I hit the Auntie Qiu on Main St. Alhambra in the rain. My first time. So far its in my top 3 for shengjianbao. Chun juan also very strong, complete with hot spots of a little overdone spots where the filling has burst through, just like my Mom’s :). But the crepe – winner for me. I wish they did breakfast. ill be back soon for wonton noodle soup.
Bonus: The Ebisu Life Store has an impressive array of JP-market Band-Aids.
Genuine question: are the Japanese-market Band-Aids way better than what we normally get here?
yes
Oh yes. I’m a Japanese Band-aid evangelist.
Okay, I’m gonna have to look up Japanese Band Aids to see what makes them so amazing! 
They’re made in Japan. 'Nuff said…
Report back!
Hotpot at 2am? Happy AYCE Hotpot in Rosemead is now open until 4am. With plans to eventually be open 24/7.
Fantastic SJB (shengjianbao). Great call!
So much more flavor, juiciness and crunchiness than Kang Kang.
Liked them better than Min Min Pie House as well.
Scallion Noodles were quite tasty.
Egg Crepe was fine but not really in my wheelhouse.
What are your other (2) SJB favorites?
Kang Kang’s SJB is really quite unremarkable - I just don’t think it should serve as a reference point for SJB.
Try Shanghailander or No. 8 On The Bund also, if you’re so inclined to continue your voyage into SGV SJBology.
Which place has fantastic ones?
Dang! I so like Kang Kang SJB, though Alhambra has not been consistent for me. Much prefer the Temple City location. Maybe I’m grading on a curve since ive been eating them since I was 10.
I did not like Shanghailander’s but No 8 on the Bund definitely checks the box. I have liked almost everything at No 8.
See above! I had Prince Dumpling’s last night and thought they were more than competent. Soupy and fried/steamed well.
(Edit: I think Min Min’s strengths are northern/central style dumplings and baos. I didnt like their X- or SJB)
Also G6 on the Alhambra menu, bean curd wrap with vermicelli, was very very solid!
@hungryhungryhippos – I think he was referencing my post above.
I went for a lunch crepe today. This time with the cruller. Cmon!!!
They dont charge cards for tickets under $20. Ask you to Zelle a number. Bring cash if youre going in for a quickie
Would prob liken the crepe more with the cruller.
Crepe alone was hard to eat - FAF (floppy as fuck)
Auntie Qiu on Main St Alhambra
Jenn Harris is always popping-off about Kang Kang. They are not very good.
lol the entire food media universe is always popping off about Kang Kang after david chang mentioned them…
kang kang for SJB is like 101 noodle express for beef rolls - they were the only decent ones say, 15 years ago, mainly because no one else was making them yet, but 10 years ago, i would have gone across the street to then-flavor-garden-now-zui-xiang-yuan for a superior rendition.
they were more shui-jian-bao vs. traditional SJB but tasty noodle at the intersection of las tunas & mission (RIP) was one of my go-to’s before the pandemic. DSW (remember them?) sells them frozen to prepare at home; the trick is learning how much water to add to steam them to the right consistency after you’ve browned them - kinda like making jiao-tse.
recently opened prince dumpling is supposed to offer them, but i haven’t tried the place yet. haven’t tried them at 8 on the bund, but they seem to do everything well, so if they offer them i’d expect them to be pretty good, though it now occurs to me that XLB & SJB might be more like dim sum is to cantonese - the same ethnic origin, but different skill sets in terms of preparation requiring different staffs, though probably more so for XLB given how precise they need to be to get the right wrapping thickness without leaks, etc. since i’m pretty sure that jiang nan spring doesn’t offer them.
After following her for some time on insta I don’t really trust anything she says about food.She seems much more food influencer than food journalist.
I love that I know almost all of the acronym shorthand included in this post.
