Din Tai Fung

Chinese · Alhambra · $

San Gabriel Valley noodle shop specializing in handmade noodles and its cult-favorite crisp, savory beef roll.

Chinese · Alhambra · $$

Household-name Sichuan spot for tingly Chengdu classics. (San Gabriel Valley)

Chinese · Alhambra · $$

Acclaimed San Gabriel Valley restaurant specializing in the rustic home-style cooking of Sichuan province with bold, tongue-numbing flavors.

Seafood · Arcata · $$

Arcata's polished seafood spot near the plaza — first-rate chowder, fish tacos, and salmon specials in a bright, comfortable room with outdoor seating. The best sit-down fish meal on the north end of the redwood corridor.

Bakery & Pie · Arcata · $

Cozy pie shop and local cider bar doing savory pot pies, hand pies, and sweet slices — with real vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options. Hand pies travel perfectly into the parks.

Gastropub · Arcata · $$

Arcata pub plates and local beer for redwoods travelers who want a real town meal after the Avenue of the Giants corridor.