Hidden in the Upscale South Pasadena

Hi everyone! I love wandering around South Pasadena — that cozy, quiet, chic vibe is just my style. This time, I followed some locals to this Chinese spot, and it was actually really good! The decor rivals what you’d find in the San Gabriel Valley, with a Hollywood-inspired Chinese restaurant feel. 🥟 Dumpling Tops 📍 800 Fair Oaks Ave, South Pasadena, CA 91030 🅿️ Free parking lot behind the restaurant Organic Chicken Soup Dumplings The “organic” label feels upscale — and they were delicious! Served individually in little trays, which felt quite elegant. As someone who grew up in Nanjing eating chicken broth dumplings, seeing chicken soup dumplings served with ginger and vinegar already won me over! +1️⃣ Lobster Tails in Typhoon Shelter Style They have a whole live seafood menu 🦀, but you need to pre-order those. The lobster tails are ready-to-cook — stir-fried Typhoon Shelter style, very fragrant and not fishy at all. Only downside: the flavor was a bit too light — could’ve been saltier, and the lobster meat didn’t soak up enough seasoning. Seafood Udon Stir-Fry I highly recommend this! For the first time, I had a seafood stir-fry where the seafood outnumbered the noodles. The seasoning wasn’t too heavy, so it wasn’t greasy — just fresh and aromatic. Vegetable Steamed Dumplings The wrappers weren’t too thick, filled with finely shredded mixed veggies — tasted healthy, almost like a vegan version of steamed bean curd rolls. Pan-Fried Three Delicacies Dumplings These had an incredibly crispy bottom and looked great. Personally, I prefer open-ended potstickers, but these definitely satisfied the craving! Cold Cucumber Salad This dish is trending online right now — I saw it on almost every table 🥒. Known as “cucumber salad” to non-Chinese folks, but we all know it’s a classic appetizer we can make in our sleep! If you’re around South Pasadena and craving Chinese food, this is a great spot — especially perfect for introducing non-Chinese friends to authentic, refined Chinese cuisine 🥢. #LAFood #LAEats #LosAngelesFood #SanGabrielValley #LALife #SGVFood #HiddenGem