MaMa's Lu Dumpling House

"Our Favorite Dishes: Pork Fried Dumplings, Beef Wrap Mama Lu’s is a big restaurant with little in the way of decorations, a crowd of people mostly keeping to themselves, and tables that are just slightly too close to each other. But you’re not here for the atmosphere, you’re here for the best dumplings in SGV. After you’ve waited in line to get seated (there will be a line, no matter when you go), just order fried dumplings and the beef wrap, and wait for some incredibly good Chinese food to arrive at your table. Mama Lu’s does incredible things with flavor and texture - the dumplings have a melt-in-your-mouth filling and a perfectly crisped shell, and they’re super-flavorful without ever getting too salty. The waits here can get brutal, but if you want the best, stick it out. As one of Southern California’s most recognizable and smile-worthy names, Mama Lu’s Dumpling House is an institution that produces solid Chinese food. With two typically packed locations in Monterey Park, the kitchen cranks out favorites like salted fish and chicken fried rice, ginger and scallion with lamb, and saucy beef wraps all day long. But it’s called Mama Lu’s Dumpling House for a reason, and the dumplings are the restaurant’s showstopper. If ordering the crab and pork dumplings for the first time, sit back and marvel at these perfectly shaped little discs. The Mama Lu’s team spent years creating flavorful dumplings with incredible texture. They’re compact and filled with piping hot liquid, with pan-fried options that have a crispy outer layer. The crab lends a soft, salty, and slightly sweet layer to the dumpling. But don’t bite in too quickly. One false move, and broth is suddenly on clothing or dripping down chins. This could be unpleasant, so prepare by giving them a few moments to cool, using a spoon to break the dough or just endure the pain. 153 E Garvey Ave, Monterey Park. —Mona Holmes "