainan Chicken. But come on, you know it's worth it. I swear they sprinkle crack on the rice. It's addicting as a mutha.
(5)Nancy L.
Like everyone is suggesting their hainan chicken w/ rice is really good! I think its less the chicken though, I really like their rice. Their food is super yummers! I've never actually sat in and ate there, at least not since I was a really little girl. I just don't like the insane crowd of people inside and outside the restaurant. So, I always order take out. I really hate the whole parking situation though. I'm only there to pick up food, and not even dine in! It takes me a good chunk of time to, find an okay spot. Other than parking, and the crowds of people, love savoy! I would just order takeout to not have to deal with the line.
(4)Phoebe W.
It's just ok to me. I went there a couple of times. We ordered the same thing every time, 'Hainan Chicken". I am really sick of it now, but everything else is just not that good. I hope they can have more special dishes. The place is also too small. I don't really like the seating. Ummm, I never wanted to go unless my frds wanna go.
(3)Jeff C.
Savoy Kitchen, what can I say about this place? The hainan chicken is simply the best dish you can have on this side of LA. It's simple straight to the point and classic. The chicken rice is fragrant and perfectly cooked and the chicken is well cooked and seasoned. The ginger sauce, anyone can make, but the chili sauce is a blend of their own. I come here regularly and often and I can never steer away from ordering the hainan chicken. If I had to recommend a couple of things other then the Hainan chicken, they would be... Shrimp rolls, pizza bread, chicken curry, and the baked halibut.... I love savoy. This place does get busy and you will have to wait during dinner/lunch time, and parking isn't the greatest. You can either get street parking or there is a small lot to the left of savoy behind an auto mechanic shop which they don't seem to mind if you park there(park at your own risk lol). Oh yeah bring cash, they are the business like that.
(5)Emmanuel C.
Used to be amazing. But now the locusts have invaded this area and we have long long waits, higher prices, and lower quality foods. I now the economy's bad but c'mon! Still has a small place in my heart though. Classic amazing Hainan Chicken with delectable sauces as well. Come here if you want to guarantee that your meal is tasty.
(3)Justin L.
This place is good...but it's not BOMB like everyone is saying it is. Over-hyped much? It's worth it definitely but I wish there wasn't such a big line for it to try it. You also probably don't want to go here if the weather is bad since most of their seating is outdoor seating. Hainan Chicken w/ rice is what we ordered, as with everyone else in this joint. The chicken was good but I don't see the difference with this chicken from the chicken you get at chinese BBQ joints (you know, the ones where they have chickens hanging from hooks?). The rice, though, I have to admit was pretty good and the sauces (ginger & orange spicy) was pretty delish. The rice was pretty soaked in chicken flavor. I also like their bottomless HK style lemon ice tea. They give you simple syrup to sweeten it. They even give you a to-go cup to bring one for the road afterwards. That's the way it should be everywhere. :)
(4)Jennie W.
Absolutely obsessed with Hainan chicken! And nowhere else can do it like Savoy. I love that you can have the option of dark meat only! All the meat are poached perfectly. The seasoned rice compliments the chicken well. Of course, their orange chili sauce is the star! Pour it over your chicken and mix it in with rice. If you are dining in, they offer unlimited sauce. Cash only, and prepare for long wait! Or you can always get take out. Their lemon iced tea is a must get too :)
(4)Hannah T.
My friend came by my place to hang out and bought Hainan chicken for my sis and I. Let me start off by saying, I've been to Savoy before and never knew about their popular chicken dish. Dude!! Where have I been?! The rice is cooked perfectly in this savory broth that makes it moist and fluffy. The poached chicken is boneless, succulent, plump, juicy, and tender. What makes this a complete awesome dish...the incredible ginger sauce. Both my sis and I enjoyed it so much, I called Savoy the following week to see if they could cater my family's lunch. The gal on the phone was very helpful. She worked with me on how big of a tray I needed for each item. I requested for big containers of the delicious ginger and red sauces. She said no problem. No parking lot. Street parking in the residential area. For takeout, I secure a small spot by the body shop while the car is running. My sis would run inside and get our food. Easy breezy.
(4)Lillian H.
I couldn't understand the hype about this place until I tried it. Yeah the Hainan is what they are best known for wasn't bad. But the rice tasted better than the chicken. Chicken was moist by had really no flavor. Smoked duck pizza was very good. I'm glad that the waitress suggested doing half and half. So I got to pair it with the margarita pizza. Pizza appears overly cheesed but one bite says otherwise. Size of the restaurant is insanely small. Go when doors open so you'll never have to wait. Because 20 minutes after doors open, the room started to fill up. Young waitress with the colorful hair, didn't seem very..... customer service....Wasn't rude but didn't seem to care about giving us any attention about refilling our water until my buddy whipped out his massive camera which I'm guessing she figured out he was a food blogger for LA Times. Shady!!!! That to me knocks another star
(3)Larry T.
I've been eating savoy kitchen since I was really young I! Love it ! Very delicious and love to there all the time but watch out ..........CASH ONLY !
(5)Lenny K.
We have some engineers at the office that live in the area and they'll bring a catering sized order of this to work once in a while. This stuff is amazing. Since I'm low carbing, I just eat the chicken which is super tasty with that garlic ginger sauce. I don't know what more I can add since this is the only thing I've had but I can tell you that everyone in the office loves this stuff.
(5)Edward K.
Dank food. I got the hainan chicken dark meat only and it was freaking good. Although there were bones in the chicken which you have to be careful of the food was pretty good. If you are looking for asthetically beautiful food display this may not be the place, however if you dont care how your chicken and rice is presented this place is worth trying. Loved the food but a bit too far for me to be a regular!
(5)Andrew T.
I loved the Hainan Chicken - extremely delicious!!! For only less than $10 you can get a simple, yet amazing plate at Savoy. I was introduced to this place by one of my friend's and after one bite, I knew if I'm ever out and need a nice sit-down on Valley Blvd, Savoy is on the top of my list for a venue with a nice variety of options and well-made dishes. The service was great and this restaurant is now one of my favourite food stops in the 626.
(5)Wendy L.
This little gem doesn't give you the oh my god feeling when you first try their well known Hainan chicken dish. But let me tell you it's a solid 5 stars. The Hainan chicken over rice is sooooo good. The chicken, rice, and sauces are amazing. When you first try it, you're just like oh yeah typical Hainan chicken but the dish is done really well. I remember introducing my fiancé to this place and he was not really impressed but it slowly grew on him so that every time we visit LA, he will buy like 5-6 boxes to go. Seriously we would either lug 3-6 boxes back on a plane or in a car or simply to eat at the hotel for a late night meal. It is pretty hilarious how much he loves it. I'm surprised we haven't moved to LA because of it.
(5)Vee C.
Hainan chicken, definitely. Best time to go is during late lunch or dinner time although there can be a wait. Stay away from the stew.. It looked unappetizing. Cash only, and parking on the street.
(4)Vincent T.
After living in the 626 for over a year, I finally decided to give this place a try. I've heard nothing but amazing things about this place and maybe thats why I feel a little disappointed after trying it. I ordered what almost everyone orders here, the hainan chicken. I wouldn't say that the chicken or rice is bad because that would be a lie. It is actually good but I think it lacks a bit of flavor compared to Green Zone's Hainan chicken. However what I do like about this place is how fast you are served once they take your order! I literally ordered my food and 2 minutes later, the food was right in front of me. I would definitely come back but I think savoy is just average and nothing to truly rave about. TIP: Cash Only.
(3)Phoebe L.
My boyfriend took me here for the hainan chicken and escargot. Both were very good, and the lemon tea was the cherry on top. Service was attentive, even though they were super busy. The only drawback is that it gets quite loud inside the small restaurant, so it's hard to make conversation sometimes. Chicken was tender and flavorful, and I loved the rice cooked in broth.
(4)Melissa L.
Friend recommended the Hainan chicken rice here, and finally went. I was surprised that there was no wait on a Saturday at 6 PM, but happy about that. Service was fast and the food was worth it for the price (although cash only!). There was a generous portion of rice (with a chicken broth hint), and the chicken was very tender (especially compared to other places with white chicken meat). I am not a big sauce fan, so I did not use the sauces (soy sauce, ginger oil, & what tasted like a spicy sriracha sauce) that came with it. Compared with my past Hainan chicken (which were pretty delicious in Singapore), I would say the chicken itself was pretty good, but the rice was a little lacking in flavor. Overall, I would come back again, maybe to try some of the other dishes (pasta smelled delicious).
(4)Kim C.
I love this place! Their Hainan chicken rice plates are the best of anywhere I've ever had this dish! The price cannot be beat and the taste never changes their consistency is just so reliable. I also love that they have patio seating. Don't change and I will be a lifelong customer!
(5)Carol L.
My mom makes Hainan chicken and she also orders it when she's out. It's one of my favorite ways to enjoy chicken too. When I finally made it to Savoy with a friend recently near closing time I was somewhat surprised to see how crowded it still was. As we waited for one of the few tables to open up, we saw how determined the staff were to get everyone in. Our order was taken before we were even seated. We got the HAINAN CHICKEN RICE of course, but I also added the CHICKEN BROTH, wanting something warm and comforting to sip on. Get it! Eating spoonfuls of the chicken, rice (plus the ginger sauce) and broth altogether was amazing. Remember to bring cash.
(4)Mellany H.
Hainan Chicken lives up to its hype. Nothing crazy, just a perfected simple dish accompanied by 3 house-made sauces. There's almost always a wait, it's a small joint. The complementary bread has a nice seasoning on top and tastes similar to Chinese flower steam buns. And what the random! Escargot? Pleasant surprise that proved to be a savory companion to the bread. Chicken pasta salad is refreshing and delicious. Duck pizza is allright.
(4)J M.
Hainan Chicken! Hainan Chicken! Hainan Chicken! Love this place. Although parking could be tough to find if you go during peak times. Hainan Chicken! Hainan Chicken! Hainan Chicken! Oh their iced tea with that amazing sugar water is so good too! Hainan Chicken! Hainan Chicken! Hainan Chicken!
(5)Tiffany C.
Best place to get Hainan chicken on the area. I usually get half rice and half salad with my chicken. You can also request for all white meat, but I usually like their standard which is a mix of dark and white. The best part of this place is their sauces. Its the perfect flavor combination, very simple and delicious. There is a long wait most of the time, but the service is fast and the line moves pretty quickly.
(5)Jaimie C.
I ONLY COME HERE FOR THEIR NOTORIOUS hainan chicken. The chicken is absolutely delicious, and cooked to perfection. I ways order the salad only hainan chicken. Their assorted sauces are also perfection addition to to chicken. My boyfriend has also tried their curry beef, but it is probably one of the worst curry beef I have had.... DONT TRY IT.
(5)Sharon L.
The rice is specially made for Hainan chicken!! Love it! And the service is fast! Have to expect to wait for a bit in peak time. Overall is good! But it's a little inconvenient since its cash only!
(4)Delphine W.
WOW SAVOY.. REALLY? So I just got Savoy to go like 5 mins ago. I opened up the box of Hainam Chicken to find 3 pieces. YES I SAID 3 PIECES. I paid 7 dollars for 3 pieces of chicken? I mean.. this isnt like high quality chicken or anything. So mad I am never spending my money here again! Plus, when I went.. it was like 11. THEY JUST OPENED. you must have chicken back there. WTF If you dont believe me, check out my photo! -_-
(1)Winnie X.
I don't know why there's always a line... Actually I don't even know why there's a line at all. This is my first time here so I asked the guy taking our order if there's chicken wings in the dark meat hainan chicken and he said yah there's one. After the waitress brought out my food, it didn't even have a chicken wing so I asked the guy where's my chicken wing and he's like oh lemme tell them to give it to you. He came back with a fucking drumstick so I had to wait again and asked him when he came back where's my chicken wing. He told the kitchen people to give me a chicken wing. 5 minutes later he comes back and says a whole bunch of shit about how the drumstick is still dark meat... He didn't do anything wrong but all I wanted was a fucking chicken wing. A restaurant that is known for their hainan chicken doesn't even have chicken wings in their dark meat combo which is 2$ more expensive than their regular one... Nice. Never going back.
(1)Renee L.
LOVE this place! Have been coming here for yrs! Location/Accessibility: easy access. located on valley next to Kerchuck automotive. Ambiance: indoor and patio seating. avg noise. somewhat small inside, so the wait will be awhile if you arrive w a group larger than 2. Parking: street parking. Dress Code: casual. Menu options: salads, pasta, pizza, curry, hainan chicken Ordered: I love their shrimp rolls, hainan chicken (no skin, half salad half rice), cold pasta chicken salad, curry chicken Service: Staff is friendly and attentive. Waiter service. Food comes out in a timely manner. Price: On avg $12-15/pp Overall experience: best hainan chicken in town! keeps me coming back!!
(5)Bob C.
Hainan Chicken Rice CASH ONLY. Expect some wait. So what is it? Chinese steamed chicken. De-boned. Served as white breast meat (or for a couple of dollars more, dark meat). Served over white rice cooked in chicken broth. All of the above leads to nothing special. The rice is good, but I would not go out of my way to get. The chicken is nice, tender, and juicy. But honestly, what decent Chinese place couldn't serve that? So, why 4 stars and not 3? The sauces. The minced ginger coupled with the spicy hot sauce put this one over the top for me. Turns a good dish into an excellent one. I literal and liberally lathered the sauce on. And I am by no means a saucer (you know the kind, they like more sauce than there is material to dip). Skip the chrysanthemum iced tea. I think they used brown sugar in it and the flavor just didn't work for me.
(4)Priscilla Z.
Impressive Hainan Chicken...I like the rice actually better than the chicken. Maybe b/c i was hungry. Chicken is tender, but i didn't enjoy that much. Sauce was really good. Cheap place, many ppl, crowded. More like a food stand. But seems that's the only good option? Didn't see ppl order others and feel good...
(3)Martin M.
The rice is worth it alone
(5)Peter D.
Sanamluang Cafe in Hollywood has better Hainan Chicken. Plus, it comes with a bowl of soup. It's not bad; just a little too greasy and flavor did not meet expectations. Plus, for the wait time, I was prepared for something a lot more on the spectacular side. I'll give it another shot, maybe during off hours.
(2)Jessica X.
I was hanging out with my friend and couldn't decide what to eat one day, so i pulled out my UrbanSpoon application and it led me here. Intrigued by the ratings on yelp, I decided to try it for myself. First of all, I ordered a Sausage and Pepper Pasta and my friend ordered the Hainan Chicken Rice. The Sausage and Pepper Pasta consisted of overcooked noodles served in a bland watery soup dish. The only good thing about that dish was the sausage. The Hainan Chicken Rice was okay. It wasn't bad, but it's nothing to die for. Second, the service was fine, but there was a bit of attitude being thrown. They mixed up my pasta order, so I had to send it back. There should be no need for attitude, especially since they're the ones who mixed up my order. I'm not going to degrade the whole restaurant based upon one server's attitude, but it was a real disappointment for me. This place seemed like a nice high-end turnaround for Alhambra, but sadly, I was let down.
(2)Robin L.
my friend can't have enough of this restaurant. he goes to this place at least once a week, if not more. yes.. he loves their chicken and he comes here religiously. and i can't blame him for it. i first tried this place about a year ago. we sat down, and the server lady brought two ice tea and two chicken even before we ordered. why!? because she remembered my friend. lol!! at first i was bit confused and thought they didn't have any other food but their chicken. and my friend said "no. you ONLY eat chicken here." well.. now, i must say, i am a number one fan of this restaurant as well!! and i ONLY eat chicken here.. lol but! well their ice tea.. i am not sure why everyone drinks ice tea here.. i don't really think they are that special except the part where servers give you a lid for the cup if you do'nt finish your drink by the end of your meal. that is pretty considerate!! no!? :) but other than that... its a just regular ice tea. chicken. they are cooked just the right amount, at right texture. soft, chewy, flavorful... nom nom nom... what is better than their chicken you ask?! THEIR RICE!!! I CAN'T HAVE ENOUGH OF THEIR RICE!! i understand that you cook it in chicken broth, but i swear they have more secret than tht because i just LOVE their rice. that subtle flavor of chicken, and moist of their rice is to die for!!! not to mention their special ginger sauce for chicken and rice. so i say GO AND TRY THIS PLACE! you'll fall in love with their food just like i did :)
(5)Cindy C.
The Hainan Chicken and Rice is awesome. Absolutely delicious. I get it every time I'm here...I'm afraid anything else I order may not be as good, so I've never tried. You can also ask for half salad and half rice if you want. It's not on the menu, but I saw lots of other people ordering it that way. The food is great, but service is just ok. First time I went it wasn't busy so everything was fine. Second time, we went during lunch hour, and there were only two waiters outside. We had to ask twice to get our drinks and also again to get them refilled. Also, the guys at the table next to us got their two orders of hainan chicken before we did, and they arrived about 10 minutes after we had sat down. Also, kinda gross was the fact that they have misters going on outside when it's hot. It felt nice to cool off, but all that funky water was getting on my food too...I just tried not to think about it. Food is great. Service kinda iffy but not horrible. The place is CASH ONLY. And Pheonix is right across the street. Awesome to grab dessert there if you're not already stuffed.
(4)Nancy P.
First time here and was suggested by a friend to order the Hainan Chicken. It was amazingly delicious! I paid the extra $2 (I think) for dark meat and it was pretty good. The rice is so moist and has this brothy flavor that makes you keep eating it. It comes with a side of garlic in oil with chili sauce and soy sauce. I crave this stuff all the time now. I rarely used to eat Hainan Chicken from other Chinese restaurants and this one definitely tops it. The portion is a great for the price. The inside can eat about 20-30 people, really small and homey looking, as well as outdoor seating.
(5)Steph C.
I have no idea what else they serve here but I have a feeling I'll never find out. If you have any love at all for chicken, come here. If you've (like I did for awhile) given up on dry, tasteless chicken, come here. If you've got an early craving or you're running late for a meal, come here (or it's way too crowded). Also, yes, put up the extra $2. While you eat, put copious amounts of ginger, chili oil sauce and dark (mushroom?) soy sauce on, because you can always have more. (I recommend a slurry of all three.) You don't even have to try to finish your plate in one sitting - when you get a box to go you can get as much hot sauce and ginger to go as you want! One star off for rice that's on the mushier side. I know, I know, it's chicken rice, but still. If it can't be on the more texturally interesting side it could at least be fluffy. #firstworldproblems
(4)A M.
This was my first time eating here. Usually I go to Dong Nguyen on Valley next to the 168 market. My first impression upon arriving was, "wow, this place is hella small!". I thought it would be a big place but it isn't! No wonder there's always a wait outside. Sat outside since it was still warm at 7:30 at night. Service was good and our waitress was funny and nice. Ordered Hainan chicken w/ white breast. ($2.00 extra for dark) Good portion, rice was flavorful and meat was delicious too! There was no skin on the chicken. Wasn't too fond about their sauce. (sauce at Dong is way better!) Also ordered shrimp eggrolls and those were really good! There is a 15% gratuity for 5 or more and this place is CASH ONLY! Overall, it's good.
(4)Anthony N.
Where is the damn 10 star option?! I can't believe that I haven't reviewed this place yet. It has, hands down, the best hainan chicken. Period. From the rice to the chili sauce to the juicy and never dry chicken, it's simply heaven. Heaven! I once made the mistake of trying something other than the hainan chicken and almost took my own life as a result. Word of advice, don't bother with any of that pasta or chicken curry fluff, just go straight to the hainan chicken and never look back. You'll be glad that you did. The chicken here is so good that I became one of those crazy fan boys that cannot accept anyone preferring hainan chicken at other restaurants or not liking the dish at all. In such situations, however, I've learned to calmly and simply just accuse the person of being a liar and completely ignorant of all things in life. And yes it's totally better than that restaurant down the street that no one knows the name of but acknowledges is next to 168 Market. There's a reason people don't remember that restaurant's name.
(5)Michelle C.
The hainam chicken here is a MUST TRY! I came here recently with my boyfriend because we wanted to eat something before we headed out to watch a movie. We also ordered the beef curry, which was pretty good too :) ! For the price that you pay here, you get your moneys worth because the portions are either just right, or more than you can eat. so why not 5 stars? just because the seating is limited and can sometimes be a bit crowded, so make sure to come early or when it's not too busy :D
(4)Frances C.
Things to note: Hainan Chicken with Rice is a must-try. Tender, juicy, fresh taste of chicken and no MSG. Shrimp Rolls and its sauce are so good. Crispy and worth your $. They are served hot. Cautious! Lemon ice tea and iced coffee are refillable. Long wait in lunch hour. Street Parking spots are hard to find. Accept call-to-pickup. This restaurant is one of my most favorite restaurants. My favorite dishes are Hainan chicken with rice, shrimp roll and mixed seafood in cream sauce with rice. I can't believe they use chicken broth to cook the rice. The rice tastes so good. The seafood one is a bit oily, but the taste from different seafood makes a wonderful combination.
(5)Irene C.
they deserve another 5star review. Their HAINAN CHICKEN RICE is addictive. ESCARGOT is better and cheaper than French 75's ESCARGOT EGG ROLLS CHICKEN BROTH LEMON ICE TEA yum yum yum
(5)Tim Z.
So, its evident that everyone raves about the Hainan Chicken here, I mean it's good and all, especially when you dump every single sauce on your chicken and eat it with the chicken broth/juice of chicken soaked rice. But, I'm raving about the pasta, the sausage pasta and the pork loin pasta. They do it well, and this isn't an italian restaurant; I also love that sweet tinge of the pizza bread dipped in the pasta sauce, it's amazing.
(5)Tuan D.
After hearing so many positive reviews about the Hainan Chicken at this place, I decided to come here and try the seafood curry. Advisory note: don't come here with a big group of people....you'd end up getting seated in nine months and six days. We came with just two and were seated within five minutes. We ordered the Hainan chicken (here's where the first line comes into play) and the seafood curry. The food arrived incredibly fast (+1). I've tried a lot of curries but this curry was quite different, not like indian, japanese, vietnamese, thai, or malaysian... It was a mix between Chinese flavor (whatever that was) and curry, i.e. if Chinese cuisine has a curry dish...this would be it. It had a tint of tumeric, cumin, allspice, and five-spice powder. The texture was grainy which marked artisan curry from amateur pasty kind +1. On the other hand, my food buddy was having a (g)astronomical orgasm with his hainan chicken. The meat was described as tender and juicy that it was almost like biting into butter +1. The waitresses were these post-middle-age ladies who were more than friendly to serve you quickly (and kick you out of there so that they could get other people in) (+1). The best part about this was the bill for both which came out to be $16 (+1). However, we ordered an ice tea that was nothing phenomenal and came in an 6-oz. plastic cup with no refill that cost 2 dollars (-0.5). Tallying up the points...this place got 4.5. I normally would round up to a 5 but since I've yet to try any other dishes...I'll leave the round up for another day. Savoy..savor you later!
(4)Toshiro K.
This restaurant has become for me something that I dream about during the week. I have eaten here close to 8 times in the last 2 weeks. So few restaurants in LA can come close to what is achieved here. Their Hainan chicken is just so good, it's good enough to sit next to many of the restaurants that I love in Hong Kong and Toronto. Waitresses are very friendly - kind of like your older aunt and crazy cousin - abrupt and eccentric in the best possible mix. Hainan Chicken may not look so amazing but man, it is fantastic, chili sauce and ginger is superb. Rice was amazing as well. Great value, fast and courteous service, nice patronage. Would move on top if they rented! Only complaint, it closes too early. They should get an evening staff and stay open until 2 AM.
(5)Stephen M.
I love their Hainan chicken and shrimp eggroll. You can choose either with rice, salad, or 50/50 with your Hainan chicken which is great since girls usually like to order with salad, and rice for guys. They have a variety of drink as well, like the cappuccino, chrysanthemum tea, and my flavorite, the "Orangina" with ice!
(4)Grace C.
My husband and I brought back one whole Hai Nan chicken with us to the bay area. We totally love it.We finished half in a meal.So yummy.Should have brought back more.
(5)Gwan Pein E.
This place is good, the Hainan chicken is always good. I like the minced ginger very much, but not a big fan of the chilli sauce. However, I think they use MSG or something with the chicken cuz my mouth feels dry and tasteless after lunch. But consider the price and the food quality, this is one of the best place to visit in Alhambra! The chicken is always tender, always delicious!
(4)Amy P.
Savoy Kitchen is a staple of Alhambra and has been around for as long as I can remember. While they offer a variety of rice and pasta dishes typically found at your everyday Chinese café, the real (and perhaps only) reason to come here is for their Hainan Chicken. For those of you who don't know, Hainan Chicken is a dish of Chinese origin most commonly associated with Hainanese (duh), Malaysian, Singaporean, and even Thai cuisine. It consists of chicken, boiled in pork and chicken broth stock, which is placed on a bed of rice that is also flavored with chicken broth. Served on the side (or on top) is a ginger sauce (as well as soy sauce) to compliment the basic flavors of the chicken and rice. Seemingly straightforward, it's the simplistic taste of this dish that makes it so easy to do wrong. Savoy Kitchen has never disappointed me, and this last time around was no exception. Their chicken was perfectly moist yet lean, and the rice was broth-flavored to perfection. Their ginger sauce was served on the side as usual. It is a bit saltier than I prefer, but not enough to deter a positive review. Nevertheless, a deliciously perfect dish (with a generous enough portion) for under $7! A few other things to note...Savoy Kitchen is not a place for ambience. It's super casual, located right off Valley Blvd, and most of the seating (i.e. - metal patio furniture) is located along an outside and rather unappealing brick wall. There can be a wait during lunch and dinner, but the service is fast once you're seated. Also, they're closed on Sundays.
(5)Suthee K.
I love their chicken over rice, especially dark meat (white meat might be dry sometime). The chicken cooked perfectly, very moist and tender. The rice is very flavorful and very fluffy. The sauces are great, but i want something a little more on the spicy side. The dish comes with minced ginger with oil. A little too oily to my liking, but it gives nice mild ginger aroma to the dish. Escargots are ok. I assume other dishes are ok as well, but hainan chicken over rice seems to be their most popular dish. The service is great, except the girl in her mid/late 20s. She seems like she doesn't wanna be there lol.
(4)Clinton L.
for those who go there for their hainan chicken and think its the best in the world . well you're surely mistaken . go try trio house hainan chicken . the sauce they serve with it is out of this world . ask for dark meat . trio house is located near USC . i cant believe you guys think this is good hainan chicken . i went . i ate . and was soo disappointed to drive out 30 mins to eat a dish that was mediocre .
(3)Kim N.
Hainan Chicken - a must try. It's so scrumptious here! Love their chrysanthemum tea and lemon iced tea. I mixed it once and it was yummy. Space is tight though, so I always call in before hand and do take out - never sat down in there before :P!
(4)Lynn P.
Love the hainam chicken here. You have to try it with their ginger sauce and chilli sauce. I pour it all over the chicken flavor rice and the broiled chicken. I always ask for more sauce also. The iced tea is refillable and very good. They give you simple syrup also for the iced tea.
(5)Jason C.
Hainan Chicken! That's the main dish I get here. This place has been here forever and is still running strong. This restaurant could be very busy, so try to get here earlier to avoid the large crowd. They serve the food in a fairly good amount of time even if they are really busy. The curry is just ok at this restaurant. Their pizzas are pretty good. This place is really not ideal for very large groups. Good for take out too!
(4)Alexander H.
Chicken and rice, how hard can that be? It was good, although paying the extra $2 for dark meat wasn't worth it. The sauces that came along with it definitely added some BAM to the traditional dish. Drinks are also good here, free refill on ice tea and the chrysanthemum tea was BOMB. The service is great, the waitresses do a good job refilling drinks and sauces if you're running low. Also, they take CASH ONLY. Don't risk taking your date here if you're paying by CARD, you'll look dumbfounded in front of your lady and waitresses. I saw a couple that did exactly that, felt bad for the girl who had to pay for the date. I think Anthony Bourdain should pay tribute to Hainam Chicken, location: SGV. The dish looks like the one he exactly had in Singapore. Will come back soon. =)
(4)Kate N.
Best Haninan chicken. Very good shrimp rolls. :)
(5)Andy L.
I was taken here to try out the Hainan chicken because it's apparently to die for. First of all, I'm not Chinese. Second, I've never had Hainan chicken before, so I don't know what good Hainan chicken is. I have to admit, the chicken itself is prepared fairly well, but the drawback is the fatty skin. If only there was a way to have it stick to the meat better? I don't know. Maybe this is what it's supposed to be like. Hot sauce is a must, but the ginger... not so much. Side of rice on the other hand? Awesome-tawesome. I also dared to go on a limb and try their escargot. Mind you, I've always avoided eating the stuff because eating snails grossed me out. The antennae and sluggy bottoms... blech. I didn't realize escargot was sea snails. Duh. So with blind faith (I literally closed my eyes whenever I looked at the stuff out of the shell), I took a bite. Pretty good. Still kinda grossed out by looking at the morsels, but worth it for the taste. Ice tea? Deece... nothing to write home to. Also this place is cash only. Be prepared. Plus I kinda do crave that Hainan Chicken right about... now.
(4)Jin N.
I'm not a fan of their curry, but the escargot was good, and the Hainan chicken is excellent. I hardly eat chicken, nor do I like it, but Savoy makes it delicious and it also seems healthy.
(4)Will T.
I never knew Hainan/Hai-nam chicken rice could be so good until i tried this place. Deceivingly plain-looking dish that packs tons of savory goodness. And the ice tea with free refills? almost unheard of at an asian restaurant. Try to resist pouring the whole pitcher of sweet syrup into the drink. I just wish this place was bigger. That way maybe the wait would also be shorter.
(4)J K.
I love this place and it is worth the wait during lunch hours. I haven't been here in about 10 yrs. and it's still the same. I used to frequent this tiny restaurant quite a bit when my ex used to live around the area. How time flies. Their hainan chicken rocks, but their pasta dishes like roast duck pasta are pretty darn good also.
(4)Janet C.
Their Hainan chicken was everything I dreamed of and more. According to a friend, they used to charge $2 extra to add white meat to your dish, but now they charge $2 for dark meat. I guess they realized that dark meat is the money maker. I went in skeptical because...that's how I dine...but it was good! Really tender, not at all dry, and the rice really was all it was cracked up to be. The chicken curry isn't good though. It was mostly oil with with a few potatoes and a little bit of shredded chicken. Next to the Hainan ckn, it was a joke. I didn't have any of the ice tea (endless refills btw), but everyone else (except for the guy that was drinking ice tea with his sugar syrup) said that it wasn't that good. Pretty tasteless. Funny, when we asked if they had honey, the waitress answered, "we have sugar." So we asked again, "do you have honey," and she said they did. I don't know, she seemed like she wasn't all there. The servers were otherwise friendly and attentive. Even though this place was packed (Saturday @ quarter to 1), our party of four only had to wait about ten minutes to be seated. I was pretty grossed out by the walk to the bathroom which is outside the restaurant and by the kitchen. The smell. Oh man. Well, to get to the restroom, walk out of the restaurant and make a right, then another right, then a left (in a small alley). You need to ask for the key.
(4)Dick C.
The Hainan Chicken was good, but the portion is a little small for the price. The dipping sauces tasted chemically. Yes, they do remove the bones so patron don't choke. Guess that's why they are a little pricey. Deboning is difficult work. The chrysanthemum drink is way over-priced and too sweet. Parking is on the street and difficult to find on weekends. The wait is very long and the place is really tiny. I'll pass on this place and go to Dong Nguyen down the street. The over-all experience is much better than Savoy.
(2)Ken L.
SOOO good...even if they only had their one dish of Hainan Chicken, I'd still come here all the time if it were more convenient for me. But they have a great malaysian style curry, very good chicken broth, and super filling baked casseroles. I've liked every dish i've tried here (haven't tried any of their pizzas/breads though; didn't hear great things about those). prices are good, and service has always been great to me. When I sit at the counter, they constantly refill my drinks. that's also when i noticed the absurd number of people who pick up to go orders. but if anything, as everyone else is saying, try they're hainan chicken. I dont' care if your mom says she can make it at home. go buy your hainan chicken, and tell your mom to make it at home, and then you can have hainan chicken TWICE, and everyone will be happy!
(5)Anita I.
I L0VE SAVOY!! that's all i have to say about this tiny place! p.s.. sit outdoors!
(5)Karen T.
so, probably most of the reviews on here are for the hainan chicken and yeah its good, but my mom makes it even better considering the fact that shes actually hainan BUT ! THEIR ESCARGO IS TO DIE FOR ! its sosososososos good, and still in the shell so its not all dry and shriveled up. they give you this utencil thing to take it out and eat it and its delicious. i dont remeber how much it was but i remember it was so worth it
(5)Jen Y.
Every time I've been here, the place has been packed no matter what time of day or day of the week! Ridiculous! I love the Hainan Chicken dish. It's relatively healthy as well because they serve white meat chicken and steamed rice. The rice is fluffy and flavorful as they cook it in a broth (I think). The rice is seriously heavenly! I tend to load up on the ginger sauce because it's pretty addicting! They also provide a small saucer of a dark sauce that resembles soy sauce. I like dipping my chicken and rice in it. Be careful though, the sauce is rather salty. I always get the Iced lemon tea there and add a bit of syrup sweetener. It's refreshing, and they give it to you in a little to-go cup with free refills. Nice to take it with you after you leave. =)
(4)Crystal K.
I HEART this place & their hainan chicken and iced tea. It is a small place so try to go during off-peak hours. Cash only, but very cheap.
(5)Mitch W.
After a tough workout class at 24 Hour Fitness in Pasadena, we wanted something healthy to eat and decided on Savoy Kitchen. We got an outside table after a shorter than usual wait. I had my usual Hainan Chicken (white meat) and it was as good as always! My friend tried their Chicken curry and said it was also very good and a bit spicy. Both dishes were $6.75. With one chrysanthemum iced tea, our bill was $20 including tip. Remember: Cash only! Cheers!
(4)Vivianne C.
I went to Savoy Kitchen last week for a midweek dinner with some friends. First impressions: "Wow, this place is really small and busy!" There's a wait list at the door, so remember to sign your group in. Luckily, the wait isn't very long; the food comes out relatively quickly and dining customers seem to be very aware of other customers waiting. The group ordered shrimp egg-rolls. Shrimp, egg roll wrapper, deep fried -- can't go wrong there. I ordered the Hainan Chicken. HINT: If you don't specify dark or white meat, you'll get both. If you are ordering only white meat AND your friend is ordering only dark meat, they won't charge you the fee (I think it's $2 for only dark or only white). I wanted to try a little of both. Although it was all very delicious, I think next time I will go with 'only white meat.' I found that the white meat was very moist went very well with their soy sauce, which was not too salty. The ginger sauce also complimented the meal well. There was also a red sauce that I thought was 'OK', I think it's supposed to be some sort of chili sauce, not at all spicy with a hint of sweetness. I thought the ginger and soy sauce combo was better. The rice was fluffy and flavorful; it really made the dish come together. And the portion was good. I walked away very satisfied and not overly fully. I'd certainly come back. The drive from Sherman Oaks was worth it. Pros: Hainan Chicken Ginger and soy sauce dipping sauces Friendly service Takeout available Cons: Parking 'can' be an issue Not ideal for large groups (groups of 4-6 should be fine) -- we had 6 adults and an infant Small restaurant Cash only
(4)Celine L.
Love the hai nan chicken here! Its the only thing I order now. The chicken is perfect and the sauces compliment well. The rice is yummy, but its really the chicken that makes the meal. The chicken pasta salad is also decent, but do not order the bread or the pizza. I try to come here as much as possible, for the 40 minute drive is worth it.
(5)Victor L.
The chicken rice definitely makes the dish. Although, the ginger with the chicken and the hot sauce makes it worth the wait. The spicy, the umami and the sweet melds into a weapon of mass tastation. Nom, I can finish a whole order of hainan chicken in five minutes, even though I should slow down to enjoy it. I am enjoying it, just at a faster pace. :D
(5)Jenny C.
Simply the best place to go for the Hainan Chicken with Rice. It can be kinda busy though. Make sure to get the shrimp rolls and iced coffee.
(4)Y Thuan L.
My top 3 favorites: Shrimp rolls, hainan chicken, and seafood pasta! Thumbs up for the head buzzing chrysanthemum tea.
(5)Andrew N.
Summarizing the last 1000 reviews: Get the Hainan Chicken! One of the best around the area. The wait is a killer since there's minimal seating. The place is definitely not for large parties. Parking can be scarce along the residential street.
(5)James W.
I'm a big fan of Hainan chicken and I've tried many places but this place blows all the others away. The fact that it's boneless makes it that much better. You can ask for dark meat or white meat, whatever you decide on they'll give you a good portion unlike certain cafes or restaurants in the area. They also have some great pastas and pizza but we primarily go for the chicken. Btw, the ginger sauce is bomb as well so load up on on top of your rice and chicken and you'll have the ultimate experience, but that's just me. Be prepared for a line when you get there, usually in the evenings. The tables outside are packed closely together, so if you're on a date, I wouldn't really suggest this spot unless you don't mind others ease dropping in on your conversations. It's mostly street parking so be prepared a little walk from the car if you parked further in the residential areas. Hope this helps some of you! Enjoy!
(5)Dorothy L.
savoy's hai nam chicken is BOMB.COM! if you don't know where or what hai nam is, ITS OKAY. just get it. Juicy white or dark meat chicken with delicious side ginger and spicy sauce. The rice is flavored with magical goodness and steamed to a perfect fluffy consistency. They have really good curry and pasta as well, but you must try the hainam chicken at least once in your life. Although the restaurant is tiny, I don't feel any signs of my claustrophobia. The service is wonderful, they always refill my LEMON ICE TEA before I ask and they even offer a refill togo. If you're in a hurry, order togo! It'll be faster than ordering pizza and healthier too! just bring cash. THEY DONT TAKE CREDIT CARDS! if you're dining in, remember to arrive a bit earlier than you intend because there will be a line!
(5)Michael C.
The dopest Hainan chicken outside of Hainan. Now while I cannot confirm or deny the following, i have heard many rumors that the lady in the back who is in charge of churning out plate after plate of this delicious dish is the Chinese equivalent of the Soup Nazi from Seinfeld. Rumor has it that she lives only to make Hainan chicken and if you ask her to prepare anything else she will spit at your feet and look at you with disgust. Now while I've never seen this happen, I make it a point to order ONLY the Hainan chicken simply so that I can avoid an altercation. OK so that might not be the truth but the Hainan Chicken from Savoy is. Yeah there is a wait but what you get in return is pure Hainan chicken perfection. The boneless chicken is as tender as it gets, and when mixed with their trio of AMAZING house made sauces the result is foodgasmic. I'm talking massive food boner shit mixed in with some Viagra and a sprinkle of Molly... Thats right peeps THIS PLACE KICKS ASS! Just don't expect the Ritz and you'll be happy. We are in Alhambra after all. #hainanchickenboner
(5)Willa L.
Wow. the Hainan chicken is so good here!!! i love the sauces also, it goes so well with the chicken. I will definitely come back here next time i am in town. I enjoy the whole concept of sitting outside, and luckily the seats are on the side street, so less cars driving by. The restaurant itself is a bit small, so sitting outside is way more comfortable.
(4)Pauline M.
Love, love love.
(5)Roger Z.
This place is always PACKED to the max. I got the Hai Nan chicken. I didn't think it was even average. Its not something I'd go to a restaurant for or "crave". But everybody else seems to love it. The duck noodles, were below average. It was just pasta noodles I could've made myself with some duck pieces. Pro: Chrysanthemum tea Cheap!
(2)T C.
This place is TINY! Don't read too much into the lines that form here. The hainan chicken and rice is nothing memorable. I don't understand the hype of this place. The rice and chicken lack flavor and, quite frankly texture. The sauce that comes with the meal sorely lacked flavor as well. Mushy and bland - I will not be coming back. Other important info: over-hyped, TINY inside, mushy and bland rice and chicken.
(2)Steve J.
I'm not the best expert on this place because I haven't tried anything except the hainan chicken rice (and I haven't even had that dish anywhere else). The only thing I can say is that I'm not the biggest fan of Chinese food (and its neighboring regional cuisines), but I really, really like the hainan chicken. There isn't much fat, but the meat is tender, juicy, and savory. It comes with three sauces - hot sauce, ginger, and a garlic-soy sauce; the ginger is especially really good and helps to bring out the garlic-ky flavor of the chicken and rice. The best part of the dish is the stock-infused rice - it's just delicious. The dish costs $7 and some change and it will fill you up.
(4)Will L.
This is one of my favorite local places to eat. Close to home, great food, inexpensive, and quick service. If you like hainan chicken, this is the place to be. Thats their specialty however most of their dishes are good. The hainan chicken is very tender and soft. Even the white meat is pretty tender. You can order white or dark meat with or without the skin. The rice has a chicken broth to it which makes the rice delicious and fits well with the hainan chicken. Their asian style pastas are pretty good and popular as well. The curry pork chop is not bad. I sometimes order the cornish hen which I would consider is better than most places around san gabriel valley. The egg rolls are a must try and I usually order a chrysanthemum iced tea which they make it just right. Lunch times, dinner times and weekends are crowded. Its a small place with an outside area to dine so expect a wait if your there at those times.
(5)Irene C.
Found this place on Yelp while my boyfriend and I were driving down to LA for the weekend. We got there around 6:30 and was able to be seated before 7 inside on a Friday night. Maybe we got there a bit early before the usual dinner time. We got a hainan chicken rice and a baked fish with tomato sauce spagetti dishes. I believed my boyfriend ordered all white meat but it came out mixed, but that's alright. The chicken was just so good he didn't care anymore. The 3 sauces for dipping were wonderful. The rice was not dry at all. I guess there was enough of ginger oil sauce. My baked fish tomato sauce spagetti was tasty too. I loved the tomato sauce with some mushroom and onions. The fish was baked just right. Beside the food here is fantastic, I was really surprised how good the service was. There was two waitresses. Despite how busy they were rounding around to put dishes on customers' tables, they were so friendly, smiley, and nice to check on how we were doing with our dishes, asked us if we need more sauces for the chicken, and said "You Are Welcome" when we said thank you. That was amazing to me! So please don't stereotype Chinese restaurants as not all of them have bad services =)
(4)Akiko T.
I'm typically not interested in chicken unless it's seasoned spicy, breaded and deep fried... but this was great. Hainan chicken is a regional dish popular in Singapore and Malaysia... whole chicken that's been poached in chicken/pork broth and served with chicken stock infused rice. I know this sounds really boring, but the sauces they pair it with are outstanding! They give you 3 different sauces, a chili paste, soy infused with garlic oil and freshly grated ginger to go with the above. Amazing! Serious hole-in-the wall... I think they could accommodate up to around 15 people, just by eyeballing the place. (inside) Helpful if you bring a Chinese person like I did to communicate with staff. Get the chrysanthemum tea!
(4)Jennifer L.
This place wins me over every time I come back. The night was perfect. Warm enough to sit outside with tshirts on. I got my usual, hainan chicken with dark meat and all rice. Can someone tell me why this place charges an extra $2.00 for dark meat?! I thought it was more expensive to get white meat. Anyways, they ran out of their infamous flavored rice. When you heard the waitress breaking the news to everyone, you'd hear, "AWWWW!!" Yes, their rice is really that good. Their baked halibut with white sauce is pretty good. This isn't for someone that doesn't like cheese. I kept picking at my friend's dish, eating up her mushrooms. Unlimited refills for their lemon iced tea. They'll even refill your cup and give you a lid so you can take it to go. Their staff has always been super friendly. I always have such a good experience when I come here.
(5)Connie W.
My review for Savoy cannot do this Hainan Chicken eatery justice. But actually, before my friend Jenn T. brought me here for the first time back in high school, I didn't really like Hainan Chicken. I was pretty sure I wouldn't like Savoy, either. But after coming to Savoy a few times, I was hooked on the tender poached chicken and savory broth-infused rice - and perhaps almost as important, the unequivocal chili sauce, delicious ginger, and earthy soy sauce that complement this dish so well. If you can - get the baked seafood rice too - shrimp, fish, scallops, and mushrooms in a creamy white sauce baked with cheese on top and served with white rice. And the amazingly flavorful Malaysian-style curry. And the chrysanthemum tea. I also love how you can get Orangina here.
(5)Robert Z.
For a few reasons I still prefer the Hainan Chicken @ Noodle World over the one @ Savoy Kitchen. First, the Hainan Chicken @ Noodle World seems to be consistently fresher. Second, the rice tastes healthier and seemed to have a well-balanced Hainan-esque flavor. Lastly, Savoy's Hainan Chicken dish is just a little too greasy. This isn't to say that their dish isn't good. In fact, its great, but based on preference, I would stick to Noodle World until something better pops up.
(3)Cindy L.
The BEST hainan chicken ever! Too bad there isn't one down in the OC.
(4)Akiko I.
This place has a very simple menu and the space is tiny BUT the food is very good. Most people in the restaurant had either the plain broiled chicken or the curry. We tried both and they were yummy and healthy. It is not fancy at all but if you want fast, good, but healthy food, try this place. One thing though....the curry is a little oily. *Price = good *Food = yummy *Service = fast
(3)Selina Y.
I've been coming to this place for a couple of years now. It's a small tiny compact at a corner on Valley blvd. I go there once in awhile, usually for take out since the place is small and usually packed. I don't mind waiting outside for seats, I just hate that everyone who is waiting as well are smokers. Puff, puff in my face. Thanks... Is it me, or was the food tasted way better a few years ago? The hainan chicken is still good at the right time. I used to love the sausage and peppers pasta, but now it tastes bland. Their dressing for the roasted chicken salad is delicious, I believe it's home-made which is so good! Btw, they are Chinese owned, but is it funny that this place has escargo? I've never tried it, but I see it being passed around the table once in a blue moon. I got to say, this is one of those rare restaurants to find, esp. in the SGV because where can you find a Chinese/Italian place in the middle of Valley Blvd?
(4)Lillian L.
So i came all the way down from Irvine because my friend's friend INSISTED that we HADDD to come all the way down here for their hainan chicken. He claimed that it was worth it. well, i have to say, after that 1 1/2 hour trip + 10min or so wait, i set up HIGH expectations for this place. GOSH, the chicken was SOOO tender and juicy. and the rice had a nice texture. everything was just so smooth, and not overlwhelmingly flavored. everything was very mild and tasty =) especially the sauces. blah, whatever i pretty much mixed all the sauces (incl soy sauce) for my chicken. it all tasted yummy together. and that pizza bread was totally new to me but it was unique and tasty too (especially when you dip it in their salad's house special sauce) meh, the seating kinda sucks, but whatever, the food was good. everything about this restaurant was unique =)
(5)Henry C.
Man... after all this time reading and craving Hainan chicken, I finally had the opportunity to visit Savoy Kitchen after a customer visit. I was really curious how this place is because there is just so much hype about this place so I was extremely anxious to try it out. Here is my experience... it's actually ok to me so hope you guys don't send a angry mob at me with pitch forks... First of all, it's simple Hainan chicken. It's pretty much chicken cook in salt with flavoring (I'm guessing)... There are many places that offers this dish but of course most of them will taste very similar. I was able to get there pretty early in the day during the weekdays so there were no lines or long waits. However, outside seating area were already full but since I was getting it to-go it doesn't really matter. Upon walking in, the dining area was tiny with a small eating counter (I'm assuming originally it was an all american breakfast diner joint converted to Hainan chicken hotspot?) Just simply ordered the Hainan chicken (2) orders and took off as I have to get to my 2nd job in the afternoon. Once at home, I attacked my lunch with anticipation! Well.... it was ok.... I gotta give it that the chicken is juicy! Very good in terms of texture but Hainan chicken is Hainan chicken. Two orders cost me around $16 dollars or so and they only accept cash so that was kind of a bummer because I knew about it and had to stop by an ATM before getting these chicks. For that amount I was truly hoping for a bigger portion but it really didn't fill me up quite as expected. The accompanied sauces were not as good as advertised as well... they were just to me... sauces...... It would have been much better if the rice was drenched in chicken sauce but it wasn't.... so the sauces wasn't much of help. There are few more menu items that I've noticed which caught my eye... so for now, I'll keep the 4 star review for this place and hopefully the rest of the tastings in the future will hold this rating up. Otherwise, if I was only to get Hainan Chicken, I can actually get it at other places for only $4 bucks for about the same amount of food.... so please don't let me down on all my future meals Savoy....Looking forward to it!
(4)Rita K.
I had the tomato herb pasta and haianese chicken. very delicious!!!!!! the iced coffee was good too. The chrysanthemum tea wasn't so good though, it was bitter...
(4)Andrew K.
IN EXILE: short, Yelp protest review # 1 of 10 Finally! Me and the others here can agree! Their signature dish, the Hainan chicken, is as good as it gets! The meat is tender and infused with the flavor of ginger. The special tangy chili dipping sauce adds a little extra kick to an already special dish.
(4)Misaki N.
Cash only! Came here for the famous Hainan chicken that everyone was talking about, and it turned out to be such a big disappointment. Parking on street. Wasted couple of minutes to find a parking spot. Went in, this place is small, not a good place for a party of 5 or more. We weren't that very hungry so we ordered 2 plates of rice chicken and shared with each other. On the table, there were only 4 forks and 4 napkins. I asked them for some extra napkins, spoons, and forks. The service was bad, they gave me a look. Hello!! If you placed a bunch of napkins, spoons and forks on the tables like other restaurants did, you wouldn't had to waste your energy to bring those out. Food was average, nothing special. My mom could make even better a chicken rice. Price came out pretty reasonable, not really expensive. Oh well, I've experienced it, never come back to this again.
(1)Alex R.
Most of my friends love this place, and have been telling me for a while to try it out. So I go and since the wait was an hour long and it was pretty crowded, I was expecting this to live up to the hype of it being 'delicious.' Nope! I tried their hainan chicken, what my friend said 'they were known for,' and it was dry and bland. The only thing it came with was a little spicy sauce on the side and a bunch of white rice. The prices were reasonable though, so it was not a complete waste, but it definitely was not something I would want to try again anytime soon.
(1)Justine Y.
The wait can be long depending on what time you go, but the Hainan chicken is the BEST you'll ever have! And part of the reason is because of what I consider their CRACK sauce---the ginger sauce! SO DELICIOUS! Don't forget...it's CASH ONLY!
(4)Eugene N.
Been coming here for years and noticed that i have yet to write a review. If you're new in town and looking for a place to eat and wondering what's the hype (long wait for a table) then here's a suggestion (as well as all the other yelpers)... get the Hainan chicken, that's the start. The seafood pizza is the gem, in my opinion. The service is good and bad, depending on when you go, but for the most part, its good. Remember, there is a pretty long wait to get seated, and in order to fit as many customers as they can, they push tables together for large parties, but if you have smaller parties, they separate the tables by 1 inch. I thought it was hilarious, just wanted to share that. Parking sucks though, not a good combination of a lot of people, mixing it with no parking, be prepared to park in front of someone's house or if you get lucky in scoring a spot right in front, everyone will be watching you parallel park. Good luck!
(5)robin L.
yay! i'm a fan. i made my way over to alhambra from la crescenta after work. got lost, because of horrible directions. while getting lost, my hunger increased. my friends were already at savoy... they ordered for me.. so i don't know what i ate. but according to these reviews, i'm pretty sure it's the hainan chicken (: for my hungry self, it sure did satisfy my growling tummy. the rice was so flavorful. yum yum (: oh, and my friends had a plate of escargo i like eating all kinds of things, so i gave it a try. i'm glad i tried. it was so yummy. i kept eating it. oh, and we asked for bread. to dip in the butter sauce of the escargo. took us about 10millions times before we got it. mmm, what else..iono. in thend, this place rocked bc the chikn plate was yumyum and you can take your icetea to-go. and they didn't kick us out even though we sat there for like 20min or so after we were done with our meal (: yay! i'm a fan.
(4)Janet L.
I honestly do feel that savoy is as good as it gets for hainan chicken and escargot in all of so cal. This place has been here for a very long time, with a horrible location for parking and a competitive Chinese ethnoburb where there are food places everywhere competing on quality and cheap prices but yet.... savoy's ALWAYS packed and people are always willing to wait. The place is small but they opened up an outside patio which I hate sometimes because it's such a small area and the tables are so close together but yet people don't have the descency to not smoke while people especially children are eating less than a few inches away from them. But still, it's not the restaurants fault so no stars lost on that one. But make sure you use the restroom before you come here because their restrooms in the back and is small and kind of eeew. But base on their food, i have to give it 5 stars because their pastas are delicious, their egg roll is perfectly cooked and crispy, their hainan chicken and sauce and rice is delicious, they have this unique type of curry sauce which i absolutely love, their escargot is cooked just right with the perfect amount of garlic and thegarlic oil from the escargot is perfect for dipping these lil baked breads in it. I also love their cold chrysanthemum tea. Their service is incredibly fast but it definitely is not a place you would like to just sit and chitchat because there usually is a long line of people waiting. Definitely not a place to go for ambiance, but food i give it two thumbs up.
(5)Rachel C.
I was pleasantly surprised by this lil place. Its Hainan chicken/rice specialty dish was flavorful and quite satisfying for dinner (minus the greasiness!). The ginger and hot sauce combo was great, especially if you can't make up your mind on whether you wanted a spicy chicken or a nice, savory flavored chicken. I opted more for the ginger (I have a feeling that it's loaded with MSG!). I also kept thinking as I was devouring each morsel was that the chicken itself tasted like it was prepared in a similar way that Costco chicken is prepared...not dry but juicy in every bite... I also tried their beef stew curry, which was pretty good as well, as it had a nice "kick" of spiciness to it. I would definitely go back to this place if I'm ever in the area and want some rotisserie chicken...
(4)Priscilla P.
I thought this place would be a large restaurant with bunch of waiters running around like your usual chinese establishments but no. it is a very small space with more outdoor seating than indoor occupying a corner of the street. we got the hainan chicken, beef stew curry, and shrimp rolls. the shrimp rolls are SMALL, served with an indiscernible orange sauce... these were just okay. not worth $6 the beef stew curry was just not good. it looks really tasty but it SIGNIFICANTLY LACKS IN FLAVOR. i don't think i've heard had curry as flavorless as this one. also, didn't think there was not enough sauce. but there were large chunks of beef. the hainan chicken was the best, especially the rice and the sauces. it was simple yet tasty. i'd only come back if i wanted hainan chicken
(3)David W.
...The Hainan Chicken Rice is HORRIBLE! The quality has gone down by ten fold over the past year.... I use to be able to finish two boxes and skip dinner...now I can't even bear to finish a single box....ugh.... The rice had a funny taste...like when rice that has been left out for too long or washed with dirty tap water... I hope Savoy can go back to making Chicken Rice like how they used to. Stop cutting corners... *****I second the review by the Singaporeans below. I too lived in Singapore for 2 years......trust me...Savoy used to better...=(
(1)Joel Y.
Still the best thing around. I have been living out of the country for a few months and whats the first thing I wanted when I got back?? SAVOY. Yes, the chicken is the real deal. Pair it off with some egg rolls and man, you have yourself one of the best meals SGV can offer. The ladies are still quick and efficient, the food is still high in quality and that ginger and chili sauce seriously is laced with crack. I can't seem to find a close enough replica of this place anywhere! Savoy, you are awesome!
(5)Ree S.
Roast Duck Pasta - The duck was very gamey and a bit tough. The noodles and sauce were nothing out of the ordinary, like average marinara poured over duck and linguine noodles. Hainan Chicken - Maybe i'm not used to this version of the dish or the way it's prepared. I'm sure each culture has different preparation methods and have made tweaks to match their population's tastes preferences. With that being said, maybe i'm more not a fan of the tweaks rather than saying that the dish isn't enjoyable. I prefer the thai style where the sauce is thicker and has more of a kick. So, this simply wasn't my preference...but based on all the people around me....it must be prepared really well because the rest of the patrons were scarfing it down like it was free. Escargot - My first time trying escargot, so i have nothing to compare it too. I enjoyed it. Liked the chewy challenge of it, the buttery taste, and the pizza bread texturally balanced out the dish. Plus the bread was sweet while the dish was salty. The service was very fast....it was so fast, it seemed they had the order ready before i even told my waiter. The waiter & bus boy were very nice and friendly, although they did have a brief conversation about how they were so tired and were motivating each other by repeating to one another "only one more hour left!!". hmmm.....
(3)Jacqueline T.
Excited that it's part Singaporean! Cuz i just love Singapore and once upon a time i dreamed to retire there in the future :P anyway... let's get to the point! My friends were eyein' this place for a while... one of 'em for 3 years now, lol~ so it was great that we beat the crowd there and had dinner around 6:15pm. we walked to Phoenix for dessert afterwards & walked back around 8pm & found Savoy packed!!! with a waiting list outside. it realli is a small cozy cafe with tables outside. one of my friends had the Hainan Chicken Rice, which is what they're known for. She liked it, and I tried a few pieces of the chicken & it was bomb! tender & flavorful. For the Hainan CR, there is a choice to get half salad, half rice, all salad, or all rice. you can take a look at the pix... there are so many of this dish! My other friend got Savoy's Traditional Pasta, which came with pizza bread. the best part was dipping the bread in the sauce! mMmm... I got the Curry Beef Stew. the sauce was Malaysian, a tad bit spicy. it was tasty with the pasta and I finished it all! i also had the Chrysanthemum Tea... which was probably a bit too sweet for my taste and could've been easily made at home. Overall, if this place is a hotspot, i think there could be more decor. i understand that their dine-in & take-outs are like 21837239587239582... ok, exaggerating, but possibly they can upgrade the place a bit? but for the prices, i guess i'm satisfied :) the 3 of us paid bill + tip $27. I'll have to come back here to have the Hainan Chicken Rice all to myself & update my review. Happy Savoy!
(3)Duke N.
Man, this is one of those rare really delicious places you find in San Gabriel. First time I came here, I had the Hainan chicken which was friggin awesomeeee. Their tea is pretty good too, and what makes it better is that its endless. I sat outside and basked in the great summer breeze whilst drinking tea. The second time I came here I had half a chicken, it was good but kinda dry. Then the 3rd time I came here, I had the fillet mignon with black pepper sauce which was so god damn good. It wasnt dry, but wasnt over flavored nor was it too spicy. I ate it with my rice and pasta, and to my surprise mixing them together wasnt bad at all. I tried their creme broule which I didn't enjoy very much, but I know other people will like... I'm just not a fan of the burned caramelized taste.
(5)Kuong Y.
You know the joint is worth going to if you purposely wait till 3pm on a weekday so you don't have to deal with the crazy lunch line and still run into a damn line. Everything on the menu is good, but the Hai Nan chicken is something you gotta see for yourself. PURFECT! It deserves a sixth star because how many quality asian joints comes with excellent service?
(5)carole o.
This is a review on a Singaporean dish by a Singaporean. We drove past Savoy twice in a day and there was always a crowd outside waiting for their food. The food must be good!! So we got lured into Savoy although we were actually there for Phoenix. As we walked nearer to the restaurant, we got really excited -- The chinese words read - "Hainan Chicken Rice". WOW. Are we really that lucky???!!! After being in USA for the past 1 year, we had only chicken rice twice, both times, I had to cook it because no one sells it in USA! Not places we have been to though... But how disappointing! Seriously, if Savoy can have so many fans selling chicken rice at this standard, I guess I can make it rich in Alhambra selling chicken rice! (Not kidding!!) This is probably the worst chicken rice i have tasted in my life! People, you should go to Singapore and taste the real thing... I do not even have to recommend any stall/ restaurant. If chicken rice at Savoy is good, chicken rice ANYWHERE in Singapore is SUPERB! So, 2 of us cannot even finish 1/2 a plate of the chicken rice. And we did not even go in there with high expectations. As long as it tastes like an average plate of chicken rice in Singapore, I'll gladly give it 5 stars!!!
(1)Borneo M.
4 stars for looks, 2 stars for taste unfortunately. I've had hainanese chicken rice from various singaporean/malaysian restaurants here and almost every other kopitiam in spore and I can definitely say this one looks better than it taste given their rave reviews. I guess either a lot of people are easily taken in by looks alone or most people just don't know what really good hainanese chicken rice taste like. How unfortunate. (Tip: Visit Spore) It looks really authentic with red chilli sauce, dark soy sauce and shiny rice but somehow after every mouthful, it tasted bland and lifeless. I tried adding more chilli/soy sauce but the sauces too seemed flat. I thought it was just me but my 2 other dinner companions felt the same. This place is a good knockoff but not good enough.
(2)Leonard W.
Ok this place was recommended to me by duke c. and we hit up this place while in the area. He told me it was the best hainan chicken ever, so we yelped and i was like daanng homie, back in high school you was the man homie. So decided to go, sat outside got the hainan chicken was ready to go buckwild. Then it arrived and i was like wtf chicken on white rice? with 2 sauces and a soy sauce for the rice.... weak!!! But I soon realized the chicken was all meat no bones, the sauce was amazing and the rice was delicious. Having said all that, the hainan chicken is off the hook, wish I could have afforded 2 orders and just pigged out. The environment seems great also. I can see it being a cool place to eat at night and stuff, chillax with your compadres. I would give this place 5 stars but i've only had 1 dish so yea gonna head back and get some more... some people been saying the escargot is good.. never had it.. can anyone tell me what it tastes like? lol O yea, btw go eat there!
(4)cassandra h.
Hainan Chicken here I come! This tiny corner restaurant has truly mastered their Hainan Chicken..and the rice..oh so yummy. Make sure to order their seafood salad and miniature shrimp eggrolls as an appetizer. If you live in the Asian valley, you probably love drinking lemon ice tea, they give you free refills here as well. It's a nice spot to dine out, as they have an outdoor dining area. Enjoy good singaporean comfort food here at Savoy's!
(5)Sophia V.
DON'T COME AT NON-PEAK HOURS (2pm) they're not too Asian to give you the scrappy left-overs from lunch! and aren't afraid to show you that they're tired and just want you OUT of their restaurant asap so they could take a break Their inconsistency and RUDE service disgusts me...especially at a place that's so well known I came in expecting to have some legit Hainan chicken...sigh... _complimentary bread_ =( I didn't like how I bit into it expecting an herb-y taste since that was sprinkled on top but then got an unwanted surprise of a sugary taste in my savory bread..and the middle wasn't thoroughly baked! _Hainan Chicken_ =( like I said-scrappy leftovers. and they had a hint of that WRONG taste of chicken meat gone bad the ginger and chili sauces were subpar...just straight salt/ginger/oil...Phoenix makes a better ginger sauce. and I've had better chili oil before the rice did save it a little though-it was very soft and fluffy and tasty so maybe if the chicken was done right, this might have been a much more solid experience _escargo in herb butter sauce_ =) you can't taste anything but the herb butter sauce so good thing that was good. texture was pretty good too..nice and chewy but soft going down I don't think I'd come back for the hainan chicken if no one DRAGGED me and insisted I must give it another shot.
(2)michael p.
Even though I only had one plate, it is by far one of the best chicken and rice I've ever had! Definitely not the type of Chinese food you'll normally find, and that's a good thing!
(4)Fantabulous C.
I've got too much love from SAVOY!! Love handles that is!! (: This place is just amazing. Once you try it, you are hooked.. My tastebuds will know if its Savoy's Hainan Chicken it is that i am eating! The chili sauce is to die for.. I think Savoy has a Chef who has a degree in mastering sauces.. Cos i am telling you! It isnt just the Hainan chicken that has a sauce to die for.. How about their shrimp roll? Their salad dressing? Their curry sauce? Even their Ice tea has a sugar replacement sweet sauce thing!! (still just sugar with water but still).. YUMMM!! I swear one day, after im done eating at savoy, i will just park my car in the corner and kidnap the chef when he gets off.. LOL.. Sauce recipe???!! And plus, Savoy is too good that they could afford to be close on Sundays! I guess they make that much money.. Either that or they have too much shortage on food resources that they need to be close once a week.. Haha but hey, what kind of restaurant can afford to be close on a sunday?? Uhmmm Just Savoy..! :D
(5)Niko X.
16 days ago, one day, I was walking down the street I was cruising in Alhambra You know what I mean? Something was cooking, but wasn't yet a chicken. I know my chicken You got to know your chicken Pretty much the best chicken and rice I've ever had. The rice is perfectly flavored (I'm told this is the hardest part). Interestingly dark meat costs you more... and I'd have to agree with this since dark meat = far superior to WHITE. Skin on, bone out, succulent and satisfying. Good sauces... spicy and ginger oil. Yum. Licking finger, I wondered Where she got the chicken.
(5)John P.
Hainan chicken was solid! Will go back fo sho. Then hit up og Phoenix. btw, pasta side was way overcooked at Savoy
(4)Nancy Q.
for an Asian owned restaurant I'm actually really pleased, because they're usually cheap, greasy, sticky floors, bad service, don't speak English type of place, which is hard for because i can't order in another language, BUT this place is so much BETTER! you MUST try the cold chicken pasta salad and baked halibut. I have fallen love with these items. the hainan chicken is a tad ordinary for me, because I can readily ask my mom to make it. come on now, people try something new at the yummy restaurant. and the ice tea is good too, i sweeten that sucker up. The bad part to this restaurant is the seating, it's small n cozy but a lil invasive... u're too close to table next to u. see their food, makes u more hungry, lil to no elbow room, outside 'patio' is full of smokers and cars driving by. This place is yummy, affordable, fast service and such a good quick eats. sometimes the wait can b forever thou.
(4)Katy N.
Love this place and their "hainam chicken" rice is a popular dish! They have a lot of other yummies that I need to try like their curry, pizza (yes pizza...very unorthodox for a CHINESE RESTAURANT...but it sure looks & smells good every time when I see someone orders it) and pasta. Price is fairly decent and expect to wait in line...popular joint :)
(4)Edwin B.
It's sad that I haven't written a review, I've been coming to this place back and forth several times. Then again, there are the other 331 reviews that talk about the EXACT same thing. Guess what's good? The Hainan Chicken. As an FYI, the pastas here are good (cause of the damn bread) but it's not Italian pasta, it's like soup. It's Asian pasta. Then you have the equally good pizza. Then the good dishes, then the delicious escargot (disgusting but good). Woo, I'm so freakin fat!
(5)Margaret D.
I love the hainan chicken here. I think they put crack in it. SO much carbs but SO SO good! The ginger and hot sauce mixed with the chicken broth rice is DELICIOUS. Just thinking about it right now makes me drool. Pros: Hainan chicken is da bomb! (ya ya I'm old I still use that phrase) Fast to-go service The outside waiter is very attentive (specially if you have a good looking male friend with you) Friendly on the wallet Cons: Always packed and the venue is small so it's not good for big groups Parking not easy to find. Most of the time I have to park in the neighborhood
(5)Brian K.
Great little place. Been coming here for years. Hainan Chicken Rice is the best in the area. Not alot of seating inside but they've added some "curbside seating". There's a reason why there's always a large crowd at this corner restaurant. I usually just pick up a meal to go now since I can't ever get a seat without waiting.
(5)Lauren V.
its like 3.75, (im getting all star search on your asses with this 3/4 shit ) I used to frequest this place OFTEN to pick up some Hainan Chicken rIce to-go. It was GRRReat. It really was. Although I was always made to pay cash and some people have told me they could use card...) It came in this little container that held the rice and chicken separate from the ginger, soy and chili sauces. So when I got home it was all waiting for me nice and hot and ready to dress however i wish. Life is good. Then I decided to eat in... its been cold but since it was so crowded inside, we had to eat OUTside. BRRRR.... Cant fault em for that, its not their fault they're popular or that its cold, but it did kinda lower some morale. The service was excellent, too. The guy helping us was quick with everything and gave us extra condiments when needed. I ordered the beloved hainan chicken rice with dark meat, my companions ordered the same(white) and a curry. The curry for some reason came out first and was piping hot and delicious (to my friend, to me...it was slightly above average). My chicken rice and that of my friend was cold. straight up COLD. We wanted to send it back but didnt want to wait the 15 minutes they told us it would be. WHY it would take 15 minutes, I dont know. I liked this place a lot so i bit the bullet and kept eating. The chicken was salty. The rice wasnt the same. If we didnt get the spring rolls, we wouldve starved. This situation wouldnt have been so bad if i wasnt taking one of my friends there for the first time...and when it comes to asian cuisines, he's hard to impress...probably because he's asian AND he's studying to be a chef. So with this situation, the dreaded,"i've had better" from him was inevitable. But then he just had to follow that up with a wry,"i can make better"....whatever. That was my last visit. Im SURE it was a fluke,but it still kinda sucked. I WILL be back but maybe ill stick to take-out version again. Anyway i will say that it is the BEST HAINANESE CHICKEN in So. Cal (if you know of better, you let me know) The only better Ive had was in the Philippines and thats it. Havent been to Singapore yet, so Savoy will have to do.
(3)Kathryn C.
After a long hiatus, the bf and I are back with a vengeance. We used to go here a few times a week. The workers would always tease us and say, "See you back tomorrow!". Sometimes we deviate from our standard order of 2 hainan chicken (white meat), an order of shrimp rolls and 2 lemon ice teas. We've tried the beef curry, baked sole, seafood pasta and chicken salad. All were excellent!! I'm still trying to figure out how they make the chili sauce!
(4)Edward M.
Hainan Chicken with the rice and chicken broth infusion. thats all you need to know. worth the go and mucho affordable. done deal.
(5)Helen H.
Great place to hang out and have good food. They are known for their Hainam Chicken. I always get that but sometimes I like to try something new like their Curry chicken or curry beef but I always go back to my love of the hainam chicken. Can't go wrong with it. The rice is perfectly cooked. If you don't care for a lot of rice, you could ask for half rice, hald salad. You could customize it to ur likings. Must have the sauces to go with the hainam chiken. Best hot sauce ever! I don't even think its the chicken or the rice is that good without the sauces. I'm talking about the hot sauce. Don't even get me started on that. They should sell their sauce. I will be their number one fan. Other than the Hainam chicken I don't care for their pizza or their pasta. Tried it but it was just boring. Must get the shrimp eggrolls though. Those are good. I use to come here once or twice a week. I come here so much that they know my order by heart. I love the mexican guy that serves outside. He is fast and very attentive. You could choose to sit outside or inside. There's always a wait if you go prime time. Just put your name on the list that is located right outside and specify if you want inside or outside. Its a cute place, good food, and decent prices. Oh yea, what's up with ppl talking about their chrysanthemum tea? What about their lemon ice tea. I like that better. Yum! Probably stop by here tomorrow for dinner. =)
(5)Sara L.
There are three perfect things to get here. I mean perfect. I say that without having had any of the seafood pastas. But since it was so famed for its Hainanese chicken rice, that's what I got. Lo and behold, it was PERFECT. The rice was perfect, not too salty, not greasy. The white meat chicken (they give it to caucasians by default, but I didn't mind) breast was tender, unbelievably moist. The ginger was fresh-tasting but not overpowering, the soy sauce complimented perfectly, and the hot sauce was divine. I don't know how they do it, but it's amazing. Now to the escargot. I've had escargot before (albeit only in this country) and it's been kinda gummy and not fantastic. Here the shells were huge, the forks were the perfect size to get those suckers out, the consistency was soft and beautiful. And the taste? It tasted just exactly like butter and garlic. Enough said. The last and maybe greatest thing about Savoy is that lightly sweetened chrysanthemum tea. Chyrsanthemum tea reminds me of the Qingping Gallery Teahouse in Boston, where I used to hang out quietly with my friend Tom and sip happily and contently. Theirs is iced, flowery with that gorgeous earthiness that makes me all melty and calm when I taste it. Yay Savoy. You've surpassed your great reputation!
(5)Jenny W.
Aside from the obvious choice of the hainan chicken, get the chicken soup as an alternative to a beverage. I grew up having soup with my meal instead of beverage. My mom has always told me that drinking cold water with food causes poor digestion. I don't know how much truth is in there, but the steaming lightly salted clear chicken broth goes oh so well with that chicken. But if you can't manage to swallow food without downing ice-cold liquid, then try the chrysanthemums drink, which I also grew up with (but not with meals, of course).
(4)Johnson T.
This is one of the best restaurants in the San Gabriel Valley. Although a bit small, this place packs a lot of excellent dishes that will keep you coming back. They're famous for their Hainan chicken (like everyone else has mentioned), but since they're a fusion restaurant they have a good assortment of pasta and curry as well. They even have pizza! You can sit inside or outside, although the inside of the restaurant can get quite cramped sometimes. The arrangement inside isn't the best so you might get a bit uncomfortable if you're unlucky with the seating. I've ordered about 80% of the menu and haven't had anything bad. Some of the pasta dishes are average, but I have yet to order anything disappointing. The service is very friendly and they try their best to get orders out. Before moving, I was a regular of this place. I highly recommend coming here for lunch and dinner, but be sure to arrive early to get good seating and parking. Happy eating!
(4)Rachel T.
This place is so good! they are famous for their hainan chicken. at lunch time there is a huge wait but it's worth it. i love the bread they bring out. i judge restaurants a lot based on their bread. The chrysanthemum tea is also great. I ordered the halibut and the creamy cheese sauce with mushrooms is delicious! The second time, I had their seafood curry. Watch out if you don't eat spicy food cos this curry is spicy!
(4)Dave F.
My friend took me there for the first time and must say YUMMMYYY!! I asked my friend what they were known for and he said Hainan chicken. So thats what I had. I was surprised that it was sooo goood. It basically is boiled chicken, white rice and ground giner and hot sauce on the side. The ground ginger I think what makes the dish. I would totally come here again but try something else on the menu. The place is small and they have outdoor seating but we got seated pretty quick at the bar (no alchohol). This place gets busy so you may have to prepare to wait a couple of minutes.
(4)Marcus L.
Food: i think i've liked everything i've tried here. fried shrimp rolls, chicken, curry, pizza, pasta, salad... all pretty good... i wasn't happy when they took away the free refills on the iced cappuccino though Service: good. the wait can be bad though cuz this place is small Parking: not so good
(4)Albert W.
Good hainan chicken. Service is ok. I took my friends there for the first time but the waitress told us we have seats. Suddenly one patrons moved to our table from the counter and the waitress said nothing. I know that has nothing to do with the restaurant but I think the waitress should say something to the patron.
(4)Steven P.
My friend told me he heard they have the best human chicken here, the very best!, so I made a long drive in the rain last night to see for myself. The fates were against me though, as I had much trouble finding the place, and it didn't help they were blocking off all of Alhambra that night in preparation for chinese new year. Still, this stopped me not and a rainy cold walk finally found me at the kitchen counter with my friend. We both had the chicken and rice. He paid two dollars more for dark meat (yet paid less than me when the check came... hmm...) It was okay. I wish I had more sauce. And it turned out to not even be human. Disappointing. The rest of the menu looked intriguing. I want to come back here again, except not in the dark and in the rain. So many other places here I want to try on this street, wish I lived closer.
(3)Kien V.
Why is this place closed on Sundays?? For some weird reason, I have craved their hai nam chicken on Sundays, and guess what, no go. I think Monday would be a better day to take off.
(5)Sam Y.
So Savoy why are you so hard to find? Can you please stop using that weird font on your sign! And actually put the sign on! They are best known for their Hainan Chicken and rice. Everyone told me its the best. Everyone told me to get it. When I got it, all it was, was steamed chicken. With 3 dipping sauces. Wah wah wah wah.... Yes it's good. It just wasn't what I expected. Such a simple dish. It's pretty good. Or shall I say the sauces were good. Wait one of the sauces was soy sauce. The other one was just crushed ginger. Okay that third sauce I didn't recognize was good. Their bathroom is like outside around the corner and you need a key. No bueno when its raining, like it was today. It's small. It has outdoor seating. The menu is all kinds of different dishes. Based on my experience it was average but I am certain there is something on their menu I will love more than the Hainan. Cuz that chicken, I grew up eating that sort of thing in Korea. Cept we dipped it in salt and pepper. I ended up coming here with my other Korean friend who felt the same way, cuz my Chinese friend stood me up. Or is he Indo? Or is he black? He is a Yelper. That is all I am certain of. But alas I am a simple man. Rice and meat, that's as good as it gets for me. The chicken was good and moist (but come on any chicken thats steam or boiled is basically moist). Now if they took that chicken and deep fried it in vegetable oil then deep fried it again in lard and covered it in gravy, now we are talking folks!!! Just kidding. It's a good spot. It's normally packed from what I hear. If there was a line, I probably wouldn't come here. But the food is served quickly. I am still here actually. Waiting on my friend still. He's 4 hours late. Is that weird I am still waiting? Wait did I mention the place is small? Anyhow though I can probably eat 4 plates of that chicken and rice. Just cuz I eat a lot. Good thing it's cheap. Unless you add dark meat. Then its 2 bucks more. But this is the first Chinese restaurant that I've seen with ketchup at the table!
(4)Cindy H.
My favorite meal in the world is the hainan chicken from Savoy. Dark meat only, with a cup of cold chrysanthemum tea. They could just sell this dish and do plenty well. It's been years since I've even looked at anything else on the menu. From the dark recesses of my memory, I recall the linguini and conch pasta being yummy. The duck pasta was pretty good. All the pastas and pizzas are yum. The currys are so-so. The bread is tasty. It's really hard to get a table here for a group. Luckily I have no shame about coming alone and getting a spot at the counter. The owners/staff have been here for years and are as sweet as ever, even though they must serve the exact same order hundreds of times every single day.
(5)Helen W.
i hate LA but the hainan chicken at savoy kitchen is one of the things that keeps me coming back. it is SO GOOD. yes, i once came to LA just to come here.
(5)Iam y.
Service- A Food- A Price - B Enviroment - A Parking- F Time - B Everything is pretty good except for the parking space.
(4)Andrew G.
savoy hey, i mean it's not really my habit to get into these quickie things, but i need to tell you this: you rocked my world yesterday. it was unexpected, it was impromptu, it was spontaneous...it was everything a meal should be. and it was very very good. i'd been to you before, but i didn't quite remember how succulent your breasts are, how piquant your sauce is, how your rice is so moist and flavorful. but i remember now. and not just the hainanese chicken rice. the pork chop with, what was it, a creole sauce? over rice. good lord. thank you. i really needed that. listen, not to move in on your space or anything, but can we do this again soon? i'm really curious to see where it takes us. i know there is usually a little wait, but all good things are worth a little extra effort, and at least the others waiting are interesting to look at. let me know. luv andrew ps: i'm going to go cry in the shower now.
(5)Jan R.
One of these days I will order a pizza here hahaha. I love hainan chicken and this place serves it up quickly and consistently. GINGERSAUCE!! YUMYUMYUM! The restaurant is so cramped... I've seen better el pollo locos than this place but it's a good price for quick hainan chicken. That being said, watch out for a long line at certain times (would never go here at night unless it was to surpise a rare group of adventurous foodies... who like cramping into litte niche eateries), parking is weird (street) but it's located not far from other good places to eat (desert) or drink (boba tea cafes).
(4)LA Sunshine M.
Long line during lunch time is always a good sign, right? Yes they are known for their Hainan chicken, and it is quite good. Not the best I've tasted, but much better than most in the LA area. So I guess it deserves my three star. I tried their pasta dish before, and yuck...quite bland. Maybe I'll try their curry someday.
(3)Nancy Y.
For my 100th review, I shall devote it to Savoy! Because it is special enough to be glorified, as can be seen by the 280+ reviews here on Yelp! Before I had Savoy's Hainan chicken, I disliked any type of Chinese-style chicken. I thought it was dry and bland. Even the few Hainan chicken dishes I tried was nothing special. That is until my tongue became acquainted with Savoy's.. OMFG, it is sooo delicious. The chicken is so flavorful, so tender, and so moist that it melts in your mouth. You have not tasted chicken until you've had it here at Savoy's. I normally also do not favor ginger, and tend to avoid it, but that ginger oil sauce is out of this world. If I could, and if it were healthy, I could eat this every day. It's excellent value for what you get. I'm a heifer that likes good food, and good value so I usually take a box home to savor it again another day. The chrysanthemum tea here is also very tasty. Just the right amount of sweetness amidst the floral flavor. It's too bad they don't provide refills for these like they do the ice-tea. Because of Savoy, I'm like a horny teenage boy. Everytime I see "hainan chicken" on the menu of any asian restaurant, I can't help but automatically start fantasizing and craving hainan chicken. And to momentarily satiate my craving, it would be difficult not to order it and hope that it's comparable. Unfortunately, each time I do I'm disappointed because nothing comes close. If anyone knows of a place as good as Savoy's, please let me know. Because I don't. For now, it is the undefeated champ of the Best Hainan chicken!
(5)Lily S.
What else can i say, Hainan Chicken is the best from this place. Everytime i came here, that's the only thing i order (well except on fridays when they have Oxtail - only limited and if you come too late, it'll be gone). Egg roll and crysanthenum tea are other things that i usually order. The place is small and expect to wait during lunch/dinner time. They have pasta on their menu - but haven't try it. Street parking only.
(4)Brian L.
Their Hainan chicken is the best I have ever had and everybody knows this place is famous for that dish. Their curry dishes are good too. It's a good idea to order different dishes with a friend and share instead of everyone getting the Hainan chicken. Minus one star because feel rushed to eat and get the heck out since the restaurant is so small. Great food and worth the wait if you're in the mood to wait.
(4)Matt M.
Chicken Rice is to the streets of Singapore, what tacos are to LA. It's the street food of a nation with some of the best food in the world. Anothony Bourdain stopped in Singapore last year for his show No Reservations, and talked about the Chicken Rice as if it was God's gift to the streets of Singapore. So, I just had to try it. But where would one get Hainanese Chicken Rice? In the Chinese mecca of LA of course, the San Gabriel Valley. We headed out to Alhambra after doing a little research on the old iPhone Yelp app. Savoy Kitchen looked like the place to go. So we headed out on the 60, just 15 min or so outside of downtown. Not very far to travel considering Singapore is 8,774 miles from Los Angeles. This seemingly easy dish to prepare isn't as subtle as you think. The Chicken is boiled is garlic and ginger, then cooled to room temperature. The rice is cooked in the stock from the boiled meat, the chicken is then chopped and plated with the rice, and served with a garlic and ginger puree, a spicy red chili sauce, and a little soy. How you dress your dish with the condiments is a national debate, and this being my first time, I just pour everything over the rice. The flavor combination is pure bliss. The tangy ginger working with the the kick of the red chili and salty soy sauce. I take a bite of chicken, then right behind it gobble down some of the delicious rice. It's as wonderful as Bourdain says it is. They've got a bizarre menu of Chinese inspired pastas and pizzas at Savoy Kitchen, but unfortunately didn't try anything else off the menu. Things like Conch and Noodle Soup, Ox Tail Stew, seafood pastas, and several different kind of pizzas. As I sat there and ate my dish, I started thinking of how I could recreate this at home. I found what seems to be a close recipe, but something tells me my attempt would fall short of the original made by someone with years of experience. So for now, my new love lives in Alhambra, and I will return with reinforcements soon.
(4)Tessa C.
Got introduced to this place from my friends who live in La Canada, but seem to always go to San Gabriel and Alhambra for good eats. And again, they didn't steer me wrong. My friends admitted that one week they came here 3 times and got a carry out for lunch the next day - all Hainan Chicken. The Hainan Chicken is so tasty. Incredible that something so simple - chicken, rice, with ginger & hot sauce - can be so addicting. And so affordable....at $8 - how can you refuse? Being newbie to this dish, there are lots of ways to eat it. Dipping the chicken in the sauces and eating it with the rice or mixing all of the sauces with the rice and enjoying it that way. I personally prefer the dip and eat while my friends like the more authentic mix and eat. We were lucky to come here on a rainy Thursday evening and got seated almost immediately inside. Don't come here with a group larger than 4 or you'll be stuck waiting for an outdoor spot (unless the weather is super nice). The rest of the menu is interesting - Chinese, Italian (they have pizza and pasta dishes) and French. I've been told that the escargot are delish as well. But folks always come here for the chicken.
(4)L Y.
Thanks fellow Yelpers! I was here with my husband and we enjoyed their dishes. My husband got the famous Hainan chicken - delicious. I got Thursday's special - Conch tomato noodle soup (?) - hmmm... I was feeling something soupy but I wish I ordered something else. But it was not bad. Clean, friendly service (at 2pm on Thurs), found a street parking as we got there. I will defiantly try this place again and will order something else. Oh... bring CASH. Since we don't carry much cash at all, after our meal, I only have couple of dollars left in my wallet. =P
(5)nick t.
I have been visiting Savoy's for over 10 years. The prices have increased over time(avg price of $7-$8/dish), but still very competitive when compared with other SGV restaurants. Everyone on yelp rate this the best Hainam Chicken Rice dish in LA, and i happen to agree. I also must give praise to the Curry Beef w/ rice dish. The curry is Singapore/Malaysian style, which is not as sweet as Japanese curry, and a little sweeter than Indian curry. The rest of the menu is nothing special.
(4)Karen N.
i used to go to this place more often than now. and of cox it's because of their famous hainan chicken with rice. but i think i've experienced better, the ginger and hot sauces that they give u with the flavored rice is good, i could eat it without the chicken. to me, i think the chicken are just okie, a little dry and rough. i just went back again recently and tried their seafood salad, it was actually pretty good. the dressing is like a sweet vinaigrette, with shrimp, squid, and scallops. small one is about 4 sth and bigger portion is about $7-8 that serves 2 ppl and comes with a plate of bread. i rmbr a long time ago i went there and tried the shrimp eggrolls, which i would also recommend, they're thin like "boba straws" haha.. service is okie here, dun expect much. and they closes on sundays, which is kinda rare for most restaurants. parking is just a pain in the ass, you will need to fight for those street parking spaces. -_-
(3)linda y.
good food...their hainan chicken is yummy, curry is yummy, pasta, etc.
(5)Astra W.
Awesome place for Hainan Chicken Rice. Their Chrysanthemum iced tea is good too. The only thing bad about it is that you don't get a refill. So if you drink lots of liquids like me, I would suggest getting a larger sized iced tea. Came here with my mom once, and she ordered their Seafood Pasta. The noodles were mushy, and not appealing to me at all, since I do like my pasta noodles cooked al dente. And the sauce didn't seem all that fresh as well. I know there MUST be Chinese restaurants all over the San Gabriel Valley area with great Hainan Chicken Rice as well. Maybe I'll get around to researching another restaurant for this dish if I ever get the chance. But in the meantime, I'll come back to Savoy if I have the craving!!
(4)Pete F.
It's too bad we live so far from this place. The Hainan chicken is the best. The chicken is moist and the rice is flavorful. On a recent visit, I took 2 orders to go. Ever since a Hainan chicken place in Rowland Heights closed years ago, I've not found anywhere that measured up. I also really like their curry beef stew. The curry is very rich, with a good kick. The beef is tender and a little fatty (hmm). Their shrimp roll is also very popular. With the business they're doing, I hope they come to their senses and open a location closer to OC.
(4)Sue A.
For one, I like my chicken naked. and moist. and tender. So I always order white. but you can have some skin if you ask for dark meat. I admit...it's tastier fo sho~...but the rolls on my belly tells me stop the madness. I always ask for more of the gooey orange spicy sauce plus ginger and soak my bird in it. It's wonderful stuff, but i still don't know what it's made of. The little spoonful they give you is not enough for me, so i usually ask and they bring a cup of it. I slather it on like gravy. *drool* If you want a little veggie, you can always go Atkins style and order the chicken w/ salad instead of rice. Usually i get half rice half salad...surprisingly the homemade dressing is pretty damn amazing. And I beleive the rice been cooked in chicken broth so it's a lovely part of the dish on it's own. i tend to devour every grain, so it helps to have some greens to balance it out. What are the other dishes you ask? I have no idea. Go read someone else's review.
(5)connie k.
so i'm not reviewing the place for their supposedly good asian food, but i'm reviewing it for their amazing pizza and salad dressing. they use some kind of gloriously amazing pizza dough to make both their pizzas and pizza bread. there must be some serious LSD in that stuff because i seriously go into a bright kaleidoscopic world after i have their delicious bread. it's even better if you dip it into the (olive oil-based?) salad dressing that comes with the garden salad. oh man, i think my artery just clogged up imagining the scenario. glorious! they're also really nice at the tiny restaurant. they all speak english, so there's no being made to feel bad that you can't order in cantonese or anything.
(4)Michael M.
I've had a sample of the food here when my wife went out her friend she had some left overs. She ordered the baked seafood casserole I believe? I don't exactly know what It was, but there was something about it. It tasted like good ol' home cooking with all these awesome flavors. So last night we checked it out and we made it right on time before they closed. My wife and my friend had the Hainan Chicken, which is their signature specials. I myself ordered the number 13 which was a mushroom, oyster, prosciutto, with a cream sauce and pasta, which was pretty damn awesome. I mean for $7.50 you get an awesome sized portion and it was prepared so fast I didn't even have to wait 10 minutes for the food. My wife and our friends' food came out less than 5 minutes. It was unbelievable! The pasta gives any other main chain "italian" restaurant a run for their money. Home-cooking, hearty, well priced, it's one of those places where you would like to venture off to twice a month, if not twice a week.
(5)Diana X.
love the Hainam chicken rice there! it is a must have! Honestly i went there a couple times but i never ordered anything other than HCR. I heard other dishes was okay..... Always order a lemon ice tea! Free refill~ and the waitress will fill to the top and gave u a cap for to go. try there cream brulee once, its good if you want to have a little something to fill your sweet tooth, besides, its not expensive either. good place~~ their business is soo good that they close on sunday! god they must made a lot of money!!
(4)Bill L.
went to Savoy Kitchen yesterday with a few hungry friends. We COULD have arrived earlier if someone could have made it on time. We arrived around 2000 hours. I honestly didn't know what to get. From what my friends told me; Hainan chicken was the way to go. I also looked at what other people were having around us and Hainan was everywhere. 5 orders of Hainan Chicken all around. my first impression of the dish was "this looks pretty dam plain. What is all the hype?" but after the first few bites, i seriously wanted to make love in it. The chicken was so moist. Not under or over cooked. It literally melted in my mouth. I was very lucky to have the plate with absolutely no bones to fuss with. The rice had flavor like if God was to lick his thumb and dipped it into the rice. Just like the chicken it wasn't under or over cooked. The condiments were great too. Soy sauce, mince ginger, and chili. Our waiter was very attentive. filled up our water as soon it was half empty. the only con is that there is very limited amount of tables and chairs. Sitting outside was okay. my face was warm with the installed heaters but my glut is maxi mus was freezing.
(4)Maggie C.
Best Hainan Chicken Rice in Los Angeles. I tried better hainam chicken than this only in Asia. You have to try other hainan chicken places before you try this place if you are not familiar with hainan chicken rice..then you'll see the difference in its taste and sauces. I tried the pasta and it was just ok for me. You have to get the hainam chicken rice and shrimp rolls. Shrimp rolls used to be a lot better with the whole shrimp inside the roll, but it's still pretty damn good. I always ask for extra ginger and hot sauce. On my last visit they were stingy with the ginger though. You can also order extra rice for maybe $2 extra. I see a lot of people ordering the bread but seriously there's nothing special about it. Btw they charge $2 extra for dark meat. 5 stars!! I am comparing this to normal hainan chicken rice from SE Asia and this is the closest one. Savoy Kitchen is yummylicious!!
(5)Shirley H.
How can you go to Alhambra and not drop by Savoy to eat their famous Hainan Chicken with Rice?! OMFG....let's just say that they've got everyone beat :) This place has fabulous Hainan Chicken. I haven't tried their other dishes but why would I??? lol. Hainan Chicken and Rice + their yummy lemon iced tea = a fabulous meal~ The sauces for the chicken is sooooooooooooooooooooooo tasty!! The only con here: lack of seating space..............which means long waits in the cold. If you come in twos, you might get lucky and get seated earlier than everyone. You just might hafta sit at the bar...but who cares? :)
(4)Aurora L.
Hainan rice is okay.. but I'm in love with the seafood salad :)
(4)Michael L.
Yes the Hainan chicken is really good. Super tender meat, pairs great with the sauces and well priced - easily a 4-star dish. But everything else at this place kind of sucks. I've tried eating other items on the menu and my best advice for anyone who comes here is (as my friends would say) just get the damn chicken and don't complain.
(3)Thelma W.
You only need two 3 words when you come here: Hainan Chicken Rice Everything else is merely mediocre, street parking, small area where the patio dining is actually bigger than the indoor dining area which only has like 2 tables, so the best time to go would be on a sunny afternoon, and average Cantonese style cafe prices.
(3)Ellie K.
Yes, the hainan chicken is really good. I especially like the rice that comes with it! I think its cooked in some kind of broth. YUM. Only downside is the restaurant is tiny (with some outdoor seating along the street) so you pretty much always have to wait. It's located in a high-traffic place so I don't like sitting outside (car pollution in the food?). I've never had any of the other dishes here, but the ones I've seen all look good. Maybe i'll be more adventurous next time =)
(4)Wenderful L.
double-you-tea F! to-go service is SHIT. if you can, just go in and eat... lady told me 2 hainam+ shrimp rolls =27.00 thats 30% tax lady!! - STAR for service, still ok bc of the chicken +shrimp rolls...
(3)Kevin M.
Hainam chicken rice is what they are known for. I don't think there is anything else worth ordering here. I've tried their pastas here before and they were extremely subpar. Very generic tasting and watered down. The food here isn't bad (if you order hainam chicken), but since you have to wait anywhere from 20-45 minutes to be seated, it kind of ruins the dining experience. You get the choice between dark, white, or a combination of both chicken meats. I ordered the half and half. The chicken meat had too much skin and fat for me, I constantly found myself peeling off the skin to avoid the fatty parts. It also comes with soy sauce or a garlic sauce to dip your chicken in. The rice was very tasty though, one of the best I've ever had. However, with the notorious wait and lack of seating in the small dining area, I think I would rather go down the street to eat at Dong Nguyen for Hainam chicken. If I'm hanging out with my group of friends and they want to eat here, I wouldn't mind. Just don't expect me to openly suggest it.
(3)Elliott C.
Ya know we have it too good in Alhambra. Those people giving this place 2 or 3 stars should be sent to Iowa or at least Riverside. Did you know most places in the world do not have any chicken rice? Ok, so chicken rice is definitely among the top 20% I've had in the SGV. The chicken is spot on, moist, no bones, not fatty. The rice is fragrant but not overly oily. I feel it needs some kind of pepper or spices but then I don't think it would be that blank palette we know and love. The sauces are good, but I would prefer the ginger sauce was a tad less salty. The hot sauce tastes like a diluted sriracha, but whatever, it's good. The best thing I've had here is the Curry Beef Stew. I repeat. Motherf*ckin' CURRY BEEF STEW is amazing. Best I've had. Not the bland neon yellow stuff Cantonese joints serve, nor the goopy sweet Japanese ragu. This is some thick Malaysian shit that's kicking ass with layers of onion and third world spices in there. It's oily, it's fragrant, and then they give you this crazy rice with fried shallots all on top. My god it is good. Honestly, it was the best thing I ate this year. The staff is always pleasant, extremely fast. I talk to them in Cantonese so I get a Cantonese discount. Yes that's right $2 off if you speak Cantonese. Ok I'm lying. But speak Cantonese, or at least Chinese, or at least any language but English. Knowing your roots ain't just about eating the food.
(4)Harry Y.
Wow, this place was PACKED! After reading all the reviews and hearing about the chicken from my friends, we had to wait it out. After about 45 mins we got seated at the curbside tables. Came here to eat one thing only, Hainan Chicken! And was it worth the wait? Gotta say it was! Super moist and flavorful. Rice was really good too. If you want cheap and good eats in Alhambra, this place is it.
(4)Yuping X.
My friend got food poisoning here.
(1)Bobbie W.
i freaking love this place! i crave it everyday and i wish they had a savoy in every city! i usually get the white meat with half-salad and half-rice...it's sooooo yummy! the meat is so tender, the rice is tasty and the sauces are perfect! their pastas, curry and other items are also very good as well. you can't go wrong here! if you haven't been here, you're missing out and you need to get here stat!
(5)Kaylin O.
One of the reasons why I love SGV! I love their Hainan chicken! I love their orange sauce! Its so good. I tried to find recipes for it online but I couldn't. I'm usually good at breaking down a recipe but I couldn't for this one. Why I love the Hainan Chicken here? -Cooked perfectly -Love love the orange sauce (too bad they are so stingy with it) -Moist chicken broth flavored rice.... Although they provide soy sauce, I like to eat it with just the orange sauce and ginger. Its so good. If you come around 11 am (right at opening), there's not much of a wait. You can order it to go too. Since its one of their famous dish, its always ready to go. It tastes best fresh but it also taste good after you microwave it. Chrysanthemum tea still not one of my favorite.
(4)tawny w.
You can't go wrong with their Hainan Chicken rice plate. I think they cook their rice with fatty chicken broth, because it is friggin delicious! I would recommend calling in your order to be picked up because the restaurant is small and can get a little cramped, the wait can be long as well. also!! CASH ONLY!!!! i hate that. minus one star for restaurants who only take cash!! fortunately, there's a Bofa and Chase just down the street, so it's not as inconvenient. If you order a pasta, make sure you get their pizza bread!! it's realllly goood!
(4)Michael J.
Cruising through the City of Industry, I was reminded of a conversation I had with a friend regarding an episode of A. Bourdains "No Reservations". Bourdain extols to the audience, the superiority of Singaporean chicken and rice. Well shit, I had to try it, and apparently the most authentic example of this dish is going to be found at Savoy Kitchen. Upon arrival, I see that it's fucking packed...like PACKED. People are standing around outside waiting on seats, which by my count numbered in the less than 15 table range. That's hella tiny yo. My bathroom is bigger than this joint, seriously. Lucky for me, I ordered take out. Once I got my meal home, I had to heat it up because it cooled down over the long trip back. First impression is that the rice has a lot of flavor, very tasty. The chicken was good as well, however, I couldn't get past the gelatinous texture of the skin and fat. Not to mention that the ginger sauce that they give you is very oily. After the meal, I felt very heavy and I had grease dripping off my chin...not a good look.
(3)Christy L.
There are days when you crave chicken. Sometimes you crave Fried chicken and other days you crave Roasted chicken. Never have I thought that I would be craving Hainan chicken that's been boiled. Simply put, it's healthy and quite yummy. Their rice is cooked using chicken broth which adds delicious flavor and texture. Then there is the ginger and special soy sauce that you dip your chicken into before mixing it in with the rice. Only those who have tried Savoy's know how GOOD this whole chicken plate tastes like and can relate to why I'm craving this at 2am in the morning! Just try it. You won't regret it. It's not even an Asian thing just because there is soy sauce and ginger involved. It's a CHICKEN thing! I can't wait to get this for lunch tomorrow!! Call ahead. They are always very busy! Good places never have empty seats! On a side note, I did not like their iced coffee. It's all sugar and milk! Eeek!!!
(5)Vasana M.
It was overrated! I was just ok but not that great. Had better chicken rice from so many places this place is just average. Shrimp egg roll not as good as people were raving.
(3)Jenny L.
One of my favorite places to eat but I hate the wait here. Its such a small place that I usually just order it to-go. I love their lemon ice teas. I usually order the hainam chicken rice or the bolognese (?) pasta. I love the bread that they give you ... I just can't stop eating those things.
(4)Missy J.
Went to Savoy Kitchen after reading those wonderful Yelp reviews, which was a big mistake. We ordered Hainan Chicken, which they are famous for, and pork pasta (I don't quite remember what it's called, but it was ground pork over linguine pasta.) Hainan Chicken - very bland. The chicken tastes like nothing all by itself without the ginger sauce. I had better ones that are made by my dad, where the chicken actually tastes like chicken even without the ginger sauce. For the rice, I think they tried to be clever and put the soup they used to boil the chicken over the rice, which made the rice soggy and gave it a weird taste. Pork pasta - they put too much herbs into the pasta that gave it a bitter taste. Other than that, the pasta actually tasted quite good. Plus, they give you those breads where you can dip them into the pasta sauce. Overall, although the food didn't meet my expectations, the service was very good. The waitress came over to our table a few times to give us refills on the ginger sauce. She also offered to wrap the leftover breads for the pasta in aluminum foil. I don't think I will go back to this restaurant again because I can make better Hainan chicken.
(2)Cat Q.
After we saw all those good reviews of Savoy, we decide to drive more than a hour to find a good SG restaurant in L.A area. The Menu is weird, It's a mix of Italian Pasta's and Chinese food. And the Hainan chicken is the only SG food on the whole menu. Why is the restaurant still listed as SG cuisine? This my first bad looking, mushy, skinless, plain Hainan chicken ever. Hainan Chicken without skin, WOW! The ginger sauce is lighten up the whole dish with MSG!!! It's tasty, but we drink more than a liter water each on the way back. The rice has a little ginger flavor on it, but they used cheapo rice. The texture feels rough. Even a bad Hainan chicken at the food court in Singapore is better than this. Shrimp spring roll is soft on the outside and there is no shrimp to find in the inside. Serving is big( a lots rice). Service is okay. Sitting are really close to each other. Ur neighbor is just about 10-12 inch beside you. It didn't feel comfortable at all. You'll keep hearing kitchen sounds while eating( loud dish washing sound, kitchen tools banging the wok). Totally not worth of the long driving.
(1)Liz K.
I love this place!! I'm so glad I finally got to eat here. We got here the previous night and the wait was too long, but we came back the following morning for an early lunch and it was line free! I know most people don't want to wait either so get there early or go at an odd time. The rice is sooo moist. Haha, I laugh when I hear myself say that aloud... The chicken is juicy and NOT DRY at all! It comes with a minced garlic sauce and some other kind of ginger hot sauce. It's sooo yummy. You have to order the Hainan chicken, and THAT ONLY if you go here.
(5)Derek W.
I've been coming here ever since I was a kid. Nothing has changed over the years. As others have indicated, they are known for their Hainan chicken and rice. The best thing on their menu. Moist and tender, even the white meat comes out moist. Rice is cooked in the chicken fat but boy does it add some mean flavor. Mix the ginger and hot sauce together and dip a piece of chicken into it and prepare to taste a little bit of heaven. I am even willing to say that it tastes better than the famous Tian Tian in Singapore. Lots of my friends/family do like the curry here but I prefer Japanese curry over the one they have here. Haven't tried much of anything else on the menu. Brought a coworker here once and now he typically goes atleast 2-3 times a week.
(4)Bryan L.
Hainan chicken with rice. All pastas, pizzas, teas, salads. All hit the spot!
(5)Vinson L.
Best Hainan chicken anywhere! Whenever I am in the Monterey Park/Alharmbra area, I have to go to Savoy to get some Hainan Chicken or sometimes one of their daily specials. As many of the other reviews have said, make sure you come early for lunch or be prepared to wait anywhere from 15-30 minutes for a seat. The restaurant itself is not very big and has limited outdoor seating. They probably do more to go orders than they do actual sit down orders during lunch. If you are looking to be a little healthy and want less rice, you can do half rice/half salad with your hainan chicken. Also get an order of their fried shrimp rolls and a cup of ice tea or ice cappuccino. They do have other things on their menu that we have tried - curry is good, pizza is ok. As I'm writing this review, I'm actually craving some hainan chicken right now!
(5)David L.
Nice corner lot with seats both outside and inside the restaurant. Place is cash only. Decided to try out the Hainan Chicken that everyone on here has been raving about, and also added a chicken broth. The Hainan Chicken was very moist and tender and went very well with each of the three types of sauces they provided. Chicken broth wasn't anything spectacular but it was pretty cheap ($1.75) Down to check out the place again if I'm in the area. Overall everything was good, great atmosphere, good food. Took off one star for the not so awesome service. Asked the lady for more ginger sauce and she just looked at me and walked away without acknowledging that she will bring some back. Waited 5 minutes, no sauce. Ate the rest of my meal dry. BAM first review
(4)Cindy T.
Their Hainan Chicken is the best of LA! I really like it and order as half rice + half vegg (+75 cents more) Love it!
(5)Aaron S.
The line is longer here than at the Apple store on new iPhone day. And the food is worthy of the wait
(5)Linda T.
i really dont understand the hype that this place has. two of my friends told me to try it so i had very high expectations. got hainan chicken rice..chicken was soft..although moist; rice wasnt as flavorful as i expected and it was oily. hainan chicken rice didnt wow me...im not sure if i will go back. the ginger sauce and spicy garlic sauce, however, was good. that was the highlight of the meal ...
(3)Lindsay D.
The food is delicious here. I highly recommend the Hainan Chicken Rice Plate and the Baked Hailbut yum. Very cramped inside and out dining area. Know that you won't get the best service unless you are Asian.
(3)Jackie W.
My friend and I had been trying to come here for a while because he claimed it is the BEST Hainan chicken he has ever had. We saw an outrageously long line outside every time we drove by until recently. We parked in the backlot and scuttled over as soon as we could before the line got longer. It's a small, cozy place with indoor as well as outdoor seating. It should come as no surprise that this place attracts a lot of young Asians (perhaps my friend and I included). However, I'm talking about high school and middle school students -- maybe I've just grown cynical and bitter, but I really hate obnoxiously loud people. A large group can still keep its noise down, but when you put a group of youth with competing egos, it can be pretty annoying. So as a word of warning, try to be seated away from them. Moving on to the food, we both ordered the Hainan chicken. It was everything my friend said it would be: tender, delicious, and generous portions. But it was the orange sauce that took the cake. It was so good that I flagged down the staff in Cantonese and asked them to bring more of that delicious orange sauce. The orange sauce is savory with a slight spicy kick that I love. Apparently, they're used to being asked by patrons for more of it because she brought over a small vat and asked if I wanted her to put some on the rice as well. I said YES! I also wanted to try the creme brulee because it was fairly cheap ($2-$3). Unfortunately, they forgot about our order and we were already set to go. Next time, I must get it! The verdict: delicious? YES. Best Hainan chicken? As of date :) I look forward to that delicious orange sauce and tender chicken soon.
(4)Benito L.
To be honest, I ordered the Hainan chicken and after the first few bites thought to myself; 'what is the big deal with this place, its just chicken and rice??' BUT, about half way through my meal, I realized that the mixture of the ginger/hot sauce along with the tender chicken and the fluffy steamed rice is quite delicious and oddly comforting. I'm officially hooked!
(4)Juan F.
I always drove past this place and never knew what it was. So I came here with a couple of friends upon their recommendation. They kept raving about the Hainan Chicken and their Iced Tea. As we arrived, there was a wait of about 30 minutes. We decided to wait and got seated inside. There is also seating available outside under their long canopy. As soon as we got seated, we all knew what we wanted: Hainan Chicken, Iced Tea, and we shared an order of Shrimp Rolls. First came the Iced Tea. I took a sip and I was like wtf this shits nasty. But then she dropped off their syrup. You can add as much as you want depending on how sweet you want your tea. After I added that, OMG, that drink was sooo good and refreshing that I needed 5 total refills during our meal. Since they give it to you in a plastic cup, you are more than welcomed to refill your cup before you leave. The shrimp rolls were okay. Nothing really special. They were on the small side but they give you plenty. I could definitely taste shrimp in it but I couldn't see any shrimp, maybe because they chopped it so small? The Hainan Chicken was REALLY GOOD. Chicken was super moist and tender. It also comes with a generous serving of rice as well as their chili and ginger sauce. You should ask for more of the sauce because it is really good! Overall, great place to have a good meal. I will try their escargots next time I come. They looked really good! (I was starring at the people next to us).
(4)Terrance Y.
To be honest, I'm here almost once a month but I have never dined in. I usually would call them 5 minutes before I arrive and park illegally somewhere- since the street side and parking lots are always packed- as I rush in to pick up my order. Like most visitors, I'm here for one thing only: Hainan Chicken Rice. Why? Because it's delicious. I let the oily, Hainanese flavor rice melts in my tongue til the last grain is gone. And this is not because I believe in "" as much as I just hate to have good thing goes to waste. The highlight of the show is the chicken, of course. The default is white meat (dark meat is +$2). The white meat is already really juicy, so I don't particularly feel a need to empty my wallet for the dark meat. I don't know how they keep the chicken so tender and juicy, but keep up the good work, Savoy! The dish comes with a red chilli sauce, a oyster sauce mixed with garlic, and dark soy sauce on the side. The last time I went, the waiter even added extra chilli sauce and oyster sauce without my asking. Maybe it's because my cell number comes on their telephone machine now? No matter. My point is that I'm really satisfied with their speedy service that I now allow myself to park my car in the most ridiculous places before running in and out of the store with my chicken treasure. So why only 4 stars? Well, Savoy, where is the garnish of cucumbers? I've been to Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand... not to mention other restaurants in Southern California that serve Hainan chicken rice. Is it too much to ask you to decorate this delicious meal with a tab of green? Must I store cucumbers in my refrigerator in order to complete my Hainan experience? Speaking of which, I better drop by the market for some fresh cucumber before I call up Savoy later...
(4)Avery J.
The best hainan chicken outside of Singapore. Sure, there aren't vegetables. Sure, the rice might be a little, oily... but the chicken and sauce OVERWHELMS me with its awesomeness. I like to take one bite without any sauce (you know, so my palate can preserve the integrity of the chicken lol). That meat is tender, succulent, smooth and soooo good. great. now i want some. tip: it's cash only, but there's a chase down the street.
(5)Dijon Y.
This is not a special restaurant, but I bestow 4 stars upon it because its a great combination of good price, tasty food, good serving size, and casual atmosphere. The Hainan Chicken looked good and juicy but I didn't get that. I got the malaysian chicken curry over rice. It was pretty good. The inside is small but half of the seating is outside so its ok. You may have to wait though since the inside is tiny a a little cramped.
(4)Cindy S.
I don't know what my crazy friend Vivian is talking about...This place is good! Been here twice and I don't order anything else but the Hainan Chicken. The chicken is tasty and the rice is perfectly cooked in chicken broth. It's not too salty, cooked just right. Their dipping sauce is the perfect pairing, love it! Except their hot sauce could be a little hotter. You know what's also good is their iced tea- it's even better when you pour the liquid sugar into your iced tea. Wish there's a Savoy Kitchen up north!
(4)Angela T.
It doesn't get better than rice and chicken and made in the simplest form! The sauces that come with the hainan chicken plate is o. m. g. to die for. They have good chicken soup, pizza bread, and pasta. I would recommend the hainan chicken plate for first timers, it's what they're famous for. They also have good lemon tea. Everything is just really good there. The restaurant is small and fills up fast, but it's definitely worth the wait. Parking might be a problem, there's only street parking. Fast service, great food and cheap cheap cheap prices! :D
(4)Romi C.
I don't know why its so good?! lol it's just chicken, ginger sauce and soy sauce. but it is!! OMG I pretty much only order THE BEST THING here which is the Hainan Chicken. Everything is good about it... the Rice, the ginger sauce, the Chicken, and even the soy sauce lol. IT's kinda pointless to add another review for this place because pretty much everyone loves it. Me and my friends are making it a point to drive from downtown la on Friday lunches just to eat here because we end up craving it after such a hard week from school. The best FEEL GOOD FOOD. and when I'm mean "feel good", it means that it makes us feel good because not only is it amazing taste wise, but it's not super oily or greasy. Nothing we get is fried but still leaves us extra satisfied. Not to mention it goes amazing with their iced chrysanthemum tea. yum yum =)
(5)Danny E.
I really do not get the hype surrounding this place. I mean it's good but it's not let's come every day and wait an hour around lunch time good. The white meat can be dry some times and rice is just so so. And for me at least I always run out of chicken have a ton of rice left over, which now that I think about it is actually a pet peeve for me. The one super bright spot though is that they really good sauces. The chili and ginger is spectacular. It doesn't seem to get much love but I think curry is the better of the two dishes here. The chicken seems to be more tender and stewed quite well. I think I going to go get some curry now. Haha. I have seen a lot of people get the pizza here, I haven't had it yet but I definitely will soon. And apparently the shrimp rolls are quite good as well. I am not a fan of escargot and was forced to eat one :(
(3)Mimi V.
With all the reviews this place has, Savoy Kitchen kind of disappointed me. I've been wanting to try this place for the longest time, and last week was the chance i finally had. I ordered the Hai Nan chicken over rice and my bf ordered the seafood with pasta. Hai Nan chicken was alright. Nothing was special about it to me, not even the sauce. I think i tried better chicken actually. Seafood w pasta: I tried 1 bite off my bf's and didnt enjoy it at all. My bf and i was pretty disapointed w this place. Small place w no seating and okay service. Stars: 2.8
(3)Cindy A.
I love coming here! The cappucino is soo addicting. Sweet ice tea is refreshing. Hot chrysanthmum is great in the winter. Almost everything on the menu is delicious at this little place. But they are most Famous for their Hainan chicken and Curry beef stew (I love their fried onions on this dish). Escargot and shrimp Eggrolls are delicious. They're little pizza like breads are great for dipping in Curry and eggroll sauces. The only downside is they try to rush you out for a faster turnover. Fast and friendly service though. I like sitting in the patio most because of the breeze and space. The inside is a little small. Take out is great too!
(4)Angela D.
NOM NOM NOM. YUMMMY HAINAN CHICKEN!!! I love the spicy sauce they give you. The lemon tea was tasty and I like how you can control your own sweetness. SUPER FAST service which is great!! I haven't had Hainan Chicken in Hainan so I don't know how it is really supposed to taste like...BUT it was quite delicious and the rice was flavorful too.
(4)Seong P.
Hainan chicken white meat is so tender n juicy! even tho it's white meat, it's never been dry~ get also the shrimp rolls.. the best I'd ever had! other must-eats: baked halibut, green curry (people usually get rice with their curry, but try it w/ their linguine noodles, its better!).. seafood linguine (red sauce).. yumm! believe it or not, their filet mignon was bomb~ their chicken broth (cheap!) n goes well w/ their Hainan or any other entree u order here! this place is 5 stars becuz of what I've said already n also for it's consistency! always delicious.. I've introduced this spot to many fam, friends, n coworkers.. i even boost it a lot, but no one is EVER disappointed!! :)
(5)Yi Z.
DISCLAIMER - I've never been to Singapore so I don't know what Hainan chicken is supposed to taste like. All I know is that I wasn't blown away. The chicken was tender and the rice had some flavor but neither impressed me. We also got a small duck salad and it was terrible. The salad comprised of a pile of the cheapest lettuce you can find with 6 pieces of hard and cold flavorless duck all on a plate that is too small. The only positive is that although the place is tiny (even with the outdoor patio), I only waited 10 minutes to get seated during peak lunch hour. We were unluckily seated inside and the tables were so crowded that no one around us could get out once we sat down. I had really hoped to have a delightful lunch. Instead, it was super-rushed mediocre experience.
(2)Erwin Y.
This place has very good Hainan Chicken Rice! probably the best I've had so far! Fairly reasonable price for their items on the menu. I've had a couple of their pasta as well and it was average kinda heavy and thick on the sauce. Another recommended item for salad people is their chicken salad with sesame dressing. Quite deliciious if you ask me! =) I prefer to take-out instead of dining in because this place is super small even with outdoor seating area.
(5)Karen L.
It's only natural for me to write a review for Savoy, considering that I'm full Hainanese. Yup, as rare as it gets lol. I wonder if anyone there actually speaks the dying language.. Anyway, back to the reason why I'm here. I used to refuse to pay for Hainan Chicken, even at Savoy, but slowly they started to get me. Now I can't believe that I'm actually paying for Hainan Chicken -___- but it's well worth it! I even went through a phase where I was here every week for like a month or two. Quite embarrassing if you ask me. The chicken is great! I love the ginger sauce, it's the only sauce I use because it's what I grew up with. I always ask for extra, A LOT of extra lol. I'm not too fond of the rice. Love my mom's rice better, but the chicken has her's beat. Sorry Mom!
(5)Sindie Y.
I had been coming here for years (way before Yelp existed.) Hainan Chicken with rice is very good (rice is the best part) - I usually don't like to eat or order chicken, especially Hainan chicken (the look of it scares me) but, everything about their hainan chicken is just awesome! The shrimp rolls and pasta are good too. Don't care much for the pizza tho.
(5)Olivia T.
Savoy has been a family favorite for years. Although they are known for their Hainan Chicken, I tend to order their pizzas more often than their signature dish. I really love the potato dough they use. It gives the bread a tender texture and slightly sweet taste. I think the BBQ Duck Pizza is awesome. The iced tea is pretty good, but their cappuccino is a little too creamy for my taste. I don't believe I've tried the other drinks. I wish their cups were a bit larger. Savoy has very reasonable prices.
(5)Joe C.
What's up with all the hype? Yeah it's good, it's A-ok. It's easy a bit time consuming but you can make this yourself. It's not that hard then you can impress your bf, gf, and/or bff. hungrykat.blogspot.com/2… The secret to the chicken is poaching. Poaching is a method of slow cooking in a 160 - 175 degree soup. The soup is made with water, ginger, garlic, green onion, and of course chicken. Rice is made with garlic, ginger, chicken stock, and the secret ingredients is chicken skin & neck bone. Don't you always wonder why it's so good and a lot of times it's the use of fatty ingredients: butter, bacon fat, lard, and in this case chicken fat. $6.95 for this dish. I get it, it's delicious but after reading the above instruction don't you think you can do this yourself? Heck I'll come over to do it for you! J/K I have a massage appointment, Bahn Mi, and boba to attend to ahahaha :) It's $8.95 if you wanted the same dish with dark meat! What a rip off! $6.95 dish gets your dark meat any way and a few extra white meat. To me it's a slap in the face. Like it's saying "Oh yeah! You want some dark meat; well, pay up!" Actually, my friend doesn't care. She always wanted dark meat but then I'm the one that pay so this entire paragraph I just contradicted myself. Ouch!!! who slapped me?!! "It is I your conscious, try to be more productive get this yelp review done and go to Venice and try them new coffee joints stop sitting in your office" Recaps: Service: attentive, friendly. Lemon iced tea was free refilled. Food: A-ok. It's poached chicken and rice big deal. My friend ordered escargot, I didn't get that. Why ordered snail in Asian place? I tried snails three times in my life and it was buttery and garlicy; not something I think about eating. It's like chewing on black gum. Not a very appealing image either. Turn out I'm not as adventure as I like to think. I do want to hunt snow goose someday! Then peel of its fur , sautee its breasts with rosemerry, butter, and garlic.
(3)Claudia W.
the best place for hainan chicken!!. if you dont like the steamed chicken, try the fried cornish hen. i always get the cornish hen because i think it's better. oh!! must have the escargot also. servers are nice and friendly.
(5)Li S.
Singaporean frank opinion. Rice too soggy lah. The greasiness is ok for me. The famous Fatty Weng chicken rice is more greasy. However, now singaporean like it less grease too. The type of rice used is usualy jasmine rice in Singapore. I dont find bits of gralic, bits of ginger and no pandan leave fragrance. It seems to me they also missed the step of frying the raw rice in garlic ginger n chicken fat before cooking in chicken stocks. Chilli sauce is Totally off. Ginger sauce is too salty. Singapore hainanese chicken rice without dark soy sauce????!!!!! Unheard of. Where is sliced cucumber leh?!?! Soup on the side leh!!??!?! Spring onions cilan on top of chicken. We can choose parts of the chicken, eg breast meat, drumstick, wing. The chicken is average. Tiny bit of blood trace can be found in perfect chicken drumstick. Aiya. You would not know what is hainanese chicken rice till you tasted a real one in Singapore lah. But in socal, Bo herl haer ma Ho lah. (Singapore slang). I'll choose this only over MCD.
(1)dustin y.
Best Chicken Rice in So-Cal. My only gripe is that you have to drive all the way out to Alhambra to get it. But it's well-worth the trip. You'll know your getting close when you see the rows of tables outside, packed with people. I opted for the indoor seating, and was hit with the oh-so-succulent aroma as I stepped in. Crowded as all get up, with far too many tables. This place was good. I glanced around and everyone of course had a plate of the house specialty - The Chicken Rice. I glanced at the menu for a nice app, and ordered the some shrimp egg rolls. Light, and crispy and kept me occupied while my chicken rice was being prepared. Came with a creamy sauce, but I felt was un-needed. Now on to the main event. When ordering the chicken rice dish, I highly recommend opting for the dark meat only - just a few dollars more. They also make and amazing chili/ginger sauce combo that comes with. These two sauces are the yang, to the yin of the savory chicken/rice. If you can make such basic and cheap ingredients have so much flavor, your a master in my eyes. If your curious about the origin, from what I've read, this dish hails from the country of Singapore.
(5)Erica B.
This is definitely random find #1. After a quick bank errand, we pass Savoy Kitchen and the mob of people waiting outside. The work BFF gives me THE look. I guess we're eating lunch here. Non-negotiable. By the door is a small stand with a wait list where the 'regulars' already know to write their own name. Wow, there are 13 names in front of us. But we decide to wait. When we finally snag a seat at the counter, the phone is ringing off the hook. I'm not exaggerating....phone order after phone order after phone order. I'm confused, I don't understand how a tiny Asian cafe in the middle of Alhambra could be so poppin'. So of course, I Yelp. 4 star average out of 1200+ reviews. It all makes sense. Verdict? I'm glad the work BFF is so persuasive. I had the baked Halibut in a mushroom cream sauce and for 8 dollars, it was one of the most delicious fish dishes I've ever had. Who knew a drive to the bank could be so serendipitous? So this is what Chinese - French - Italian fusion tastes like? Love it. TIP: Cash only!
(4)Eugene L.
It's comfort food for me. I always get their Hainan chicken or Roasted Chicken Pasta. Their complimentary bread (served with some of the dishes) is like a warm, slightly sweetened pita bread and really good. I prefer to take-out because they don't have many tables.
(5)Tim Y.
The first time I came here, I had no clue what Hainan Chicken with rice is. Now that I'm older, I think Savoy's Hainan Chicken is really a one of a kind. I think there's crack in their dish. The dish comes with boiled chicken and rice along with some Maggi soy sauce, some ginger that's been soaked, and a creamy hot sauce. The combination is unbelievable. The meal is so simple, but you just can't get the quality of taste in another Hainan Chicken dish that you get out of Savoy's. Order a side of pizza bread, and you'll be dipping the bread with the two sauces. Simply the best Hainan Chicken in all of Los Angeles. Don't believe me? Try it here, then order it somewhere else. You'll be pissed off that you even tried the other place because Savoy's is that much better.
(5)Alan C.
Pro: Hainan Chicken Rice If I have a craving for Hainan Chicken rice this is the place I go. Meat is tender, have no bones, and the ginger sauce and soy sauce compliments the chicken meat very well. I also like the flavored rice. The rice is what I am eating this dish in the first place! Con: Street parking and few seats This is definitely a turn-off for big groups. Looooooooooong wait time, as they have a very limited number of seats. You have to park on the street, as I am not aware they have any customer parking spaces. Luckily for me, most of the time if I eat there I am eating alone and I usually just sit in their "bar" area. One option you can do if you live close by is to order carryout. Skip the line and they prepare take-out orders extremely fast.
(4)Vincent K.
Review for Take Out Only Actually this review isn't even for going there myself to take out. It's for having someone come back with the food and bless us with some awesome chicken and rice. It may cause some bias towards it but heck, its good enough for me. Between the 4 of us, we had 2 orders of the Hainan Chicken over rice and one Shrimp Roll. The rice is definitely moist with a great chicken flavor to it. The chicken was also moist and obviously the dark meat which probably gives it the right texture. The sauces: red sour sauce, sweet soy, and ginger went perfect over the chicken and rice. Each bite was so lightly flavored and satisfying. The shrimp rolls, although on the skinny and small side, and lacking shrimp wasn't entirely there. But I always love me some crunchy snackish dish, so that was nice. Hats off to the fellow yelpers for their awesome input on recommending Hainan chicken rice and shrimp rolls to me.
(4)Kat L.
Tiny space for indoor seating, much more enjoyable to be seated at the outdoor area. Major grouse on needing to obtain a key and walk a distance to go to the bathroom (its not inside the restaurant). Service is polite and friendly. Being Singaporean, I agree with other Singaporeans here that the Hainan Chicken Rice is far from authentic. The chilli and ginger sauces are weak, they don't provide dark sweet soya sauce and the rice is mushy and not half as fragrant as it should be. The chicken is OK, I didn't opt for dark meat since traditionally the dish should only consists of white meat. My non-Singaporean friends actually enjoyed it though - maybe its catered to American tastes. The Curry Chicken was a disappointment, even more so than the HCR. The gravy is watery and totally not fragrant. I'm not a culinary expert but something is sorely lacking - may be the lack of coconut or pandan leaves? And the rice, likewise, is meh... Could only manage a few mouthfuls. But because my boy likes the Hainan Chicken Rice (not knowing any better!), I guess I'll have to keep coming back. Let's hope they fare better in their pizzas and pastas so I don't have to leave hungry again...
(2)Andrew J.
hainan chicken, egg rolls. nuff said.
(4)Alison S.
If you are in the San Gabriel Valley and craving some chicken, try Savoy. This place has a hainan chicken that is very tasty. It is a small restaurant with limited seating, but their food is good. It is also a great place to order take out. They have good portions. Andrew, one of the servers there is very friendly and nice. It is always a joy to see him. He always has a smile on his face. Try this place out!!
(4)D T.
Best Hainan Chicken I've ever had. That's all I have to say. Dark meat chicken is the finest meat in chicken. The ginger from this place is B-O-M-B. The orange sauce dip compliments the chicken really well. I wish we had a place like this in the OC, cuz I'd be all over it. FOOD: DELISH. Hands down Parking: Street parking/Neighborhood. RATING: 10+
(5)Jacky K C.
tip: curry beef brisket is way better than hainan chicken taste wise over 1000 reviews are raving about the wrong things, the hainan is at best mediocre. search mediocre under the savoy reviews and you'll read the true reviews. why? the chicken is not "yellow feathered chicken" nor free range chicken which means less true chicken flavor (go to a med to upscale chinese restaurant, order it), the boneless (should have bones or else no flavor) meat is soft and tender which is good but everyone knows chicken meat has no flavor except for the aforementioned kind of chicken. chicken aside, the chicken oil rice is just okay, not rich enough, no yellowish color, i've had better tastier kinds. the ginger sauce is very good, it's the only thing that holds up the dish, without it, it's just subpar. the curry beef brisket however is very tasty with just the right spicyness and way better than what everyone raves about. the grilled young chicken is also not bad, but i've had juicer and tastier ones out there.
(2)Ozzy C.
chicken and rice. very simple and done exceptionally well here. the place is small. lots of take out business so phone in ur order so u dont have to wait as long. there are a few tables inside and some outside dining along the side of the bldg. prices are low and food is great. the chicken is perfectly cooked. and comes boneless. comes with sauce so u can customize the way u like.
(5)Janetto L.
Simple food made delicious! I'm usually not a fan of Hainan Chicken, but something about this dish at Savoy, it's absolutely delicious! Chicken is always tender, juicy, and flavorful by itself...BUT...when you throw in the sauces, it makes it 10x better! Something about their ginger sauce and sweet soy, they're insanely good...I always have to ask for refills on those two. Their infamous orange hot sauce is great too, but sadly, I cannot take the heat. I've ventured out to give their other rice plates, curry, pizza, and pasta dishes a try, they're all pretty good, but nothing compares to their Hainan Chicken. Enough said! Arrive early and be prepared to wait, it does get quite crowded and I've been here where they've ran out of chicken for the night before. Cash only and closed on Sundays.
(4)asuzak H.
Cheap, simple and great food! Chicken is nicely cooked. Their rice is cooked in secret broth and so good! You just wanna keep eating even though you are so full. Service is quiet, kinda rude but fast. Good for lunch.
(4)Uyen T.
The hainan chicken rice is so so, not as good as i imagined. The worst part is their service because of a young and cocky waitress. She was very impolite when we asked her about the order. And while we were eating, she gave us the check without our asking. Thats so rude. I think i wouldnt come here again. So so food and worst service!!!!!
(1)Christine D.
I love this place!!! I love the Hainan chicken and i love the ginger sauce. I can never get enough of the chicken and the rice. Whenever i go here, i ask for lots of ginger sauce. Lol. And the freshly brewed iced tea is great too to go along with the meal. Even though the restaraunt is small and crowded, it's worth it. And cheap too. I will definately continue going here for my cravings for hainan chicken. And the service is excellent.
(5)Junaedy L.
Generous portions of chicken and they are tender. Definitely the best place I've tried by far for hainan chicken. A lot of staff in the restaurant so service was good.
(4)Matt D.
Great Hainan Chicken, delicious Curries! Definitely worth a try! Don't forget the chrysanthemum tea!
(5)Kat L.
Small and Quaint! ^_^ At first I thought it was going to be a medium to big sized restaurant, but it turns out that I have been passing by this place a million times on my way to Phoenix Inn for lunch. It's right across the street from it and I have been missing out on the simple yummy goodness of Hainan Chicken. Albeit, I have never had Hainan Chicken and I didn't know what to expect. At first I was thinking that it would be bland and boring but it was surprisingly tasty with the rice. I am sure everything is soaked in chicken fat and simple seasonings to make the rice so tasty and complimentary to the chicken. They basically debone most of the chicken and give 3 simple sauces. There is ginger, soy sauce, and a spicy sauce. I actually detest ginger but I think it really adds and brings out the flavor of the chicken. Sure, it is a simple dish but it's simply good! ^_^ I liked it enough to order some for home and thank goodness I did! The portion was actually pretty big and it filled me up before the horrid Christmas dinner! Thank you Savoy Kitchen! We got there in the nick of time on X-mas Eve because they closed at 5PM and they were still friendly. There was a lot of holiday spirit in the air and the servers were sweet. I tried their Curry Beef Stew and that wasn't anything special. So my advice is stick with the Hainan Chicken that almost EVERYONE ELSE HAS! Lol I will definitely be back for my take out in the future! ^_-
(5)Ian W.
Very good Hainan Chicken. Some other dishes tried were the Chicken Curry and Baked Halibut with tomato sauce. The downside is the restaraunt is quite small so it isn't fun waiting outside in the cold. Wait time is usually longer than we experienced as we came at an off time but still had to wait about 20 minutes. I think the food is very good for lunch but they need to find a bigger location. I will definitely go back or go for some takeout when I crave Hainan Chicken again!
(4)Micah W.
In 10 years, I've been here over 300 times. Order the Chicken, Curry Beef (no, not curry beef stew unless you like tendons), and if you're really hungry, the shrimp rolls. That's it. Cash only. Can't wait till I go again.
(5)Duchess T.
I always order the dark meat, but my parents ask for white meat (for health reasons). We like to walk over the Phoenix for some mango mochi afterwards. Bummer it's a cash-only joint.
(5)Brian I.
The chicken is very very moist and the rice has so much flavor. The ginger oil, soy sauce, and hot sauce complete this delicious dish. The best part is that its under $10. They have a bunch of other stuff here but just get the chicken. They are know for there chicken. I would recommend that you come here around 11-1130am (lunch) or just place and order for pickup. This place does get packed.
(5)steve p.
Gotta add to the awesome reviews. I love the hainan chicken here. It's not so much just about the chicken but the combination of condiments with the dish, especially the chili sauce and ginger sauce. I only come here once every few months, but surprisingly the workers here remember me and my wife. Come to realize it, I have actually been visiting here since I was introduced to it back in 2003. Wow time does fly, but it's good to know that the quality at this place has been consistent.
(5)Jean S.
best hainan chicken EVER. I didn't know that chicken and rice could make such a huge impact on me! it sounds so simple but the dish is amazing..the rice is flavorful, the chicken is juicy (they take out the bones too!) and the ginger and spicy sauce is a delicious combo! I usually get the shrimp rolls too which are yummmy!
(5)Lan Q.
Based on the number of patrons that were present on a Wednesday night, I would say that this place needs no advertisement. The wait was non existent when I arrived but the restaurant was packed and the quantity of to-go orders was endless. The interior is typical of a small Asian restaurant but cozy with a side outdoor patio that looks like a Western restaurant. This juxtaposition is demonstrated in Savoy's menu quite well, a blend of Asian and American/Italian dishes. Let's commence to discuss what yelper Linh N. and I had shared here: Hainan Chicken rice: ah the very famous chicken rice. To be honest, I expected more from the rice. It was indeed cooked with seasoning, probably chicken broth, but it was still lacking in aroma. I expected an infusion of garlic flavors in it and perhap a little oil/fat too. The chicken was tender and moist, and the accompanying chili and ginger puree sauces faired well with it. Seafood Pasta: Linguini with an array of seafood: scallops, calamari, shrimp. The flavors blended well, a little heavy on the oil though. Not a dish to go out of your way to order. Baked Halibut: This bad boy we threw in at the end when I recalled yelpers mentioning it. It came with pizza bread chunks and white rice on the side. But the halibut and its creamy alone was magic. I mixed in the pasta from our seafood dish with it and found the flavors and textures mesh better. Creme Brulee: Premade in a tin cup and passed to the kitchen for the glazed sugar topping. The creme brulee was a bit softer than usual creme brulee, almost like it didn't get to settle yet. The consistency was not smooth, partially grainy. The sweetness was a little on the light, which I prefer but still definitely not a creme brulee that I could recommend.
(4)KarenandJim W.
driving past this place several times and we always see a long line. finally tried it last night for dinner and i can see why there is alway a line outside this place. Because it's a FREAKIN shoebox!!!! NOT because the food was exceptional! the hainam chicken was ok. Rice was definitely soggy and they have the nerve to charge $2 extra for dark chicken meat!?!? we also order the beef stew curry which was ok as well, the flavor was there but not as savory as we imagine curry to be. This is a good place for a quick lunch or dinner but i would NEVER wait more than 10 miuntes to eat here. even though the food was not as i expected, I would've been nice and given this place a 4 stars if it weren't for the fact that they take CASH ONLY!
(3)Lara Y.
delicious! i didn't get the hainan chicken because that's what everybody else got. instead i ordered the baked halibut in a creamy cheese sauce. i got rice w it. and i also got an order of escargot. the escargot, although perfectly cooked in terms of texture, was a bit on the salty side. it was just salt on top of salt. i just finished it because i hate for the snails to go to waste and i also needed something to cut the richness of my baked fish. baked fish: YUM! it's so rich, so creamy, and so sinful. every single bite left me wanting more. i wish i had 4 stomachs, like a cow, so i could eat the whole thing. sadly, i don't. so i had to get it to go, and enjoyed it at work for lunch the next day. :) overall, a 4 for now. i'm gonna have to go back and try this hainan chicken and some other things. we all know this place is doing something right based on the 1000+ reviews. i'm just hoping i won't get disappointed on my next visit. :)
(4)Anna C.
Blasphemous - I don't know how I could have given this place a mere 3 stars? Unpardonable mental lapse, temporary insanity, or could I have possibly been smoking crack? Anyway, this is the best place in the SGV - hell, anywhere - for Hainan chicken rice. The chicken is poached and prepared to perfection, the rice fluffy and steeped in pure broth-y flavor and goodness. Don't even get me started on the dipping sauces. I crave this almost constantly.
(5)Angela B.
Went here one day just cause I was craving Hainan chicken. So glad. So happy. Cheap and delicious!! There was a bit of a wait on Friday night. It was actually quite crowded. Interesting seating as some people came after us yet they seated before us. Wtf. Ordered nothing but 2 dishes of the Hainan chicken. Came with a good amount of rice, pieces of tender chicken and their 2 bomb ginger sauce+mysterious spicy orange sauce. I enjoyed all of my meal, except I wish the rice were like Phoenix's.. it's stickier there.. if only these two places swapped rice, I'd be in heaven. I like that when I ran out of both ginger and orange sauce, the lady just gave me the whole container of both and told me to scoop however much I wanted :) I think I would probably go out of my way to get some of this, cause it is just so soooooo tasty. You can probably find similar stuff elsewhere without a wait, but if you have time to spare, definitely hit this place up. And if you don't have cash, the ATM across the street will charge you $2.50 for every transaction you make. Be smart people!! take out the $40 and not the $20 so the ATM doesn't charge you $2.50 twice..-__- Service was whatevers .. had to flag people down for a water refill. Though the dish was very tasty, it took awhile to come out :l
(4)Christy M.
Call me crazy, but I come here all the time and I eat items... OTHER than Hainan Chicken. I always hear great things from my coworkers and friends that I have to try it, but for some reason I never do. I guess it just means I will have to try it one day. Maybe it's just that I'm someone lucky because my mom makes it from time to time, and I love hers... that I'm too scared to try it anywhere else. Anyway, my top favorites are the 3 mushroom pasta or the seafood pasta. I've had the tenderloin (?) and the smoked duck pasta before, both were very good. I never really like eating my meals at the actual location... if you get a seat inside, it's very claustrophobic because of the limited space available, but the outdoor seating seems nice. I ALWAYS order my food to-go for two reasons. This place is ALWAYS packed, no matter what time it is since Asian people eat alllll times of the day. And two, if you order it to-go, I noticed they do give you a bit of a bigger portion. It also comes with a salad as well as their infamous pizza bread. The downside is that by the time you get home to devour your sinful delight, your salad is probably warm because of the tuppaware. I would like it better if they put it in a separate storage when it's to-go.. but oh well.
(4)Tony H.
Heard lots about this place, how good the Hainan chicken rice is. What a disappointment. Not sure what the fuss was about. The chicken rice was terrible. Worst i have ever had. Place full of young kids, ABC type, who know nothing about what good chicken rice is. Maybe that's why the yelp rating is so high. Chicken soup is bland like water. Seafood salad was terrible. Will not come back again. Recommend avoid. Save yourself the aggravation. I actually walked out the place feeling angry, and hungry.
(1)Yvonne L.
I've been coming to this place for about 10 years now, and I must say I love it now as much as I did back when I was a kid. Their Hainan Chicken and Rice is amazing! From my experience the chicken has always been fairly juicy and tender, and they give you a mixture of white meat and dark meat, which is nice. What really makes this dish is the special sauces that come with it--a nice ginger sauce and a spicy chili sauce. The rice that comes with this dish is also really flavorful in itself as well. In addition to their standard Chinese style food, Savoy also has a variety of other European inspired dishes. For example, they have a Conch and Pastrami Garlic Noodle, that is surprisingly flavorful and pleasantly delicious. You can also find Escargot here and it is so good! It is actually one of my favorites and comes with Italian herb bread, which you can use to soak up all the great leftover sauce from the Escargot. Highly recommend giving this place a try if you haven't already. Oh, and always remember to bring enough cash because they do not accept credit cards :(.
(4)Curtis C.
I think i died and went to chicken heaven. The hainan chicken is the BOMB! Its juicy, fatty and all around awesome. The dipping sauce is perfect with the hot sauce being hot but not too crazy hot. The rice. THE RICE is worth the price of admission alone. I dont know that they put in this... maybe crack cocaine... but i cant get enough of it. Its so yummy with the chicken flavor baked into it. Im drooling as i type this. Order dark meat since its got some great flavor in it. The ice tea is perfect. The only downside is the line. Its definitly worth it though. It is THAT amazing.
(5)Ken C.
I was skeptical about this place. Afterall....how could rice and boiled chicken be any good? If you check out the pictures, the dish even looks bland! I'm happy to say that I was completely wrong. I was so satisfied by the hainan chicken at this place! Yes....the dish is simple, but they are really effective! For $6.95 they give you a lot of rice, delicious chicken that's perfectly juicy, and some awesome sauces. Be sure to load up on the spicy sauces and the ginger...they add so much to the dish! Something else that's really good is the fact that the rice had so much flavor. It tasted like they added some broth to the rice....I liked it a lot! I only had the hainan chicken today, so I can't comment on anything else, but I know that I'll be back. They have creme brulee on the menu and I haven't had a chance to try it yet! Being the sweets lover that I am, I'll have to update when I do try it!
(4)Michelle C.
Love this place!!! Delicious food at cheap prices. They are famous for their Hainan Chicken. The chicken is always tender and moist and the rice is always flavorful without being too oily. Comes with a ginger sauce and a spicy sauce. I prefer the spicy sauce. It's the best! Besides the chicken, they have a different special each day too, my fave is Monday's Baked Pork Chop rice. Appetizers that are good - shrimp rolls (fried egg rolls stuffed with shrimps) and escargots in garlic butter. Both are so good!! I also love their curry, it's got a kick to it! And it's served with white rice with crispy onions on top...so good! Their pastas and pizzas are also good too. Everything is pretty much less than $10. Always a line, not open on Sundays and it's CASH ONLY!
(5)Kristie H.
Don't get me wrong, their Hainan Chicken rice is good but the lines and crowds at savoy make it hard to ever get a table and honestly that has been my main reason for not coming here for many years. I used to come here all the time back in the day. I've finally realized though the best thing to do is to call ahead 5 mins before you get to savoy and take your chicken rice to go. Don't get it to go for long distances though because the cover on the togo box will actually over cook the chicken because it is inside. Or Green Zone has decent Hainan Chicken Rice too that is comparable and all their stuff is organic.
(4)Drew P.
I'm giving out way too many 4 stars ... kinda cheapens it, know what I mean? But whatever, the description for 4 stars says 'Yay! I'm a fan.' and I am indeed a fan of Savoy. Last time I was here with a friend, I remarked about how I could pretty much eat anything on the menu, and that it all sounded really good. Idk maybe I was hungry that day, but there aren't that many places where I could make that statement (though their menu isn't huge either). I could go for curry, I could go for hainan chicken, duck pizza you say? sure thing man. With that said, I've only ever eaten the hainan chicken (obvi) and the spaghetti. The rice is fragrant, the ginger and hot sauce are divine and the chicken is chickeny. It's quite good. The spaghetti is something else though. Not your typical spaghetti I must say. It's got the noodles, it's got the meat sauce ... but it's also quite soupy in texture. Hunks of pork slices are also thrown in which is quite interesting. All in all, I like it though. I like it a lot. Also the pizza bread has this faintly sweet taste to it that I also find enjoyable. Oh yeah, and lemon teas with little jars of corn syrup? My friend said it was sugar water but he's an idiot. The lemon tea is whatever, though I don't know what exactly would make a lemon tea extraordinary? Maybe if it had like whole lemons in it or something impressive like that. One thing that's unsettling is how fast the food comes out. Every time, the chicken comes out within 3 minutes after ordering, so you know that they got like a whole assembly line back there with pre-made chicken. I think it'd be nicer if my order was cooked fresh, I'd actually feel better if I had to wait 15 mins (get in a little conversation or whatever). Finally, parking is pretty tough, I think I came on a Wednesday night? (lol) and I parked at least 7 minutes (walking) away. Too many cool asian kids everywhere craving some chicken I guess. Doesn't help that their place is also quite small, though the outside area is quite spacious.
(4)Jason F.
Everything probably been said for this place .. Been a fan favorite of this spot since i was little. Always busy! Famous for their hainan chicken of course. Other good things on the menu. I like getting the baked halibut with mushroom cream sauce as well. Pizza is good as well. The shrimp are to die for. And the pizza bread is a tasty snake. Good price, great taste, good service.
(5)Ailine T.
First up - I'm a true Singaporean. I was born and bred there. I lived there for 24 yrs since birth and only recently moved to the States. I practically grew up on Hainanese chicken rice. And no, Savoy's chicken rice is not authentic at all. I'm appalled by people thinking this is how Hainanese chicken rice taste like cos it's FAR from it. The chicken isn't made this way, the chili sauce isn't right and the rice is bland. And even as a dish on its own (without any comparison to Hainanese chicken rice), it's horrible. If i had a dog, I wouldn't even feed it to the dog.
(1)Roger T.
I guess im just not that into hai nan chicken?? This place is alright, the wait to eat there is pretty ridiculous sometimes, I guess there are a lot of asians out there that LOVE hai nan chicken, i guess im just not one of them. However their other stuff is pretty good, some of their creamy seafood pastas and their appetizers are pretty good like their egg rolls, all in all i dont mind eating the food, i just mind the wait, so if you are savoy, order TO GO!
(3)Kathay F.
The secret to Savoy is to arrive before 6:00 pm to avoid the lines. But if you must wait, it's worth it! In a city with a lot of food options, Savoy deserves a visit. You can choose from indoor and outdoor seating - both are quite lovely. Having grown up on Singaporean Hainan Chicken Rice, I swear you can taste the love that Savoy puts into this dish. At $6.75, you get rice that has been cooked in chicken broth so fragrant, I could eat it on its own. An extra $2.00 gets you dark meat - they have their priorities "strait". The ground ginger sauce and chili sauce are very fresh. (One o-so-small complaint - Chicken Rice is not complete without cucumbers!) Other dishes worth ordering - Roasted Cornish Hen (oh the flavor of the skin!), Seafood Combination Pizza, Curry Chicken. The inside seating is a bit small for larger groups over 6. The service is so friendly, but do bring cash or you'll be washing dishes.
(4)Michael S.
Came here a couple times and each time had to get the Hainan Chicken. As others may have said get more of the ginger sauce because you will use it up with the first bite. Also had the pizza and was great as well. Hainan Chicken + more ginger sauce + chrysanthemum tea = happy me Keep it up Savoy.
(4)Chuck S.
Consistent quality, and there is a certain elegance to the food that is atypical of Asian restaurants in the SGV. Hainan Chicken Baked Sole Shrimp Rolls Worth the hype.
(5)R L.
The food is awesome. But sitting in the restaurant, you are forced to listen to your neighbors' conversation, since the seating is so packed. Savoy Kitchen is also a place for people(mostly Nouveau Riche, you can tell from the way they dress, talk and act.) to show off their cars. Often times, you would see people driving Austin Martin, Ferrari or even a Rolls Royce parking in front of the restaurant, not to mention the typical BMW and Mercedes that everyone drives. Come on! if you drive such a high end car, YOU WOULD NOT EAT a $7.25 Hainan Chicken Rice???!!!! Does this make any sense?
(5)Donsta L.
Fi-nal-ly. After several best I ever... my top... hands down... recommendations from the Doanut he got one right. Savoy Kitchen should change their name to Savory Kitchen or Succulent Kitchen. The Hainan Chicken is legit. Their special sauces makes this dish something I could devourer on a daily bases. I wish I got to try their rice they cook with chicken broth but guess they were out when I visited, just my luck. =[ I'm definitely gonna tap this ass again.
(4)Wendy H.
everytime i come here, i only get the hainan chicken! the rice and chicken is just so good! my boyfriend whom usually is a very picky eater, when i introduced him to this place he fell in love with it. the restaurant is small and it is cash only but so worth the wait and stopping by the atm to get the cash!!! prices are soooo reasonable.
(5)Clayton J.
This is my heaven for Hainan Chicken rice, even the Hainan Chicken rice in China cannot satisfy me... I tried a bunch! Even the ones around town, I think not! Yes, there are huge lines and a waiting list here! But, it's all to get that Hainan chicken goodness! If I can't wait and I call ahead and order togo! I always get my Hainan Chicken, all white, and if I come someone always orders All Dark, so it's perfect, so NO extra charge! ^)^ The rice is what makes the place and there must be some secret method, plus their ginger sauce is to die for! I always ask for gobs and make my chicken "swim" in it! I, also, like their Pizza bread and Shrimp Rolls! Love them both! Woohoo, writing about it is making my mouth water! Looks like another trip out to Savoy Kitchen! It's not a must try, but a Must GO!
(5)John Z.
The customer service is great and attentive. They will do anything to please you. We kept getting refills without asking! And no, not the watered down refills... Talk about excellent and non-stingy service! Thumbs up to that. LOVE the honey lemon iced tea! Street parking still sucks though. :(
(4)Wendy L.
This is a very small restaurant, but on a Wednesday night, I would say there was a consistent flow of people waiting to get their fix of Hainan Chicken and rice. They have a small menu but everything looks really good. They even have a creme brulee, that I really want to get next time. I only had the Hainan chicken, as what other people had recommended. Even though there aren't that many places that offer this traditional dish I would have to say, I'd had better in my childhood. Very nastalgic. I like how it doesn't have bones and the meat is tender, but I guess I feel like it's missing just a little extra something. Can't my finger on it, but yeah something. Haha. Service is quick and I'm definitely willing to come back and try more things on the menu. CASH ONLY
(3)Linda L.
I first discovered Hainan chicken during my trip to Singapore last year. Since then, I've been searching all over town for this simple, yet delicious dish. I heard about Savoy Kitchen from my boss and decided to give it a try. I was a little disappointed with the rice and found it bland but the chicken was delicious! Portions are huge and worth the price. Close to the deliciousness of what I had in Singapore, not exact, but this will do.
(4)Aaron M.
I've been a loyal customer of this little corner restaurant for many years. If you know and live around the 626 area. You have to know/tasted the legendary Hainan chicken w/ rice. If you haven't...you must be a hermit that hides underneath a rock :D. But honestly though the menu is simple and everything on there deserves a two thumbs up and the lemon iced tea is to die for. The curry dishes are debatable though. You have to try their bread sticks which are lightly seasoned and soft. And their egg rolls are a great way to begin the meal. I'd be coming back to this joint for a very long time.
(5)Joe H.
Note: I usually order to-go to avoid the wait and the lines Order: Curry -- $7 Best curry in LA, its delicious. I order it to go usually. Their monday special is good too.
(5)Vanessa O.
Hainan chicken: best ever, and healthy too! The rice is so tasty and perfect. The spicy sauce is just the right amount of spicy. And the ginger sauce is just as awesome. ~$7. Baked Halibut with white sauce: better than any Italian restaurant. Tastey, cheesey, and enough for 2 people. ~$7. Iced tea: free refills, you add your own amount of sweetness with the sugar water they provide, and they even automatically give you a lid when you're done, so you can take it to go. ~$2. The wait is usually pretty long when you go during the lunch or dinner rush hours. This is expected, since the food is so darned good and inexpensive. The restaurant is pretty small and trendy, the service is quick, and I love it.
(5)e k.
savoy is one of the best places for the hainan chicken but what really attracts me to this fine establishment is the shrimp rolls. the only thing i order at savoy is the hainan chicken and shrimp rolls, so if you want to try something else, you're on your own. and lol @ the "free range chicken" comments.
(4)Linda H.
Great foooooooooood!!!!!! You want more chili they'll give it to you..ginger too no problem!!!!! Great service and nice ladies!! Hainan Chicken is the best! FYI you gotta try their eggrolls! =)
(5)So K.
Love, love, love the food here. There is almost always a line with a 15-30 minute wait. There are a lot of people that order to go. They are small and have limited seating inside as well as an outside patio area. Go early and put your name down! My favorites are hainan chicken (of course), Chicken or Beef Curry Stew, Sausage and Pepper Pasta and we almost always start off with the Shrimp rolls. Yum!
(5)Alexson L.
Like the 1600+ yelp reviews before mine, the Hainan Chicken is a good find (doesn't quite match home-made Hainan Chicken, but could cure the craving). The restaurant is fairly small, but has comfortable outdoor seating. Service is typical of most Asian places (order your food, get it, and pay for it when you're done). Prices are affordable for decent-sized portions. If you're in the area, this is definitely a place to phone in a take-out lunch. Dining in probably isn't worth a crowd or a wait. CASH ONLY! and good luck with street parking.
(3)Ida C.
I got the chicken hainan with rice. It was good, but not that special. I guess I was expecting more? There was no wait for me because I came on a Tuesday. The customer service was alright. I will come back again though.
(4)Calvin Y.
Although the Hainan Chicken that appears on almost everyone's table is not as authentic in taste as you would find at more Southeast Asian cuisine specialized restaurants (i.e. Banana Bay in Rowland Heights); the pastas here are outstanding. The restaurant is small, a counter with maybe 5 barstools and a few small and large tables inside and out. But the service is quick and tables free up fast so don't get intimidated by the crowd outside the door. Absolutely loved the 'conch and prosciutto' pasta in the garlic, butter, and white wine sauce with angel hair (you pick either the garlic sauce or marinara, and the style of pasta). Comes with a side order of pizza bread ($2 on the menu) that goes great with the available olive oil and balsamic vinegar. The conch was plentiful in the dish and the sauce buttery and herby. We saw everyone holding either cups of the iced chrysantheum teas or iced cappuccinos. The tea was alright, taste familiar like the vitasoy kind. The cappuccino was good, strong in coffee flavor. This is a restaurant that we will definitely go back to try out the other menu items and its a good alternative to eating at the HK cafes in the area.
(5)Mako Y.
black pepper filet mignon, hainan chicken, seafood pasta! damnnnnn! i miss it already.
(4)Jazmin A.
I know the wait can be long depending on the day. It was a Wednesday night and I think we waited between 15-20 minutes. The wait is SO worth it though. I say this because of the baked halibut that they serve here. That dish alone will make you come back.
(5)Lisa V.
I've been coming here for years, but haven't written my review! I just love coming to this place. It's very cozy and homey and the food is just delicious every time. Just be aware that there might be a wait because this place is pretty tiny and you need to find street parking. I always get the Hainan Chicken and I noticed recently that they can substitute half rice and half salad. When I asked about it, they said they do offer that option but they charge an additional 75 cents. I love love love the rice and spicy chili sauce! I think the chicken is really moist and tender and the portions are very reasonable, but the rice is my favorite part :) If you like the spicy chili sauce or the ginger sauce, you could always buy some to take home as well. Next time I'm going to try the shrimp rolls!
(5)Wayne L.
I've tried so many places that has Hai Nam Chicken, but no one can beat this place yet. The only one that comes close is Dong Nguyen Restaurant located in the plaza with 168 Supermarket. I don't know how the other food taste because I always order the Hai Nam Chicken. I don't like to wait in line so I come after 8pm on a week night when it's slower and less crowded.
(5)Cherie T.
i have yet to find another good hainan chicken place. So for me.. this place is as good as it gets. The chickens are perfectly prepared, not dry at all. The rice is flavorful. And i like their hot sauce. And the shrimp rolls.. have you tried their shrimp rolls? i can eat those little things all day long as snacks. okay maybe not all day long, but they're good. Don't feel like eating chicken? try their beef stew curry.
(5)Sam Y.
I'm gonna make this clean, quick, and painless. Hainan chicken was OK, I don't know what all the fuss is about, my mom can make this no sweat. Place is dirty and and cramped and the bathroom is located in a small alley where you can get raped. In my opinion if you want better Hainan chicken you go to Banana Bay in Rowland Heights. Their sauce is amazing and they give you a soup with it. My absolute favorite.
(3)Ab L.
I've eaten here for 10 years and we always order the same thing. Hai nan chicken and chicken curry with white meat. If I feel adventurous I might ask for half salad and half rice. They know what they're doing.
(5)Lana N.
Decided to give this place another go, and MEH... even less impressed. Called-in my order to-go and it was ready for me upon arrival - neatly packaged and all. Got an order of their Yelp suggested Hainan Chicken and Shrimp Rolls, plus a chrysanthemum tea to-go. My favorite? The chrysanthemum tea. The chicken was moist and tender, the rice was flavorful... but all-together, it was just meh - not worth the high star appraisal nor the trouble to get - an A-OK at most. The shrimp rolls I decided to give a go for kicks, and well... that's all it is, for kicks. Something nice to munch on and wet your appetite, but really nothing extraordinary. The sauce was also quite lackluster. I think its safe to say this place is filled with hype... The food does have a nice home cooked feel - but my mother's home cooking is way better than this... P.S. CASH ONLY
(2)Christina C.
I LOVE Hainan Chicken rice. Having grown up in Australia where Singaporean cuisine is easily accessible, I was having a hard time finding places that sold decent Hainan Chicken rice. Savoy definitely hits the spot! :) I love how tender the chicken always is and the flavorful rice is the key! Just awesome. Only downside is the small venue. There's typically a little wait but most people finish quickly and leave. Definitely one of my must-haves in LA. :D
(5)