Shrimp with asparagus and walnuts at Yujean Kang's

It’s hard to believe that chef Yujean Kang has been cooking his elegant brand of Chinese food in Southern California for 20 years, but it’s true. He started his career as a restaurateur in the Bay Area, then moved to L.A., and finally found his real home in Old Pasadena. Kang’s sophisticated dishes, prepared with a French chef’s elegance and a Chinese gourmand’s sense of robust flavor, attract food lovers from all over. Don’t miss the wonton soup, the tea-smoked duck salad with black-bean sauce, the Chinese “polenta” with shrimp, mushrooms and scallions, and the stir-fried Blue Lake green beans. Kang is also an oenophile, and the wine list complements the menu, but it ain’t cheap. The prix-fixe lunch menus, however, are a great bargain at $8 to $10 for soup, Kang’s chicken salad and an entree. The good service, the quiet, white-tablecloth setting and the great lunch prices make it an excellent choice for a business meeting over tasty food that’s not like anything else in Pasadena.

67 N. Raymond Ave., Old Pasadena, 626.585.0855, yujeankangs.com. Chinese. L & D daily. Beer & wine. $$ – $$$