The dumplings at this revered Arcadia dumpling house — and its sister shop right next door — are pricier than some ($9 for 10), but there's a reason Din Tai Fung is the gold standard when it comes to soup dumplings, or xiao long bao. The Taiwanese XLB chain is a stickler for quality. The skin is thin enough that the interior of the bao becomes the star of the show; the soup is packed with a great pork flavor, but wait a while and you'll taste the hint of sweetness, too. So yes, Din Tai Fung actually is deserving of the hype. Although, with all the other delicious dumpling options around the SGV, it might not be worth the lines. 1108 S. Baldwin Ave., Arcadia. (626) 574-7068, dintaifungusa.com. —Clarissa Wei

Advertising disclosure: We may receive compensation for some of the links in our stories. Thank you for supporting LA Weekly and our advertisers.