LA Eats: Mama's Lu Dumpling House

This gloomy weather (we have been getting rains this week) makes me lazy, sleepy and makes me want to eat!  Rain and food just go well together!  Haha!

This kind of "bed" weather calls for something hot and piping!  So I thought of sharing with you this place we went to in Monterey, California called Mama's Lu Dumpling House.  

*(Okay, the Grammar Nazi in me would say, it should be Mama Lu's but I am writing the place's name the way it was posted on the restaurant's door, haha)

Image from this blog site

We had Xiao Long Bao . . . 

They were okay, but I prefer Din Tai Fung's because I like their dumpling's skin/dough better because it's thinner.  (You may read about by dining experience in DTF here) 

And Spicy Wontons!  I love spicy food but they weren't kidding when they said spicy!  These were so spicy that I wasn't able to enjoy them as much as I want to!  If you have a high tolerance for spicy food, you would love these!

And for our picky eater, we ordered some Yang Chow Fried Rice

We also tried one of their popular dishes, Deep Fried Fish with Seaweed which was good!  

We also enjoyed the complimentary peanuts they served.  The peanuts are mixed with some salt and sugar, something new in my book.  We were about to finish ours when I remembered to take a photo of it, haha!

Personally, I would go to DTF for my Xiao Long Bao and Spicy Wontons BUT I want to go back to Mama's Lu to try the other items in the menu!  They have a pretty extensive menu!  Yep, there's more to them than XLBs and Wontons!  Their other popular dishes include the Beef Wrap and Green Onion Pancake.     

What is also nice about this hole-in-the-wall place is that their food (which is flavorful!) . . . is not reasonably-priced. . . because it's cheap!  Prices range from $5-6.99!  (Not $7. . .but it's $6.99! Haha!)  It is probably one of the inexpensive dining places we've been to here in LA.  

Good food, extensive menu and excellent prices only  mean one thing. . . .MUST.COME.BACK!

Mama's Lu Dumpling House

153 E. Garvey Ave., 

Monterey Park, CA

Savory Sunday

Our family loves Chinese food!  (Actually, who doesn't? Haha)  We have our favorite Chinese restaurant but sometimes you just want to go and try other places. . .that also serve Chinese food, haha! (Chinese food pa rin!)  

The Classic Savory Restaurant is one place that we go to for some Chinese food fix. People come here to have a taste of their famous chicken (which they have been serving since the '50s). 

This is Half-order of the Original Savory Chicken

We also ordered another chicken dish (the Glazed Chicken) which I've loved since the first time I tried it a couple of years ago.  This Korean-like fried chicken is a winner in my book!  Even my picky eater loves it!  I am glad it still tastes good (and crunchy!) as how I remember it.

One thing that is also good is Savory's Shrimp Relleno Roll.  It's like eating lumpiang shanghai with a big shrimp in the middle, haha!   

We ordered two types of noodles . . .

Pancit Bam-i

Miki Bihon Binondo

*The noodles weren't served looking like this, I took a photo after some of us got some pancit. 

I know, I know they just look the same, haha!  The difference is just the noodles that they used.  Both are tasty and good and they didn't scrimp on the ingredients!  I love that there is Kikiam and squid balls on them, heehee.  Between the two, I prefer the Miki Bihon only because I like Bihon.  But both are yummmmeh! 

We had a good lunch which means I was happy for the rest of the day because a happy tummy also means . . . A HAPPY MOMMY!

If you haven't visited Savory for some time, hope the above photos give you reasons to do so.

Hope you had a wonderful weekend!

For more details about Savory's menu and locations, please visit their web page.

Hello DTF, we meet again!

DTF stands for Din Tai Fung.  It is a restaurant which originated from Taiwan and is known for their Xiao Long Bao (aka soup dumplings).

The first time I tried DTF was when I was still working for a bank (that never sleeps, haha!) and had the opportunity to travel across Asia.  This restaurant never fails to attract a crowd!  Yep, be it in Asia . . . or LA!

We went to South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa and saw the restaurant by chance!  

As always, blockbuster ang pila!  (*pila means queue---Filipinos like to call long queues as "blockbuster" in ordinary/everday conversation) 

Since this brand originated from Asia (where it is popular), it is expected that diners are mostly Asians.  So it is funny to see the reaction of some people (who are not familiar with DTF) when they see the looong line for the place.  It ranges from curiosity to amazement!  Haha!

And this is what they we were lining up for:

Xiao Long Bao!

Xiao Long Bao are dumplings which have broth inside.  Eating it is actually tricky because you have to make sure you catch all that delicious broth!  You got to have a technique!

Mine goes like this. . . I put the dumpling in a spoon (referring to the Chinese spoon), make a really small hole so some of the broth would go out slowly,then I start slurping away until what is left is the dumpling. . . waiting to be eaten.  (Okay, this is the best way I can describe it, haha)

Personally, I'm not fond of Xiao Long Baos but I love DTF's because the thickness of the dumpling's skin/dough (whatever it is called, haha) is just right. 

My personal favorite from this restaurant is their Shrimp and Pork Wontons in Spicy Sauce!

Why?  Because I love dumplings and I love anything spicy!  I'll let this photo do the talking, haha!  

They are also known for their Pork Chop which we also ordered because the kids like fried rice . . . and hubby loves pork chop!

We loved this too!

In our succeeding visits to the restaurant, we tried their noodles . . .

Noodles with Sesame Sauce

Chicken Fried Noodle

Both were just okay.  Between the two, I prefer the Noodles with Sesame Sauce because it has a mild nutty flavor which I like.    

I love DTF because it is a good place to eat something tasty (Asian food is still the best for me!) and filling!  

And for a mom who has toddlers who love to eat rice and noodles, this is heaven-sent!    

Din Tai Fung

3333 Bristol St.,

Space 2071 Upper Level

Costa Mesa, CA 92626

Operating Hours

Monday-Friday - 11AM - 9:30 PM

Saturday - 10AM - 9:30 PM

Sunday - 10AM - 9PM

For more details about  Din Tai Fung (USA) and their other locations, please visit their web page.