Old Country Cafe @ Alhambra

Back in my school days, there was an outhouse of a sandwich stand that sold foot-long Hoagies for $1.50. Stuffed with thick cucumber sticks and doused with wholesale Italian dressing they were far from refined, but the price was enough to form a line down the street.

We lovingly named it "buck-fitty" as in, "Hey, let's head over to 'buck-fitty' for lunch!" But as the years went by and popularity grew, the owners thought it'd be a good idea to raise the price a dollar or two ... or three. Of course, they were completely wrong and lost a considerable amount of business. Are they still around? I don't know. I actually don't even care.

I hope not the same fate for Old Country Cafe, a charming Taiwanese hole-in-the-wall that's steadfast with its 1990s prices. Two girlfriends and I had dinner there over the weekend and when the bill came out I had to slap myself to make sure I was awake. The total?: $12.80.

And it's not just cheap, it's good. Overlook the grease and you might even think it's nutritious. Come Friday afternoon at work, I find myself craving their fried chicken over rice ($4.85), accompanied by various pickled vegetables and a boiled tea egg. And there's an added bonus of seasoned minced pork that rests somewhere between the rice and chicken. In my more health-conscious moments, I default to their minced chicken bowl which amounts to a whopping $3.60. (See above)

The cafe also offers an assortment of small vegetable dishes most of which are very foreign to my Japanese palate. Visiting Taiwan a few years ago, I remember catching a whiff of stinky tofu from a block away. Needless to say, I decided it wasn't for me and ran in the opposite direction.

If you're still a boba sipper, Old Country is for you. Unlimited refills with not only tapioca balls but custard pudding. Hopefully you're okay with the caffeine rush. I'm sure not.

Old Country Cafe
2 E. Valley Blvd.
Alhambra, CA 91801
(626) 284-4610

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