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    Chef 81

    4.3 (11 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 2:00 pm

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    Salted shrimp, almost all gone because we ate it before the photo
    J K.

    Went back with my Mom and she loves it! We dined in and the chef was so friendly and welcoming ! Food was, as expected, delicious and we can't wait to eat here again!

    Why would the food or meet be on top of trash bin looks like it was sitting there for sum time
    Oswald D.

    Good was so old and also quality was not good services was bad chef and waitress did not know how to use register so took over 15 to places an order

    Lunch special Menu with prices

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    1 year ago

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    11 months ago

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    10 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    9 months ago

    Great food n Awesome service. Dinner special with 3 dishes with soup n rice only $36! Great value! Come support local small business.

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    8 months ago

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    Ask the Community - Chef 81

    Review Highlights - Chef 81

    I'm Waiting for the grand opening.

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    Thumbling

    Thumbling

    4.0
    (2.2k reviews)
    4.0 mi
    $$

    I came for brunch with my sister and it is already packed. Luckily we were able to get seated…read morepretty quickly. There is a QR code that you can scan which will give you the digital menu which you can order off of right away without having to wait for the waiter. If you're not sure on what to order the menu tells you what is their popular dishes to help give you an idea of what's good. We order the marinated cucumber salad, Shanghai spicy shrimp and pork wontons, pan fried pork dumplings, pork xiao long bao, and the beef tenderloin udon with black pepper. My favorites were the Shanghai spicy shrimp and pork wontons and the beef tenderloin udon with black pepper. Both are considered spicy dishes but I have a weak spicy tolerance and I did not think that they were spicy at all! The pan fried dumpling skirt was crispy and instantly melts in your mouth. The xiao long baos have a small amount of soup within and the cucumber salad was so refreshing. The food comes out quick! The staff work quick to ensure you get all of your food fast. This place is one of my favorite spots to grab some dumplings. Highly recommend!

    I've been coming to Thumbling for about 4 years, and it used to be one of my favorite restaurants…read more Unfortunately, it's gone downhill. The sesame peanut noodles have been disappointing the last three times I've ordered them. They barely add any sauce anymore, so the noodles taste bland. Instead, they throw in a ton of minced garlic and especially minced ginger, which completely overpowers the dish. It doesn't taste anything like it used to. The service has also gotten worse. I asked an employee in Spanish if I could have a straw. She acted like she didn't understand me, so I asked again in English, and she still said she didn't understand. I just said never mind. But a few minutes later, my aunt asked the same employee in Spanish for more water, and suddenly she understood perfectly. That honestly left me confused. The employees also come off as rude and unfriendly. Then, when it's time to pay, they practically shove the tablet in your face while standing there watching you. We were a party of four, yet there was a $16 gratuity added, and on top of that they asked us how much extra tip we wanted to leave. It feels like you're being pressured into tipping twice instead of it being your choice. It's honestly sad because this place used to be so good. I've noticed fewer people eating there lately, and if the food quality and customer service keep getting worse, I can see why. I hope management takes this seriously and brings Thumbling back to what it used to be.

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    Thumbs up from me too!
    Thumbs up from me too!
    Popcorn Chicken
    Popcorn Chicken
    Marinated Seaweed and Bean Sprouts Salad

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    Marinated Seaweed and Bean Sprouts Salad
    S&w China Taste

    S&w China Taste

    4.3
    (132 reviews)
    1.6 mi
    $$

    we've been coming here for many years. it's been a while since we last visited. 4 of us came late…read moreon Friday evening around 8pm. there's only 1 table was still eating. we ordered the typically Shanghainese dishes, green onion braised tilapia, Shanghainese rice cake, Shanghainese spare ribs and Shanghainese ham soup. servers, one of them is the owner wife, were very friendly. and the food came quickly. the fish came first and was very dark color, and the sauce can be a little thinner. but it tasted good. spareribs was also dark, my MIL said, what's this black dish? flavor is good as well. I think they put too much dark soy sauce for coloring. the soup came last in a big clay bowl. tasty but the veggie is a little too soft/overcooked, and not enough bamboo shoots. when we asked for check, the server asked if we'd like to have some chinese dumpling desserts, compliments of the house. of course!!! it was another big bowl of sweet soup with egg flowers and lots of small sesame stuffed tang guan (dumpling). perfect ending!! this place is a staple in the n neighborhood for a long time. the food was always on par and price is reasonable. however, this time I felt the the presentation and flavors were not the same as before. we will still come back when we feel like a quick Shanghainese food.

    Mama approve shanghainese food 上海小吃 not too salty but 削肉was a bit diff from norm. Free rice ball if…read moreu pay cash The fried fish and 削肉cold cut pork appetizer is a specialty only at these authentic Shanghai nese restaurants cafes. Get the fried fish. It's sweet salty and crunchy Service and taste is like Feel like you're eating at family's kitchen dining room. Friendly and small cafe. It's where u come with family looking for authentic shaihangnese food.

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Kung Pao Chicken
    Kung Pao Chicken
    Boneless Fish With Sweet & Sour Sauce

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    Boneless Fish With Sweet & Sour Sauce
    Ding's Garden

    Ding's Garden

    3.7
    (775 reviews)
    1.1 mi
    $$

    I visited this restaurant twice before its permanent closure on April 15, 2026. Some dishes were…read moreexcellent, while others were just average. Szechwan DanDan Dry Noodles w/ Peanuts: Excellent. It was a bowl of dry noodles topped with green onions, crushed peanuts, and sesame sauce. It tasted like an upgraded version of sesame noodles with a better texture. Ding's Special Cold Plate: Excellent. This signature appetizer platter was one of the restaurant's best. It included five items: dried tofu, seaweed, pig ear, beef tripe, and spicy beef shank. Fried Pork Chop + Green Mustard Fried Rice + Spiced Eggs: A must-order. The fried rice had great "wok hei" (breath of the wok). The fried pork chop, which had a bit of fat, was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. The juiciness and the texture of the melted fat were perfectly handled without being greasy. Shanghai Sesame Fermented Rice Dumpling Soup: A must-order. The portion was huge and enough for four people. It used mini tangyuan (rice balls) with sesame filling, and the combination of osmanthus powder, fermented rice, and egg drop was excellent. Also, it wasn't overly thickened with starch like at other restaurants. Soybean with Bean Curd Leaves: Very good. The moisture was reduced to just the right level, and the flavor was as satisfying as a meat dish. In addition, unlike the cold appetizers served elsewhere, this one was served hot. Braised Pork Belly: Good. It came with two translucent-looking spiced eggs and four pieces of pork belly. The sweet sauce was well-absorbed, and the meat was stewed until it was quite tender with almost no "porky" smell. Overall, it was a good dish, but the version at Blue Magpie in Arcadia is even better. The following dishes were good but not must-tries: Pan-Fried Dumplings, Steamed Dumplings, Stir-fried Rice Cakes, Braised Beef Noodle Soup, Shrimp & Pork Wonton Soup, Fish Fillets in Rice Wine Sauce, and Stir-fried Spinach with Garlic. Steamed Stinky Tofu: Highly not recommended! Is this even Jiangzhe cuisine? It tasted more like Sichuan-style poached stinky tofu. It was way too salty, so much so that I stopped eating after about 60% and didn't even have the desire to take the leftovers home. Shanghai Style Salted Chicken: Highly not recommended! The chicken texture was quite dry, and the worst part was the abundance of small bone fragments. I was afraid to chew too hard for fear of damaging my teeth. 趕在 2026 年 4 月 15 日正式結業前造訪了兩次。整體而言,部分菜色表現亮眼,部分則較為普通。 大合特色擔擔麵:大推。拌入蔥花、花生碎與芝麻醬的乾拌麵,嚐著像口感更精緻的升級版麻醬麵。 攪和攪和:大推,本店必點招牌拼盤。含豆乾、海帶、豬耳、牛肚和麻辣牛腱五種綜合滷味。 醇香排骨雪菜炒飯滷蛋:必點。帶有鑊氣的菜飯,帶點肥肉的炸排,外層酥脆內層軟嫩,汁水感和融化油脂感都處理的極佳且不膩。 上海芝麻酒釀小湯圓:必點。份量頗多足夠四人吃。芝麻小湯圓配桂花蜜與酒釀蛋花。此外,完全不像其他店家會摻過多勾芡。 雪菜毛豆百頁:很不錯。水分收得恰到好處,美味完全不輸葷食。此外,不同於一般常見的冷盤做法,這道是以熱菜呈現,更有鑊氣。 紅燒肉:不錯。含兩顆晶瑩剔透的滷蛋與四塊燒肉;甜口醬汁入味,肉質燉煮得夠軟爛且幾無豬腥味,整體水準不錯。只是,阿凱迪亞的藍鵲仍稍勝一籌。 中規中矩但沒到非吃不可:生煎包、小籠包、炒年糕、牛肉麵、蝦豬大餛飩、糟溜魚片、蒜蓉炒菠菜。 蒸臭豆腐:超雷絕不推薦!這是江浙菜嗎?怎麼嚐著像川式水煮臭豆腐。太鹹了,鹹到我只吃了六成左右就不碰了,連打包帶走的慾望都沒有。 脆皮鹹水風雞:非常不推!雞肉口感偏柴,最討厭的是,容易吃到細小碎骨,我都不敢大力咀嚼怕傷牙。

    Best Dan Dan noodle place in town.. I hate to see it go…read more This was my go to place for lunch there dish is very well made and tasty The owner told me today that she going to retire by end of this month 2/28/26 Will be the last day they open. Such sad news as they are one of the OG in Rowland For the best tasty foods Services is alway top notch Ambiance is alway family friendly Really hope in the future there still a place that can keep there famous dishes still available Will truly miss this place

    Photos
    Front of restaurant
    Front of restaurant
    Beef noodle soup
    Beef noodle soup
    Dan Dan Noodle

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    Dan Dan Noodle
    Tasty Noodle House

    Tasty Noodle House

    3.7
    (188 reviews)
    2.9 mi
    $
    Locally owned & operated
    Family-owned & operated

    One of the best Shanghai cuisine restaurants in town! Loved their fast service and their Shanghai…read moregrilled pork buns, it's very juicy and has tasty soup! Their must orders are the Shanghai pork and vegetable soup, great choice for Lunch!

    Definitely a good and affordable spot for when you're craving shanghainese food in the area. This…read moreincludes dumplings, pan fried baos, stir fry noodles, soup, fried rice, xiao long baos, etc. It is not out of this world but it definitely hits the spot for if you have these cravings. We ordered the pan fried baos (sheng jian baos), the xiao long baos, beef stir fry chow mein noodles, and the shanghai style stir fry thin noodles with pork and veggies. It was a filling meal for lunch and the flavors were there. The shanghai noodles were more on the salty side but it was good taste and flavor. The beef stir fry chow mein was good. The sheng jian bao was lacking flavor and the bao itself was thicker than expected, however it was cooked well with a nice crisp on the bottom the way we liked it. The xiao long bao was decent. This location was a bit hidden as it is in a plaza with many restaurants and also hidden to the side of the plaza. It is in the same plaza as 99 ranch market. Definitely give it a try if you haven't yet.

    Photos
    Comfy and modern vibe in the dining room
    Comfy and modern vibe in the dining room
    Must order
    Must order
    Crispy Fish Fillet with Seaweed -- my favorite dish here!

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    Crispy Fish Fillet with Seaweed -- my favorite dish here!
    LT Shanghai Restaurant

    LT Shanghai Restaurant

    3.9
    (58 reviews)
    2.2 mi

    LT Shanghai has officially become our go-to family gathering spot in Rowland Heights. If you are…read morelooking for authentic, family-style Chinese food that tastes like high-quality home cooking, this is the place to be. The most attractive part of dining here is their incredible "Buy 4 Dishes, Get 1 Free" deal, which they offer all day long. In an area where prices are constantly rising, this deal makes it one of the most affordable and satisfying options for a large group. Because of this value and the quality of the food, the restaurant is always busy, but it's well worth the wait. I like to recommend a few dishes there. Hu Nan Tofu: This is my mother-in-law's absolute favorite. The sauce is the star here--it's savory and perfectly seasoned, making the tofu taste amazing. Crab Meat Fish Maw Soup: I highly recommend starting your meal with this. It's comforting, rich, and high-quality. You must add red vinegar and pepper to make it perfect. Bitter Melon: They cook the bitter melon really well here, balancing the flavors so it's not over-powering. House Special Garlic & Chili Seasoning (Crab/Lobster): For special occasions, their seasoned crab and lobster are fantastic. The garlic and chili kick really elevates the fresh seafood. Whether it's a casual weeknight dinner or a big family celebration, LT Shanghai delivers consistent, comforting flavors. It truly feels like a "home away from home" for Chinese cuisine. Highly recommended!

    I'll not return to this restaurant because I ordered Togo twice and was disappointed…read more I even met my mah Jong player who also togo red bean paste desert wrapped bamboo leaves My order included 2 lunch special Veggie with sliced steak and spicy eggplant Paid $30 plus tip Compared with beef and chicken I got paying similar amount but not salty from that one across street of my Buena Park downtown, the salt and black soy sauce from this LT Shanghai were both way too much Sauce leaked to plastic bag and my car carpet What could I say? No comment!

    Photos
    LT Shanghai Restaurant
    LT Shanghai Restaurant
    LT Shanghai Restaurant

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    Mr Dragon Noodle House

    Mr Dragon Noodle House

    4.4
    (473 reviews)
    2.1 mi
    $$
    Free parking
    Wheelchair accessible

    Sometimes we drive up from Irvine just to go to Mr Dragon Noodle House. Their pan fried buns are…read morethe best I've had in OC (my fave in the US is in Flushing NY), so that's always a dish I have to order. Their mala beef noodle soups are solid, the broth is rich and the noodles are firm enough. The restaurant has very generous portions for their appetizers. The seaweed app is a heaping mountain and the popcorn chicken always comes on a large plate. Their drinks are also big so it's great to share with the group. There's generally no wait when we go, weekdays or weekend. Otherwise we get seated pretty quickly after a small wait. Service is super quick with piping hot dishes.

    Mr. Dragon Noodle House is a restaurant specializing in Chinese comfort food. This location in…read moreDiamond Bar opened a couple years ago and is located in a plaza with ample parking. They also have a location in Rosemead. POPCORN CHICKEN ($10) - while popcorn chicken is not typically relatively crispy or crunchy, it still had good flavor and there were big portions. 4/5 XIAO LONG BAO ($13.50) - XLB is one of the most popular dishes here like they are at other similar restaurants like Din Tai Fung. Beware that it's steaming hot when it first comes out and it can still be too hot to eat even minutes after. To cool it down, poke a hole through the inside. It's typically eaten with vinegar, soy sauce, and a bit of ginger slices which added nice flavors. 4/5 BEEF ROLL ($16) - I liked the crispy exterior and there was a good portion of meat. This was one of the dishes I liked more than others. 4.5/5 HOT OIL SHRIMP PORK WITH CHINESE CABBAGE WONTON ($14) - the wontons were larger than typical and while I liked the mala spice of the sauce, I wasn't the biggest fan of the overall flavor of the sauce. 3.5/5 HOUSE SPECIAL BEEF NOODLE SOUP ($15.50) - the broth was flavorful and the meat pieces were very tender. It was a big bowl of soup with a healthy portion of noodles. If you're looking for authentic Chinese cuisine with homemade noodles this is a solid spot.

    Photos
    Excellent service
    Excellent service
    Pork fried rice cake
    Pork fried rice cake
    A3. Cold Seaweed

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    A3. Cold Seaweed

    Chef 81 - shanghainese - Updated August 2026

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