Xiao long bao, Shanghai-style soup dumplings, are primary objects of desire in the San Gabriel Valley, hermetically sealed orbs filled with minced pork and potentially lethal doses of scalding juice. Sometimes the soup dumplings are enriched with homeopathically tiny doses of fresh crabmeat; usually they are served with slivers of fresh ginger; sometimes they are served with Chinese black vinegar of a quality that will make you curl your lip at the thought of mere Modenese balsamic. Most connoisseurs will point you toward the precision-engineered product of Din Tai Fung, the local branch of a Taipei restaurant renowned for its XLB, and it is true: You could examine a hundred of the thin-walled, elastic dumplings, served 10 at a go in bullet-shaped aluminum steamers, without encountering a single instance of leakage — they're better designed than the Android in your pocket. It surprised no one when Din Tai Fung's solution to overcrowding was to build, around the corner, a second restaurant with an identical menu. 1108 S. Baldwin Ave., Arcadia. (626) 574-7068, dintai fungusa.com. Mon.-Fri., 11 a.m.-3 p.m. & 5 p.m.-9:30 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m.-9:30 p.m.; Sun., 10 a.m.-9 p.m. No alcohol. Lot parking. Takeout. MC, V. Chinese. Also at 1088 S. Baldwin Ave., Arcadia.

99 Essential L.A. Restaurants 2011:

Jonathan Gold's Introduction
Anne Fishbein's Photos
The Google Map

The List:

A-Frame
Akasha
Alcazar
Angeli Caffe
Angelini Osteria
Animal
Antojitos Carmen
Attari
Babita
Bludso's
Border Grill
Bottega Louie
Bulgarini Gelato
Cacao
Campanile
Casa Bianca
Chang's Garden
Chego
Chichén Itzá
Chung King
Church & State
Ciro's
Comme Ça
Cut
Dae Bok
Din Tai Fung
Drago Centro
El Huarache Azteca
El Parian
Elvirita's
Euro Pane Bakery
Eva
Fab Hot Dogs
Father's Office
Fig
Gjelina
Golden Deli
Golden State
Good Girl Dinette
The Gorbals
Guelaguetza
Guisados
Huckleberry
Hungry Cat
Ink.
Jar
Jitlada
Kiriko
Kobawoo
La Casita Mexicana
Langer's
Larkin's
Lazy Ox Canteen
Le Comptoir
Little Dom's
Lou
Lucques
LudoBites
Lukshon
Mantee
Marouch
Mayura
Meals by Genet
Mélisse
Mezze
Mo-Chica
Mother Dough
Mozza
Musso & Frank Grill
Nem Nuong Khanh Hoa
Newport Tan Cang Seafood Restaurant
The Nickel
Night + Market
Oinkster
101 Noodle Express
Palate Food + Wine
Park's Barbecue
Picca
Playa
Pollos a la Brasa
Providence
Ray's
Red Medicine
Rivera
Rustic Canyon
Salt's Cure
Sapp Coffee Shop
Sea Harbour
Son of a Gun
Sotto
Spago
Spice Table
Street
Tacos Baja Ensenada
Tasting Kitchen
Terroni
Tsujita L.A.
Vincenti
Waterloo & City

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