Jul 23

The Elite (Monterey Park)

Favorite Food Entries + Food 01: San Gabriel

Sorry that we're behind in updating entries. The quality of dim sum restaurants in LA goes up and down like rollarcoasters. They might start out good (ex: The Kitchen, Mission 261: 1.2) until the the chefs got recruit somewhere else and the quality drops. My last visits to The Kitchen and Mission 261 end up in huge disappointments. So when the formly good New Concept (1, 2) became The Elite (change of owners I heard), I have to check it out to see if it's still as good.

Shrimp ball with almonds, very good!

BBQ pork buns is always a favorite dish of mine and they did a good job. Macau Roasted Pork , comes with sugar and hoisin sauce.

Forgot what kind of dumpling that is. They did a good job on the skins on all their dumpling dishes. Thin, soft and springy.

The fried rolls are so-so. Shark fin dumping, delicous!

Very good shrimp dumplings. Pan fried turnip cakes.

They called it snow mountain cake, I've never had it before and I love it! It's an almond-based sweet, soft and melty inside.

They have rather unusual desserts: Goji berry jello and Osmanthus jello. Very Chinese herby, refreshing and healthy tasting.

Verdict: I'm pleasantly surprised at the varieties and selections they offer. They delivered on the standard dim sum classics like Steamed Rice Pancake, Shirmp dumplings, shumai, buns as well as the newer creative stuffs. So as of now, this is the best dim sum restaurant in LA and let's hope they stay that way for a awhile.

Joan | July 23, 2007 04:27 PM