Friday, January 14, 2011

Los Angeles: Dean Sin World



There has been a lot of tweaking with everything I've learned at Food Blog Camp and the site has been freshened up a bit. Hope y'all like the changes and please feel free to leave feedback.

Now that I have a fresh look to the site, I have to share these awesome photos of one of my favorite subjects: dumplings. Dean Sin World is one of those rare and special places where the food is great and the people are warm and friendly. I'm late to jump on the bandwagon, as this place has been a longtime favorite of Tony, Cathy, Wandering Chopsticks, Kirk, and Kirbie. After reading about it and keeping it in my cobwebbed brain, I finally dragged D. and my folks there.

Turns out, my mother liked the place. My father joked that her approval is not to be taken lightly. So, with Mom's stamp of approval, I bring you a little bit of Dean Sin World.


These peanuts were coated in salt, sugar, and bits of dried seaweed, which gave them wonderful umami to go with the rich earthiness of the peanuts.


I love sheng jian bao. The filling of a dumpling, the body of a bun, and the toasted bottom of a potsticker.


The bao here have a little bit of soup in them, like a xiao long bao (soup dumpling). And speaking of XLBs...


Xiao long bao or "little basket bun" are made with a cube of gelatinous soup (broth cooled so it solidifies into gelatin) before cooking. The cube melts and forms a little pool of broth inside the dumpling. I like to drain mine before eating them. I'm just not a fan of hot soup gushing into my mouth.


The potstickers were good with a crisp crust. Dean Sin World sells bags of frozen dumplings, potstickers, and xiao long bao for purchase, so D. and I brought a couple of bags home with us.


Niu rou mien (beef noodle soup) was the downer of our meal, with the soup being rather bland. However, the noodles were beautifully cooked and it's a shame the soup didn't flavor them much. I'm hoping I caught this dish on an off-day and perhaps it might be better on another visit.


Flaky and fried, the scallion pancakes were decent. My mother also ordered their leek pastry, which is the same flaky pastry as the scallion pancakes, but used as a wrap for sauteed leeks, scallions, and vermicelli.


Along with all of the dumplings and buns, they also make pastries filled with sweet and savory fillings. These came fresh out of the oven while we were there.


My father, whose legendary sweet tooth I inherited, couldn't turn down a pastry filled with red bean paste. Since this place with a winner with my nearest and dearest, we'll be back soon.

Dean Sin World
306 N Garfield Ave #2
Monterey Park, CA 91754

9 bites:

Dennis K. said...

Hey, nice new look! I need to get my butt to this place soon. Been craving good sheng jian bao ever since my trip to shanghai many many years ago...

Kim in the Kitchen said...

Hi, Marie! I like the new look! I was surprised to see a picture of you, but it made me smile.

Fran said...

GREAT post! I wish I could teleport into the photos and the food tonight. You captured the food so well it makes me want to head to the kitchen to whip up some dumplings -- or something. :)

KirkK said...

Hey Marie - Very nice new look! I'm glad you made it to Dean Sin World..... there are several good Jiaozi/XLB/Shengjian Bao places within walking distance of DSW.... but the prices there can't be beat!

kirbie said...

So glad you got a chance to check this place out and liked it! I like the new changes to your blog too. =)

Meandering Eats said...

Dennis- Thanks! And yes, get up there as soon as you can!

Kim- Thanks! One of the tips from FBC was to put your picture up. I'm still pretty guarded about my online presence, though.

Fran- Hahaha... glad you liked it! Totally appreciate your comment. Did you end up making dumplings?

Kirk- Thanks for the comment and for being one of the inspirations to go there in the first place. I'll have to check out Mama Lu's, etc. next time I'm up.

Kirbie- Thank you! Loved your post on it!

Damaris @Kitchen Corners said...

oh my gosh everything looks so good. I kind of want to make the peanuts. do you think they were boiled first?

Amber said...

Those pancakes look amazing! I need to try that... on our reunion tour. ;)

Gastronomer said...

The top photo of the peanuts has got me drooooling! DSW is tasty business! The next time you're in the neighborhood, try Mama's Lu -- a sister resto to DSW :-) Happy eating!

9 bites