Lulala Lemon Tea brings a unique pairing to San Gabriel with perfume lemon tea and Changsha-style stinky tofu under one roof. Opened by Shanghai native Dia Zhao and Changsha-born Chris Wang, the shop specializes in citrus-forward drinks made with Xiangshui (perfume) lemons and fragrant oolong teas, including the cheekily named “duck shit” tea, a honeyed Phoenix oolong with a misleading name and a cult following.
The lemons, brushed to release their oils and crushed by hand, add a floral punch to drinks blended with jasmine, black tea, or oolong. On the savory side, Wang’s stinky tofu is handmade from scratch using fresh soybeans, then fermented in a brine of black soybeans, herbs, and winter melon before being double-fried to a crispy black crust. Topped with spicy chile sauce, garlic, and pickled vegetables, it’s a bold, street-style snack rarely done with such care in LA.
Wonho Frank Lee