Shanghai-style soup dumplings, or xiao long bao, dot the landscape of the San Gabriel Valley, but if you didn't know any better, you'd think famed dumpling house Din Tai Fung was the only one around. Indeed, arrive on a Sunday morning and you'll see entire families, from babies to grandparents, enduring the formidable wait for a table. You might overhear an impatient cousin suggest going elsewhere, but everyone inevitably stays put, because Grandma knows best: These really are among the best soup dumplings in town. Neither too thick nor too thin, the dumpling wrappers have an admirable resiliency, creating such an airtight seal around the juicy pork and soup filling that you'll rarely, if ever, see anything spilling out. While the xiao long bao is the star, you'd be remiss to not order a few side dishes: the noodles in sesame sauce, say, or the simple but extremely satisfying fried rice. 1108 S. Baldwin Ave. and 1088 S. Baldwin Ave., Arcadia; (626) 574-7068, dintaifungusa.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. Family-style entrees $5-$15. No alcohol.

 

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The 99 Essential Restaurants List:

A-Frame
Alma
Angelini Osteria
Animal
Attari Sandwich Shop
Bäco Mercat
Bar Amá
The Bazaar
Bestia
BierBeisl
Bludso's
Cacao Mexicatessen
Canelé
La Casita Mexicana
Cemitas Poblanas Elviritas
Chichen Itza
Chung King
Cole's
Coni'Seafood
Cube Cafe & Marketplace
Din Tai Fung
Eva
Father's Office
Fred 62
Gjelina
Golden Deli
Go's Mart
Il Grano
Guelaguetza
Guisados
Hatfield's
Ha Tien Quan
Hawkins House of Burgers
Hayat's Kitchen
El Huarache Azteca
Huckleberry
The Hungry Cat
ink.
Jar
Jitlada
JTYH Heavy Noodle II
Kang Ho Dong Baekjong
Kiriko
Kiyokawa
Kogi Truck
Krua Siri
L&E Oyster Bar
Langer's
Little Dom's
Lucques
Ludo Truck
Lukshon
Mariscos Jalisco
Matsuhisa
Meals by Genet
Mélisse
Milo and Olive
Mo-Chica
Musso & Frank
Nem Nuong Ninh Hoa
Nickel Diner
Night + Market
Oinkster
Osteria Mozza
Pann's
Pa-Ord Noodle
El Parian
Park's BBQ
Philippe the Original
Picca
Pink's
Pizzeria Mozza
Playa
Pollo a la Brasa
Providence
R&R Soul Food
Ración
Red Medicine
Ricky's Fish Tacos
Rivera
Rocio's Moles de los Dioses
Salt's Cure
Sapp Coffee Shop
Savoy Kitchen
Sea Harbour
Shanghai No. 1 Village Seafood
Soban
Son of a Gun
Sotto
Spago
The Spice Table
Superba Snack Bar
Tacos Leo
The Tasting Kitchen
Tavern
Tsujita LA
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Wurstküche
Zam Zam Market

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