Tai pho, a beef noodle soup, is served at Pho So 1 restaurant in Gardena. The restorative Vietnamese soup is radiantly light, greaseless and full of mineral tang. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)
The pork-radish cake at Ye May Restaurant in San Gabriel is steamed in a lotus leaf and is filled with bits of tasty pork wrapped in a chewy rice shell. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)
Youtiao, a Chinese take on doughnuts, are ultra-crisp pieces of bread meant to be dipped in steaming soy milk and other warm foods. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)
Sunset Siam restaurant in Los Angeles serves its youtiao with honey mayonnaise. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)
Sunset Siam’s hot tofu pudding in a ginger syrup makes for a healthful, comforting start to the day. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)
