Crowd-pleasing American Chinese with generous portions, strong service, and a lively bar; prices run mid-to-high but value holds if sharing family-style.
New Moon delivers solid A-grade performance through exceptional food quality and outstanding service attentiveness, making it competitive with the area's better neighborhood restaurants. Consistency shows minor variation and the pleasant suburban setting lacks destination appeal, preventing the higher distinction needed for grade A territory. Strong loyalty and group-friendly execution make it a reliable choice for family-style dining.
The room feels warm and bustling, with a lively bar and a patio that fills on pleasant evenings. Staff come off genuinely attentive, steering groups through family-style ordering. One diner summed it up: "Big flavors, bigger portions, and the team seems to anticipate needs." The cooking leans elevated American Chinese: crispy orange chicken, kung pao, Mongolian beef, and delicate Cantonese-style steamed fish. It is not a regional purist spot, but flavors are well-balanced and meats stay tender. Sharing a few mains and an appetizer or two is the sweet spot for value and variety. For families, this is very approachable. Kids gravitate toward orange chicken, fried rice, pot stickers, and noodles; portions are generous and leftovers travel well. There is no explicit kids menu noted, but the core dishes are familiar and crowd-pleasing.
Area vibe: Suburban Montrose near Glendale; relaxed small-town main-street feel with families and date-night diners.
Safety: Generally safe and walkable; occasional parking stress reported during peak hours.
What's nearby: Close to Descanso Gardens and Pasadena; mix of boutiques, bars, and neighborhood services.
Order a couple of apps and share mains like the Honey Glazed Chicken ($25) and Cantonese Steamed Fish ($27) for the best experience
Expect a warm, bustling room with a lively bar and a popular heated patio