R.I.P. Monterey Park's Dumpling Master?

[css210]

I tried to go to Dumpling Master on Atlantic in Monterey Park last night and found it was gone! Something with a name like "Huge Tree Pastry" was in its place.

Does anyone know what happened? And if Dumpling Master is gone forever, where can I go for a similar (or better!) meal of assorted dumplings and pork-and-potherb soup?

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Dumpling Master Restaurant
423 N Atlantic Blvd, Monterey Park, CA 91754

[The Chowhound Team]

We've split a digression about steaming Xiao Long Bao off to our Home Cooking board. You can find that discussion here: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/738626

[J.L.]

You guys may not share my sentiments, but I, for one, am truly mourning the loss of Dumpling Master.

Mrs. J.L. & I had been going there for years starting in grad school. Though oft-times coarse, its homey food held a special place in my heart. Yes, there are better knife-cut noodles and better dumplings out there, but Dumpling Master always had a seat for us, and the food always came quickly.

Rest in peace indeed.

How's that for a Chow eulogy?

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Dumpling Master Restaurant
423 N Atlantic Blvd, Monterey Park, CA 91754

[kevin]

i agree. and their pan fried dumplings were swell, it always hit the spot and as opposed to din tai fung or luscious dumplings you didn't have to wait hours in line.

[ZoeZ]

Mourning Dumpling Master too - Mme Zoe and I made regular stops there - loved the homey atmosphere and the fact that a real person was nearby making the dumplings. They also had a simply delicious cold jelly fish salad in the summer - so refreshing (my fave, not Mme Z's)

[Mr Taster]

Yeah but this is the San Gabriel Valley-- there's no limit to the number of "homey atmosphere" places in which the people are making dumplings nearby. Sometimes they do it right in the dining room.

Mr Taster

[ipsedixit]

9 out of 10 dumpling places in SGV has a "real person" (or 2 or 3 or more) making dumplings "nearby".

And that 1 out of 10 place that doesn't? Usually a Taiwanese boba joint.

[ipsedixit]

Been gone now for nearly a month, owner retired.

I'm surprised that place lasted this long; it stopped being relevant about 5 years ago.

If you are hung up on eating at a place called "Dumpilng Master" there's another one in Hacienda Heights (not-related as far as I know).

But for dumplings in/around west SGV, your choices are aplenty. Start with places like Lucious Dumplings, Dean Sin World, Qing Dao, Mama's Lu, and 101 Noodle, etc.

Really, too many to name that are so much better than Dumpling Master ...

[Mr Taster]

Sadly, Dean Sin World is no longer around either. (that is, unless they changed the name-- I just saw from outside, approximately 2 weeks ago).

Mr Taster

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Dean Sin World
306 N Garfield Ave # 2, Monterey Park, CA

[ipsedixit]

I believe it's still there (was just in that shopping center a week or so ago).

It never had a sign saying "Dean Sin World". The signage actually says "_astio" (which should be Tastio, but missing the "T").

[JThur01]

I wish I'd have known this yesterday, I could have checked. I was across street and thought about stopping in at Dean Sin World.

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Dean Sin World
306 N Garfield Ave # 2, Monterey Park, CA

[Chandavkl]

Actually I think it did have a "Dean Sin World" banner for a short period of time, but last time I just saw the "astio"

[Mr Taster]

I do hope I'm wrong, but I stared at the shop front. I blinked twice. I rubbed my eyes. There was a different name on the awning (Plum tree something? I don't recall-- should have snapped a photo). No sign of the bright orange banner. http://mmm-yoso.typepad.com/.a/6a00d8... I've been there only twice-- it's in the same half as Giang Nan, right? (I always get the two halves of that shopping center mixed up).

Perhaps someone who is more fluent in Mandarin that I am could call the number in the photo? (I can get as far as fan dian kai men le ma?)

Mr Taster

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Giang Nan
306 N Garfield Ave, Monterey Park, CA

[puppychao]

I just read a couple of Yelp reviews for Dean Sin World dated 8/16/2010. Gotta think it's still there.

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Dean Sin World
306 N Garfield Ave # 2, Monterey Park, CA

[Mr Taster]

We're going out to SGV tonight for dinner. I'll be sure to swing by to verify their current state.

Mr Taster

[Mr Taster]

OK, I was there last night.... here's what threw me off.

Dean Sin World is alive and well, under the pseudonyms CRAB SHELL and TASTIO ;)

When I was there a few weeks ago, it was after hours and Dean Sin World was closed. There was, what appeared to me, to be a new looking awning with the restaurant name "CRAB SHELL" written in large English letters. (The "Dean Sin World" banner in mmm-yoso's photo was not there.) I assumed that DSW had closed and turned into a crab restaurant. (see attached photos- the one on the right is from last night)

However, on closer inspection of mmm-yosos's photo, you can see the "...HELL" peeking out from behind the red and orange Dean Sin World banner. So I suppose it was always there and I never noticed.

Sorry for the false alarm.

Mr Taster

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Dean Sin World
306 N Garfield Ave # 2, Monterey Park, CA

[ipsedixit]

I think they took off the "Dean Sin World" yellow banner quite a while ago.

[Chandavkl]

Yes, the Crab Shell sign has been there forever, long before I figured out there was a dumpling place there.

[Mr Taster]

Wow, apparently I don't get around enough.

That's it, I'm moving to the San Gabriel Valley.

Mr Taster

[J.L.]

The evolution of this signage is most intriguing. Dean Sin World had now gone to " _hell".

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Dean Sin World
306 N Garfield Ave # 2, Monterey Park, CA

[ipsedixit]

You think it's easy to sell 50 XLB for $14?

To do that and make a profit you've got to make a deal with you-know-who, right?

[Servorg]

"The evolution of this signage is most intriguing. Dean Sin World had now gone to " _hell".

If you choose to Sin you will to to _hell! ;-D>

[J.L.]

Exactly.

[raytamsgv]

too funny.

[Porthos]

Ate there exactly 2 weeks ago on Sunday. Still there. Still good.

Can't decide if I like Luscious of Dean Sin World better. Too close to call...

[K K]

If we end up in the area, wouldn't mind checking out DSW or Luscious.

Any recommendations for excellent dumplings with reasonable driving distance from Disneyland/Anaheim?

[Mr Taster]

Not dumpling specific, but Ma's Islamic is very good (the reincarnation of the much loved Tung Lai Shun in San Gabriel). Search the board for this.

Mr Taster

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Ma's Islamic
601 E Orangethorpe Ave, Anaheim, CA 92801

[Chandavkl]

Best bet would be in Irvine, though I can't think of any dedicated (or featured) dumpling restaurants. I think that Nice Time Deli in the shopping center at Walnut and Jeffrey has some good dumpling selections, though.

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Nice Time Deli
5408 Walnut Ave Ste A, Irvine, CA 92604

[Porthos]

Switch gears. Go to Trieu Chau on 1st and Newhope in Santa Ana. Get the house special noodles with thin white pho noodles. Delicious broth not heavy. It's a delicious bowl of noodle soup made from long simmering of bones. There are also bits of pork fat floating in your soup when you get it. The house specialty soup contains duck leg, chicken, shrimp, pork balls, fish balls, and fish cake. Very addictive. Dirty hole in the wall place. May or may not work depending on how old your kids are. But damn good.

NB I've also noticed some regulars double up on the noodles, thick and thin. Also, you can order the bones which I have seen come as shank or ox tail on the side to chow on. This is a 10/10 on the legit chow scale.

Here's a nice representative Yelp photo:

http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/4wQJ3t...

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Trieu Chau
4401 W 1st St, Santa Ana, CA 92703

[Mr Taster]

Note the 5pm closure (as listed on the restaurant's yelp page) would make it unsuitable for dinner after a day at Disneyland, but would make for a damn fine breakfast!

Mr Taster

[ns1]

the chinese donuts here (don't know chinese name, only vietnamese LOL) are ridiculously awesome but always sell out before 10.