Dumpling Contender

I think I know my xiao long bau. I lived in Hong Kong for 11 years and have eaten them all over China, Taiwan, HK and Macau. Here in L.A. I've always been partial to Mei Long Village - although I have a soft spot for Din Tai Fung, having eaten in the original in Taipei with some degree of regularity in the past. I have recently discovered the xiao long bau at Q Noodle House in San Gabriel Square and been very favorably impressed. They may very well be my new favorites in town. They have an excellent balance of dough, filling and juice. The place is run by Taiwanese. They also have branches on Duarte Rd. in Arcadia and E. Gale Ave. in Rowland Heights, but the only one I've been to is on the second floor of San Gabriel Square.

Link: http://www.ericstone.com

Where is San Gabriel Square? (I'm wildly guessing Del Mar & Valley) -- funny thing, I had a big xiao long bao craving today too and went to Din Tai Fung ~ piece 'o heaven, I tell ya.

Now I can't wait to get my next dumpling craving to try Q Noodle House--thanks for the heads-up!

Del Mar & Valley: Not a bad guess...

Q NOODLE HOUSE
140 W VALLEY BLVD 203
SAN GABRIEL, CA 91776

Link: http://lapublichealth.org/rating/

Very cool. Will try it out.

I'm curious about your opinions about the XLB at other places.

What else do you recommend there besides the xiao long bao? I will definitely be trying Q noodle soon.

Great!!! You sound pretty well-qualified to get me there! We will try it this next Saturday...thanks!

I, too, love both Mei Long Village and Din Tai Fung, so I can't wait to try Q.

The XLB are the best thing I've had there. Today I had a bowl of shredded pork and preserved vegetable noodle soup that was good, although not great. The pot stickers are pretty dull - sort of like they can't make up their mind if they want to be gyoza or Shanghainese style fried dumplings. The pot stickers are far better at Mei Long Village. I've had a couple of bowls of other types of noodles there and they've been very good. The vegetable matter I've sampled has been neither here nor there - nothing to come even close to competing with Din Tai Fung's green beans.

Link: http://www.ericstone.com

Again, thanks! It looks like a lot of us appreciate your suggestion here!

j & j restaurant on valley across the street from san gabriel square. the best xlb in so cal.

Thanks for the recomendation, eric, I will have to try out Q.

As an aside, your mention of Mei Long Village's potstickers really got my mouth watering. While their XLB are often mentioned hereabouts -- and are, indeed, quite good -- I think the potstickers are among the best I've had. A perfect blend of crunchy, greasy and tasty. I couldn't stop eating them. Also the Shanghai rice cakes excel.

I love Mei Long Zhen's XLB. I don't care for their potstickers. My fave potstickers (guotieh'r) are at Deerfield Village at Atlantic and garvey behind little sheep. Occasionally they do them the real way with the slurry that turns into a light skin that holds the potstickers together.

My other fave for XLB is Giang-Nan (DeYueLou) in the same mall as Best Szechwan on the east side of Garfield just north of garvey.

I look forward to trying Q noodle.

How do the Deerfield Village potstickers compare to Luscious Dumplings's?

All I can say is i like deerfield very much, the flavor tastes a lot like what I remember from China. It's simple - may not be for everyone. good congyoubing scallion cakes as well.