Mama Lu's Dumpling House

Mama Lu's Dumpling House are two independently-operated Chinese restaurants in the Monterey Park, California known for their xiaolongbao, dumplings, and rice cakes.[1][2][3] As of 2018, it is very popular and so has become known for its long lines.[4] Thus, food critics from publications like the San Gabriel Valley Tribune praised its food for being worth the wait.[5]

Mama Lu's Dumpling House
Restaurant information
EstablishedBefore 2008
Food typeXiaolongbao, Chinese
Dress codeCasual
Street address153 E. Garvey Ave.
CityMonterey Park
StateCalifornia
Postal/ZIP Code91754
CountryUnited States

Reception

Critics praise Mama Lu's xiaolongbao and list it among the best xiaolongbao restaurants in the San Gabriel Valley.[6] Time Out called the xiaolongbao "fantastic", noting that the skin is "nicely supple but tough enough...without easily tearing".[7] Tony Chen of Eater, however, called Mama Lu's xiaolongbao "the same as all others" but acknowledged that "people love it".[8] The quality of the food and long lines lend themselves to comparisons with fellow popular Chinese restaurant Din Tai Fung. Kristie Hang of the LAist observed the xiaolongbao of Mama Lu's had a thicker skin and "denser broth" than those of Din Tai Fung.[9] The Tiger agreed but compared the quality of Mama Lu's service unfavorably to that of Din Tai Fung's.[10] Though best known for xiaolongbao, Mama Lu's has also received praise for its green onion pancakes and other dishes.[10][11] Demand for its dumplings spike around traditional Chinese holidays, such as the Lunar New Year.[12]

History

Mama Lu's Dumpling House was first opened at 153 E. Garvey Ave. in Monterey Park, California before 2008.[13] By 2012, two more restaurants were operating in the city:[14] according to Tony Chen of Eater, one had opened down the street at 501 W. Garvey after Lu's Dumpling House had on Garfield.[15] In April 2014, the latter closed when a fire truck smashed into it.[16]

In 2015, Anna Tang bought the restaurant's 501 W. Garvey location and has operated it and the Mama's Dumpling House in San Gabriel independently of the other locations.[1][17]

In August and October 2018, health inspectors closed the 153 E Garvey location for two days due to violations.[18][19] Formerly owned by siblings Yan Lu and William Lu, the restaurant underwent a sales tax audit that year, resulting in imprisonment for sales tax evasion and payments of over US$2 million for taxes owed, including interest, and the cost of the audit.[13]

See also

References
  1. Shatkin, Elina (16 February 2021). "Officials Charge Mama's Lu Dumpling House With Falsifying $11 Million In Sales". LAist. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  2. Wei, Clarissa (23 October 2013). "4 Great Shanghai-Style Restaurants In Los Angeles". KCET. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  3. Loc, Tim (26 January 2017). "Seven Foods To Celebrate The Chinese New Year And Where To Get Them In L.A." LAist. Archived from the original on 22 December 2019. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
  4. Clark, Amy (15 January 2018). "Mama Lu's Dumpling House - Monterey Park - Los Angeles". The Infatuation. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  5. "Mama Lu Dumpling House in Monterey Park worth the wait". San Gabriel Valley Tribune. 28 August 2013. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  6. Harris, Jenn (25 July 2013). "A few hours in the SGV: How to devour 5 terrific dishes in a single night". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 22 November 2021. Din Tai Fung...is always a favorite for xiao long bao (juicy pork dumplings, also known as soup dumplings) and Mama's Lu Dumpling House, both locations in Monterey Park, also have great dumplings
  7. Ver, Christine (12 July 2016). "Mama Lu's". Time Out Los Angeles. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  8. Chen, Tony (20 February 2014). "Where To Find LA's Best Chinese Soup Dumplings". Eater LA. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
  9. Hang, Kristie (30 March 2016). "The 8 Best Soup Dumpling Shops In Los Angeles". LAist. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
  10. Cahill, Cole (6 October 2016). "Home style specialties shine at Mama Lu's Dumpling House". Tiger Newspaper. South Pasadena High School. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
  11. Shatkin, Elina (4 November 2010). "Take A Bao: Xiao Long Bao at Mama's Lu". LA Weekly. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
  12. "Mama Lu's Dumpling House works overtime to meet Lunar New Year demand". Southern California Public Radio. 31 January 2014. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  13. Shatkin, Elina (23 August 2021). "Mama's Lu Dumpling Duo Pleads Guilty To $2 Million Tax Fraud". LAist. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  14. "Another 85°C, Mama Lu's Expands, More!". 31 May 2012.
  15. Chen, Tony (17 April 2014). "Fire Engine Slams Into and Destroys Lu Dumpling House". Eater LA. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  16. "Fire truck crash victim to get $15M settlement from Alhambra, Monterey Park". Pasadena Star News. 31 July 2015. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  17. "Chinese food and dumplings for every taste at Mama's in San Gabriel". San Gabriel Valley Tribune. 20 September 2017. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  18. Arevalo, Penny (21 August 2018). "Monterey Park Chinese restaurant obtained namesake dumplings from unapproved source and other health inspections in the San Gabriel Valley". Pasadena Star News. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  19. Baer, Stephanie K. (28 October 2015). "Cockroaches, no hot water shut down 7 San Gabriel Valley restaurants". San Gabriel Valley Tribune. Retrieved 22 December 2019.

13°4′5″N 3°4′1″E

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