[Monterey Park] [Chinese Cuisine] Dean Sin World 姊妹點心世界

Dean Sin World

306 N Garfield Ave #2
Monterey Park, CA 91754

(626) 571-0636

For More Pictures of this restaurant, please refer to http://travelsmart8.blogspot.com/2010/08/monterey-park-chinese-cuisine-dean-sin.html

This place is definitely a hole in a wall type of business. Cheap price, decent service (if you can speak Chinese fluently) and the food are fresh and good. Their Xiao Long Bao is a must have. Their meat is actually better quality meat and they are the main distributor to many restaurants that serve XLB nearby, but other places charges you more money for stuff thats coming out of the same kitchen.

Their postickers are good too. Nice, juicy filling and crispy exterior. I am not a pot sticker lover myself but this place wins me over.

Complimentary peanuts with seaweeds for dine in customers.

I noticed many customers come in to inquire about their Buns (steamed vegetable buns) but they were sold out when we were there. I guess it is a must try next time when I am here?

Cash Only, and you know why ;)

[Alhambra] [Chinese Cuisine] Luscious Dumpling - 潤豐元餃子店

Luscious Dumplings

704 W Las Tunas Dr
San Gabriel, CA 91776

(626) 282-8695

Inexpensive quality Chinese meal. Specialized in dumplings and noodles.

This is one of the few places where foreigners can order with confidence since the staffs there are all second (or third) generation Chinese. So they will explain your inquiries. However, as others mention, their menu is simple (and short) and the foods do run out fast. Their famous Steamed Soup dumplings were gone when I arrived. They suggest to come before 5:30pm on weekdays, perhaps even earlier on weekends.

They have combo where you can select any noodles, plus choice of dumplings. My favorite is the pork, shrimp and chive dumplings. Its very fresh and juicy. Thats how I like my dumplings to be make. Their pan friend dumplings are great too, its very very juicy which beats other restaurants hands down.

Everything is good here, but it lacks of an wow factor. I wish they have a dish that can make me said "WOW , its mind blowing good!!! " However, for the price and the quality that they presented, I still recommend this place.

Cash Only, just like most Chinese shops in the area (and you know whats up ;).

[Oakland] [Chinese Cuisine] Vien Huong Restaurant

Vien Huong Restaurant

712 Franklin Street
Oakland, CA 94607
(510) 465-5938

This place brings back so much of my childhood memories. I have been coming to this place since age of 9. I have seem their servers aged (So Am I, sniff sniff). However, the taste of the broth has never changed. I actually go to Oakland every time when I visited bay area just to get my crave for the chow chou rice noodle. I wonder when LA can make food like this?

for the Chow Chou rice noodle:
Broth - clear, not greasy, full of flavor
Rice noodle - not sticky/powdery, very fresh unlike other Vendors that leaves their rice noodle for days.
Ingredients - pork , pork liver, shrimp, fish balls, meat ball, ground pork, marinated pork, bean sprouts and more. Its pretty loaded for the price that you are paying

I will also get their lemonade and fried fish cake.

Sure is nothing fancy but I like the taste of this place so much I could be careless. Plus the price is not that expensive but the only downside is that they close by 6pm.