"Best" Dumplings in the SGV?

Americas - USA West Los Angeles
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Full disclosure, this is hopefully for an article (yay me?, we’ll see). I’m reluctant to even ask 'cos, well, you know (and I’ll have a long-overdue take on that later, if it comes up :wink:)

Despite not being in the SGV remotely as often as I was when it was my main focus/beat, I still have old favorites, and pay attention to new ones. I’ve done research, and am just putting it out there to see if there’s anything I’ve missed. Look at it as corroborative.

There’s likely not much I’m not already aware of, but asking a few specifics…

Best beef dumplings? (this used to be Kingburg Kitchen, but now?)

Best lamb/mutton dumplings? I know to look for Uyghur/Northwestern places, but who/where specifically?

Best chicken dumplings? (calling @chandavkl :slightly_smiling_face:)

Best pan-fried dumplings with the skirt? These are always a good photo op. I recall some of these from Happy Noodle in Temple City. I’m more of a boiled dumpling guy, so… yeah, yeah, I know, it’s a weak personality trait of mine. Please try to overlook it :slightly_smiling_face:

Any exceptional QPR dumplings? Maybe not the highest level, but close, and good bargain? That might be worth including.

Any unusual, off-beat or very unique dumplings? I’ve looked, and I don’t see much out there. I mean, I’m not expecting the likes of the sea intestine dumplings once served at a Shandong-style place, but…anything? Bueller? Bueller?

Did I ask enough questions? What do I mean by what? What do I mean by mean? :slightly_smiling_face:

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Oh, and if that wasn’t enough…

Best shrimp, crab, etc. (sorry, I’m not much of a shellfish guy)

Best vegetarian/vegetable?

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The trouble, as you know is the turnover of restaurants. Here today, gone tomorrow. Beef dumplings are scarce. They do have them at Sunny Dumpling House in Rowland Heights and Walnut, which is probably the best dumpling place in the SGV. Do the flat dumplings at Hui Tou Xiang count? Right now my favorite beef dumpling is Mom Wong on the Cal State Channel Islands campus, would you believe. My favorite chicken dumplings were at Mason’s in Pasadena, but they shut down. The original Highland Park branch is still open so hopefully they’re the same at that location.

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It’s been years since I been but at Happy Noodle in Temple City there is a steamed veg dumpling with zucchini (xi hulu) that is so good. Instead of typical filling of mushroom/carrot/glass noodle/tofu. The dumplings I believe are actually made by a local SGV auntie.

The best honestly is probably some word of mouth operation handmade by some po po or ai yi. Facebook?

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HLP resident here and the local Mason’s has been emphatically and sadly not good on multiple visits. We stopped trying about a year ago.

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Actually a good new place is Bao Master in Alhambra, built in a new complex where the Alhambra Farmer’s Market used to be. They have interesting things like wagyu beef buns and slurry potstickers, including chicken.

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How do you even hear about such places??? :slight_smile:

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Every new Chinese restaurant does this on Grand Opening:

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@JeetKuneBao Oh yeah, I’ve been around long enough to know that no restaurant compares to nainai or 阿姨 :slightly_smiling_face: I notice Happy Noodle has/had on their menu “Steamed Dumpling w/Squash.” I assume that’s it? Sounds great. Thanks :+1:

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I can’t speak for all of sgv because I don’t live there and don’t go often. But the new iteration of Beijing pie house makes an excellent lamb with squash and lamb with green onion dumpling. Definitely worth visiting they explode with juice.

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Ha ha. Thanks. Made me go to the kitchen window to be sure it still said Hollywood.

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Actually there was quite a bit of buzz (don’t remember where) when they opened up because of the improbable location in Camarillo (aside from the fact that it was on a college campus). But not getting out that way much anymore, it took me a while to actually try it. And indeed, being on campus, I literally drove in circles for a while before finding it, even with Google Maps.

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That’s it! Give it a try!

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Jin Hai Pie House was on my list :+1: They have great variety, and especially the lamb, with either the squash or green onion.

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Maybe you can clear up the whole name issue too I think they reverted back to Beijing at some point.

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Yes it’s Beijing again after showing marked improvement.

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Do you know if they are related to the original owners or just took the name?

The couple times I’ve been it clearly seems to be a family operation with a father, mother and I think two children?

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Beijing Pie House sold to new owners in 2020 who renamed it Jin Hai Pie House, so the name was not part of the deal. I don’t know if the recipes were included but Jin Hai was awful. But then the food eventually improved and then the old name came back. That’s all I know.

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