Best Xiao Long Bao (Chinese Soup Dumplings) in LA
 

So... resident experts of all LA things Chinese... where do I go to get the best Xiao Long Bao's in Los Angeles....?????

Please tell me where I have to go... dont mind a hole in the wall place, dont need a fancy setting, I just want the best XBL's in town.

Thanks,
Alex / Gaucho100K

Just sent you a PM.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/din-tai-fung...g%20tAi%20feng

Din Tai Fung is located in Arcadia about 30 miles east of Downtown and should be about 1 hour drive from your hotel near LAX

Is this a secret? :)

Didnt get a message.....

Tastes differ - I personally felt Din Tai Fung here in LA was just OK and not worth the wait (but i never tried other locations).

While i can't say about "the best" in LA a great bet is a trio of places side by side in a plaza in San Gabriel next to Hilton. We usually go to MeiLong Village (as they pack some frozen stuff on ice for us to take home) but the other two are just as good.

1. J & J / Jin Jian Restaurant

301 W Valley Blvd
San Gabriel, CA 91776

2. Mei Long Village

301 W Valley Blvd
San Gabriel, CA 91776
(626) 284-4769

3. Happy Kitchen

301 W Valley Blvd
San Gabriel, CA 91776
(626) 284-2619

do you know there's a back dining room w/ a wait that's usually a lot shorter? :D

+1 ^

Emphatic +1 ^^^

Thank you kindly, these are a little closer from where Im staying (Century City). Mapquest puts the drive to the places in San Gabriel at 23 miles from my hotel on West Olympic Blvd.... and the Din Tai Fung is 29 miles. Both destinations are on the same route, seems like the best way is to get on I10, and head East, or...?

So traffic is an issue in LAX, so Im guessing I may go direct to one of these places after I land in LAX as I guess its out of my way to go to the hotel in Century City and I cant be sure they will allow me to have an early check in.

These places are at least 50 minutes from LAX.

OK... so if I budget 1 hour from LAX on a Thursday morning... I will be good, or...? Also, the San Gabriel locations are 7 or so miles closer... unless Im not reading mapquest properly.

San Gabriel locations would be I-10 West, exit Del Mar Avenue and then head north about .5 miles to Valley and make a left (the large Hawaii Supermarket will be on your right). Head west on Valley, past the Hilton (which you cannot miss) and then look for the strip mall on your right.

If you look at a freeway map of Downtown LA, you'll note that the 10 goes through the East LA interchange which can get a little tricky; pay attention to the highway signs carefully.

Yeah. That could work, but just be flexible with your schedule. As long as there's no rush to be anywhere, I say go with the flow (pun intended). :)

Thanks... I will have Never Lost in my rental car so I hope Im not dumb enough to get lost... :eek: :p

We were turned on to Din Tai Fung by an expat friend who was living in Shanghai. Since then, we have been to other DTF's : consistent quality product! Last place we visited was in Sydney, Australia, ... correction, it was Beijing, October 2010. --I look forward to visiting Arcadia.