Nice article from a local paper about how expensive a local Dumpling place, Din Tai Fung is, but the quality is wonderful.

Din Tai Fung is not your regular Chinese food place. It is part of a chain of restaurants (may be publicly traded) that include locations in Taiwan (founded), Singapore, Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, and Indonesia. It is also zagat rated and best of LA for dumpling houses.

What I noticed about Din Tai Fung is they have great marketing. They do a lot of advertising in Chinese papers and TV, and have the cooking area so you get a show of the dumplings being made. The experience inside is a clean restaurant that is super efficient. At the Arcadia location (next to Live Plaza and JJ Bakery), there is usually a line.

I tried the Din Tai Fung not to long after the Arcadia branch opened, and it came across as expensive, but good. For price I liked Dumpling Master in Monterey Park. In Rowland Heights (where I live), Dragon Noodle does a nice job and has great soup.

I have not tried these, but interesting thread of good dumpling places around Southern California:
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/81295

Chinese restaurants in Southern California I have noticed seemed to for two extremes. Either pricey, or cheap. What I like is the cheap and great food ones.

Products:

				Cooking with Kids - Exploring Chinese Food, Culture, and Language - DVD for cooking kids Chinese Cooking for ages 8-12.

				The Ugly Vegetables by Graced Lin - Cute book, softcover that includes a reciple for Chinese Vegetable Soup. The ugly vegetables are Chinese Vegetables (the same type my Mother in law grows in our back yard).

				Dim Sum For Everyone! Another cute book that teaches all about Dim Sum.

Labels: Chinese Food