11/7/2023 0 Comments Lotus dim sum dumpling house![]() It’s pretty difficult to get the perfect crispy dumpling without over-frying it or drying the inside out, but these ones are juicy, savory, and crunchy – just right!ĥ966 W Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036 ![]() I especially love this one because of how close it is to school! The XLBs are clearly delicious, but I love the crispy chicken dumplings. Personal favorites: Pork XLB (5/$7.75), Scallion Pancake ($7.75), Steamed Chicken Dumpling (5/$7.75), Crispy Chicken Dumpling (5/$9.75), Seaweed & Tofu Salad ($7.50), Mapo Tofu ($12.75), Sauteed Baby Bok Choy w/ Garlic ($13) And like DTF, Dan Modern Chinese has a large window displaying a spotless kitchen full of chefs handmaking dumplings. The slightly dimmed lights and ambient music contribute to the restaurant’s relaxed atmosphere. I love the twist on flavors that the chefs put in their dishes – they have many unique fillings for their XLBs (pork & dungeness crab, spicy pork). This spot is closest to campus, located only two miles away from UCLA (11 minute drive!). ![]() With dumplings and noodles handmade fresh daily, Dan Modern Chinese offers a modern take on traditional Chinese food. So below, I’ve compiled a guide spotlighting Chinese-Taiwanese restaurants in the LA area that you can visit instead of Din Tai Fung to support your local businesses and find your new comfort spot.Ģ049 Sawtelle Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90025 Moreover, the pandemic drastically impacted local businesses – especially AAPI ones as a result of racist stigmas around Asian Americans – so it will both mean a lot to you and the restaurant owners to explore these locations. The intimate settings, employees who are all friends and family with each other and the knowledge that every dish was prepared with care and compassion is something that large chain restaurants often do not offer. This greatly transformed my perspective on chain restaurants that served East Asian cuisine: I often found more comfort in eating in smaller, cozy family-owned establishments with my own family than globally franchised ones. Growing up in the AAPI ethnic enclaves of California’s 626 zip code (San Gabriel Valley), I was surrounded by a virtually endless amount of family-owned restaurants that serve menus identical to that of Din Tai Fung for half the price and nearly no wait time. After all, not everyone has the liberty to spend $16 on a plate of garlic string beans. In addition to its unethical labor practices, Din Tai Fung only caters to a specific demographic – the people who can afford to eat there. Workers were systematically denied days off and given fake timesheets. In fact, a full-time cook in Sydney was “ underpaid $50,588” over a four-year period. Din Tai Fung locations throughout Australia were discovered to have been underpaying migrant workers and instead paying them cash incentives that in the end, did not even add up to minimum wage amounts. However, the more and more I go there as a broke college student, I’ve realized that however authentic and delicious, the food at Din Tai Fung is overpriced and not worth a two hour wait.īeyond the financial impracticality of dining at Din Tai Fung, the restaurant chain itself is not without controversy – in September of 2022, the famous dumpling house was accused of falsifying pay records to deceive immigration officials. My personal favorite is the garlic string beans and, of course, the sesame mochi XLB dessert. In fact, I’m no stranger to the Century City location, as I’ve been there a number of times with family and friends. We all know and love Din Tai Fung, the world-renowned Chinese restaurant chain famous for their 小笼包 (xiao long bao). ![]()
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