Small City Lets Big Charms Out of Starting Gate

Los Alamitos is a small town in a big county. It may encompass only 4.3 square miles, but don’t let its size fool you. This tiny town has a lot to offer.

Chances are you’ve buzzed past Los Alamitos dozens of times without even realizing it. It’s easy to do. After all, it’s tucked between the Garden Grove, San Diego and San Gabriel River freeways.

Perhaps you’ve driven through Los Alamitos on your way to see the ponies at the Los Alamitos Race Course, which is in neighboring Cypress.

It’s time to stop.

Los Alamitos offers the best of two worlds. It has small-town charms and big-city conveniences. Turn off the freeway and take the time to see this city. It may have a few things that you hadn’t expected.

As You Like It

Amateur chefs and lovers of Italian food will think they’ve arrived in paradise at Al Dente Fine Italian Foods (11092 Los Alamitos Blvd.; [562] 598-1124; Tuesday-Thursday, 9:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m.; Saturday, 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; Sunday, noon-4 p.m.).

As you make your way through the cramped store, you’ll see shoulder-high chrome racks overflowing with goodies. Need some olive oil for that special dish? Al Dente has 46 kinds, all imported from Italy.

“For a little store, we have a super collection of olive oils,” owner Sidney Silvi said.

You may need pasta to accompany that bottle of oil. The staff makes it on-site daily. Silvi estimates her tiny shop produces 40 pounds of pasta a day, from manicotti and sheets of dough for lasagna. There are also stuffed shells and zesty sauces for sale.

The store is in its 19th year, and loyal customers who have moved out of the area have been known to travel long distances to return.

“Over the years, we have became a destination. We pull a lot of people [from] out of the area,” Silvi said.

A couple of regulars come from Santa Clarita every six to eight weeks and load up.

Silvi credits the Zagat Survey with bringing in a lot of customers. The respected guidebook awarded her store a “very good” rating. Those quoted in the survey called Al Dente “the best Italian market around” and “worth the drive.”

More Eats

After your pasta stop, you may want to pick up beef or poultry at Los Alamitos Kosher Meat and Poultry (11196 Los Alamitos Blvd.; [562] 594-4609; Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; Friday, 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.; Sunday, 8:30 p.m.-3 p.m.)

The store was established 13 years ago and is one of Orange County’s few kosher butcher shops. It’s sanctioned by the Kosher Supervisors of America.

Employees can serve you in one of four languages: English, Spanish, Russian and Farsi.

If shopping for groceries has made you hungry, you can grab a bite at Charo Chicken (11105 Los Alamitos Blvd.; [562] 598-7979; 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m. daily). The Orange County-based restaurant chain has six eateries, five of them in Orange County and one in Long Beach.

The staff at the quick-service restaurant flame-broils the chicken to maintain its moistness, sprays it with lemon garlic butter and then adds a touch of paprika.

You can’t go wrong with any of the chicken combo plates ($4.49-$6.49). You’ll get a generous portion of chicken, four tortillas, fresh salsa and two side dishes. If you are in the mood for a salad, the Charo salad ($5.49) is also recommended, but it isn’t for the faint of heart. Lettuce, shredded chicken, beans, sour cream and guacamole are piled high.

Walk to the Past

You can take a short walk across the street and learn about the history of the city at the Los Alamitos Historical Museum (11062 Los Alamitos Blvd.; [562] 431-5306; Tuesday and Sunday, 2-4 p.m.) The one-room brick structure was built in 1947 by volunteer firefighters and served as the home to the city’s fire station until it was converted into a museum nearly 20 years ago. It holds photos and memorabilia dating to the 1900s.

Faded pictures of early area churches and the old sugar beet factory are on display. Sidney Gordon, a museum board member for 17 years, says the oldest picture on display is from 1886. You can also see who is in the Los Alamitos hall of fame.

Among the items on display are a handwritten note from Walt Disney to Clair Weeks, a former Los Alamitos resident and Disney animator who worked on “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” “Bambi,” and “Cinderella.”

You can also learn about 1985 Los Alamitos High graduates Tony and Tom Bancroft. The brothers worked on Disney’s “Mulan.”

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IF YOU GO

* Getting There: From the San Gabriel River Freeway, get off at Katella Avenue and head east to Los Alamitos Boulevard. Turn south and drive one block.

* Interesting Fact: Of Los Alamitos’ 4.3 square miles, roughly half is taken by the Armed Forces Reserve Center.

Los Alamitos

1. Charo Chicken

11105 Los Alamitos Blvd.

(562) 598-7979

2. Los Alamitos Historical Museum

11062 Los Alamitos Blvd.

(562) 431-5306

3. Al Dente Fine Italian Foods

11092 Los Alamitos Blvd.

(562) 598-1124

4. Los Alamitos Kosher Meat and Poultry

11196 Los Alamitos Blvd.

(562) 594-4609