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    Chef 81

    4.3 (11 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 2:00 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

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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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    8 months ago

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    5 months ago

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    6 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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    11 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 - Crab Roe and Pork Xiao Long Bao, very good!

    Thumbling

    4.0(2.1k reviews)
    4.0 mi
    $$

    I love Thumbling it's definitely one of THE spots in West Covina! Be prepared to wait closer to an…read morehour if your party is large, and maybe 10-30 for smaller parties. There's plenty to walk around in the plaza (desserts, pastries, açaí bowls) while you're waiting and even a fountain. Once seated everything moves relatively fast. The menu is extensive, food comes out quickly and fresh, and workers are attentive even though you order through a tablet and it's super busy inside. Food is stellar and of value (6 XLB for $8!), portion sizes are good, and everything is piping hot! The soup dumplings have soo much soup IMO beating out Mama Lu's which is what I would consider to be their nearest competitor. The spicy shrimp wontons are also good, but I think the flavors don't quite hit as well - big pieces of shrimp are enclosed though! The Peppered Beef Udon was great the beef pieces were tender and juicy and great textured noodles. Onion pancakes are a staple along w/cucumber salad (not pictured) , and their pan fried pot stickers are my favorite along with the sauce it comes with. Sooo crispy. Pro tip: If you are a first timer/came from far and waited a while don't let them seat you at the bar the experience is not as nice by far (I saw someone say it's like paying to stare at a wall - I concur) Being seated at a booth or table will allow you the full experience but I do understand there's only a limited amount of room in the bustling place.

    Came here with my partner and overall it was just okay. I wouldn't call it great, mainly because…read morethe food didn't taste the way I expected, and unfortunately it's not somewhere I'd return to. I've visited twice now, and both times were disappointing. The biggest letdown was the pork chop with egg fried rice; the rice was completely unseasoned, which really ruined the dish for me. The udon was decent, but nothing memorable. The xiao long bao was also just okay, which was surprising since that's usually a standout at dumpling-focused spots. On a positive note, the staff were great, very friendly and helpful, and most spoke Cantonese, which I appreciated. Ordering is done through a QR code on your phone, which is convenient if you prefer minimal contact, though I personally still like having a server take our order. Overall, nice service but the food just didn't deliver for me.

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    Shanghailander Palace

    Shanghailander Palace

    3.1(496 reviews)
    3.0 mi
    $$

    Two of us came to celebrate birthday! We ordered Shanghai…read morestyle spare ribs(strongly recommended),Deep fried shrimp(not the authentic way but ok), meatball soup, pan fried pork bun with sesame, and fried string beans! Very authentic and delicious! First time in this location, we usually went to the Arcadia's, enjoyed our experience here! The store was full on a Saturday afternoon. But service was still on the points. Recommended!

    久不問候,其實就是告別,沒有誰是例外, 年輕時單純的以為, 一切都不會變, 感情會一直在, 其實人生唯一不變的就是~什麼都會變, 我們終究要學會,不管是誰,都只能陪我們走一段路~…read more 今天來放一餐在羅蘭崗上海灘吃過最貴的一餐, 上海灘我常常有機會過來,不管是跟朋友三兩人來吃頓午餐, 或不同社團辦的聚會, 他家的菜色我很喜歡, 硬要碎碎念就是貴一點點,這餐是跟著老饕來的, 很多菜色是菜單上沒有的,朋友要求要特別料理, 有澳洲龍蝦, 像拔蚌, 紅斑兩吃,紅燒甲魚, 炸 軟殼蟹, 烤白筍....超級豐富的啦, 朋友帶來的紅酒, 真是好喝,完全不懂酒的我都喝的出來,怎麼會這麼順口, 難得的也喝了一小杯, 其實他們中間都有一直講解怎麼料理的, 唉,過這麼個幾天,大媽能記的真的有限,想說趕快寫出來,再拖更久, 那啥都忘光光了, 還是慢慢來看圖片吧!

    Photos
    Shanghailander Palace - 3/30/2023 interior

    3/30/2023 interior

    Shanghailander Palace - House Special Pork dish

    House Special Pork dish

    Shanghailander Palace - 305. Shanghai Style Deep-Fried Shrimp & 309. Shrimp

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    S&w China Taste - Everything I ordered

    S&w China Taste

    4.3(130 reviews)
    1.6 mi
    $$

    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.

    Another review said it perfectly - this is truly is a no frills restaurant but it makes up for the…read morefood and service! I know I'm in the right place for authentic Chinese food when I walk in and see tables of elderly people that speak Chinese/Shanghai-nese and the waiters/waitresses know their regular patrons personally. I was in Rowland and craving 魚香肉絲 from a no frills restaurant (not from those unnecessarily expensive/ornate restaurants) and found S&W in the plaza across Auntea Jenny's. We ordered the dish I was craving, which translates to fish braised meat strips?? The dish does not have a fish taste at all but more of a tangy/sweet-ish/salty flavor that I love. The portion was large for the price and it came out perfectly seasoned - my craving was satisfied. This dish had more meat than I am used to and do wish they added 木耳 or 豆乾 to lighten it up a bit. Also ordered the meatballs which were large and hefty! They were so good and perfect with rice. Came with napa cabbage and fresh bamboo as well. Lastly, we ordered the seaweed fried fish, which hit the spot for my fish craving. The fish wasn't fishy at all and the flavor was good. Wish they provided the salt and pepper dip but I guess we could have asked them and they would have provided. Service was extremely kind, it felt like I was eating at my mom's home and the food hit the spot. They offered free rice ball dessert at the end but we were so stuffed we had to pass, but the table next to us got it and it looked delicious! Will have to try next time. I will likely bring my parents here next time as they also enjoy a no-frills Chinese restaurant!

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    S&w China Taste - Inside

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    Kung Pao Chicken

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    Mama Lu’s Dumpling House

    Mama Lu’s Dumpling House

    3.8(906 reviews)
    2.5 mi
    $$

    The fried corn fish was awesome ~ must try item , crispy on the inside, tender and juicy on the…read moreinside, the egg flower corn sauce that came with it added that extra texture and flavorness, yummy! The pork stir fried rice cake (big portions) and delicious. I came back for the pork soup dumplings and it was disappointing because all the juices are spilled out, definitely a different chef from the last time I came here, totally different made but luckily still tasty. Chef dropped the ball here ~~ sadly Overall, this is one of my family favorite. So we will still come back for another try. Service is ok, the server tend to be forgetful , forgot I asked for less salt and my iced water lol Ambience is medium loud as it's always people dining inside. We came after the lunch rush 2pm and it was still plenty of people but no waiting. There's plenty of parking outside, nothing to worry

    We had the best experience at Mama Lu's Dumpling House, this is one of those spots where you have…read moreto come hungry because you'll want to try everything on the menu. We ordered a little bit of everything, and every single dish delivered. The fried rice was perfectly seasoned and super comforting, with that classic wok flavor that makes it hard to stop eating. The vegetable dumplings were fresh, light, and packed with flavor, honestly some of the best we've had. The pancake had that ideal crispy-on-the-outside, soft-on-the-inside texture and was so satisfying. The string beans were cooked perfectly with just the right amount of seasoning, and the eggplant was good, melt-in-your-mouth vibe. Beyond the food, the atmosphere really stood out. It's cozy and welcoming, but still spacious enough to comfortably bring a big group, perfect for families or catching up with friends. One thing we really appreciated is that they don't rush you out. You can actually sit, enjoy your meal, and take your time, which makes the whole experience feel even better. The service was amazing from start to finish. Everyone was so kind, patient, and genuinely attentive. You can tell they really care about making sure you have a great experience. Shoutout to Nana (the manager) for being so awesome! Overall, this is a spot we'll definitely keep coming back to. Amazing food, warm atmosphere, and top tier service, what more could you ask for?

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    Mama Lu’s Dumpling House - Inside

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    Ding's Garden - pig ears... i don't eat 'em but my friends say they're just about the best pig ears ever.

    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
    Ding's Garden - Front of restaurant

    Front of restaurant

    Ding's Garden - Beef noodle soup

    Beef noodle soup

    Ding's Garden - Dan Dan Noodle

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    Dan Dan Noodle

    LT Shanghai Restaurant - Soft shell crab is always the best!

    LT Shanghai Restaurant

    3.9(56 reviews)
    2.2 mi

    I used to go to this place every week before they changed ownership. Decided to give this new…read morerestaurant a try, but it turnout horrible than before. They advised quick fry pork liver, but it's too well done and full of green pepper stuffing in it. There is no single piece of ginger in it. Without ginger how do you kill the smell of pork liver? Another dish is pig neck meat fry with vegetables. It turns out the vegetables are cabbage instead of Chinese broccoli as it should be. So disappointed with this new owner, you won't get my business any more because you are cutting corner everywhere. It used to be 3 dishes with added 1 dish free. The new owner changed it to 4 dishes to get one free. If they can do 3, why changed to 4? More profitable? Its management problem in my opinion

    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!

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    LT Shanghai Restaurant
    LT Shanghai Restaurant
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    Mr Dragon Noodle House - Beef roll $15

    Mr Dragon Noodle House

    4.5(455 reviews)
    2.1 mi
    $$
    Free parking
    Wheelchair accessible

    Highly recommend if you love din tai fung style cuisines without waiting 2hrs and breaking your…read morewallet. Their dan dan noodles with rice noodles was savory, with that lovely peanut base sauce. Their Crab & pork xiao lou bao is super delicious. Their skin is thin and the soup inside just fills your mouth. Honestly i think it's better than Din tai fung for that alone. The beef tomato noodle was filled with thick, tender beef chunks, and the diced tomato was actually sauted with savory seasoning. You can see many locals come here to enjoy excellent quality comfort food. From Ordering to being served was a matter of minutes. Great for limited lunch break people! Very clean, simply decorated place.

    Mr Dragon Noodle is always a hit, and this time was no exception. We ordered takeout and everything…read morestill held up really well by the time we got home. We got the beef noodle soup, beef tendon soup, seaweed salad, pan-fried pork buns, and pork soup dumplings. The soups were rich and comforting, with tender meat and flavorful broth. The beef tendon was especially soft and well-cooked. The pan-fried pork buns had a nice crispy bottom with juicy filling inside, and the soup dumplings were solid as always. Seaweed salad was a nice lighter side to balance everything out. Overall, super satisfying meal and consistently good quality. Definitely one of our go-to spots for noodles and dumplings.

    Photos
    Mr Dragon Noodle House - Xiao Long Bao

    Xiao Long Bao

    Mr Dragon Noodle House - C4. Beef Potstickers

    C4. Beef Potstickers

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    Pan Fried Pork Bao

    Chef 81 - shanghainese - Updated May 2026

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