Finding Great Asian Dumplings in Los Angeles

Just because I provided a listing of Chinese dumpling shops in the San Gabriel Valley does not mean that that’s where all the great Asian dumplings are in Los Angeles. The wealth of ethnic eats in Los Angeles means that there are well-crafted dumplings all over the place. With exception to Chinese dumpling joints, other Asian cuisines mostly commingle their dumplings offerings with other items on a bigger menu. For example, noodles often go with dumplings. Expand your Asian dumpling horizon at these spots:

All Family Restaurant (1032 Crenshaw Blvd., #B, Los Angeles)
Drive too fast as you speed from the 10 freeway toward Koreatown central and you’ll miss this little gem of a Korean dumpling and noodle shop. Very little English is spoken but the service is cordial. The tight, bilingual menu of handmade dumplings and noodles is a wonderful way to experience Korean doughy craftsmanship. There’s mandu soup delicately garnished with nori seaweed, carrot, egg shreds, and scallion. The graceful dumplings are pretty and thoughtfully fashioned from pre-made skins, which I spied boxes of near the kitchen. Korean mandu take on a variety of shapes, and one of which is triangular and resembles Napoleon’s hat. Kimchi mandu is extra nice and flavorful here. If you like All Family’s dumplings, take home a bag of frozen ones.

Uzbekistan (7077 W. Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles) [Update  8/24: CLOSED since I visited in early 2008. So many dumpling places to keep up with, so little time.]
The business card for Uzbekistan says that it’s ‘a unique restaurant’ and indeed it is. Step inside at night and its slightly tired, ornate décor is reminiscent of Eastern European countries. But you’re in a strip mall on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles. We went there to pick up dumplings while waiting for a late-night table at Pizzeria Mozza. The young man who took our order was extremely sweet in explaining their offering of Central Asian dumplings – puff pastry like samsa, deep-fried meat-filled half-moons of chuchvara, and a triad of baked buns topped with sesame seeds. Uzbekistan lies on the path that connects Asia to the Middle East, where wheat milling technology was invited. Experience Central Asian dumplings and connect the cultural dots. How cool is that?

Despite the restaurant being now closed, it’s interesting to see the various dumplings that they offered:

Silom Market (Thai Town Plaza, 5321 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles)
Not far from the Uzbekistan restaurant is Thai Town, which we hit before going to eat pizza. Los Angeles is home to the largest Thai community in America, which explains the incredible Thai food options. Head on over to Hollywood Boulevard and start at the shopping center’s market. Inside near the cash registers are dumpling such as curry puffs and saiku sai mu tapioca pearl balls filled with pork and eaten with hot chiles and lettuce leaves. In the packed strip mall next door there’s a sweets shop where you can explore and try other Thai snacks. Asian markets are one of the best places to try out dumplings. You don’t have to read a menu, but just grab interesting-looking food, pay for it, and go. Things like curry puffs (lower left in above photo) reheat well in the toaster oven.

Daikokuya Ramen www.daikoku-ten.com
Southern California residents are so very lucky to have Daikokuya Ramen (or ‘raumen’ as they say on their menu) in Little Tokyo (downtown), Monterey Park, Hacienda Heights, and Costa Mesa. At these uber shabby hipster urban cafes, the ramen noodles are snappy tender, the broth is rich, the boiled egg is savory and soft, and the pork belly is made with kurobuta (black) pork. The gyoza dumplings are crafted with utmost care like the ramen soup. The skin is crisp and had a bite to them. The filling wasn’t overly mushy and finely textured like most gyoza dumplings at noodle shops. The gyoza are fashioned in a longish shape that’s uncommon for Japanese dumplings. They come with a dramatic row of thinly sliced scallion that slightly cook upon contact with the super hot gyoza. The handsome dumplings are the best gyoza I’ve come across. Daikokuya’s gyoza are pictured at the top of this page.

Got a hot tip for a dumpling joint? Please don’t keep it to yourself. Either share with all of us below or email me.