Mama Lu’s Dumpling House
Hot Tea
Vinegar Cucumbers, Sugared Peanuts
Beef Wrap
Green Onion Pancake
Fried Pork Bun
Pan Fried Dumplings
Juicy Pork Dumplings
Shanghai Style Noodles
Fried Coconut Bun, Condensed Milk
One of three locations in Monterey Park, two of them actually on the same Street, it was after a four hour drive from Las Vegas that five guests checked-in at Mama Lu’s Dumpling House, the online wait list actually placing everyone in queue at West Garvey Avenue but the staff at 153 East Garvey easily finding a table in the back just moments after arrival.
Described as “a traditional Chinese family style restaurant with a Taiwanese twist” and lauded by Jonathan Gold for Shanghai-ese specialties encompassing a wide-range of Dumplings, Noodles and more guests entering the original location will immediately notice a bold aroma of cooking Meats coming from the small kitchen, an almost entirely Asian crowd attesting to authenticity as does the fact that one specific server seems to be charged with serving all English-speaking patrons.
Limited in terms of ambiance but nicely spaced, a combination of booths and tables with seating for perhaps eighty, it is with advertising mats and hot tea already in place that diners are left to peruse a menu of 102 choices, the most famous listed up front and one to two plates per diner probably more than enough unless they are particularly hungry.
Priced on average from $5-$10, a whole Chicken for $19.99 by far Mama Lu’s most expensive option, it was eventually settling on seven items that plates began to arrive as ready, the famous Beef Roll first and more than the size of a Burrito with plenty of seared Meat and Vegetables inside of a crispy Pancake with just enough stretch to keep it from shattering and getting messy.
Using a duo of Vinegar Cucumbers and Sugared Peanuts to refresh the palate between items, a fragrant Green Onion Pancake for just $2.99 not dissimilar to the Beef Roll’s Wrap arriving next, those looking for something a little more “Dim Sum” will no doubt wish to check out Mama Lu’s Fried Pork Buns, the addition of Sesame Seeds providing extra depth of flavor and texture while Pan Fried Dumplings offered eight for $5.99 are virtually oilless and packed with tender Pork and Scallions.
Next receiving Mama Lu’s second signature item, the Xiao Long Bao many consider Los Angeles’ best offering a dainty Wrapper that does not tear with Chopsticks around plenty of Hot Soup, it was in an enormous pile of Shanghai Chow Mein slicked in Soy that additional appetite was spent, though those looking for something sweet should not overlook item #17 which delivered eight pieces of deep-fried Coconut Bread and a bowl of Condensed Milk for dipping.
www.mamaludumpling.com
