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Fire crews had to contend with temperatures in the mid-80s and steep, rocky terrain on Monday as they battled a wildfire north of Arcadia in Angeles National Forest. The fire was fully contained by early evening.

The blaze, 100% contained by 6 p.m., burned 5.8 acres in the Santa Anita Canyon area, the U.S. Forest Service said Monday night. Ground crews from the Forest Service, the Los Angeles County Fire Department and the Arcadia Fire Department responded to the fire when it was first reported Sunday around 4 p.m.

A second fire within Angeles National Forest broke out around 2:30 p.m. Monday north of Tujunga in the area of Vogel and Big Tujunga Canyon roads. Forward progress of the fire was stopped by 4:15 p.m., with the burn area contained to under an acre, forest officials said.

Overnight, helicopters battling the blaze north of Arcadia dropped water on hot spots in what is being called the Chantry fire.

The fire burned in the footprint of 2020’s Bobcat fire, which scorched roughly 115,000 acres between the San Gabriel and Antelope valleys. Nearly a hundred homes were destroyed in the fire, which may have been sparked by downed power lines.

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Roughly 200 firefighters responded to the blaze, and a fire warning was in effect Sunday for recreational cabins and several other buildings in the forest, but that warning was lifted by Monday morning, officials said.

One firefighter received a minor injury, said John Miller with the National Forest Service.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Officials remind people that fireworks — even sparklers — are not allowed in the forest. Wood and charcoal fires are allowed only in designated campfire rings in campgrounds or on Forest Service-provided grills.

Temperatures on Monday peaked in the mid-80s and the humidity remained above 50%, said meteorologist Ryan Kittell with the National Weather Service office in Oxnard.

Sustained winds in the area were expected to reach 5 to 10 mph, with brief gusts peaking at 15 mph, Kittell said.

The vegetation in the area is caught between the transition of the wet and dry months, Kittell said. Some areas are still wet from the rains earlier this year, while other areas are already starting to dry.

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“Once we get into August,” Kittell said, “that’s when the fuels are ready to burn.”

The Arcadia Unified School District has been named the Best School District in all of Los Angeles, fourth Best School District in California, and is in the top 40 Best School Districts in the U.S., according to Niche’s newly released 2024 rankings. These rankings have also seen Arcadia Unified listed as LA County’s second best place to teach and ranked fifth among districts with the best teachers, earning an overall A+ grade and honors as an elite school district in the nation.

“As a parent, resident, and school board president in Arcadia Unified, I am so grateful to see the collective and inspiring efforts of everyone from all areas of our district celebrated through this humbling distinction,” Arcadia Unified’s 2023-24 Board of Education President Shirley Yee said.

After a rigorous analysis of comprehensive data sets for nearly 100 school districts in the Los Angeles area, over 500 districts in California, and almost 11,000 public school districts across the country, Niche, a prominent school and neighborhood review website, found that Arcadia Unified is continuing to make the grade, achieving an overall A+ score and A grades in the categories of academics, teachers, clubs and activities, college prep, resources and facilities, and administration.

“Earning a spot at the top in rankings like this is a direct reflection of the unparalleled dedication of our educators, staff, counselors, parents, administrators, and community members, who partner with one another every day to ensure our students have access to a world-class learning experience that places mental health and wellness at the forefront and includes ample opportunities for engagement in the arts, athletics, and activities to help create well-rounded, lifelong learners.”

In addition to its detailed data analysis, Niche parses over 100 million reviews and survey responses to reach its annual rankings.

“We recently started the exciting and in-depth process of creating a new Facilities Master Plan,” Arcadia Unified Superintendent Dr. David Vannasdall shared.

“It’s distinctions like this that fuel the fire for this important work by reminding us that to build our future with the leaders our world needs, we need to ensure our buildings, campuses, and facilities are state-of-the-art, safe, innovative spaces that match the top-tier teaching and learning happening across every single one of our campuses. Arcadia Unified being named the best school district in the greater Los Angeles area is incredible, and then to think Arcadia Unified is one of the best school districts in the country, ranked in the top 40 out of thousands of excellent districts, I’m just so proud of our entire community.”

On top of its noteworthy Niche recognition, all six of Arcadia Unified’s elementary schools and its alternative learning program, Rancho Learning Center, earned concurrent recognition by the California Department of Education as 2023 California Distinguished Schools. Arcadia Unified’s Foothills Middle School was also honored by the U.S. Department of Education in 2023 as a National Blue Ribbon School. Likewise, the district’s comprehensive high school, Arcadia High, saw its Class of 2023 achieve a 100% graduation rate.

Michael Desplaines is the new chief executive officer of the Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden, it was announced on Tuesday, May 23.

Desplaines, with more than two decades of experience in historic property development and restoration, public garden management, environmental education and fundraising, will begin his new role in July at the 127-acre Arcadia arboretum and botanical garden, which is part of the County of L.A.’s Department of Parks & Recreation.

“Michael brings a passion to connect people to nature, especially the young, so that they become advocates of public gardens and green spaces for future generations and our planet,” Annette Castro Ramirez, president of the Los Angeles Arboretum Foundation Board of Trustees, said in a statement announcing the selection. “We look forward to Michael working with our dedicated community of stakeholders to further enhance our beautiful gardens, programs, and historic resources. He will be opening new chapters in the rich history of the Arboretum and positioning us for great success into the future.”

Desplaines’ predecessor was Richard Schulhof, who in February announced his retirement this spring after 14 years as CEO.

The new CEO will run a hub that is home to plant collections from all over the world as well as a beloved animal sanctuary. Throughout the property visitors can find historical landmarks that feature Native American, Rancho Period and late 19th century treasures like the famous Queen Anne Cottage.

Desplaines joins the Los Angeles site as it begins moves forward on a Five-Year Strategic Plan (2023-2028) aimed to, “deepen connection with communities; increase equity and access to innovative park space; provide stewardship of public lands, resources, and urban forestry; support staff; and advance organizational excellence.”

Desplaines previously served as the president and CEO of the Norfolk Botanical Garden in Virginia, where he is credited with increasing annual attendance from less than 300,000 to more than 500,000 visitors while doubling the operating budget from $4 million to over $8 million.

“We are excited to welcome Michael as the CEO of the Arboretum,” said Supervisor Kathryn Barger, whose district includes the site. “He has an impressive track record of leadership and extensive expertise in the horticulture and environmental education sectors. Michael’s leadership will build on the Arboretum’s success and ensure this oasis is here for generations to come.”

Desplaines also served as the executive director of Castle in the Clouds, a historic property in New Hampshire, and held leadership positions at McLaughlin Garden & Homestead in Maine and Cranston Public Schools in Rhode Island.

“We are thrilled to introduce Michael as the new CEO of the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden,” said Norma Edith García-González, director of the Department of Parks and Recreation. “His extensive experience in horticulture, conservation, and the environment will advance the Arboretum as a blooming and living educational and cultural resource connecting community with nature.”

Desplaines holds a bachelor’s degree in horticulture from the University of Rhode Island and a master’s in historic preservation from Plymouth State University.

“As LA County Parks addresses climate change impact, Michael’s leadership will continue to inspire and engage Arboretum visitors to be active stewards of our environment and further our commitment to access and equity,” added García-González.

TheThe Leon family knew within the first week of opening their Peruvian Chinese restaurant Chifa in late 2020 that a sophomore effort was in the cards. Though no one in the family was especially well-versed in food service or hospitality, the tenacious squad that includes Humberto Leon, the co-founder of fashion brand Opening Ceremony; his mother, Wendy Leon; sister, Ricardina Leon; and brother-in-law, John Liu; navigated pandemic-related hurdles and ultimately found success. Now they’re ready to do it all over again with Monarch, which opens on South Baldwin Avenue in Arcadia on Saturday, January 14.

While Chifa draws inspiration from the family’s first restaurant in Lima that Wendy opened in 1975 with her Peruvian husband, Ricardo José Leon, Monarch takes its culinary cues from Hong Kong, where the family’s history also stretches. (Originally from China’s Tongshan County, Wendy was sent to the former British colony to work as a maid and cook at age 8.)

The celestial dining room, awash in pale blues and scalloped edges, was designed by Humberto Leon with architect Michael Loverich.

The restaurant’s location in the San Gabriel Valley also holds important meaning for the family. The Leons initially landed in Highland Park upon immigrating from Peru in 1977 and settled in Rosemead in 1985. “Seeing this Asian community develop alongside this incredible Latin community, there’s just so much richness in the San Gabriel Valley,” says Humberto. “In many ways, it’s hometown pride that we have coming back to Arcadia.”

The restaurant and bar were designed by Humberto alongside architect Michael Loverich. The celestial dining room, awash in pale blues and scalloped edges, seats up to 125. Humberto says that traditional Chinese banquet hall aesthetics, along with a fascination with deities and a personal theory that butterflies can float between worlds, influenced Monarch’s interior design. While the ceiling’s ornate lighting fixtures and robust columns give the space the feel of a formal Chinese restaurant, Monarch’s wallpaper, dinnerware, and artwork — which includes a waterfall mosaic made of hand-painted glass beads by artist Charlie Mai — are thoroughly contemporary.

“Chinese restaurants have a history of being family celebration spaces, so we really want a space where you can celebrate all occasions,” says Humberto. “If you feel like dressing up and wearing heels, you absolutely can. You can also come in sneakers and casual [attire] and feel equally right at home.”

While Monarch bills itself as a Hong Kong-style restaurant, don’t expect to find standard dishes and presentations. Liu’s menu promises to be familiar for those knowledgeable of the Cantonese canon, yet different enough to keep things interesting. “Knowing the techniques gives you room to really push the boundaries,” says Humberto. “There are some classic dishes but the way chef John prepares it gives this kind of interesting twist on what that tradition could be.”

Take, for instance, the Hong Kong cafe staple baked pork chop rice. Under Liu’s care, a pan-seared pork cutlet is served over fried rice with tomato sauce and topped with Gruyere cheese. In a similar fashion, wok-tossed lobster tails get a crush of black pepper usually reserved for steaks. Humberto is most excited about Liu’s spin on dim sum-style panfried turnip cakes made with beets, and a silken steamed egg prepared with fish liver and finished with salmon roe or sea urchin. “I just don’t think people talk enough about Hong Kong cuisine where there is this Western element within Chinese food,” he says. Rounding out the menu are a few specials that originated at Chifa, including the chef’s signature Taiwanese beef noodle soup and a fried rice collaboration with Solange Knowles.

While the menu is firmly rooted in Chinese cooking, the portion sizes reflect the greater trend of small-plate dining ubiquitous throughout Los Angeles. Humberto suggests ordering two to three dishes for a party of two and five to six dishes for a party of four. “Sometimes when you go to Chinese restaurants, the portions are so large they become overwhelming,” he says. “We’re being more cognizant about the ingredients and making sure that you get a delicious meal, but that you can also have variety.”

The theme of Chinese classics done up with a modern flare continues to the full bar serving wine, beer, and cocktails. “How can we bring our Chinese culture into drinks? We try to make cocktails that are less sweet,” says Humberto. “We are definitely bringing some teas and fruits that are particularly Asian, and working with AAPI liquor specialists [Vervet and Sông Cái].” Highlights from the list include the Jade cocktail made with orange liqueur, mint, and rum, and the Hawthorne cocktail with grapefruit, hawthorn berry, and tequila. Monarch’s spin on an Old Fashioned includes sesame oil-washed bourbon, sesame seeds, and orange.

“I think that celebrations of any sort are always the hallmark to happiness and positivity and it’s a way to say how excited you are to be alive and together with people that you love,” says Humberto. “I want Monarch to be that space where you can really share love and joy, and there’s nothing better to show that than through food.”

Monarch is open from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday through Sunday.

Crab Sweet Corn Soup 15

Hong Kong style puree corn, cream, crab

Black Garlic Soup 13

simmered sweet black garlic and pork soup

Beet Cake* 13

steamed and pan fried shredded beet cake with lap cheong and dried scallop

Filet Mignon Tartare

Westholme Australian Wagyu filet mignon

pickled snow cabbage, chili crisp and quail egg

29

Roe

caviar (30g of CA White Sturgeon) + quail egg

120

Silken Steamed Egg 19

delicate steamed egg with

monkfish liver

add Uni +11

Decadent Spiced Okra (V) 15

wok stir-fried okra in a Szechuan spice

Celery & Red Chidori Kale (V) 19

simple wok tossed celery and kale with fresh garlic

Sweet & Sour Pork 21

crispy fried pork with

Popo’s sweet & sour

sauce, onions and kiwi

Trinity Fried Rice* 21

garlic, ginger, scallion trinity fried rice with egg, shirmp and fish roe

Na’s Chicken Salad 17

shredded

free range

chicken with Chinese spices and fried chicken skin

Black Pepper Lobster Tail 51

whole lobster tail wok tossed in sweet and spicy black pepper sauce

Steamed Seabass Olive Tapenade 31

slow steamed chilean seabass topped with Chinese pickled

olive tapenade

Slippery Egg Crab Fried Fun* 21

Cantonese wok fried rice noodle with egg,

crab and salmon roe

add Uni +11

Addicting Curry Noodle* 37

fragrant and spicy curry squid ink noodle with scallop, calamari and shrimp

Braised Curry Lamb Shank 31

tender braised lamb shank in

fragrant

tomato curry with cauliflower puree

Dad’s Beef Noodle 33

Westholme Australian Wagyu brisket

, slow simmered beef and chicken soup with noodles

Monarch Bolognese 27

simmered pork and tomato ragu with Chinese egg noodle

Braised Short Rib & Tendon 25

Westholme Australian Wagyu short rib

and tendon, slow briased served with daikon

Baked Pork Chop Rice* 25

pan-seared pork cutlet over garlic fried rice, tomato sauce, topped and baked with

gruyere cheese

Housemade Chili Oil (2oz) 2Tomahawk (32oz) 253Ribeye (16oz) 183New York Strip (12oz) 95Filet Mignon (8oz) 53Select 1 Sauce:

Black Pepper Cognac au Poivre Roasted Garlic Red Wine Reduction Cucho Sauce

All 3 Sauces +17

(V) = Vegan (VG)= Vegetarian *Can Be Made Vegetarian

Dessert

Walnut Tong Sui 13

fresh ground walnut sweet soup with sesame rice ball

Wonton Cannoli 7

fried wonton chocolate lined cone with creamy chestnut paste

Flouring LA Black Sesame Brownie

(Exclusive)

13

black sesame

meringue

fudge brownie

White Pepper

(Exclusive)

(V) 9

handcrafted creamy white pepper oatmilk ice cream

Red Bean Swirl

(Exclusive)

9

handcrafted condensed milk ice cream with whole azuki red bean

Metamorphosis (V) 9

handcrafted butterfly pea coconut milk ice cream with dark chocolate bits and shaved coconut

Signature CocktailsBeerSake

Lychee Butterfly* 15

indigo gin, lychee, pomegranate vinegar, anise spritz

The Jade 17

rum, mint, lime, orange liquer

The Hawthorne* 15

tequila, hawthorne berry, ruby grapefruit

Sesame Old Fashioned 17

seasame oil washed bourbon, sesame seeds, orange

Morpho* 13

vodka, aloe honey, cucumber, citrus

Taiwan Beer 7Orion 7Sake High 11/35Organic Nama Sake 19 Katsuyama Ken Sake 41

*Mocktail Available with Optimist Botanicals

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Monarch

1212 South Baldwin Avenue, Arcadia, CA 91007 Visit Website

L.A. TACO is embarking on its biggest mission yet: to create a reliable taco and food guide for every neighborhood in Los Angeles! Along the way, we will also be releasing brief histories of each neighborhood to understand L.A. a little more and why each and every neighborhood makes our fine city unique. Check out the rest of our history and food guides on our neighborhood page.

Arcadia is a special place. Wild peacocks passively stroll through its neighborhoods, overflowing from the massive arboretum. Rows of jacaranda trees rain purple flowers in the spring. There’s a spectacular view of the San Gabriel mountains at any point in the city, with an abundance of hiking trails.

It’s not just the nature. Arcadia is home to one of the largest populations of Asians and Asian Americans within Los Angeles county, and this demographic reflects in its food. It’s easy to find robust beef noodle soup, Taiwanese comfort foods, bubbling hot pots, and endless supplies of boba milk tea within the city’s ten-mile radius. And, of course, it wouldn’t be a city in Southern California without tacos, too. Here are some of our favorite spots.

Newcomer Sushi Kisen took over the original Din Tai Fung location in Arcadia back in 2022 and is a welcome addition to the neighborhood thanks to its incredibly fresh fish and expertly executed rolls. Executive chef Hiro Yamada is an alum of Little Tokyo’s Sushi Gen and Shiki Beverly Hills and brings a wealth of experience. Whether opting for omakase at the bar or selecting dinner sets complete with miso soup and tsukemono, the attention to detail and balance of flavors is available in every bite. Drinks include a lengthy selection of sake, plum wines, and shochu.

1108 S. Baldwin Ave, 91007. Closest Metro lines and stop: Bus Line 268 - “Baldwin/Duarte" or Bus Line 179 - "Huntington/Baldwin."

Eating at Taco Lita is a rite of passage for Arcadia High School students. This unfussy institution down the road from school has been serving up American-style crispy tacos and massive burritos since 1967, alongside its cult-loved taco sauce. It’s a classic haunt for any Arcadian on a budget, including the alleged ghost that lives in its bathroom.

120 E. Duarte Rd, 91006. Closest Metro line and stop: Bus Line 287 - “Santa Anita/Duarte.”

As their name suggests, Lanzhou Beef Noodle specializes in hand-pulled noodles drowned in their signature beef stock. Each bowl of their signature beef noodle soup is loaded with thin slices of beef, fiery chili oil, diced green onions, and cilantro. There are eight types of noodles to choose from, from thin strands of angel hair to noodles streaked with chives (we are partial to the wide flat noodles, which have a satisfying level of chewiness). Beyond noodles, Lanzhou’s addition of tea eggs smashed cucumber salads, and spicy sheets of tofu skin make for ideal sides. And after all the heat, a taro milk tea is an excellent method of cooling your palate.

411 E. Huntington Dr., Suite 102, 91006. Closest Metro lines and stop: Metro A Line or Bus Lines 179 and 287 - “Arcadia Station.”

Tucked away inside H-mart’s food court sits Kazu Mori, where you’ll find the best katsu in Arcadia. Whether you’re a fan of chicken, pork, or impossibly gooey cheese katsu, Kazu Mori has it all. You can eat your fried proteins with curry or a version of Bulldog sauce, and each order comes with a shaved cabbage salad and miso soup. The best part is how economical this spot is; one order is easily large enough for two meals.

1101 W. Huntington Dr, 91007. Closest Metro lines and stop: Bus Lines 179 or 267 - “Huntington/Sunset.”

The noodles at Menya Hanabi are unlike any other bowls of ramen you’ll find across LA. Their mazesoba—or soupless noodles—hail from Nagoya, Japan, and feature sharp green onions and chives, chewy noodles, spicy minced pork, and shredded seaweed tossed in an intensely creamy umami-forward sauce. The noodles are finished with a soft-boiled egg and intended to be stirred vigorously so each bite contains every element of the dish before devouring.

733 W. Naomi Ave, Suite K, 91007. Closest Metro lines and stop: Bus Line 268 - “Baldwin/Duarte" or Bus Line 179 - "Huntington/Baldwin."

For Taiwanese comfort food, SinBala can’t be beaten. Whether opting for a snack, like popcorn chicken and fried fish cakes, or full meals of pork chop and sausage rice or beef noodle soup, SinBala’s food tastes like it was crafted straight from the island nation. Milk teas and shaved ice make for a refreshing dessert.

651 W. Duarte Rd, 91007. Closest Metro lines and stop: Bus Line 268 - “Baldwin/Duarte" or Bus Line 179 - "Huntington/Baldwin."

A meal at Young Dong starts good—small plates of banchan and their crispy mung bean pancake is hastily dished out with every order—and only gets better. The namesake soft tofu soup, or soondubu, arrives boiling hot with options of beef, kimchi, seafood, and more. To round out the meal, opt for grilled short rib, bibimbap, or japchae.

1311 S. Baldwin Ave, 91007. Closest Metro lines and stop: Bus Line 268 - “Baldwin/Duarte" or Bus Line 179 - "Huntington/Baldwin."

Once upon a time, Sesame Grill was a French-influenced fusion restaurant with impeccable chilled calamari and an incredibly affordable three-course meal deal. During the pandemic, the owners behind the decades-old restaurant were forced to pivot. Now, Sesame Grill specializes in hot chicken tenders and an assortment of pasta dishes. I can’t tell which version of the restaurant I prefer; whether they’re whipping up French classics or fast-food favorites, Sesame Grill does it well.

308 E. Huntington Dr, 91006. Closest Metro lines and stop: Metro A Line or Bus Lines 179 and 287 - “Arcadia Station.”

Arcadia is home to many excellent hot pot choices, but Shabu Lin is a favorite for their all-you-can-eat option. Lunch clocks in at $23.99 per person while dinner is $33.99. The price includes nine different protein options that range from lamb to fish to thin slivers of pork belly as well as eight different broth choices. A selection of condiments is available for customizing dips while unlimited vegetables, noodles, and seafood are replenished at an attached bar. Limitless sliced fruit is ideal for finishing the meal.

101 S. 1st Ave, 91006. Closest Metro lines and stop: Metro A Line or Bus Lines 179 and 287 - “Arcadia Station.”

Moffett’s opened their doors in 1975 and has provided Arcadia’s community with comforting chicken and beef pot pies for over four decades. The interior remains like a vintage diner, with bar and booth seating and checkerboard wallpaper trimmed with illustrated chickens. While you can dine in—and get bread pudding or a slice of apple pie if you do so—there’s also a case of unbaked pies to take home.

1409 S. Baldwin Ave, 91007. Closest Metro lines and stop: Bus Line 268 - “Baldwin/Camino Real" or Bus Line 179 - "Huntington/Baldwin."

Villa Catrina brings a taste of Jalisco to Arcadia with an expansive menu of soups, enchiladas, tacos, and more—even the hard-to-find regional Jalisquillo dish of carne en su jugo (thinly sliced beef stewed in a tomatillo broth with beans). The highlight is an all-you-can-eat Sunday brunch, which rings in at $25 per person and includes a taco bar, made-to-order omelets, menudo and pozole, and three glasses of mimosas; perfect for celebrating a special occasion with the entire family. Fresh handmade corn tortillas are constantly being churned out, perfect for enveloping hot plates of chorizo and barbacoa. If there’s room for dessert, the flan is worth every custardy bite.

251 N. Santa Anita Ave, 91006. Closest Metro lines and stop: Metro A Line or Bus Lines 179 and 287 - “Arcadia Station.”