The xiao long bao here are seriously amazing! Better than Din Tai Fung. Perfectly seasoned, big chunks of meat, with a juicy soup inside and done fresh! Highly recommended.
(5)
Mark Y.
First time I ate here everything was good. The hot and sour soup was perfect the Mapo tofu was nice and spicy and the Dumplings were good. But on my 2nd and 3rd visit something changed and for the worse. No flavor hot and sour, The mapo had no spice, but at least the dumplings were still good. Unfortunately I won't be going back
(2)
Jenn B.
J & J makes delicious xiao long bao (XLB) without the wait time you'll surely find at DTF. My Chinese friends actually prefer this place over DTF. The pork chop fried rice is also very tasty, but stay away from the sheng jian bao (pan fried chinese bun). They are way too doughy and not even juicy. Everyone at the table had to struggle just to finish one dumpling. CASH ONLY.
(4)
Mela F.
Have you ever loved a place so much that you actually didn't want to tell people so lines don't get crazy long? GUILTY AS CHARGED!! I've loved coming here for years. Their juicy dumplings (Xiao long bao) is on par with Din Tai Fung. The beef noodles and dan dan mein are my favorite of all of LA. There isn't much here I don't like eating, from the radish buns to the garlic stir fried veggies, I LOVE THIS PLACE!!! So - what you should get: Radish bun Crab Xiao Long Bao (2x) Pea spouts in garlic A Mein (dan dan, beef or just plain green onion) Good luck! =D
(5)
Vincent R.
J & J is a fine establishment with delicious soup dumplings and Shanghinese cuisine at an affordable price. There's a good amount of parking underneath, so no need to stress out. They're cash only so there's that to take into consideration. Service is fair and clean but the condiments stuck in cheap containers were something that stuck out. Their soy sauce was inside a ketchup container and the vinegar was inside a mustard one. Also their tea was served in a styrofoam cup. Points off for presentation there. Their soup dumplings and salted fried pork were delicious. I was super pleased with what I got. Their presentation needs a bit more work but I wouldn't mind coming back if I were jonesing for some soup dumplings in the area.
(3)
Stacy H.
look, i'm a vegetarian, so i can't really tell you about where the best xiao long baos are in los angeles. but what i can tell you is that i've been here for about 20 years, and it's always consistently good. jin jian is always my go-to restaurant after i come back to LA from boston (yes, even ahead of in-n-out), since it's got the best shanghainese food around. i always order the shanghainese rice cakes and/or the shanghai stir fry noodles, and you literally cannot go wrong. i've also ordered the vegetarian pan fried dumplings, but those are bland. the only reason why this place has 4 stars instead of 5 is that their menu has greatly decreased over the last 5 years, and their selection of vegetables isn't that great, but that's okay. i would agree with everyone else's statements about bringing cash and bringing someone that speaks mandarin and/or shanghainese - the waitresses don't really speak english.
(4)
Jessica L.
My parents would take me here all the time when I was a little kid. I love there crab soup dumplings. My favorite!
(5)
Robert M.
Had this place for lunch yesterday...OMG...it's the BOMB!!! Couldn't stop thinking about it today! The dumplings are the best that I've had and the food tastes like mama's home cooking! Din Tai Fung...you better watch out! :D
(5)
Curtis T.
This place is pretty authentic. Staying in Shanghai for 5 years, I've tasted numerous street foods and I could say that some of the dishes are just like the ones in Shanghai. I WOULD NOT order xiao long bao or sheng jian bao even though the waitress will suggest it everytime. Those two dimsum are not authentic! People who comment here saying xiao long bao is good because they haven't tried real xiao long bao. Other than that, I say other dim sum are good. Come here for shanghainese food
(4)
Andy L.
Best Xiao Long Bao with crab meat. Try it here and you will know how much DTF was overrated. I also like the pan fired Shang Hai rice cake and the sweet and sour soup.
Steam dumplings were juicy and delicious! Pan fried pancakes were ok. Pork chop rice was so tasty, especially the rice, hard to explain, they cooked it with green veggies so it has a nice aroma. My buddy had the treasures noodle soup with tofu, I only sampled the soup and it was flavorful and light at the same time. He enjoyed it and said that's his usual dish, he raved about the noodles. Free tea and friendly service!
(4)
Andrea C.
Best xiao long bao in Los Angeles!! So juicy and hot, and it's always excellent when I go there (although I have heard that there are off days). I prefer this place to Din Tai Fung, and it's way cheaper. I typically order the shanghai stir fry noodles and pork xiao long bao, and it's something I always get whenever I'm in the Pasadena area. I do recommend coming with a friend who speaks Mandarin: the waitresses, although friendly, only speak Mandarin. I asked for the trash can, and they pointed me towards the ATM machine. They also only accept cash. The place is pretty small and easy to miss, but is in a large plaza with plenty of parking so do yourself a favor and have their amazing XLB!
(4)
Schel H.
some good some bad and mostly avg dumplings, yef #4 stop on the dumpling tour Well this is a mini dumpling stop from that LA Weekly top 10 dumpling joints in LA and it came in as #4. So I came here with a group of the homies and the munchkin to dumpling it up. Well it was not like whoa whatsoever. It was a very average kinda Chinese place. Some dishes were good, two things were great and several were meh... Pro Tip: Bring someone who speaks Chinese with you! The menu and the servers don't help on the English front very much. The regular pork dumplings were decent. They had a bit of soup, but not a lot, but the pork was tasty. They had a pan fried on its side version of this that was very good IMHO. My friends said the crab n pork dumplings were quite good as well. They also had a leafy greens veggie that we got at the beginning that was super good and tasted buttery but was made without butter! Just a little bit of oil and the greens! The fried garlic green beans were not very good and seemed almost overcooked. Pro Tip #2: Cash please... =\ The tea barely came out at all as well and getting the waitresses attention was a major PITA! Parking is downstairs underneath the plaza as is the case in many places in Asia and Alhambra. So yeah overall I am kinda wutevers about this place but wouldn't mark it as the #4 best dumpling house in LA.
(3)
Jonathan K.
I love this place's Xiao Long Bao. In my opinion they are better than Din Tai Fung's however, it is sometimes inconsistent while Din Tai Fung's XLB are relatively consistent every time. My typical orders include XLB, sauteed bean leaflet, and the shanghai stir fry noodles. I do recommend that you have someone who speaks Chinese with you. The place is pretty small and can get busy at times. They only accept cash.
(4)
Albert W.
We got our usual XLBs, pan fried dumpling, steamed dumpling, Shanghai rice cakes and onion pancake. They were okay but it wasn't wow. I read through an online review that this place is top 10 for dumplings. I'm a little disappointed. I think Dean Sin World, Hui Tou Xiang, Wang Xing Ji and Din Tai Fung was better.
(3)
Suzee L.
Came here with friends and they ordered a whole bunch items for us in so I wouldn't know how to order in English but the pork dumplings were GOOD!
(4)
Sam T.
Craving Shanghainese food? This is the place to go! My grandfather grew up in Shanghai, so I know what good Shanghainese food is. Jin Jian is my go-to Shanghainese place in the LA/Orange County area. It never disappoints! Here are some of my absolute must-haves whenever I go: 1. Xiao long bao with crab meat -- It just melts in your mouth. The natural sweetness of the crab combined with the freshly steamed pork is heavenly! Their XLB skin is not too thick (a common mistake that takes away from the delicious filling), but it's also not too thin (where it breaks apart and the soup leaks out). It's juicy and fresh from the steamer! Be careful when you eat it though, because the insides are hotter than they seem from the outside of the XLB. 2. Stir-fried rice cakes, Shanghainese style -- The flavors... Man, I just can't put it in words! The dish retains a light smokiness from the wok and the intense heat it's cooked in. You can taste the aroma of soy sauce with a hint of sweetness. The added vegetables and meat really capture the flavors seared onto to the rice cakes. Together, it's a symphony for your taste buds!! The rice cakes, meat, and vegetables have a light coating of sauce, which is nice because the tastiness never runs out! 3. Stir-fried rice cakes with Ji-cai/Ji-Tsai -- This is my grandfather's favorite. Ji cai is a vegetable that is rarely found here in the States. It's very common in traditional Shanghainese cooking. The dish is simple - rice cakes, ji cai, and meat. Ji cai has a nice subtle taste to it, and really makes the dish. If you prefer lighter flavors, this is a great choice! 4. Shanghainese pan-fried thick noodle -- The flavors in this dish is similar to the Shanghainese rice cakes I mentioned in #3. It is like the drier, thick noodle version. (Note: it's a good "drier"!) If you have a small party, I would recommend picking either the Shanghainese rice cakes or the Shanghainese thick noodle, but not both. You can save room in your stomach for another yummy dish on the menu! The ones I listed above are all the dishes I need to get every time I go to Jin Jian. However, other yummy things on the menu include the Pan Fried Dumplings and Green Onion Pancake. This concludes my very first Yelp review! I guess Jin Jian holds a special place in my heart and is worthy of being my first. I really hope that more people try it out! Definitely underrated :)
(5)
Brian C.
It's a small restaurant (two 8-person tables and six 4-person tables), and the plates and bowls could be cleaner, but the food here is really good. I would recommend getting the xiao long bao (regular or with crab) and their pan fried dumplings. The pan fried buns were good, but it didn't have enough internal juices. I would definitely come here again.
(4)
Jennifer R.
I went here and ordered the dumplings, greens, noodles, and rice cakes. The only thing worth eating was the greens and the dumplings. The soupy dumplings were great, but I've had better. I don't know I remember this place being good back 10 years ago. I don't care for it anymore.
(2)
Julia Z.
Good XLB. Smoked fish is also good. Marinated beef is soso. It feels like the breakfast at home, Shanghai. Nothing spectacular, but it's authentic and home style. Love it :D
(4)
Lawrence L.
We were out looking for a place that was still open on a Friday night in the SGV without the maddening crush of DTF. We thought about JTYH but they were closing in 15 minutes at the time so I continued down Valley until we got here... It wasn't too busy, but we managed to snag the only two orders of XLBs that they had left. In our luck it was the Steamed Pao with Crabmeat yelp.com/biz_photos/j-an… which is exactly what I wanted to try anyway. Eight XLB to an order, they had nice shape and size, juicy, full of crabmeat with binding pork. I had the lions share, at least half of them, and I only ran into one which had a tiny bit of the shell in it, which to me is statistically acceptable, like eating a fish and finding a bone... I don't know my Chinese greens as well as I feel that I should, but the Sauteed Bean Leaflets yelp.com/biz_photos/j-an… taste similar to snow pea shoots that I am used to and love. When my wife ordered this, I turned to her and said "..is that 'dao miu?...' " and the waitress nodded in the affirmative which was good considering my zero command of the Mandarin dialect; she could understand us, I could not understand her. Sauteed and wilted in garlic, they were tender and tasty... We also ordered the Stir Fried Rice Cakes Shanghai Style yelp.com/biz_photos/j-an… , and just as in the case of the leaflets, I asked "...this is like 'haw fun'..." and again the waitress nodded yes; we could have had this exchange all night. I liked the bite sized portions, and yes it tastes like dry style haw fun noodles... My better half also wanted some kind of soup so we also went for the Shanghai Style Wonton yelp.com/biz_photos/j-an… . Besides being a smaller portion than I had originally imagined from the picture of it in the menu yelp.com/biz_photos/j-an… , it seemed more of a soup dumpling (sui gow) to me than what I am used to calling a wonton, but no disrespect to the restaurant because that's the way it was depicted in the picture... Not a bad experience, everything tasted fine, I just felt fortunate to get the last XLB order in for the evening. They also turned away another couple coming in at 1000pm telling them that they were closed when the sign says that they close at 1030pm; I guess they felt that they had enough business for one day. To quote my son: "It sucks to be first...", well in this case 'it sucks to be last...' too...
(4)
Matt C.
With all the reviews that compare this place to Din Tai Fung, I must say, they're right! We came early to this very small spot, so early that they were just hanging out in the dining room, just stuffing and folding and rolling. We got some potstickers and some sort of meat wrapped in rice wrapped in a banana leaf. What, I don't know what anything is called! In fact, many of the items here have comically long English names. Oh well, these two were awesome! And let's not forget cheap. No hype, no wait, and smack in the middle of Monterey Park. What's not to love about this place? I'll come back for the potstickers for sure.
(5)
Chingman C.
Their siu lung bao (steam soup dumplings) is the best that I ever had!!!! Compare to the ones from din tai Fung,, their dumplings contains more soup and taste better!! Also,, it's cheaper than DTF.. The Shanghai noodle is really good too!! But it's cash only..
(5)
Rosemary T.
1. Service is fast. 2. Crab Xiao Long Bao is juicy and delicious. Skin is thin but not falling apart. 3. Spicy and Sour Soup, well... not spicy nor sour enough, so just a soup. 4. Garlic Chinese watercress, not oily, perfectly cooked, fresh and garlicky. 5. Sheng Jian Bao... dough is WAY TOO THICK, so you're pretty much eating dough. 6. Wong Tong soup... best dish of the night. The ratio of dough to meat ratio was perfect, the soup was flavorful and not blend. 7. Stir fry noodle that the waiter is RAVING about... well... consider the dark color it has, there's no real flavor to it at all. 8. Will I come back... probably not... had to add this because of number fetish. Tip: Cash only~ Waitress thinks their food is better than they really are... do not take their recommendations.
(3)
Teresa H.
Secret gem of San Gabriel. Superstar amongst other Shanghainese restaurants. I'll admit I forgot to take photos on my last trip here. Forgive me. The food was SO delicious I devoured some before the thought of photos crossed my mind. Try these if you're with some friends: 1. Fish Clay Pot Soup 2. Pork Chop w/ Veggie Rice 3. Sesame Glutinous Rice Balls with Chinese Rice Wine Dessert Soup All 3 were out of this world. I'm coming back!
(4)
Lily Z.
I am always on the look out for good xlb and my experience with xlb in the state is that it is not hard to find delicate wrapper, multiple cute little pleats, and juicy interior. What most xlb here lack is the authentic porky broth and savory filling. Even the famed Joe's Shanghai in NYC had a chicken flavored broth and lacked authenticity. J&J did a decent job on the wrapper, but the filling and the broth had an excellent robust pork flavor, seasoned correctly with just a smidgen of sugar, and tasted just like the xlb I had in Shanghai. Most of the time, I don't bother with crab xlb, even the ones from DTF tasted overly fishy and lacked the orange colored roe and fat indicative of a good crab xlb. J&J is the only place that has a good authentic tasting crab xlb. The secret is that they use fresh crabs instead of the more bland pasteurized crab meat that doesn't come with roes and fat. The xlb here was 5 stars, but the wontons and rice cakes I ordered weren't as tasty. The rice cake was soggy from having too much greens and lacked the caramelization from wok hei. The Shanghai style wontons had an inferior filling and overwhelmed by excessive dried baby shrimps.
(4)
Luke L.
So I had two separate to-go orders --- 1st to-go order - sheng jian bao (8 pan fried pork buns, $6.5 tax included - just don't order) - Dough was thick and the texture was dry. Not only that, THEY WEREN'T JUICY AT ALL! Not the worst sheng jian bao, but I will not recommend anyone to get it. If you are looking for quality sheng jian bao, try Kang Kang Food Court or Emperor Noodle. Regular Xiao Long Bao (10 juicy pork dumplings, $6.5 tax included - order this) - Compared with sheng jian bao, it was like night and day. I was surprised by its dough texture - so silky and smooth. Not only that, juice inside the dumpling was flavorful too. Definitely one of the top five XLB in the 626 (San Gabriel Valley) area. --- Overall, no sheng jian bao and yes xiao long bao! Additional note: cash only and don't expect off-the-chart service.
(4)
Priscilla C.
What the heck happened? I used to love this place...more than DTF and Mama Lu's and almost as much as Kingdom of Dumpling in SF. But almost a year after my last visit here things are just not the same. Quality and flavor have seemed to gone down. Shanghai style noodles are not as tasty with the perfect balance of salty and hint of sweetness it once had. Pork chops were whatever, not bad not bomb. XLBs tore and leaked out the precious juices with the softest touch. Fried dumplings were aiight. And the hot sauce...the thing that had me coming back...not the same. Seems like they're cutting corners and just mixing store bought chili paste with sriracha or something. The lady was nice but just doing her own thing... After we ordered I saw her reach in the freezer and pull out this rock hard frozen brown/meat thing in a plastic bag like the ones used for produce at markets and send it to the cook in the back. Apparently she took my order wrong and thought that was what I was trying to order instead of the pork chops. It was some type of braised/stew meat...like sweet and sour pork. Even though she replaced it with the correct order if I had actually ordered that dish I would've been kind of wtf that they would try to sell me some frozen crap like that. Hopefully they didn't serve it to anyone else after we left bc the lady had just set it aside on the center dining table while she kicked it in the back and I had to shoo flies away while eating my own food so I'm sure the flies had a feast with that dish. Never coming back here again. I don't do bad quality food esp if the hot sauce is nothing special anymore. I guess I'll just wait for my trip to the bay for now... Meh
All the reviews online talked about the crab and pork soup dumplings. It was nice, on the east coast, the soup dumplings are humongous and difficult to bite into because it's so hot but on the west coast, the soup dumplings are bite size. These little gems were packed full of flavor. Very delicious and I could see why all the hype. Another popular item on the menu was the Shanghai noodles. Flour noodles tossed with soy sauce, veggies and beef. I didn't think this dish was as great as the xiao long bao (soup dumplings). If I'm ever in this area again, I will definitely return for the soup dumplings.
(4)
Jen H.
Review went from 3 1/2 stars to 1. J & J really turned me off when I saw an unlit cigarette hanging off the chef's mouth as he was stir frying some dish. I can't even imagine if the cigarette was lit or possible falling into the pan...gross! Luckily, I saw this at the end of my meal. I'm sure the chef wasn't pulling this stunt when the health inspector went through; they displayed an A outside. Service: Good (3 1/2 star), English limited, CASH ONLY Menu: English/Chinese, includes photos for their top dishes The food itself was decent, here's a list on my immediate take: -Pan-Fried Steam Bun-2 stars The Good-Crunch The Bad -Too much Dough, lack of flavor The Ugly - Overflow of meat gunk of tip -Shanghai Rice Cake-3 1/2 stars Plenty of flavor, oily, love the Rice Cake texture versus the crunchy cabbage -Shanghai Steamed Dumplings-3 stars Standard -Crab Style Shanghai Steamed Dumplings-4 stars Good filling amount, Good Balance, Tender -Veggies-5 stars All of the veggie dishes were fresh and great, definitely my favorite part of the meal -8 Flavor Rice-2 stars Deflated presentation, Oily, Unbalance (90% Rice, 5% Red Bean, 5% coloring) -Deep Fried Bun-3 stars Can't really go wrong with this dish; offer a side of condense milk Overall, J&J uses a lot of oil for their stir-fried dishes that brings the buttery taste out. Stick with simple dishes or better yet, go somewhere else in case there's a cigarette hiding in your dish. Luckily, I came out UN-poisoned after this place. Although I love their veggies and crab style steamed dumplings, I will not return to J & J.
(1)
Kelly C.
Been going to this restaurant for years for their xiao long pao. It's cheap and the food's tasty. The service isn't the greatest but whatever, I never expect much service from the Chinese restaurants around here. Just gimme the good food and I'll be happy with our transaction.
(5)
Emily C.
I've never had fried radish cake (I've had the bun) and I have to say, it's really good here. My dad said that they sell the same things in Hong Kong but stuffed with more radish, but I liked the mix of some green onion with my radish here. Delicious. The waitress was SUPER nice and recommended their XLB (of course) with crab. I think my first one was missing it but the rest after had little bits of crab in it, which was nice to try only once. The Shanghai Stir-Fried Broad Noodle had a great flavor. Not as much wok heat as Mama Lu's, but the flavor was spot-on here in my opinion. It wasn't too dry and had just enough sauce and tasted amazing. Dad saw a clay pot special on the wall that was winter melon and salted pork belly and immediately wanted it. It was one of the best dishes that day because the winter melon was cooked just right and soaked up the perfectly clear broth. The salted pork belly was delicious and paired well with everything. I wish they gave us more beancurd knots or pork belly though... Definitely would come back and try more menu items since their other clay pots sound really good!
(4)
Adelaide L.
Whoever said this place's XLB are comparable to Ding Tai Fung clearly has never been to Ding Tai Fung...
(1)
Jeff P.
An underrated Xiao Long Bao (juicy pork dumplings) place for sure! Been coming here for over 15 years and they're one of my favorite places for the XLBs. I've tried most of the popular places in the SGV (DTF, Mama Lus, Dean Sin, Wang Xin, luscious, etc.) and this place is #1 or #2. It's under $6 for 10 dumplings. Always comes out piping hot and juicy. Looks like a hole in the wall, but it's legit. I've also had various other dishes here and they're all pretty good and authentic. I like the rice cake noodles and usually get that along with my XLBs. Cash Only. Lots of underground parking. They understand some english, but don't fret, there are pictures to point at on the menu.
(5)
Kim L.
Best Xiao Long Bao and Shanghai Chow Mein EVER!!! Enough said. :)
(5)
Erica F.
We ordered xiao long bao with crab meat, onion pancake, and stir fried rice cake in shanghai style. Xiao long bao was decent, onion pancake was ok, and I like the rice cake the most!!! However, nothing really stood out! This is a family style restaurant. It is a bit small, service was ok!!!
(3)
Jacob H.
This place is actually really good. I was deciding between this place and some of the other places in the plaza but eventually went with this because there were more people. Their XLB is really delicious and I would probably go here just for that. The Shanghai rice cakes were pretty good too and not extremely oily like some other places. Prices were very reasonable. This is probably the one time I went by the amount of people in the restaurant versus Yelp reviews and it worked out great.
(4)
Lily Y.
If you want cheap, hole-in-the-wall, Chinese/Shanghainese food, you should check this place out. Service: Might be a little slow, but you can flag them down for attention Seating: Multiple tables, set-up family-style Food: -Steamed pork soup dumplings: ok, not as good as Din Tai Fung. The skin is thicker and several of our dumplings got stuck to the steamer so the soup leaked out :( -Steamed pork & crab soup dumplings: better flavor than the pork alone, but same problem with the thicker skin and having some soup leaking out :( -Shanghai rice cakes: very tasty! -Fried pork dumplings: yummy, pan-fried goodness :D Parking: Several spots in the plaza/lot, but can be tough to find parking during busy hours. Overall, a good place to stop by to fulfill your craving for Shanghainese food. It's pretty cheap and you get what you paid for. FYI, cash only.
(3)
Mona C.
All I can say is, "WOW!" Their xiao long bao is fantabulous! Probably the best I've had in the past 15 years. Juicy, flavorful, and a perfect texture...these little dumplings are like tiny orgasms just waiting to happen! There is NO place like this in Las Vegas...I'm so jealous of you people in San Gabriel! J&J almost makes the 4 hour drive worth it! Their steamed crab and vegetarian dumplings rock, too! Good thing we went early, because there was a swarm of people waiting outside at 7pm. I will definitely hit this place up every time I'm in the SG Valley!
(5)
Linda L.
Maybe I shouldn't have eaten here the day after trying DTF for the first time, but honestly it just wasn't as good. The XLB (dumplings) were alright, but the dumpling skin was too thick for my taste. It didn't help that they had a cart piled high with dirty dishes sitting next to the cash register, that pretty much made me lose my appetite. Also, their green onion pancakes were disappointingly bad. And I usually LOVE green onion pancakes! Instead of the "million layers" that the name of the dish promises, you get like one thick doughy layer which fills you up after a few bites. The frozen kind you get from 99 Ranch are better. This place is cheap and there wasn't a crazy wait, so they definitely beat DTF in that department. But even with that, I don't think that I will be back...
(2)
syrus f.
This is the place where I go for my comfort food. Their crab xiao long bao is the BEST. It is SO juicy and favorable there's nothing like it. That's why I don't ever go to Din Tai Fung after trying the xiao long bao from here. Plus I think Din Tai Fung is really overrated. Anyway, this place is small but it still holds a fair amount of people. My favorite dishes are the crab xiao long bao (always order at least 3 trays), Shanghai pan fried noodles and garlic stir fried snow pea leaves. They also serve a special soup noodles for 99 cents. It's plain noodle with no meat, no vegetable, just noodle + soup. But it is pretty tasty especially for only 99cents. I would highly recommend crab xiao long bao lovers to come.
(5)
Muck P.
Quite disappointing after knowing how good dumplings can be (think Din Tai Fung). We ordered what everyone else seem to be having: the pao dumplings and the Shanghai noodles. Both were greasy and bland. We also ordered the deep fried radish cake (they called it pan-fried in English, which is incorrect), and that was surprisingly good. I will give props to how cheap this place is, but it's not really worth the wait line.
(2)
Liz X.
Disclaimer: Now, I know I'm going to get a lot of crap for this review partly because I'm not Chinese, have never eaten xiaolongbao in China, and because I'm going to come right out and say it, "I don't like Din Tai Fung and the XLB are better at J & J's." There I said it. Commence throwing stones (or the rock hard, dried-up nasty XLB from DTF) now. I first sampled these delectable morsels known as xiaolongbao at the famous "Joe's Shanghai" in NYC's Chinatown. Yes, I know they are XLB on steroids, but those tantalizing treasures served as my barometer. When I got out here knowing that SoCal has the best Chinese food outside of China, I was a woman warrior on a mission. (For those who don't know, XLB are dumplings with "soup" INSIDE them. The "soup" is a euphemism for flavorful greasy drippings). So as most decent ethnic joints go, it's pretty much a pre-requisite that the place is a hole-in-the-wall with a "B" rating. (An "A" stands for "Americanized.") You should pretty much expect very little English, and what little English there is should be misspelled. The servers should be rude and pushy and slap the steaming hot plates down at you and bring the entire meal out in whichever order they damn well please and you pretty much have the formula for a slammin' ethnic meal. As J & J is a true hole, you will be eating elbow to elbow with fellow elderly Asian patrons. Oh yeah, I almost forgot, you can serve you own damn tea by pouring it into styrofoam cups (weren't those outlawed in the 80s?). As for the XLB, much more plump, juicy, and moist than the sad, dried-up attempts at XLB at DTF. AND, as there is no "brand-name" factor that poor little J & J's has to deal with, their prices are ridiculously cheap and there isn't a 45 minute wait. J & J's does a great pea shoot dish mostly done in a chicken broth and does a great job of cutting the grease in the other dishes (noodles can be greasy, but good). I'm still a fan of good ol' Joe's Shanghai, but since I'm out here now, this is where I go for the next-best XLB (outside of NYC and China...but what the hell do I know?)
(4)
Heejin L.
the assorted fried noodles were super greasy and too mushy. and the soup dumplings.. AY! no flavor. no juice. in the pork one. and the crab one.. tasted like the ocean.. not as good as DTF. and id even have to say mei long has better...
(1)
NK M.
Their food is alright, but their Xiao Long Bao, YUM! The price is pretty good and reasonable too. Service... yea, it is Chinese-place-horrible. I didn't like how you have to go out to the restroom outside either. The place is kinda small too.
(3)
Soo K.
This is not a gourmet restaurant with silly foo foo plating and fancy pants waiters; this is where you come to get good food for a good price! Steamed Pao, they are sooooooo good! Perfectly seasoned, I don't even need the ginger sauce or vinegar! I would go with 2 or 3 girls and we get about 4 orders, we're big eaters. Plus 2 orders of the fried onion cake, the lady used to say "Chinese pizza" for those of us who spoke no Chinese. 1 order of the fried Shanghai style rice cake, OMG. We would clear the table, tea and all. best of all, the tab was always easy on the wallet. As we leave, we're always unbuttoning the button on our jeans. Most of the time there isn't a wait, but every once in a while , there is.
(5)
Albert H.
I tried J&J last week after seeing some yelp reviews.. When I found the place, I realized that I'd eaten here a long, long time ago when my family used to visit LA relatives in the summer. It was probably under different ownership, or was a different restaurant entirely, given the high turnover in these parts. Anyway, just as a disclaimer: I came here on a pseudo-date that was possibly my worst date ever.. the horrible company may have tainted my experience. The service was pretty bad even for a chinese joint. While we were seated quickly, we had no menus until I asked for some 10 minutes later. The restaurant is smaller than my bedroom, and yet they still managed to mix up the tables. There were also flies buzzing around inside. So appetizing, huh? At least there weren't any nasty odors.. As for the food? My expectations were too high so I was pretty disappointed. But it was actually not bad. Granted, I ordered the Sheng Jian Bao instead of Xiao Long Bao, and that was solely my mistake. I forgot about the warnings here, so here's another to drill it in: J&J's Sheng Jian Bao are gross! Too much bao, not enough juice, not crispy on the bottom, and just not tasty in general. Blegh. Do not get them. Niu Rou Mian was just ok, not bad, but not great either. Same with Green Onion Pancakes, acceptable, but nothing special. Still, you can't get this stuff on the Westside, so they definitely hit the spot for me. I also took a Pork Chop Rice to go for lunch the next day. The rice didn't keep well (too oily/gooey), but the porkchops were good. I couldn't order/taste more food because my date ate beforehand and didn't want to get anything. Dipshit just picked at the food. Couldn't even provide me with decent conversation. God, what a waste of my time. (Not attractive to begin with and a bad personality made him even uglier.) I'm gonna give J&J another chance, because they're obviously known for their Xiao Long Bao and I didn't try them. But I just read about the two places next door, so I might check them out first...
(3)
Grace L.
Whenever I'm craving xiao long bao I always end up here. It's not as clean as din tai fung but their XLB is sooo much better and cheaper too. An orderr of the same or larger portion here is a little more than half the price of DTF's... my favorite dishes here are the shanghai style noodles and rice cake. the service is really fast and the waitresses are really nice. As far as I know, the owners are shanghainese and this is the place to go for legitimate shanghainese food!
(5)
Katherine P.
So my sister and I tried Mei Long Village and Dragon Mark (by accident) a few months back. Now we needed to see how J&J compared. There were bits of shell in the pork & crab soup dumplings (hey, at least they're using real crab?). A good amount of soup, but honestly we didn't think they were that good. Same for the pork soup dumplings. The green onion pancake was a lot more dough-y than the lighter flakier version at Dragon Mark. Just to make a good comparison, we walked over to Mei Long and shared an order of the pork soup dumplings. Not as much soup, but so much yummier! The skins were a bit thinner too. I guess now we have to try DTF ....
(3)
Anonymous P.
I ordered Item #1 on their menu--the fish in soy bean sauce. I found it really bad. The fish seemed very old--it had the telltale desiccated texture and heavy fishiness. Cooked in a gloopy sauce, this was a serious disappointment--so bad that I will not eat there again under any circumstances. The green bean starch sheets with vegetables was good, as it is at all the Shanghainese restaurants I have tried in the area. Rice was pretty good. Tea was lame--the worst I've had in the SGV. All in all I think this restaurant is catering to the less wealthy FOB Chinese in the SGV. There is no question that I would pay a little more to eat the far superior food in the far superior surroundings at Green Village.
(2)
Sarah Kouoon Y.
JJ i love the dumplings here! the prices is cheap for the taste you get! the place itself is small and can be so packed and busy, but its worth the wait! yumyum yummy!!
(4)
Edmund L.
I used to eat here all the time - Xiao Lung Bao, fried porkchops, bamboo shoots with pea sprouts, vegetable fried rice, etc. Sometimes the food was very good, but other times it was very so-so. The ingredents were not that fresh. You could smell it in the meat. I think many Chinese restaurants have that problem...prices are low and Chinese eat like no tommorow, so you'll always run into the quantity vs. quality issue. That being said, if you like to eat a lot, and don't mind the occasional quality/consistency issue then everything else about this place is good. Service is typical, prices are San Gabriel-cheap, and you usually only have to wait 15-20 minutes tops. Not a bad place. But not great...
(3)
Jack L.
Review based on COUNTLESS visits. Best xiao long baos in the area! They're AMAZING. The skin is just the right texture each and every time, the meat is tasty, and the bao is filled with juices! Be warned, it DOES take some mastery of the chopsticks in order to pick a bao out of the steaming contraption without it breaking! I've been coming here for years, and I personally have not been served any popped baos nor have I broken any through careless chopsticks. Oh, and there are two different types. The regular ones that come in orders of 10, and the ones that contain a bit of crab meat which come in orders of 8. The chicken broth is super hot and great on cold days if you like light broths. The shanghai style rice cake dish is yummy. My parents always get this spicy crab thing that comes in a tin bowl when they're in season. I don't know much about it, but it seems like every table has one. The store is SMALL though, so expect a wait on weekends and especially during meal hours. Overview: Best xiao long baos in the area. Very juicy and fresh! Other dishes are great too, but not what they're known for. Parking can be painful! Small above ground parking area. The restaurant is very small, so there may be a long wait if busy. A bit messy and dirty, and sometimes waiters don't have enough hands. Atmosphere is a bit hectic due to the small area.
(4)
Olivia L.
My boyfriend and I always drive along valley and pass by the kang kang food court, and on their window is a picture of some shanghai pan fried buns. I was craving them and I heard J&J had some decent ones, so we had to hit this place up. We went here on a Saturday night around 6pm. It wasn't too busy, we didn't even have to wait for a table. We ordered the Crab and Pork Soup Dumplings (xiao long bao) $6.50, the shanghai pan fried buns ($5.95), the shanghai pan fried cakes (nian gao) $5.95, and the lion's head (si zi tou) $6.95. The service pretty much sucked, we didn't get our waters refilled even once. The only time they came over to our table was to grab the metal steamer that our xiao long baos were in. I mean seriously?, the restaurant isn't very big (maybe 8 tables) and it wasn't even full! Eh, I guess that's a Chinese restaurant for you, you should be surprised to get service. As for the food, the xiao long bao was pretty good. It's on par with any of the shanghai restaurants in the San Gabriel Valley. They have a thicker skin than din tai fung (overrated restaurant) and that's the style I am used to from NYC. The shanghai pan fried buns were really good. I wish there were a little bit more meat filling to bun ratio, but it was still yummy. They got an excellent sear on the bottom and even above around the edges, which makes me think they bake it in a muffin pan or something (how could you possibly brown the edges?). I thought the best dish was the shanghai pan fried cakes. It's something my mom makes (we're Taiwanese though, haha) and I thought J&J's were the best I've had in LA thus far. The lion's head is always delicious, you really can't get that wrong. The dish had 2-3 nice big and tender pork meatballs with napa cabbage in a slightly sweet brown sauce. I didn't see it on the menu menu, but it was listed on the upright menu in plastic on the table (only in Chinese!). I think it was number 8 on that menu? I would definitely recommend this place. I myself will have to come back and try some of the other dishes that other yelpsters have recommended.
(4)
melinda F.
OMG Yes!!!!!!! You need the dumplings, rice cake, scallion pancakes,... OK you should really try everything. Go with a lot of people so you can try everything. It's so freaking cheap!!! I wish I could go there right now. I eat here almost every week... No bathroom. Kind of hole in the wall.... But try everything. Not joking.
(5)
Dan C.
JJ's is a small place in your typical Asian plaza on Valley. The seating capacity is real small, like around 8 tables at most. We had a makeshift table placed by the doorway. The Xiao Lum Bao (steamed dumplings) is money! You have to eat them when they're hot and when you bite into them the hot juices of the dumpling squirt into your mouth, burning your tongue, but in a forgivable way. The fried dumplings were delicious as well. The Shanghai style fried noodles were on every table, as it should be. Highly recommend this place for dumpling lovers. Just don't go with more than 4 people.
(4)
L S.
J&J dumplings is prob one of the best dumpling houses in the sgv .. Its a little hole in the wall place.. one blink and u might miss it.. it gets pretty packed here during dinner time and the seats are very very limited.. i suggest coming early and hungry because its well worth the wait..
(4)
A P.
We've been coming to this Shanghai eatery since it opened over 15 yr ago, and we keep returning for the consistently tasty food. We are all huge fans of pork and crab xiaolongbao (a small soup dumpling), a specialty here. The crab flavor is fresh and rich. It really tastes like essence of deep ocean. When we've come very early in the morning, we see the kitchen and waitstaff picking the crabs to put into their crab xiaolongbao. The service is friendly but hurried. It helps to speak Mandarin or Shanghainese. We also go to Din Tai Fung and Mei Long Village for the same dumplings, but I always regret not going to J & J instead. You'll pay 30% more at Din Tai Fung for blander food, smaller portions but sit in a more beautiful dining room. So save yourself the trouble, get over the need for a beautiful dining room, and go to J & J for authentic, flavorful, and reasonably priced Shanghai fare. Warning: do NOT order Chinese- American things like broccoli beef, kung pao shrimp, etc... This is NOT what this chef does well here. Come here for the Shanghai specialties such as dumplings, clay pots, soups. If you have to dine in a beautifully appointed space with A+ service, then this is not the place for you.
(4)
Charissa S.
The hot & sour soup is crack. $6.75, umami for days.
(4)
Tiffany S.
Xiao long bao and beef noodle soup were not bad, I think they're better at Kuan's. Not a fan of the Shanghai noodles because they're pretty greasy.
(2)
Lauren V.
pretty damn good Xiao Long Bao, or Xlb's as the cauc-asians call it. This is what J&J i known for, unless you are there for a personal favorite dish you grew up with here, you come for the excellent XLB. The addition of REAL crab meat in the pork and crab xlb's puts these over the top. I just order a bunch of these and im straight. Unfortuntely, cant say they're my favorite (still a percentage point in favor of Din Tai Fung in my head) This is one of those places that kinda makes you feel a little awkward for not being chinese. Thankfully, the people here are very gracious and they'll hold your hand through the ordering process. As small as it is i cant say ive even been the only non-chinese person here, there are others so you're not alone. I have a habit of ordering 2 of something if it looks or sounds good (and its cheap) but even the lady told me to just get 1 because "maybe you dont like". In my book, she's lookin out for me. Other things on their menu are pretty good. The other dish I really like is the pork and rice cakes. They taste like crispy sweet pork chop bites... with rice cakes. I really didnt think Id like it, but somebody i brought once got the beef and broccoli. I dont typically like beef and broccoli but J&J makes it really sweet. This place is found in the same busines plaza with mei long village which i know others have said is pretty good (in fact its like 2 doors down) so if you have a last minute change of heart for which place to go to, you can flip a coin right then and there. Speaking of coins, its CASH ONLY!! I also like how there's a beard papa and a quickly in the plaza so you can pick up some dessert after.
(4)
C P.
My friends said I ought to yelp this place because the food was good and cheap. The stir-fried eel was tasty, but most things we ordered was not as good as I expected. First of all, they do not have sweet and sour fish. Nor do they have SH style stewed chicken noodle. Their hot and spicy soup was thin... like... soup (it ought to be thicker! I loved the tofu though). Their pork dumplings were not very presentable--you could see the pork on top of the dumplings, and they looked dry (because there wasn't enough juice/soup in each!) Now, I shouldn't be too harsh on them. Their sweet and sour spare ribs actually tasted fine, and we really enjoyed the eel. It's a tiny restaurant and it was filled with the smell of vinegar. I had to confess that I liked it that way. The servers were not very personable but they were not rude. I could see why it was a popular place. I probably expected too much, and I certainly did not read the sign carefully. It isn't a Shanghainese restaurant. It specializes in Northern Chinese cuisine (or so they claim) and it doesn't only offer SH style food....I am convinced that you've to be skeptical when a place offers more than one thing... It's like ordering a creme brulee at an American diner. I mean, seriously? We ordered two bowls of rice, one steamed roll (you know who ordered that...), hot and sour soup, stir-fried eel, sweet and sour spare ribs, and a tomato and egg dish. $42 for 3 people including tax and tips. I guess you could say that it's fairly cheap.
(3)
Andrea O.
i know everyone raves about their xiao-long-bao and scallion pancake; however, i want to rave about their seaweed!! i love chilled marinated cucumbers and seaweed, i always order these side dishes. my cousin took me here to eat the xiao-long-bao and instead i fell in love with the chilled seaweed! SEAWEED!!!!
(4)
Karen L.
Rude service, questionable cleanliness, greasy food-- in other words, a really authentic restaurant! I love the food here. The "ants climbing trees" is good and the XLB is nice and juicy. Great prices. The waitresses ignore you and give off a "we don't need your business, we're busy enough" vibe...and they're right. And I keep coming back. It's in the same plaza as three $15-20 foot massage places (the $20 foot massage place upstairs is the best IMO).
(4)
Kat N.
Forget the long lines at Din Tai Fung. The pork and crab dumplings (xiao lung bao) are excellent here. However, downside is the service is lacking (typical of these joints) and you have to take a risk with the other items on the menu. The beef noodle soup is a very basic item for a Northern Chinese restaurant but JJ's was terrible (soup and beef lacked flavor and the noodles were waaaaaay too soft). The onion pancake is also another staple but JJ's was deep-fried instead of pan-fried - that's lazy and obviously the pancake was store bought. To give them credit, the dumplings are handmade to order though. 5 stars if you're satisfied with just eating dumplings.
(3)
Tim T.
Hmmm..... Is all I can really think of everytime I am on my way to this place. Talk about Asian comfort food! Not only is the taste one of the best around, it's also damn CHEAP; About $20 for 3-4 people! Now, it's really easy to order multiples of everything. So just remember self control. Since my Mandarin is really horrible, I order like most 2 or 3 generation Asian Americans; in English. J&J is one of my favorite places for brunch or an afternoon snack. Not too heavy and it always seems hits the spot. From steamed dumplings to Shanghai style noodles to deliciously simple onion pancakes. I love it all! Located on Valley Blvd. in a little plaza, this little gem is usually busy, but the wait is short. Best bet is to park underground because it's nearly impossible to find parking on the first floor.
(5)
Iris Y.
This is a small place good for small gatherings, but not for large groups of people. During my dinner, every table was taken but it was not overly crowded, which is a good thing. Do not wear high heels or shoes that have no traction. You have been warned. It's like playing Putt-Putt Penguin from iminlikewithyou. Good original pork xiao long bao but not so great crabmeat ones. Don't get the spring rolls. Get lots and lots of pork xiao long bao. Nuff said.
(4)
Dijon Y.
After reading some reviews saying how good the xiao long bao was here, we decided to stop by. It was very mediocre and a disappointment. Not that it was horrible, but if you're going out of your way to find XLB to eat, then it should be good and not barely edible. If people didnt rave about how good it was, I'd probably give it 3 stars. I definitely won't stop by here despite the other reviews if I was specifically looking for xiao long bao. Maybe other dishes are good.
(2)
Keith S.
I used to love this place. They have one of the best xiao long baos. The pork and the pork with crab xiao long baos are really good. However, other dishes are not that great. Also, at times, the chef can be MSG happy. If you are in the mood for xiao long bao, J&J is definitely worth a try.
(3)
Food L.
This is the place to go if you want DELICIOUS xiao long bao (regular or with crabmeat), Shanghai stir fried rice cake and noodle, pot stickers, pan-fried pork bun and much more.....if you are in the area. Yeah the Din Tai Fung in Arcadia is delicious, but too far and much more pricey and long wait. J&J a gem that you can really enjoy the food and prices are cheap. Been going to this restaurant for years. The quality has been very consistent and I haven't got any disappointment so far.
(4)
S C.
The only thing I consistently get is the xiao long baos (Shanghai steamed dumplings). The dumplings are almost as good as NYC's version. Very juicy and tender. The black vinegar they serve is very strong. Definitely a five stars. I do wish the prices were a bit cheaper though. $7 for a dish is expensive (for someone used to paying $4 in NY). HOWEVER, I would avoid the noodles. I ordered a "spicy" noodle soup, and there is no way that the soup could be called spicy. I asked the waitress and she says they put a little spice in it. Yeah, right. I gave the soup a 0 star. It was edible but very very bland.
(4)
ruby w.
After reading an article on the best Chinese breakfast in Los Angeles Times, I suddenly had an urge for Xiao Long Boa and Fan Tuan. After reading reviews on yelp, I was excited to try this place out. The XLB was decent, but not as good as everyone else is claiming. Their Shen Jian Boa was way too greasy and bland. The rice on the Fan Tuan was dry and their Bat Bo Fan (eight treasure rice) was way too sweet and not enough ingredients. I've had better at traditional Chinese weddings. Overall, most, if not all the menu items are greasy and not worth the calorie count... I guess that is the drawback of Shanghai food. bleh...
(3)
Bonnie S.
so after reading the raving reviews, i decided to check this place out with my mom. this place is a tiny and was hella crowded. this place isn't for ones who don't appreciate hole in the walls. So i ordered xiao long bao, rice cake shanghai style and noodles with pork and persevered veggies. this place is ok. not terrible but just okay. i think everything would taste better if it was a bit more saltier. Everything tasted bland. the dumplings.. looked great, when u bit into it, it was juicy but just bland. i needed hella soy sauce. i want to give it hope and i think will try it again. i just think maybe i went on a bad day...the day they were short on soy sauce?
(3)
G K.
Went today based on reviews and I might have gone on an off day. The skin on some of the XLB's were punctured and the soup inside did not have the depth of DTF. Onion pancakes were okay... not my favorite. They are a little too thick and crispy for my liking. Not bad though. Pot stickers were ok. A little too dougy inside for me. I prefer the longer thinner skinned pan fried dumplings. The price beats DTF so it's good eating if you're passing by or in the area.
(3)
Chi L.
Our order of Xiao Lun Bao contained raw... yes RAW PORK. They provide a new order for us but did not apologize for what was clearly a mistake on their part.... after that we received little to no service from the staff. I am telling everyone that I know to STAY AWAY from this place.
(1)
Vikki T.
My friend and I tried this place this weekend. This is not what we would call "dim sum". We thought dim sum was what started in Hong Kong in giant restaurants with little carts and what I remember from New York and Houston in giant restaurants (ok, sometimes not so giant in New York) with little carts and what we had in other places in the Los Angeles Chinatown and the San Gabriel Valley in restaurants (also sometimes not so giant) with little carts. This restaurant does not have that. It does have a section of its menu, called "dim sum", which friend and I know of as dumplings and little finger foods. I would call this restaurant a little hole-in-the-wall, which is ok, since there are some great hole-in-the-wall restaurants. However, with all the food places in the SGV, I'm not sure whether we will ever make it back here. We ordered a bunch of stuff and the crabmeat dumplings were excellent, though I'm not sure whether it was the greatest crab. They were very tasty though. The rest of our meal was sort of ok to bad. We were a bit dismayed by the tea in styrofoams cups, though the tea itself was ok, so we got over it. However, we weren't really sure whether there were any green onions in our green onion pancake; the bun of our vegetable/mushroom bao was very heavy which we did not like; our fried turnip cake was shredded turnips, which is different from the more familiar paste, though not necessarily bad; and our steamed pork dumplings were more like boiled dumplings and I think they make their own because the way it was wrapped was boring and not very appetizing and the wrapper was very thicker and a bit too chewy for us and the filling was just meat and nothing else and very boring since it was boiled. Based upon their "water" dumplings, I would guess that they get their crab dumplings made by someone else; they were so much neater, better made and appetizing than the xue jiao. There was a lot more to the menu, so it's possible other dishes are better. I would have also liked to have tried their eel but this experience was not good and with so many other eateries... As my friend said, she would have preferred the typical dim sum experience. We had some xue jiao and onion pancake left over, which we took home. Hubby came around later to inform me that our leftovers were crap. Guess hubby isn't going to eat here anytime soon. As an aside, this mall has an underground parking lot. We were there about noon on Sunday and the parking lot underground was empty! And there are like 6 restaurants in this mall...I think maybe one was sort of busy to warrant a wait...and it wasn't J&J. (Circumstances that day caused us to be later than usual. We usually like to get to Sunday dim sum before 11am, before the crowds, and then get to the market, also before the crowds.)
(2)
Ken W.
We came a few times to this restaurant and we like the food, but about a year ago, we went to the restaurant early, while I was enjoying my food, I saw the waitress took the tea pot from a table that the customers just left and pour it back into the main tea pot, is water so expensive that she needed to recycle the tea? Who knows what else she recycles? I don't even want to go there. It grossed me out, I never went back to the restaurant again.
(1)
Sheena C.
This place is super good. Personally, I prefer J & J over Din Tai Fung (based on the xiao long bao) as I don't really care much for the other food. The shanghai pan fried noodle is edible, but the wintermelon soup is delish, and the hot and sour soup is cool too. Sure, the service doesn't come with a manicure or anything, but what do you expect- it's cheap. Anyway, come hungry and be ready to go home with a burnt tongue. Tip for those unfamiliar to the xiao long bao: put your dumpling in a spoon before eating so that once you bite into it, you can catch the juices in the spoon and slurp it up :yum:
(4)
Ryan C.
we came here at about 10pm after a bad meal at 818 shaokao. the waitress speaks english and when you come in tries to get you to order xiaolongbao. we also got chao niangao (shanghai rice cake), vegetables, and the tang yuan (sweet rice dumplings). the food was all very good. even though the sign says open until 11:30, they started trying to rush us out at around 10:50.
(4)
Julia Z.
This strip mall restaurant has really good Shanghainese food. I felt like we ordered almost everything on the menu (including xiao long bao, rice cakes, beef noodle, chicken noodle, watercress, snow pea leaves, dumplings, radish cakes, soy bean and tofu sheets) and we still wanted more. The food was light yet flavorful and the service was super fast. Top your night off with a $15/hr foot massage and/or some bubble tea at one of the neighboring stores. We ate, got massages and drank tea...truly living the kobe beef life.
(4)
Richard S.
The xiao long bao here was pretty good. The beef noodle soup was alright. Not much else to say, everything here tastes pretty average but it is definitely cheap. I prefer it over the place next door.
(3)
Diana N.
what the hell is wrong with me...? how did i forget to write a review of JJ??? i went here on a gloomy monday after a shitty day at work. the only thing that kept me going through the day was the fact that i would see juggles along with elle, frankilicous, and linda and eat a whole china boatload of dumplings. juggles had told me about this place. well, not really. i asked what was so great about JJ and she just stood there with her mouth open and started going on this high pitch rant about steamed dumplings..... chinese people...odd anyways, so we get here and i am so hungry i want to walk across the parking lot to beard papa's and start sucking on their cream machine (hahaha....i don't know why that is funny) so the dumplings come out FAST! i forgot what we ordered, one had shrimp, other had chicken, blahblah...honestly they all tasted the same to me. but that's not a bad thing because they were SO GOOD. they were HOT, JUUIIICYY, and we ordered about 3 more orders because i ate them all....sorry u guys we also ordered some noodle dish with spinach and other beef stuff in it and it was AWESOME (we ordered 2 of those too) this place is a little too far for my liking. so only when juggles decides to come here will i go. or when anyone goes. or when i want dumplings. or if someone posts a thread calling for dumpling night....(ahem) another plus??? WAAAAAY CHEAP. cheap enough that my broke Korean ass can TREAT people to this!!! that was figurative speech people
(4)
Sophia J.
6 people 2 orders of xiao long baos, 3 beef noodle soup, shanghai fried noodles, pan fried dumplings, green onion pancake, and some peanut buttery noodles. total came out $47. not bad at all.!!! all were yummy and qucikly served. beef noodle soup taste better than supreme dragon. the broth is more clear and less fatty. xlbs are juicy and filled with lots of soup. i like it better than din tai fung. those are the two highlights
(5)
Michael T.
This place is very small and you might end up having to wait a few minutes before getting a table. I usually go here for the dumplings when the line at Din Tai Fung is too long. Although DTF's are still the best, this place isn't half bad. I tried the dumplings, the fish fillet and the tofu soup. I would not recommend the fish fillet unless you want a mouth full of bones. That thing has a tone of bones in it and just kills the eating experience. Other than that everything else was good. Also...remember...its asian so CASH ONLY! Haha.
(3)
Jen R.
came here as part of a xiao long bao crawl. this was my favorite stop of the day: the dumplings are a good bite-size. the wrapper is thicker than din tai fung (which isn't a judgment, just a comparison...i actually think i prefer the din tai fung wrapper). the overall flavor though was the best - much preferred over din tai fung's (which was flavorless and a little greasy).
(4)
Ronnie D.
This place is bomb diggity! I been coming here for ages now, and 30 lbs later I'm still lovin' it. Peep the spicy crab with hella oil, purely pimptastical. This place is the real Shanghai shiznet, the waitresses working 12 hours a day 7 days a week. And the food is authentic too. When your done head over to Beard Papas and Bin Bin Konjac in the same plaza to connect the love triangle.
(5)
Ricky C.
Oh hey, this is my friend's mother's place. I'd have to agree, crab shiao lung bao is the item to order. I'd go there just for that. They're very good and differs from your traditional pork shiao lung bao. Many places bungle their steamed foods and they come out hard and a bit dry. You won't find this at J & J. Biting into these soft and chewy suckers with the juices flowing out is a very _________ (insert word) "addictive" experience. Parking in the plaza can be a bit of a pain at times though. But then again, the crab shiao lung baos are worth it. I'd rather come to J & J for dumplings and shiao lung baos than Ding Tai Fung in Arcadia.
(4)
J Z.
1. Leaky XLB. All but one of mine (I had 6pcs) lost their soup. But they taste ok. Their XLB wrapper is definitely not as delicate as DTF, which doesn't bother me. But if you are picky about this, I say don't even bother getting XLB from here. In summary, their XLB is tasty, but nowhere as refined (meant as a compliment) as DTF's. 2. Their wintermelon soup is yummy. I would go back for that. 3. This place is small. Seats about 35 people tops.
(3)
Brandi H.
Had lunch yesterday w/my bf and still think here have the BEST shiao long bao!! I also think their Shanghai dish are delicious too.
(5)
Dustin S.
ever full of good advice, e. has the right idea, telling me, "the trick is to nibble a little piece off the top so you don't spray yourself." but she apparently has trouble executing her own strategy as she somehow sprays meat juice all over herself. but then again, that is a telltale sign of a freaking delicious, juicy shiao long bao. yum. them little dumplings full of meat and juices. or crabmeat and meat and juices. so much fun to eat even though we looked like a bunch of idiots, freaking out over lost meat juices, mourning each careless stab of the chopstick breaking the delicate plumpness of each bao. forlorn puddles of juice pooling in the steamer, dripped onto the table. perhaps we are amateur hour at eating shiao long bao...i guess we'll just have to practice more. dunno if its better than joe's shanghai in nyc but i like that it is less touristy, less noisy and somehow a bit cozier (in the asian restaurant way). like a place i can visit time and again, filling up on shiao long bao without it seeming like an Event. mmm gluttony without the guilt. thats what i'm talking about.
(4)
Rob C.
Just come here for the dumplings! You won't regret it. I know all the fuss is about Din Tai Fung, but this place is cheaper and tastes just as good if not better. They have a pork and a crab version. Personally I prefer the pork ones, they're just more flavorful. But I have seen them prepare the crab ones and I can say that they do use genuine crab meat that they pull from crab legs. If for some crazy reason you're not a dumpling fan, don't come here...the rest of the menu is okay. Better can be had elsewhere. More dumplings for me though! mwahhaha...
(4)
Nia I.
dumplings cheaper than din tai fung but taste pretty good, service good and love their sesame noodles.. suit for vegetarian as no meat at all in it =). Will be back pretty soon..
(3)
thealiceline ..
i love xlb and after reading so much about this place on chowhound, i finally gave it a try. i have to say i still prefer the xlb at mei long village a few stores down. they are juicier and more flavorful and i like the dumpling skin better. the xlb skin at j&j is thicker and enjoyable as well - tastes meatier. the crab xlb were more fishy. we also had the shanghai rice cake dish which was very greasy. i prefer that dish at mei long village as well, even though i'm not a big rice cake fan. the xlb at ding tai fung are different, so i think it's difficult to compare. they are more delicate at ding tai fung, and maybe heartier at mei long village. overall, still pretty good and beats anything on the westside. actually i don't think there are really any xlb places on the westside?
(3)
A C.
Best Steamed Dumplings (Shao Long Bao's). The only place in the world that might beat this place is a place in Shanghai called Nanxiang Dumplings. J&J has the best shao long bao's...I've heard this from many and I concur! Been eating here for years and it's surprising how they still stand above many other places.
(5)
Lisa Q.
xiao lung baooooo!!!! i'm addicted to these stuff!!! mMm yuM!!!! i've been here a few times... however... i must say.. the first time was the best.... i don't know why... o.O haha.. anyways... i like their crab dumplings, pork dumplings, noodles in soup, and their shang hai noodles. mMm yum =D =P !!! other things i tried was drunken chicken and fried onion pancake. =) but this is a place totally for their xiao lung baos!!! i don't know if it's disturbing or the fact that i know it's REAL crab meat.. when i see the workers cracking the crabs in the middle table. ahahah.....and they do it quite often. loL =P like what the boyfren said.. it would be nice if they didn't bring both the dumpligns out together.. the first few were REALLLLY DELICIOUS... however... it takes time to finish them... and the last few were cold and hard =( !!!!! all in all.. yummy place... and btw... there's a line sometimes.. not a long line... but at least a few minutes wait because it's a tiny restaurant. not the best service... but it's do-able. and cheap food! hehehe =D =P !!!
(4)
Ceci L.
Very good northern China cuisine... more traditional style.. I think they are even better than Din Tai Fung as it is too commercial now. "Shanghai fry noodles" and "small steamed bun" are nice~
(4)
Matt T.
For a small place, it's quite impressive that Jin Jiang is able to maintain such a high standard over a relatively extensive menu. With as many choices as there are, we ended up ordering way too much food. Their long beans are quite good and the scallion pancakes are great. I also found their vegetable dumplings to be better than those found at Din Tai Fung. I realize this is not the dish Din Tai Fung is known for, but it's still worth pointing out. The only dish we had I wasn't too enthralled with as a Chinese squash and fried dough soup. It's listed on the menu as a 'casserole' (well, the English one at least), but it's served in a clear broth. The broth kills the wonderful crispy texture of fried dough, which to me is a huge part of its appeal. In the broth, it was just soggy and bland. Apart from that misstep, however both the amount and the quality of the food is very high for the cost. Defiinitely a place I'd reccomend to anyone looking for some excellent Chinese food that goes well beyond the generic offerings we get in LA.
(4)
Andrew C.
I recommend the "crab-powder" shao lung bao only. It's the only reason I come here. All other dishes are only so-so, and the equivalent dishes taste better next door at dragon mark, especially the potstickers and spicy beef noodles.
(3)
Janet L.
a two hour drive is all worth it for a bite of J & J's savory, delicious xiao long baos!! especially the one w/ crabmeat! a great deal too! 8 BIG steamed treasures for only $5.95! i'd have to say, they have the best xiao long baos i've ever had! each one is holding a juicy ball of meat accompanied by REAL crabmeat (you can see the waiteresses bringing out bucket of crabs and breaking their shells for the juicy interior) all wrapped and hidden under a nice, thick skin of dough that is plump from the soupy goodness enveloped inside! are you craving for some now? my description is nothing like the actual thing. you have to try it yourself and fall in love! my only complaint? nine messy tables w/ broken chairs in a crammed little dining area. the waitresses don't even bother cleaning up after the group that ate before you. they just simply use a towel and wipe away the obvious food particles! and the wait is LONGG. there isn't really that much room to wait inside so you have to join the massive, hungry crowd outside. you're thinking "WHAT? THEN LEAVE! IT'S MONTEREY PARK! THERE'S PLENTY OF OTHER GOOD CHINESE RESTAURANTS!" ohh, but how wrong you are! you haven't really found the meaning of life if you never tried their xiao long baos. all that chaos, waiting, long-drive, sticky tables, wobbly chairs, noisy crowd, unfriendly customer service is NOTHINGG! it all doesn't matter for me because i'm lost in my own world as i let the soup of the xiao long baos trickle down my throat.. mmm. guess what?!? we're going tomorrow for lunch!!!!!! so i feel sorry for all of you who can't... unless you come too! see you there! (as we fight for a table). --------- edit// coming here again, i had to take a star down for the terrible customer service. probably the worst i've seen in a chinese restaurant. they didn't take our order when we were ready ten minutes before we started to get up and walk over to the cash register for someone. when we asked for more sauce for our xiao long bao, they just nodded and never returned with any sauce. we had to ask three more times until we finally had to (again) walk up to the cash register and get it ourselves. and when we wanted to order another xiao long bao, the waitress seemed upset that we didn't order it all together in the beginning of the meal & was like "is there anything ELSE?" in a really frustrated, annoyed tone of voice. another thing that suprised me was that one of the waitresses put the tins of xiao long bao on the floor because she had too many on her hands! at least, the juicy dumplings were protected inside, but still. okay, so the service is terrible! why four stars? the xiao long bao is definitely the only thing that keeps this place filled with customers. i also recommend the wonton soup! they're almost as great as the xiao long bao! sooooo delicious! and each wonton is juicy and plump from the big portion of pork & greens! we ordered two of the wonton soup! and three of the xiao long bao (warning: be careful when you eat the xiao long bao. as much as you want to stuff the whole thing down your throat, you might find crab shells hidden beneath the dough! we found FIVE HUGE pieces of crab shells!) i also recommend the fried egg rolls! each piece is so juicy and crispy at the same time! dip it in some vinegar or use the xiao long bao sauce! mmmm... the last time we came here, my mom ordered two bags (16) of their lotus leaf sticky rice w/ chinese beef! our whole family loves the glutinous rice filled with huge pieces of sweet, savory beef! and we were so afraid we wouldn't be back in a while (living so far away..) we ordered so many!! for a comparison review for din tai fung vs. J & J, go to my review for din tai fung: yelp.com/biz/din-tai-fun…
(4)
soon k.
for the best xiao long bao, don't go to din tai fung, go to j & j - or jin jian. i've been going to this place for 15 years now. jin jian may not have the super modern interior of din tai fung - nor the super efficient service. but, they have the best xiao long bao. i'm not a fan of mei long. i think jin jian has the best meat and soup ratio. xiao long bao is steamed meat wrapped in a wonton skin filled with tasty soup. dip it in the soy-vinegar sauce, and put a little cut ginger. you have to drink the soup inside the bao. i always get xiao long bao (#70), with spinach vegetable and the shanghai cake. that's plenty of food. other good dish to try is the winter melon and salt pork casserole. it's served in a hot pot. eat it with steam rice. yummy. i would've given 5 stars. however, since they don't accept any credit card, and the rest room is a community rest room, 1 less star for jin jian.
(4)
Kimie L.
This is a little gem that very few people know about. My favorite to go spot for xiao long bao and beef noodle soup. It's similar to ding tai fung but a lot cheaper and there's never a wait.
(4)
Annie L.
Xiao long bao lovers!! Come here and treat yourself a good dinner. Honestly, i would rather come here than wait in line for DTF.
(4)
Yoyo M.
I just had lunch at J& J today. this place is small but nice, you can park underground. they only have 1 waitress, she is kind to me. I like the sweet pork and yun-tong soup. 5 star for my 1st visit :)
(5)
G. L.
Great classic hole in the wall place. For the price and the convenience (no wait), The running joke I had on this place is that the quality of the food seems to depend on the mood of the people. If they are in a good mood the rating is 5 stars. otherwise, its three stars.
(4)
Kris H.
J & J is a nice alternative to DTF for xiao long baos (crab) when you can't deal with the hour long waits. The fried dumplings were equally tasty. I would skip the fried pancakes. They're dry and very doughy. It's a hole in the wall, mom and pop shop. Don't expect much in terms of service nor ambience.
(4)
Andrew K.
My friend and I had to make another visit to J & J because we were both craving the sauteed baby eels with yellow chives in sweet brown sauce, a dish I've only tried here. I grew very fond of this dish because it was very flavorful and unique. The sweetened and starchy brown sauce - probably a heated mixture of beef bouillon, soy sauce, honey, corn starch, red pepper, ginger and garlic - is mixed with the sauteed baby eels and yellow chives. Eel meat is rather sweet so it blended well with the brown sauce and the more mild yellow chives added some contrast and texture. Then it got topped over fresh rice noodles that comes separately and had been cooking in its own delicately seasoned consomme. Forget the pao (steamed pork dumplings), this is the tasty dish you can order here in my opinion! We also ordered a new dish. Their roasted duck with mushrooms in brown sauce was another pleasant surprise. There were bamboo shoots, onions, green scallions, carrots and an indistinguishable leafy vegetable mixed into the sauce as well. An excellent marriage of flavors! The roasted duck, like eel meat, is sweet and rich in flavor. It, therefore, blended perfectly with the thick brown sauce and added ingredients. Two very unique and flavorful dishes you can only find at Chinese restaurants specializing in Shanghai cuisine. The food here, however, more accurately represents Shandong cuisine, popular throughout China for their soups and very flavorful meat and seafood dishes. If you are familiar with Shandong cuisine or willing to try, J & J is one of the first places I would recommend.
(4)
Annie H.
I'm not going to lie, but this place has the best crab XLB! My first bite into it, I fell in love, haha. I came here Saturday night and it was a full house. There was only 1 big table open and I was a party of 2. Then another lady comes in by herself, so the waitress said to share the big table. No big deal. I ordered the crab XLB, Shanghai style noodles, hot and sour soup, Shanghai egg rolls, onion pancake, and pan fried pork buns. The soup was too watery and was not hot or sour. I did not like the egg rolls because it was mostly filled with cabbage and everything else was great. Service was just okay because there was one 3 waitresses and at times it looked like they didn't want to do their job and just chat with one another. I will go back for more XLB!
(4)
Raeraerae Z.
I only have one sentence to say about this place: It's better than Ding Tai Fung!
(5)
henry t.
I loved this place. This is my regular since I was a kid. Been coming here for over 10 years. Went in for breakfast today and they said the restaurant was sold. New owners and new cooks. I left and I'll try it next time to see if it compares to the old place
(5)
J L.
I really do love this place. I was shown this place by a foodie friend who claims they have awesome dumplings. He mentioned everything else is not very good but the dumplings are legit. He was right! They are tasty full of juice and the texture is slightly doughy which I enjoy.
(4)
Denny C.
To be fair, I really hovered between three and four stars for J&J. I came here yesterday for a late dinner with a friend. There was a very short wait, but we were quickly seated. We ordered the pork soupy dumplings (XLB) and the pea tips to start. The pork XLB were okay. The skin is definitely thinner than Mama Lu's, which is a quality I look for in good XLB, but the filling didn't have a lot of flavor. To be honest, given the reviews on Yelp, I was a little disappointed. The pea tips were fine, think standard stir-fried Chinese veggie. When we realized this wasn't going to be enough food (my friend and I were starving, this is not a remark about their portion size), we also ordered a steamer of the crab XLB and the fried pork chop with peppers. The crab XLB (the filling is actually crab with pork) hit the spot in a way the pork ones did not. The crab flavor of the dumplings definitely stand out and transform the experience. Again the wrapper is thin, so I appreciated that. The only thing I was a little disappointed about was that it seemed like a few of the XLB (at least two) were already punctured or there was pork goo on the wrapper. I'm not huge about presentation, but if it affects the amount of soup in the dumpling, I'm going to start caring. The pork chops were good, too, because they were lightly fried, amazingly crispy, and the bones weren't very big either. And, I liked that the pork wasn't dry either, it was fried but still moist. Service: Wait staff are very efficient and pretty friendly for the neighborhood. Bottom line: Better XLB than Mama Lu's. Lacks a bit in terms of presentation and refinement that DTF would probably make up for, but regardless satisfies the XLB craving without the wait time. Get crab over regular pork.
(3)
Vivian C.
I know that some of you may find this blasphemous, but I personally think their Xiao Long Bao (XLB) or soup dumplings are wayyyyy better than Din Tai Fung. The dumpling skin is moist not dry like Din Tai Fung, also the soup is more authentic and delicious. ITS ALSO MUCH CHEAPER THAN DIN TAI FUNG! What I suggest getting here are three things if you're here for two: XLB, green onion pancake, and the Shang Hai fried noodles with beef or the glutinous rice cake. They're all delicious. The fried noodles are a little oily, but it makes it taste great! Just eat it on a plate separate from the soup dumpling so your soup dumplings don't get oily! The one thing I don't like about this place is that it does not have a convenient bathroom. The bathroom is outside for the entire plaza and its not very well maintained so go to the bathroom beforehand or don't drink too much tea! This place also got remodeled recently so its more comfortable now. The staff are still the same, nice older Asian women. Their English is decent, so feel free to come here even if you can't speak Mandarin. Just a reminder: there may be a wait on weekends if so go to New Taste Dumpling House next door which is comparable (but their pan fried dumplings are better). Service - 4.5 Food - 5, authentic! Ambiance - 4 Bathroom - 2 :( Price - 5 This place gets 4 stars because of the bathroom, boo!
(4)
Nitar L.
I was really disappointed when my family chose to eat at this restaurant for lunch. First, the tea was cold, room temperature at best served in styrofoam cups. We ordered pan friend dumplings, two orders of XLB, noodles, string beans, and seaweed. The seaweed came out first in a plastic container that looked like it was purchased from a grocery store. It was really sweet and lacked enough garlic to overcome that flavor. When the XLB came out, the skin was soggy and the pork was tasteless. After reading Yelp! reviews, I was hoping for a far better experience. The pan fried dumplings were also tasteless with too much dough that it dried up my mouth before I even got to the pork. The pork in both dishes were definitely not seasoned properly. However, the string beans and noodles made the experience a little better. Although they were oily, they were lightly seasoned enough to taste better than the pork dishes. I'd rather wait in line at Din Tai Fung than go here again.
(2)
Jackson W.
I know it's been a while since I've eaten here, but is it possible they actually improved their crab meat XLB?! Tastes so much better than I remember. I was surprised and pleased that each XLB had a significant amount of crab meat. The wrapping was absolute perfect for me, just the right thickness. The crab filling also seemed fresh and they were definitely not frozen. Again, J&J reigns over all other dumplings for their crab meat XLB. I was slightly disappointed at the regular steamed pork dumplings, but I guess its because the flavors from both don't mix well when you eat one after the other. I never eat XLB with any sauces, especially without vinegar, so it was easy for me to notice the difference in taste from previous visits - the regular ones had a little too much vinegar in the filling. But that will never stop this fatty from eating them. HAHA. Their potstickers are extra thick, has fried crispy bottoms, and filled with a pork filling that is extra juicy - so beware of definite squirtage (radius of at least 1.5 ft.). I recommend breaking the skin of the potsticker first and letting the soup leak out before taking a bite, otherwise you'll get the juices all over the table and likely onto your clothes. Also ordered the fried rice cake noodle, stir fried in a dark soy sauce, and mixed with some spinach, and chopped napa cabbages. Talk about ultimate comfort food! I'm kinda surprised by the overall yelp rating of being less than 4 stars. Then again, I can't speak for other people since a lot of people I know prefer their XLB in multiple ways - like the people who prefer DTF (we can't be foodie friends, EVER.). I simply prefer Shanghai style soup dumplings over Taiwanese style.
(4)
Tiffany H.
The sure sign of a good time with XLB is a burnt tongue. And I walked out in glorious pain that was worth it. SKIN: not as QQ as Din Tai Fung but wasn't too thick but didn't break either. Good in my book! INSIDES: Steaming hot just like how it should be! It was flavorful & juicy. I didn't have any oiliness or sweetness problems. $$: 10 for $5.95 - price is much more friendly than DTF's. Unexpected star? Guo Tie! Omgosshhh. SKIN: It was like the skin of shen jian bao. Well, just the bottom was like that! The little side flap still had the soft guo tie texture. And meat was delicious to eat by itself too. I got some with dumpling juice in it but others didn't...boo! We also ordered the shanghai chow mian and bao zi. Both of these dishes weren't bad but I've had better. I ended up at J&J when I was heading to that plaza to eat Mei Long 'cause Luscious Dumpling was closed. But seriously, 4 XLB restaurants in a row? Ended up choosing J&J when a man, who was walking back to his party inside, said that he tried all four and this was the best. Decor is also more updated than other Chinese places. $24 for 2 people (4 dishes) - woot!
(4)
Sue P.
Bought some dumplings to go this week. It was still warm by the time I got home. The dumpling wrap was too doughy. The meat filling was just ground pork. This was not an exciting meal.
(2)
Jasmine H.
I haven't had Xiao Long Bao (XLB for short) outside of Las Vegas in a long time! My friend brought me here, to try theirs out, as in Las Vegas I think Three Villages has the best. It's a small restaurant located in a small plaza. We only tried the pork and crab dumplings and both were good! (Yes, better than Vegas for sure) I could literally sit here and eat them all day. The prices are awesome! It is SO much cheaper and you get more for $5.95 we got 10 pork dumplings and $6.95 we got 10 crab dumplings!! I believe that's right or I might have the prices switched. In Las Vegas, they're closer to $1 per dumpling. It's cash only that I know of, I'm not sure if they do accept cards at all, but the sign says cash only. The service is what you would expect of a small place like this located in what looks to be the ghetto (it's really run down) but the food is definitely worth it! I'm coming back the next time I come to LA (which is a little too frequent) to get more XLB! And I'll definitely try some other dishes as well and update as I go!
(4)
chris c.
Cash only. Inside Prospect Plaza. Been there for ages, same ladies always working. Best XLB! Just went in recently to try again since I've been tellin all my mates that it's better than Din Tai Fung. And it is! My favorite part is just nipping the skin and drinking the inside. Second fav is devouring it covered in vinegar and fresh ginger. So happy it's still good there!
(4)
Sylvia C.
Very very greasy. Period. Though my Shanghainese husband did say it's very authentic. One meal here is enough.
(3)
Dean Q.
Pretty good. Solid shanghai dumplings (crab version and regular pork). Shanghai noodles were a little too salty and okay. The snow pea tips were great. Nice service. I think this was the old Dragon Mark location?
(3)
Ray G.
I just ate here yesterday with my folks. It was my first time having xiao long baos and I liked them a lot. My parents said they were some of the better ones they had and rivaled many of the places in China where they've enjoyed them. In addition to the xlb's, we ordered a delicous noodle dish with greens. Can anyone tell me what the name or description of this dish is? Here's another yelper's photo of this superb dish: yelp.com/biz_photos/3Uf2… What is this dish called? What is the name of this rice noodle?
(4)
Autumn S.
Best. Fried Rice Cakes. EVER! I could eat everything here. All the time. In fact, I was here today.
(5)
Lily T.
Just dined at this place with my mom and she said that this place is a three. I asked her why and she said that the onion pancake needs to be thinner and the rice cake and noodles need more flavor. The dumplings at this location is okay because my crab dumpling tasted crabby LOL! I have to say that I had better and so have my mom.
(3)
Daniel L.
There are several dumpling houses in the San Gabriel Valley but this is one of the few that is Shanghainese operated. It's a small restaurant located in one of the many strip malls in the area, and they are known for crab xiao long bao and carries a list of Shanghai specialties on the weekends. This place came highly recommended by my Shanghainese friend so the three of us decided to drop in for an afternoon of dumplings and tea. The eight-piece Crab Xiao Long Bao ($6.95) was juicy and loaded with crabs to mix with a smear of pork to hold the fillings together. The size of their dumplings was larger than Din Tai Fung and similar to Din Sin World, and the crab tasted sweet with a delicious flow of juices to support a nice wow factor. Loved it! We also tried the eight-piece Pan Fried Vegetarian Dumplings ($5.95) that came with a voluptuous, thick buttery skin with a pan-fried bottom with a mix of vegetables embedded. The wrappers had a nice bite and the vegetables that included leeks, cabbage, carrots, and shitake was robust. It's one of the better vegetarian potstickers I've tasted. The regular Xiao Long Bao ($5.50) was a lot juicier and savory than the Crab Xiao Long Bao. The skin was soft and chewy and fully loaded with juicy ground pork. I thought their pork could use a better marinade, but it was still very tasty. I really enjoyed their Assorted Fried Noodles Shanghai Style ($5.95) that came with small strips of pork, cabbage and thick noodles that struck a nice balance of firm and tender bite. The noodles were easy to pick up, separate, with the flavor was actually anchored in the noodles itself with the other ingredients playing a secondary caveat. Recommend it. Lastly, we had to try their Green Onion Pancakes ($2.95). It came with a crispy outer layer to combine with a soft doughy interior with hints of green onions here and there. I personally prefer a much thinner version of this dish, but the layered version is the one that is the most common in San Gabriel Valley. Service was very friendly but brief unless you wave them down with questions and requests. Overall, I still prefer Din Sin World but this restaurant is authentic and worth visiting. The strength of this restaurant has to be the soft chewy wrappers, juicy dumplings, and the overall balanced and consistent taste and culinary technique. I'd be interested in returning to try their Pan Fried Chinese Buns, Boiled Dumplings, Braised Pork and Bean Curd Skin, and more Xiao Long Bao.
(4)
Willy W.
Stopped by for their Xiao Long Bao. But it's not just any other one cuz you can order ones with crab meat here! Service is typical for a Chinese restaurant, and they are cash only. Parking can be hard to find on weekends in this plaza, but they have an underground lot. Very good stuff especially since I was having a craving for XLB.
(4)
Su L.
This is not the best Shanghai restaurant I've ever visited but it's cheap. Considering it's price, the quality of the food is awesome. This is one of my regular places in San Gabriel. I almost always order Crab Meat Xiaolongbao, dishes with rice cakes, Pork Stew, sometimes sweet and sour ribs. Nothing ever disappointed me and price is sooooo reasonable. It'll continue to be my regular place to visit for Shanghai food!
(5)
Karen T.
I like the curry beef noodle soup here. The xiao long bao is not very good here because it doesn't have any soup in them and it's not because of broken shells.
(3)
Wes S.
Considering what an utter failure the Asian Market in Pasadena was, needless to say we knew we could get better and affordable food at the source, SGV. The place was empty (thanks to the debacle of that "market), so we got seated right away. We ordered the hot and sour soup, baby eels with noodles, an order of pork and crab dumplings, pork dumplings, and radish cakes. The hot and sour soup was just right. It didn't have the typical overpowering of sour, or hot like most places. It had a good balance of ying/yang, probably one of the best taste wise I've ever had. The baby eels were really good, the sweetness of it's flesh, mixed with noodles was just right, maybe I should've just ate it all by myself, but I needed to share with my friends. Blah. The pork and pork and crab dumplings were good, they were not DTF quality, but really good for what they were and something I could and probably would eat by the truck load. The radish cakes were a little disappointing. I was thinking it would be like what you get at dim sum places, but it looked more like a radish biscuit? It was filled with veggies, so it was quite good, but I probably would pass on my next visit. Three of us ate like Kings and I was more than happy to pay about $15 (including tax+tip) for this food with no lines and with the quantity. Parking can be a bit difficult, but I've never had an issue finding parking at the underground garage.
(4)
Chris C.
This is my favorite Shanghainese restaurant in the San Gabriel Valley. Before I became vegetarian, I used to eat their crab xiao lung bao on an almost regular basis. Now, I get to watch my wife and kids eat the crab xiao lung bao (and they all agree it is better than Din Tai Fung or any of the other "popular" places). Some of the other things that you can get here that are really good: Shanghainese Fried Chow Mein Shanghainese Fried Rice Cake Wonton in Soup Any of the "vegetable rice" dishes Braised tilapia (my wife and kids love this) They can accommodate vegetarians. I usually ask for the Shanghainese Fried Chow Mein to be made vegetarian (it normally comes with pork). They also have a vegetarian bao and dumpling (both deep fried and steamed). The staff is really friendly and helpful. It is a small restaurant, so plan accordingly (especially if you have a large party). I've been coming here for almost thirteen years...wow!
(5)
Juliana Y.
i like it here.. the wait is never long.. CASH ONLY! always get the steamed bao and the rice cake here.. also had the hot and sour soup which came out in a large bowl.. it was only the 2 of us.. i really think they should give more ginger.. but yes love it here no wait and not over priced..
(4)
Sarah K.
Best crab xiao long bao in L.A.
(5)
Justin S.
Best xiao long bao ever. Always my go to place and I prefer it way over din tai fung. You get 10 per order instead of 8 and the dumplings are bigger. There's also rarely a wait to get a table unless you go during the weekends
(4)
Peter C.
This was a complicated review for me. I liked the food here, and the dumplings really are quite good. The J&J xiao long bao might have even more delicate skins and "soupy" insides than (gasp!) Din Tai Fung. You almost pause after you take a bite, just to let the soup linger on your tongue. But, I didn't realize how ginger is such an integral part of eating XLB until I had (almost) none to eat with. I suppose I could have asked for more, but that's ok. There's more to the story. The other good thing we got was the cold cucumber appetizer. I'd rank 101 Noodle Express's cold cucumbers the best, and this one second. Mrs. C doesn't even like spicy food that much, but she ate 80% of this dish! It's got the right balance of sweet vs. salty vs. spicy. We also got the Shanghai noodles and the pan crisped pork buns. Not gyoza - the ones with a more bread-like wrapper. Here's the thing for me - not all Chinese restaurants have a really well-rounded menu. I'd say the closest for me is Mei Long Village. I love the lion's head casserole, the eggplant and the XLB. 101 Noodle Express? You go there for the beef roll, but I'd rate everything else a B or a B-. A&E? The do a pretty good job with some of their main dishes, but the XLB comes 4 to a small steamer, and goodness gracious that was the weakest thing on their menu. So while J&J serves up up mighty fine dumplings, if I'm grading against Mei Long Village, I'm gonna round down slightly. However, I'm completely willing to attribute the 3-stars rating to my idiot savant ordering. So this is one of those places that i'd be more than happy to visit again, and maybe round up if I get some pointers or explore more of the menu. I have walked past J&J a million times, tho, so I'm glad I walked in & got to try it.
(3)
Teresa N.
*************** CASH ONLY ******************** Xiao Long Bao (no, thank you): I love xiao long bao and I was so excited to try this place because this place is known for their xiao long bao, it turned out that it was a disappointment. The meat inside the xiao long bao was not fresh, very bland, and also dry. The soup was also not flavorful. Din Tai Fung in Arcadia is definitely much better (just FYI, I think Din Tai Fung in Taipei is THE BEST). Other items: baby eels (okay) suate veggies (okay) shanghai noodles (just alright) pan fried dumplings (bland and dry meat inside and it was REALLY BURNED, no thanks) I don't think I will ever come back.
(2)
Jessica N.
We got the $20 dinner special that came with cold soy sauce chicken, garlic stir-fried veggies, fried pork-chop, and xiao long bao. The meal didn't come with rice, but us 3 girls were able to share a bowl of rice with all the food we got. I've actually been coming here for years since I was younger. We used to always get their xiao long bao, potstickers, and shanghai cake noodles. As a traditional restaurant, they do run a little on the oily side, and some of their plates are a little more heavy handed with their seasonings. But I do keep my palate on the milder side. I keep coming back because their food that hasn't changed all these years and it's still here.
(5)
Smitcha B.
Three letters you need to remember... X L B Xiao Long Bao - Steamed Soup Dumplings FTW! They have pork and crab versions. Get them. That's all you need. The noodles in sesame sauce was pretty good too (no meat). Pair it off with some XLB and you're straight. Small hole in the wall joint in a big plaza. You'll most likely have to park downstairs. Seedy bathroom is NOT located in the restaurant but around the corner. No frills, nothing fancy, but some bomb homemade dumplings. Cheap eats! 3.5 (rounded up) stars for the dumplings & the overall price. Had some other noodles too but wasn't too impressed so it's not worth mentioning.
(4)
Yen N.
My absolute favorites at J&J are the crab/pork soup dumplings xiao long bao and sweet-and-sour soup. For the price, you get a lot of high quality, delicious food. I have ordered this so many times that the owner knows those choices are my regulars. All in all, I've had soup dumplings at other places and at a much higher cost, and I have to say it's not worth it. Come to J&J for the best dumplings and soup in San Gabriel. The only thing I don't like is that the restaurant is super small, so if you want a sit-down lunch/dinner, you may have to wait. However, this place is great for take-out. They also don't accept credit card, so you always have to have cash on hand -- which gets super annoying at times, but it's not surprising given the area. Still, you get a lot of food for what you pay for. The restaurant is open until late night as well, so it's awesome for late Chinese food cravings. J&J is still one of my favorites since moving to LA.
(4)
Sabrina L.
everything here is good. we got a variety of things, vegetables, noodles, xiao long baos, and we finished everything it was that good. i just wish the waitresses spoke a little english -- ordering would have been pretty difficult if my cousin didn't know the language. wouldn't hesitate to come back if i was in the area!
(4)
Alicia M.
So I went there with my family and the food was delicious! The Xiao Long Bao was fantastic. The skin was thin and it was very juicy. Then we ordered the Fried Rice Cake. The texture was okay and the flavor was good. We also ordered the beef and curry soup and I absolutely loved it. THE SOUP WAS REALLY GOOD and my family really enjoy it. I would definitely go there again. MUST GET ITEMS: -XIAO LONG BAO -FRIED NODDLES -FRIED PORK AND RICE
(5)
rl v.
My review is gonna pretty much disagree with most.. Unfortunately its too late for me, I cannot be saved. I recently experienced Xiao Long Bao for the first time at Joe's Shanghai in New York. I think someone stuck a needle in my arm cuz I got rings around my eyes, my lips are cracked and blue......I'm an XLB junkie! On 2 separate occasions I endured 3 hours worth of asses in my face in the NYC subways just to get my fix, I thought I could easily come home to L.A.., shoot out to Da SGV via Yelp and keep the poison in my system. NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so West Coast like Snoop and Dre, but man Da NYC has got us beat on this one. I have spent nearly $600. in the last 3 weeks trying the legendary XLB places as seen on Yelp and as concurred by my own acquaintances. So for those of us that have that Joe's addiction....here's what I found. It will save you $$$$ and long wait times. Mama Lu's XLB's are the smallest and if you throw a whole one in your mouth the meat gets lost in the wrapper. Yes, kinda skimpy on the meat, and probably the ugliest ones I've had, but yes it was cheap. The onion pancake was good but very greasy. The crab and pork ones are pricey compared to the pork only XLB. I kind of didn't dig the fishiness of the crab. I like that you can buy frozen dumplings to go. I bought them to throw in my Bomb-Ass Top Ramen that I do...LOL Din Tai Fung DTF DTF, WTF? I don't get it. By the reviews, the long lines and wait times, I presume this to be the peoples champion. I was excited to see the guys pressing, pulling, rolling and sweating out those hand made fresh dumplings. The XLB's looked nice, the skin was lighter and better than the other locals, but man....how bout seasoning that meat. Sheesh! I tried 4 different dumplings, also the Shanghai rice cake, fried rice, garlic spinach, and string beans. All of it seriously lacked flavor.. Big let down. It all looked nice but as they say in Texas...That fella is all hat, no cattle. JJ/Jin Jian Luv it, I think this little place is gonna have to be my local favorite. Their XLB kicks butt over DTF and the others. They had the best green onion pancake, tasty, light and slightly crispy. non-greasy. Their steamed/ pan fried pork dumpling Sheng Jian Bao was to my surprise the star of the show. Big and Juicy. It probably had more juiciness than the XLB's. nice al dente feeling as you bite into it, followed by the kiss of delicious pork, topped of with the pleasantly light crunch of the fried bottom. They also had a very good chili on the table, which was unlike I have ever had.. Shanghai Fried Rice Cake was also great. The lady who served us was very helpful and nice, the price was right.......5 stars for them. Luscious Dumplings I didn't particularly care for their XLB's due to a slight sesame flavor they had. The Fried Pork Dumplings once again stole the show. Awesome juiciness, al dente on first bite, followed by the pork and slight crisp from the pan fry. I think I;m gonna stop searching for XLB's and stick to the Fried Pork Dumplings. These suckers had juice just oozing out of them. Shanghai Palace in Lomita I live in the South Bay so I'm happy to say that this place fulfills my XLB cravings without the SGV drive or wait times.. I love their spicy shredded beef, homemade chili sauce, salt and pepper fish, and Flat pan fried beef noodle. The other places I have tried for XLB is not worthy to mention. Save yourself and stay away from Joe's Shanghai. You will never be satisfied! once you partake of this poison.
(4)
Nelson L.
Compared to other chinese restaurant on valley blvd, I am surprised why this place still in business. We arrived around 9pm which is not late for this area on sunday night. From yelp review that their Xiao Long Bao is supposed to be Okey; that is the reason we ordered 2 of these and 1 wonton soup. OMG!! they brought two bamboo pot up and the top one look like it was just microwaved from some previous customer's left over!!! The bottom one was totally fresh!! We point it out to them and ask how come they look so different, ONE LOOKED FRESH AND ONE LOOK LIKE IT HAS BEEN RAPED BY RATS!!! Their reply was "these are the last two remaining for the day, can't replace." when I said I don't want one of them, they refused and said it was cooked already. I swear to GOD that I never never and NEVER go back to that place again!
(1)
Tiffany L.
This place should have five stars! Their shanghai food is so legit that the 40 minute drive for me is always worth it. Their dishes such as shanghai noodles, cuttle fish with stir fried mustard, etc are really good but whats the best are the shanghai dumplings, otherwise known as xiao long bao. I've tried a number of places that sell shanghai dumplings and this place is seriously the yummiest. Din tai fung is famous for their shanghai dumplings but this place, in my opinion, is just as good! I always get the crab shanghai dumplings which are so juicy, sweet, and piping hot! You know the stuffing in the dumplings contains real crab and not some fake store bought imitation crab because one of the cute old ladies always sits in the back of the restaurant, removing the crab meat from fresh crabs by hand. This is always the place I go to whenever I'm in the mood for shanghai dumplings!
(5)
Johnson W.
I am an avid xlb eater and I think this place has one of the best in the SGV. Yes Ding Tai Fung has the ambiance...but this place has both the taste and the value. I've been here for the past 10 years so this review is long overdue. This particular time I ordered the following: *Crab + Pork Steamed XLB *Pork Steamed XLB *8 Treasures Spicy Noodle Soup They were all excellent...even the ginger sauce with the soy and chili sauce complimented the dishes perfectly. People really should order the noodle soup more here...because it is truly excellent...even better than the XLB...FRESHLY made. The 8 treasures can be a bit spicy, but definitely worth the kick! The tab came out to be $20 for the three...it's quite a deal.
(5)
Angie W.
Love this place! Been coming here for more than 10 years. They have the best fried dumplings, shanghainese fried noodles and xiao lung bao! (get the one with crab!) This place is pretty small with 8 tables, but can hold bigger (6 +) parties. It's located in a busy plaza so most likely, you'll have to park underground.
(4)
Misha T.
The search for good XLB is one of those quests that one can devote years to without ever being satisfied enough to not think "man those ones in Shanghai were just so much better". That being said, J & J is not the end of the road for you, weary adventurer, but it's good enough to keep you going, to keep you chasing the white soupy whale that torments you in your moments of weakness and inspires you to continue on ever forward. Also the Shui Zhen Bao aren't even close to as good as the kind that eludes me.
(4)
Anna W.
Love this place!! I actually went to try this place out because of Dorothy R.'s yelp review. :) It was so good, it totally lived up to her review. I'm from Shanghai so I know Xiao Long Bao. I been to like over 20 XLB places in Shanghai, another 5 -10 outside of Shanghai, but in China. 3 really good XLB places in NY and have tried roughly 20 places here in Los Angeles and I have to say this place makes my top 5 list. If you like xiao long bao you have to try this place!! This place's XLB was really good. I was really excited to find out that they have crab meat XLB, but at the same time I was skeptical that it would be good. Most place that have crab meat XLB they either don't put enough carb for you to even taste the crab meat or it's not fresh so it smells fishy. This place's crab meat XLB didn't have any of those problems. There was plenty of crab, but it didn't smell fishy at all. It was juicy and there was plenty of meat too. The regular xiao long bao had even more juices than the crab one. The meat was tender, but not too lose. It was the perfect blend of favors, not too salty or oily. The wrapping was also not too thin or thick. It was perfect!! I definitely will be going back to this place many many times :) Can't wait to try the other dishes!! PS. The owner is from Shanghai - I spoke to them in Shanghai-ness to make sure. That's how you know it's authentic.
(5)
Susy C.
You come here for one thing, and one thing only: CRAB STEAMED DUMPLINGS. I fuh-reaking LuHHRrVvEee XLB's aka xiao long bao aka soup dumplings. You have to come here and order the crab soup dumplings okay? THAT'S IT. Just order a bunch of these. You know what else? They're much better than the crab ones at DTF (Din Tai Fung)' The crab ones here are SOOO FREAKING JUICY. Not just that, you can TASTE the crab meat as well as SEE the crab meat. CA$H ONLY. leave the plastic at home, bring the green.
(4)
Sunny L.
Great alternative to Din Tai Fung. Their Xiao Long Bao Crab meat and pork is all I would order. For something so good, I expected a grander venue, but it's a very small restaurant with about 8 tables. It's cash only, and they only speak chinese.
(4)
Joyce L.
I absolutely love this place and I've been coming here as a kid with my family and now whenever i have a craving for xiao long baos i come with my friends (: I always order the fried shanghai noodles with the regular style pork xiao long baos and sometimes $1 noodles. My friend said that this place has a weird smell though but i never smelled anything weird... I think its just the smell of all the food mixed together though. By the way, this place is CASH ONLY!
(5)
Anita L.
We tried the XLBs here. It wasn't bad, but they weren't fantastic. We'd just had really decent ones at Dean Sin World and so in comparison these weren't nearly as good. Service was very abrupt, what I would expect in the SGV, food came to the table rather swiftly. We also ordered some scallion pancakes, again, just okay.The beef rolls were good though. If I live around the area, this wouldn't be a bad place to stop by once in a while, but having to make the trek from Irvine, I wouldn't drive the one hour just to come here for teh XLBs.
(3)
Enjella L.
Mom and pop store. I came here solely to try the dumplings. I was expecting to be blown away, especially from reading the other reviews. It was good, and I'd come back to grub for sure. But, I feel that the food I ate here is SGV standard. So, I could probably find the same tasting, same quality, same good grub at the next Taiwanese joint..is all I'm sayin'. Kind of hard to order if you don't speak Chinese, but you will be able to manage even if your friend can only speak Cantonese. or...Just make sure you know what to order beforehand. The fried green onion pancake is dry (which I think is the way it's supposed to taste) and oily. Again, it was good, but can't I at least get it warm? I mean, come on now - the place was empty when we ate here - lah. Parking: Lot Peep the pix.
(3)
Mike Z.
Food are average, not too much on the plate. Poor customer service whenever I been there. Cash only unless u reach 20 or 25, I can't remember. Really bad place for u to go during midnight on Friday and Saturday cuz those club dumbs finished their club thing and come to this open till 4am restaurant to find something to eat before having sex. U gonna see tons of gang people during that period of time. thumb down
(2)
Colleen M.
Some of the best xiao long baos around. A combination of simplicity and flavor and ringadingding: perfection. Shanghai might as well be upstairs, because the legitimacy of their dishes is unbelievable. For $5.95 you get 8 small/medium xiao long baos (soup dumplings!) So amazingly good! Thin skins and very flavorful soup. Mmmm! I can't remember what everything we ordered was, but I do remember liking every single dish. And we ordered a LOT. Trust. The service was kind and thoughtful (except for seating 12 of us to a table...) and spoke broken English, Cantonese, and Mandarin. Yeah! :) Con: This hole in the wall is literally a hole in the wall; they have about 8-9 small tables and as I came in a group of nearly 20... Yeah. Not a good idea. Small groups are the way to go here. End note - Just come here and try for yourself! There's a parking lot (a littleee small, but manageable) out front.
(4)
carol s.
The place is best known for its crab dumpling and I personally love the curry beef soup and vegetable fired rice cake (ji cai nian gao). Additionally, there is a tip about the dumplings there. Din Tai Fung (Dumpling House) offers Taiwan style of dumpling, and this place offers Shanghai style of dumplings. So, it really depends on individual's eating habit and childhood experience to determine their favorite dumplings. Most of my Taiwan friends love the dumpling house and people from mainland China just love Jin Jian. By the way, it is a cash only place. So preparing about $15-20 per person before shows up.
(4)
Anita L.
If you are craving Xiao Long Bao ("XLB") and can't decide on where to get them. Prospect Plaza is probably your best bet because they have 3 restaurants that serves XLB one right next to the other. J&J/ Jin Jian is the tiny one of the right. The ambiance at this location is bad, service is bleh, but they serve decent XLB here. (Oh.. make sure the dishes are clean before you use them because I have been given dirty/greasy ones on several occasion here). They don't have the best XLB, but it would serve the purpose if you want to get a quick fix. The order on my most recent visit (12/11): - Xiao Long Bao: (OK) Yes, it have juice in it, but it is no different than the hundreds that serve it in the area. - Shanghai Noodle: (OK) The flavor is great, but I need to make a mental note to tell them to go easy on the grease next time. - Hot & Sour Soup: (OK) A little on the watery side, but still edible. NOTE: Cash Only!
(3)
Jason K.
Awesome, authentic Chinese food. I lived in LA for about 5 years, and this was my favorite place to go on a regular basis. Lunch highlights include the stir fried rice cakes (chao niangao), the xiao long bao/soup dumplings, and the boiled dumplings (shui jiao). Also a good place to go if you're looking for sweet or savory soy bean soup and everything that comes with it (dou jiang, youtiao, fantuan). That stuff's only available on the weekends though.
(5)
Suzanna L.
Interesting, ratings are all across the board. I don't get it because I thought that the pork xlb was really tasty. I actually liked the pork filling flavor a bit better than the crab xlb. The other dishes we had were average to good, but not exceptional. Go here for the pork and crab xlb, really though.
(5)
Winnie L.
Jin Jiang (J&J) is only OK. there's usually a wait because the place is dang small. It pales in comparison to Shau May/Kang Kang Food Court. This is what i had: -crab dumplings - it's good, try this here, but for xiao long bao, you should really go to Din Tai Fung (read my review / see my pics) -pan fried dumplings - skip it and eat it at Shau May's (read my review / see my pics) -green onion pancake - pretty good -shanghai pan fried rice - Shao May or Din Tai Fung is better -eggplant stew - it's okay... Overall i didn't think this place was that great that i'll put on the list to re-visit. I've had it once in like 2004...my memory and rating hasn't really changed.
(3)
Michael C.
Food was OK. But the place is not clean. Styrofoam cups were used for tea. Ceiling was dripping water.
(2)
Connie T.
I came here to try the xiao long bao. My assessment of the various items we ordered: Crab/pork xiao long bao: The skins are pretty good; a little thicker than Din Tai Fung, a little thinner than Dean Sin World. Lots of juice. You can taste more crab than the crab/pork xlb at DTF, but it's not quite flavorful enough for me. Pork xiao long bao: Same assessment re skin and juice. Pork is more subtle than DSW (I'm not a fan of DSW xlb though), but not nearly as flavorful as DTF. Shui jiao (boiled dumplings): Skin was way too thick, and pork filling was not very flavorful. We didn't even try to finish the dish. Dumplings at DSW are much better. Shanghai cao nian gao (rice cakes): Flavoring not bad but not quite strong enough. A little bland and oily. Veggies were fine, they were generally what you expect at a Chinese restaurant. By the end of the meal, we concluded that some of the food wasn't bad, but the flavors don't pop enough here. I wouldn't be upset if I ended up eating here again, but I wouldn't seek it out.
(3)
K D.
I wanted something light after my hike, so my gf suggested some XLBs. Now I've had XLBs just once in my life probably 7 years ago at Mei Long VIllage so I really have nothing to base my taste on (like other reviewers have done comparing it to DTF) other than the fact that I did find it quite delicious. -XLB and Crab XLBs. I actually prefer the regular pork filling one. The crab filled one was good, but the crab taste/smell was way over powering for me. The bao was juicy and light. I had a hard time eating the first few because it kept breaking but I got the hang of it after a while. -Chinese Spinach & Mushrooms - Standard fare, a small portion but cooked to perfection. Wish there was more of this. -Kung Pao Shrimp (hey she actually ordered it). Crispy and spicy. Full of flavor, it really is a good dish. Even though it was a SCORCHING day, they still serve automatic hot tea. They also gave us water cups (which didn't taste like water - more like some type of herbal tea that has been diluted). The lady working was uber nice. She wouldn't take my $ though when I tried to pay - my gf was speaking to her in Mandarin saying something or other. DAMN IT! My gf told me this place was Shanghai style food. I personally don't know the difference but whatever it was, it was delicious. I would go back here just because there is no long wait.. I hate waiting a long time for food... unless it comes with a free happy ending :)
(4)
Candy L.
Amazing dumplings for a great price! remember, this place is cash only.
(5)
Lesley C.
Meeting with a friend for dinner in San Gabriel and she suggested to come here to J&J for their xiao long bao. I don't eat xiao long baos often especially as there aren't many around, especially since Din Tai Fung is way too overrated and the wait there is horrendous. My friend and I ordered a regular xiao long bao (10 pieces), beef noodle, and fried green pancake. Granted I was a bit under the weather so may not have been able to taste all the flavors that they had to offer from each of the dishes but overall, the tastes of the xiao long bao were awesome! The fried green pancake was a bit too oil fried for me but it was still great. The beef noodle was not great though. Not much flavors from that... Overall, for both of us, we only spent $9 each! We were sooo full and there was still leftovers of the beef noodle to take home! The prices here are awesome and is what Chinese food should be. I wouldn't mind coming back here again. There is also underground parking but no security guards.
(4)
Karen L.
XLB - Super Duper Soupy Juicy Dumpling! Perfectly balance among the thickness of the skin, the amount of meat & the soup inside the dumpling. The other items were good enough. Could be better in terms of flavor. The ladies were attentive and service was good. Personally, $6 for a steamy tray of XLB, nothing else really matters.
(4)
Allen L.
My friends and I decided that we needed to go to a new place. We saw J&J Restaurant (short for Jin Jian Restaurant) and we said let's try it! We ordered a wide variety of dishes from dumplings (awesome!), pan fried radish cake (sounds weird but was pretty good), beef rolls, and hot & sour soup with 8 treasures. Their soup dishes look good. This other table had this cool looking noodle dish that I want to try when we go back here. So you probably read that last dish and are wondering what the heck are the 8 treasures in the Hot and Sour soup? From what I could tell it was tofu, chicken, eggplant and 5 other things that I couldn't identify. Doesn't matter as it was freaking good! They are a cash only business so you can't use the credit card. The lady there was nice as she could tell we were brand new customers. We asked what she recommended and she pointed us in the right direction. Service was pretty fast and since our table was right next to the counter, we received our food pretty fast. For three people we ordered the right amount of food. We left pretty full. You can park in the spaces that are outside the restaurant or you can park underground. Be warned, if you do park underground, to watch out for the Asian drivers who seem to be oblivious to the STOP sign when you come out of the parking lot.
(4)
Catherine T.
The shanghai dumplings are definitely delicious here! The place is very small, w/ about 4 tables. However, clean enough and there are tables that would sit a bigger group. I like the pork shanghai dumplings. The broth that oozes out is great and complements the dumpling filling perfectly. It can be very hot so be careful. I've tried the crab and shrimp dumplings and they were just ok. The filling is actually a little more soggy than the pork ones. The bean leaves stir fried was surprisingly very good. The texture is somewhat similar to spinach, but isn't as filmy as spinach can be. It had a nice crunch even though it was sauteed. I love the Shanghai noodles, even though it can be a little greasy, it just goes perfect w/ the dumplings. Green onion pancakes were ok, a little too dry and not enough onion flavors. You can probably do w/o them. Parking is in a plaza that appears to be very limited. However, there is a back area and even a garage downstairs. Everything is just a little tight. I would definitely come back for the Shanghai dumplings!
(4)
Erica P.
Lots of reviews for J& J.... And really, for most people just in off the street, this place should be a solid 4+. I am not Chinese, so i'm not comparing this to my mom's soup or how i make dumplings at home. My take on this Chinese restaurant: terrific! Vegetable fried rice was actually a revelation - not greasy, loaded with real veggies (not 3 frozen variety bag of corn, carrot and pea) and absolutely delicious. Why do I have to drive 30 minutes to get veggie fried rice like this? Seafood noodle soup - so YUM. I think it's easier to load some of the heavy noodles in the ladle and then put in the soup dish. Flavor was fresh. Okay, there were lots of bones in the fish; that makes it there for flavor, right? Pan fried vegetarian dumplings (I would call them gyoza) - amazing. Yes, the XLB- crab meat soup dumplings - were tasty and super hot! We couldn't wait and burned our mouths, of course. So we're comfortable in a Japanese or Thai restaurant... Authentic Chinese takes it out of the box for me, and we like it! Our server, a lovely lady, was terrific and friendly and nice. Brought us everything we asked for: more water, napkins, extra chopsticks. And, $28 for four dishes? That alone is worth the drive for us. See ya soon, J & J.
(4)
Kim l.
My buddies and I enjoyed a very delicious lunch on Sunday at JJ. The place was recently remodeled so it looks nice and clean. We arrived around noon and were seated right away. We devoured: 2 orders of the shanghai dumplings (10 pieces for $5.50)- 5 stars Pan fried dumplings - 5 stars Rice cake shanghai style (a little on the heavy side) - 4.5 stars Million layer onion cake (flaky and tasty but very filling) - 4 stars Complimentary tea: 5 stars Service (food came out pretty quick): 4 stars Bottom line: GREAT dumplings, good food, reasonable prices, good service for a Chinese spot and pretty clean for SGV!
(4)
Kevin C.
This place is not for everyone. While I have to admit they use very fresh ingredient for their crab xiao long bao. All their xlb have vinegar already added inside them. If you love vinegar, you will probably love this place. If not, than this isn't the place for you. Their other dish like stir fried shrimp or the eel is cooked very well. But still isn't enough for me to come back again. Was just very disappointed that they don't make xlb without vinegar already inside it.
(3)
Jenny K.
this was one of the rare times that i went to yelp for a chinese place. i realized afterwards that it was a bad choice. if you are known for your xiao long bao (XLB), how come all the juice leaked out of each XLB? the juice should stay inside of the delicate XLB skin for it to be made correctly. shanghainese rice cakes were horribly greasy for my taste. shenjen bao had skin that was too thick. the outside and filling just wasn't satisfying. they have noodles (yang chow noodles) for 99 cents. but after ordering it, i would forego it since they were overcooked ramen noodles with a lot of oil floating at the top of the broth. boiled dumplings were okay. nothing to rave about. the one thing i liked the most were the veggies...da dou miao. luckily they weren't overly greasy like everything else. maybe it was an off night...or maybe since non-chinese people have been showing up, they don't feel like they have to have good food. perhaps they have a new chef. heard that jin jian used to be the XLB nazi. if you requested one order but wanted to add another, you couldn't since the line was long outside. definitely not a good experience. there are so many dumpling/noodles places in SGV that if you randomly chose one, you would probably do better than jin jian. (there are 2-3 right next door even!!) on another note, i was a bit sad that "one dragon" next door was gone. can't believe "one dragon" is gone and jin jian is still there.. there is a reason i don't trust yelp for chinese and japanese food.
(2)
Stephanie Y.
I can't believe I haven't written a review for this place!! I grew up eating here so although I might be slightly biased, I have brought many friends here and they also think its delicious! I especially enjoy their xiao long bao (regular or crab). I like how the skin is not too thick, but because it's thinner -- you have to make sure not to leave it out for too long or else the outer layer will tear, causing all the juicy soup to seep out! What else is good/dishes I've tried: -- Curry Beef Noodle Soup: I often have this similar taste of curry beef in Shanghai so it's nice to have it here in LA. Their soup is very tasty and I usually order at least every other time I go. -- Shanghai Fried Noodle: This is also a common noodle dish we order when we're more in the mood for dry noodle. The taste can sometimes be a bit bland, but still good. -- Fried Rice Cake: Can't go wrong with this either. I usually like to switch off between ordering the shanghai style or the jee-chai (which is veggie and shredded pork). -- Sesame & Red Bean Cake: This is a sweet dish that I also order with my dad. It comes with two large pieces, and we usually eat one of them and bring the other home. It always comes out steaming hot and fresh. -- Radish Pan Cake: Had this a few times and I just remember burning myself from them! They were definitely made fresh. I remember it tasting slightly bland, but it's a nice dim sum plate. -- Shanghai Pan Fried Buns (Shen Jiang Bao): This is the only thing I would not recommend. The skin on these buns are way too thick and makes the entire thing unenjoyable! I also didn't like how they were not as crispy as I'm used to! Yes, the food can be a little oily and they are CASH ONLY, but I love this place!! When it gets packed, service can be somewhat lacking but when you frequent it as much as me -- they start remembering you! TRY IT, TRY IT !! :)
(5)
Christina L.
I've never liked their soup dumplings-- there's no comparison's to Din Tai Fung's hotter, juicier counterparts. The first time I went here, I didn't understand why my friend recommended it. However, it is much closer to my house so sometimes I will go. I tend to request an order of the pork ones. I'm not a big fan of the crab ones. I don't understand why tea is served in styrofoam cups but it is a sure sign (as there are many) that this Shanghainese restaurant is a serious hole-in-the-wall joint. I'm also not a big fan of rice cake or the half steamed & half-fried dumplings. What do I like? J & J has the BEST hot & sour soup! This restaurant is located in a plaza (there are no restrooms in the restaurant) & at times, parking can be a pain. There is also another Shanghainese restaurant nearby, Mei Long Village, which was also just okay. If you're craving soup dumplings (xiao long bao), make the drive & be prepared for a long wait at Din Tai Fung.
(3)
Stanley C.
I normally don't venture this far but my friends wanted to eat in Monterey Park. Originally we wanted to eat at the Dragon restaurant, but it closed down...so we came here instead for lunch. We ordered the following: 1) 2 Xiao Long Bao (dumplings) - which were tasty and had the soup inside them, but I have had better...however they're cheap and comes 10/order 2) Fried scallion pancakes - decent, but best eaten when it's hot...not when it cools down 3) Shanghai pan fried noodles - I liked it a lot and so did my friends...they give you a decent portion, not overwhelming but good size 4) pan fried dumplings - were pretty good and worth trying. I wouldn't venture out from the OC just to come to this place, but if I were in the area, I might try it again. I didn't get to touch the noodle section and you know how much I love noodles...
(3)
Josh W.
The only reasons why we came here was because my friend had a coupon for free xiao long bao and indecisiveness on my part. I should have been more adamant about going to tried and true places. My friend said that he and his dad used to go here, so I thought, 'why not give it a shot.' It was later at night, so there weren't that many people in the restaurant, and we ordered the xiao long bao, shanghai noodles, beef with scallion, and kung pao chicken. I wasn't very impressed with the xiao long bao, and I'm not sure if they make it, or if they buy it premade. The Shanghai noodles were the best thing that we ordered. The beef with scallion somehow turned into beef with brocolli, which wasn't impressive and the beef had a strange taste to it, and finally the kung pao chicken was what you expect an asian place making american-asian cuisine to taste like. If I were ever to come back, I would definitely order the shanghai noodles again, and if eating with a different crowd of friends, I would try the stir fried eels and the fish dishes. Overall, the food was edible, the staff friendly, and if anything I may be giving them too much grief because I ordered the wrong dishes. Pros: - Waitress was friendly - Shanghai Noodles were tasty - health code rating of A Cons: - Cash only - wasn't impressed with the menu (perhaps I ordered the wrong things) - pricey for what you get
(2)
Peter C.
3 Stars With Mei Long Village being next door, I've never thought about going to J&J. But my last few visits to MLV, I noticed lines at J&J, so I decided to try it out. The place seats about 35 people and specializes in Shanghainese food like it's neighbor MLV. The Xiao Long Bao (Soup Dumplings), have been getting a lot of fanfare recently, as well as other steamed dumplings. They have a pretty lengthy menu, with Chef specialties, noodles, dumplings and rice. We ordered a lot of dishes, our meal started with the following: Sauteed Spinach Marinated Smoked Fish (Cold Plate) Chinese Mustard Greens with Bean Curd (Cold Plate) The spinach was not the freshest, but it was sauteed nicely with a hint of garlic. Both cold plates were good, but the fish was really delicious. It had a similar flavor to Chinese red braised beef, a little sweetness and some saltiness. The next set of dishes were: XLB Scallion Pancakes Shanghai Noodles Steamed Vegetable Dumplings Shengjian mantou I thought the XLB was good, but not better than MLV next door. The dumpling skins were too thin and broke on contact, letting all of the delicious broth leak out. The Shanghai Noodles looked promising, but lacked seasoning. The Scallion pancakes, were crispy but also lacked salt. I did enjoy the vegetable dumplings and shengjian mantou. Typical service for a Chinese restaurant in SGV and he prices a comparable. This is another decent Shanghainese restaurant, but there are so many, each with strengths. At the end it just comes down to your preference.
(3)
Dave H.
This small, plain restaurant in the SGV focuses on food and it shows. Service is quick and efficient - not very personable - which meant our lunch was quick as well - we were in and out fast! For lunch, my friend asked for two orders of Shanghainese crab dumplings which were exquisite. Bite the top off the dumpling and suck out the pork soup cooking simmering inside. The filling was tender and a treat. We shared a plate of Shanghai-style noodles which was outstanding and washed everything down with jasmine tea. Not sure how J&J makes money, but for the two of us, the bill came to about $15. I plan on returning the next time I'm in the area!
(4)
Chuck L.
Was good but look... XLB is better at DinTai Fung. Execution is just not in the same class. Flavor, consistency of juice, texture... Only way I see how someone truly prefers over DTF is that it is cheaper and less crowds to fight. Potstickers are better at Mei Long Village (flavor of meat and texture of wrapper) No diet coke. Drinks served in foam cups. Not a lot of tables so expect to wait during peak hours, or you could go to. MLV or the other 3 dumpling houses next door.
(3)
Wilson Z.
When others say let's go get some dumplings they think of Din Tai Fong, but when they say it to me, I say let's go get some J&J's handcrafted xiao long baos. Don't get me wrong, I love Din Tai Fong as well but it just this place still has that magical taste WITH the respect for my emptied wallet. I've been a regular here since about 8 years ago and I still love it just as much as I did back then. Now they even offer noodles for a dollar which can be anybody's budget. The waitresses are nice, foods good, homey atmosphere, what more can you ask for from a small shop in middle of Valley?
(5)
Amy G.
Many, many similar dim sum restaurants all clustered together in the Chinese settlement of San Gabriel, but J & J was the busiest for lunch on a random Wednesday. We got the crab meat xiao long bao (8) at the insistence of my sister, the regular pork XLB (10), steamed vegetable dumplings, and a plate of shanghai-style stir-fried nian gao. Yes, our eyes are bigger than our stomachs. I personally would be just as satisfied with the regular XLB, for which you can get more buns for the same price, than the crab ones because the latter contain just some seafood mixed in with meat and the ocean flavor is not incredibly strong. The vegetable dumplings with tofu, mushrooms, and green veggies were a nice break from the extreme greasiness of the nian gao dish, which had delightfully tender rice noodle pieces. Surprisingly, I remember most the free pickled purple cabbage appetizer they set at everyone's table up front. For some reason, I really liked the cool, sour, and spicy flavors of the snack. The staff is nice and assertive. We originally wanted a different nian gao dish, but the waitress suggested that we get the shanghai-style entree because the other involved frozen vegetables not in season. If I ever come back, I would simply stick with a few trays of baos and/or dumplings, with which one can never go wrong!
(3)
Dorothy L.
I crave JJ's dumplings all the time. (I'm actually only on here to look at the pictures to hold me over until I can make it over there again!) In addition to the steamed pork dumplings/xiao long bao, we like the Shanghai chow mein, which is pan-fried noodle dish with pork, cabbage, and spinach. We also get the Bao Zi, which are breaded pan-fried dumplings.This trifecta of dishes is freaking delicious!! And cheap! This staple meal, with the traditional heart-warming jasmine tea, is less than $20. Note: This restaurant is small, and cash only. Advice: Get your belly full of Chinese soul food at JJ's, then head over to one of the foot spas in the same plaza for $15 + tip. It'll be the best food coma you've ever experienced.
(5)
Miriam H.
Went there last night with some friends, and had a wonderful meal! The XLB were amazing (that's what I was really craving, and totally satisfied) -- very juicy, tender and flavorful filling, and a good size. Best I've had so far. We also got a braised pork dish with tofu knots (not sure what the proper name is), which was good; very tender pork (needed to pick around the fat a bit, though) and a tasty sweet brown sauce. The sauteed pea shoots were really good as well. Definitely will go back!
(4)
Jeanie C.
Stop #6 on the XLB tour of the SGV! After we went to Mei Long Village, we didn't want to leave on a bad note.. we had to stop at one more spot. This restaurant was only two doors down and had appetizing pictures on the outside windows, so we gave it a shot. Out came the XLB - and for such an assuming little restaurant, they were really good! I'd say these had probably the best flavor broth and meat of all the XLB we tried. I'll have to say I tie them with Din Tai Fung for my favorite XLB in the SGV! My friends agreed, these were great. We also got an order of 'shanghai style egg rolls' and I was not much of a fan of them - they had a bubbly fried look on the picture, but the egg roll we got instead had a flaky fried wrapper instead. The inside was really wet and gooey, we weren't sure if there was taro in there or if it was just gooey from sitting out too long or what. Anyway, forget the egg rolls, just have the XLB! I definitely recommend this place for anyone looking for an alternative to Din Tai Fung!
(4)
Yi Z.
They lied to me about their Shengjianbao. I pointed to the picture of Shengjianbao on their menu and I asked the waitress "Does your restaurant's Shengjianbao look like this?" She responded affirmatively and when it came out, it looked nothing like the picture. They brought out a regular bun that's pan-fried on the bottom. For the last time people, authentic Shanghainese Shengjianbao are cooked upside down and squeezed together to form a cube-like shape. The bread portion of the bun rises a little bit, but not nearly as much as a regular baozi. But why still 4 stars? J&J was the last stop on our 5 stop xiaolongbao crawl and everyone agreed that out of the 3 restaurants that we went to that served crab & pork XLB, J&J was by far the best. It's on the cover of their menu so you know it's gotta be good. There is a ton of crab in those little things. Just take a bite and look inside and you'll see all of the pieces of hand-picked crab. I know it's hand-picked because once in a while you get a piece of shell. Pork XLB: overall 4 stars Appearance: 4 stars Juiciness: 3.5 stars Flavor: 4 stars Crab & Pork XLB: overall 4.5 stars Appearance: 4 stars Juiciness: 3.5 stars Flavor: 5 stars
(4)
Debbie P.
After reading all the reviews about the to die for xiao long bao I had to try this place since after visiting Din Tai Fong in Taiwan I haven't been able to find a proper place to have them. Even the DTF here just doesn't compare so I was super excited to find this gem.... or so I thought. Ambiance is the least of my concern when going to a restaurant as long as the food is great but I was a little concerned since the restaurant was quite empty when we arrived. I know it's a bad indicator but in my experience the best restaurants usually have long waits or reservations that take weeks to score. I kept telling myself well maybe it's because I went on a weekday during lunch... We ordered an order of the crab xlb since the waitress highly recommended these and kept raving how they use real crabs not imitation crabs along with Shanghainese rice cakes and pan fried pot stickers. When the xlb arrived it was accompanied with the soy, vinegar blend but to my surprise it only had one single strand of ginger. When we requested for more ginger several strands followed... all I can say is whats up with the stinginess on ginger? The xlb was piping hot with lots of soup and the skin was the standard thickness... all great things until I almost choked on the crab. They use real crab meat right but how hard is it to make sure that the meat doesn't come accompanied with the thin inedible shells? The soup was tasty; however I soon discovered why... it's filled with msg! A sure sign of msg for me is when I feel as if I'm going to die of thirst all day long after my meal. No wonder I was inhaling tea during my meal. The rice cakes were nothing special . They didn't have the chewy consistency I'm use to and were a on the oily side. The pot stickers were the only saving grace. They were perfectly pan fried, juicy and piping hot. I think I enjoyed them much more than the rest of my meal. Once again I find myself puzzled at the recent raving reviews. Maybe I'm just spoiled since once you have the best nothing else compares.
(3)
Jojo L.
The service was good, but the food was neither fresh or tasty. We ended up going there just because that was the only place serving dim sum after 3pm in new year's day in that area. well, i guess we could of tried to drive further...but we were so hangover and that werent an option back then. Anyways, the cold dish were good,but they didnt really have dim sum. They served buns instead. no good. :(
(2)
Grace W.
super like this place. xiao lung bao (crab) - super yum. i want to try their regular one too soon. shanghai pan fried noodle - it was good but wasnt very flavorful. but this totally saved my life when i became a starving child after a long night of shopping -___- veggie (dow mieu)-- ignore my attempt at cantonese english. the veggie was good, they didnt over cook it but i think they did kinda undercook this. but probably because to keep the flavor. wonton soup - wtf.. do the wontons every run out? i think we ordered too much food and was having a hard time finishing this. but no really, theres a ton of wontons in here.. get it? no? ok. ); wine chicken - TOTALLY LOVE THIS. MUST MUST TRY! i like to come here and get to go, taste just the same. ok maybe slightly different for the XLB.
(4)
Lindsay A.
what it lacks in decor it makes up for in taste. Everyone I have taken here has thanked me. .. yes i know my entries to date are all pretty much positive and i'll have some hate on reviews at some point. Why not focus on the good. The mouthwatering, holyish making restaurants that you think about in the middle of the night. Soup dumplings - check! (do not get these to go... ever.. they are never as good when you get home) Their kung pow chicken is the best thing EVER. I dont like gwai lo (round eye, for those in the know) food. I like real asian spice.. no hot pink sauce and NO fork. We always order one extra order of this to go because it's so good. Laden with nuts and chilies and just great flavor are as amazing as the price. The crab special they always have is great too. A little too putchky (thats fidgity) for me but the flavor is out of the world. And the pan fried noodles... well you can imagine. go here. it's a great little drive and it's worth it. I love it
(4)
Kathy T.
I am definitely a fan of J&J's xiao long baos. They are delicious here. My first experience with the xlbs were here and I like them WAY better than Din Tai Fung because they're cheaper and they taste better. We've tried a few other dishes here (the shanghai noodles...and some other stuff we just pointed at on the menu) and found them to be pretty greasy, but they were good nonetheless. I highly recommend the eating the original xiao long bao (as opposed to the crab ones) because they taste a lot better. The wait isn't as long, but this place is literally a hole in a wall, very small, and not the cleanest place to eat. Service is pretty good and the ladies are really nice. Parking can be a pain, but just go to the underground garage because you'll most likely not find parking anywhere else.
(4)
Dee T.
I've been coming here for years now, and I'm still so glad I found it when I did. It's a great alternative for din tai fung if you're in the mood for soup dumplings! For me, it's closer, cheaper, and although it's considerably smaller than din tai fung, the wait is never as long.. Possibly because it isn't as well known. If you come at peak hours, be prepared to take a number..I did say it was a small place. My usual victims: 1. Soup dumplings- I order the standard pork ones. Eat them while they're hot! The skin can get a little tough if you let it sit too long. I think they changed the recipe; the skin is a bit thicker than it used to be. Possibly a new chef? The plus side is that the soup was darker and so much more flavorful today! 2. Hot and sour soup noodles- my boyfriend's favorite combo! He thinks they added it to the menu per his constant requests for it. I laughed, but as we were eating, two separate parties asked the waitress about our dish! I think it's too salty for me, but the noodles are soft and I the soup is good in small portions. 3. Shang hai fried rice cake- I asked for less oil this time.. It's usually super greasy (traditional asian cooking at its best!). It was really soft and chewy and kind of bland. I added vinegar, soy sauce, and the chili.. Haha, I mainly order it because I like the vegetables that they use. I pass on these: 1. Onion pancake- It's not soft and chewy.. Not what I'm used to. 2. Potstickers- I used to order them all the time, but they were so thick and dry.. 3. Shang Hai fried noodles- it's just the rice cake dish subbed with noodles.. Bland, greasy, and ...maybe I should stop ordering the rice cake dish as well.. Haha. Stick to ordering the soup dumplings .. Oh! And I like that they are open late and that they add lemon slices to their ice water.. Yum.
(4)
Daisy C.
This is one of my favorite dim sum houses. Everything here that I've had tastes pretty good. Got the regular siu lung bao, I believe its pork. This was really good, I just love the flavor that this contains and the broth that it has. Very good and something that I will always get when I come. I also like their Wo teep. Its nice and crispy on the bottom and soft on top. very good. their 8 treasure noodle soup is to die for. So much flavor it's just so freaking delicious. really, come here and try it for yourself. fyi its cash only.
(4)
Eli G.
I had been craving soup dumplings for months and I finally got my fix. I had asked my resident Chinese soup dumpling expert what he thought the next best place after Ding Tai Fung was and J&J was near the top of his list. So I invited the gang and luckily only 6 of us made it out, the place really is tiny! Like smaller than most Subway stores. Since I suck at knowing exactly what everything is, I'll keep it brief. First was some plastic wrapped rice roll thing that was filled with fried dough and dried shredded pork. It was good, but nothing spectacular. yelp.com/biz_photos/3Uf2… Next was some silver dollar sized rice noodle type thing that was absolutely amazing! Everyone at the table was pleased with this dish. Great flavors and texture throughout. yelp.com/biz_photos/3Uf2… Along with that, came some veggies. They were pretty good, nice garlic sauce. yelp.com/biz_photos/3Uf2… At last was the soup dumplings. We got both the pork and the crab filled ones. The crab ones were nice but not nearly as good as the pork ones. And while these were fine for me, I know the ones at DTF were better. yelp.com/biz_photos/3Uf2… Then we got some boiled dumplings that were surprisingly good. No idea of exactly what they were filled with but with a little spicy vinegar, they were great. yelp.com/biz_photos/3Uf2… Next we got some pan fried dumplings that we saw on another table, actually most of what we got was based off seeing it on another table. These were pretty damn tasty! The one I ate looked like a little alien guy. yelp.com/biz_photos/3Uf2… After all that we also ordered a huge bowl of soup with udon like noodles and a giant donut like thing of very lightly sweetened dough. Both were pretty good but I guess you're supposed to get the donut with porridge, which we were too full for by that time. So guess how much the bill was for eight items plus tax and a generous tip split 6 ways? $10! I couldn't believe how cheap it was! We ordered the perfect amount of food too, almost nothing was wasted and we all left happily stuffed, for $10!!! 4.5 stars.
(5)
Wilson L.
I went on a Saturday nite. They ran out of pork xiao long bao. The crab meat xiao long bao was overcooked. So was the fried dumplings. They actually tasted like they were pre-made and came from the frozen aisle in the supermarket. The rice cake and hot and sour soup were good. Tasted just as good as DTF. I would come here only if I really wanted to eat average quality xiao long bao and didn't wanna wait for the long line at DTF.
(3)
Angela L.
Lets star with their Shengjian pan fried baos: Man, seriously?!? its like a fried ball with meat and soup inside. My all time favorite dish here. I used to come here a lot because I was kinda of addicted to the pan fried baos here. They also have good xiao long baos and they are gooood! I ordered here a couple of times for the fambam and they love the eggplant and so do I! the food here gets addicting cause its so simple but yet the flavors make you want to eat more!
(4)
Will T.
This place got the best XLB dumplings in San Gabriel Valley. A lot of people prefer to go to Din Tai Fung ( yelp.com/biz/din-tai-fun… ) for their Xiao Long Bao fix but I think this place is way better than those in DTF. Cheaper, no wait, and taste much better. Whenever my gf and I come here for lunch, we would always order two Xiao Long Bao (regular ones) and a plate of vege to go with them. The pork chop vege rice and the preserved vege with meat noodle are pretty awesome as well. I took my two white coworkers here once all the way from West LA after work and ever since then, they've been hooked and kept asking me to take them here again. "It's like Chinese crack, you can never get enough of it" - one of the two white coworkers. IMO, the only things that DTF beats J&J is the location, decor and the cleanliness of it. This place is a hole-in-the-wall type of typical Chinese restaurant. Once in a while if it gets busy, you will be asked to share tables since this place is tiny and it gets packed during lunch time on the weekends. Service is friendly and the waitresses do speak a bit of English.
(5)
Sam T.
My girlfriend brought me here noting the Xiao Long Bao are better than DTF. The food was decent but I think the presentation and the way they serve their Xiao Long Bao can be better. I first 3 dumplings were very good but we ordered two batches. The last 2 pieces I ate were really disappointing. This reminded me of the way DTF served it. DTF doesn't bring your next batch until you finish the current one. Overall the food is really good. The crab dumplings had real crab meat in it though I found a few pieces of crab shell in it. The Shanghai noodles tasted better than most places but definitely not the best. The service was ok....nothing stood out...typical service from your hole in the wall restaurant. Environment: Gotta love these hole in the wall restaurants! Definitely cheaper than DTF. Overall definitely worth the price. Great alternative to DTF. Plentiful parking and cheaper price! Food: 4 Service: 2 Environment: 2 Price: 4
(3)
Jessica H.
Writing this review makes me sad. I've been coming here with my family since I was in elementary school. I was so excited to revisit now that I've moved back to SGV and introduce my friend to this place that I've been hyping up. This was my favorite Shanghainese restaurant up until now. Most disappointing meal =(. The one thing this place is known for is ther xiao long bao. Every single XLB in our order was shriveled up like an old man because all the juice leaked out of each bao. The soup in each dumpling is what makes it so gloriously delicious!! The stir fried rice cakes were super greasy and lacked flavor. The onion pancake was by far the worst I've ever had - soggy because it was so greasy. There weren't even onions to be found in it! it looked like a limp piece of paper that was drenched in oil....=(. The only good thing we had in this meal was the hot and sour soup.... It could've been an off night or a new chef, but after this experience I will not be returning to J&J.
(2)
Yuping X.
My Dad's business partners from Shanghai said they come here to J+J for Shanghainese food when they are in L.A. So that says something. The Xiaolongbao's are fine by me, though of course most unique here are the Crab xlb's, which are pretty crabby. It's a small hole in the wall, so around meal time, you'll probably have to wait, but I would come here or Luscious Dumplings or something before Dintaifung to support the little guys (unless it was like for a more formal crowd or to give a favorable impression to Non-Asians). I have to admit though, the Xlb's served about 5 years ago at what later became Phoenix up on Main are still the standard in the area for me - 8 for $3? Come on. In the face DTF.
(3)
Mitch W.
Based on the reviews here, I tried J & J last night. It was OK. The three of us ate: - Shanghai noodles (OK) - Xiao Long Bao (OK, but better at other places) - Pot stickers (good, but skin a bit thicker than I'd like) - Boiled dumplings (good with some juice in each dumpling) - Hot and Sour soup (good) Overall, I've had better Shanghai Chinese food at other restaurants, so I probably won't frequent J & J much in the future. I like Mei Long Village (in the same plaza) much better. The total bill was $36 including tip for the three of us. Cheers!
(3)
Brandon C.
I've been coming here for years. It's a small little place in the back of the plaza. Many years ago this place was known in the area to have the best pork juicy dumplings, Shanghai style. These days more people go to Din Tai Fung in Arcadia for dumplings. The Xiao Long Bao is still pretty good. I like them for their flavor and juicyness. They also have other Shanghai style dishes such as Fried Pork Thick Noodles and Onion pancake. One of my favorite dishes is the Fried Pork Chop Noodle soup. This restaurant is not the best in town but definitely a place I will come from time to time. BTW, they only accept cash, so be prepared!
(4)
Christine C.
Great hole in the wall that my coworker recommended! Juicy XLBs, lots of flavor AND no wait! Will come back again and try the pan fried baos!
(4)
Louisa T.
This place holds a special place in my heart. The waitresses (2 of them are actually the owners) have seen me literally grow up. They are super friendly and happy to give suggestions. And you can't beat their prices; you really get a good filling meal at incredibly affordable prices My usual meal is the drunken pig tongue (comes in a little clay pot), Shanghainese style fried noodles, and their regular XLB (the crab ones aren't as good). My entire family is Shanghainese, and we all think that J&J has the best XLB in the US (and we've eaten in Shanghai restaurants from LA to SF to NYC to everywhere in between). They give good sized portions, the skin doesn't rip when you pick it up, and there's actually more than a mouthful of soup inside. If you've never had the drunken pig tongue, try it out. It's delicious; don't let the name of the dish scare you. I personally love their fried noodles (the waitresses know that I'll order it) and everyone I've taken there loves the noodles too. Once in a while I also get their chicken soup, but it's gotten a little too greasy. The place is small; the restaurant has been in the same spot for over 20 years. J&J has to be doing something right to have that kind of staying power on Valley.
(5)
Tiffany L.
Came here on two times, both times I got the xiao long bao (which has been delicious both times). I've also had their noodles - oily, but good. Their sheng Jian bao was disappointing... Why didn't they have soup?!? :(
(4)
Darren H.
I never thought I'd give a 1-star rating to a business. A lot of people trust Yelp, and skewed reviews can hurt a business. However, I went to J&J for xiao long bao, based on numerous other reviews. After stopping by Mei Long Village, which I found to be decent but lacking on soup, I walked a few steps down to J&J to try it out. I just ordered the pork xiao long bao. The meat tasted rancid. It literally tasted and smelled like kitchen sewage. I tried another bun just to be sure, and it was the same. My eating partner agreed. I'm seriously hoping that my experience was a fluke. I know that people have different tastes and preferences, but I have been all over America and China eating xiao long bao (and food in general). The taste of rotten meat is unforgettably bad.
(1)
Lensman G.
Rock-solid steamed dumplings and xiao long bao! J&J has withstood the test of time! This cafe-styled Chinese restaurant serves foods that typify Northern Chinese/Shanghai-nese cuisine. This restaurant has been around San Gabriel (and at this particular plaza) for as long as I can remember, so its capacity to survive in a very competitive market in the SGV says a lot! Other Yelpers have done justice to what this joint offers. Xiao long bao (regular or with crab meat) are all pretty darn good. And yes, it is indeed a good alternative to Din Tai Fung in Arcadia which -- IMHO -- isn't worth the ungodly waits. (Metaphysical moment: Does food taste better if you wait a long for it?!) Some other honorable mentions on their menu: -- Beef Noodle Soup, dark/red style (nioh roh mien); -- Pan-fried rice cakes, Shanghai-style (nian gao); -- Pan-fried dumplings of all sorts. Lots of items to choose from on this menu, particularly if you're feeling like Shanghai-nese cuisine. Good eats! Service: Typical Asian service, but nothing horrendous. What matters most is the food is rock-solid. The matron of this restaurant rarely shows her face anymore. I remembered in my younger days her reigning over this little restaurant from behind the cashier's both, barking in Shanghai-nese. Altogether, great xiao long bao dumplings and Chinese fried dumplings can be gotten here. I've not dealt with long waits here, but I'd recommend avoiding peak meal hours. Parking: Sucky. The above ground parking lot is pretty tough, though there is underground parking, as well as a lot in the rear. Beware of crazy Asian drivers -- they will run you over and not think twice, especially in this cozy/tight (u-shaped) lot.
(4)
Cahaya S.
oooo, a great place to head to when that xlb craving hits! $5.95 for 10 exquisite soupy dumplings! It was worth the hour drive.... Oh PS: It's Cash Only...
(5)
Vicky L.
MMMMmmmM!!! Yummy!! Consistently good dim sum that puts the Chinese food down in San Diego to shame. I can't believe we used to drive 2 hours to get a decent meal... The siu mai was tasty, the wrapper still had some chew to it. The shiao lung bao dumplings here hit the spot, but not as fantastic as Din Tai Fung, but they come in close. Service here is fast... they're quick on refilling your tea and water.
(3)
Colleen C.
I created a Yelp account just to voice my opinion about Jin Jian. I was fooled by the reviews I read on Yelp. I brought my family who were visiting from San Francisco (we were planning on going to Din Tai Fung) to try a Shanghainese restaurant. My family is Shanghainese, so we know good Shanghainese food when we taste it... which by the way, can be found in Richmond, British Columbia if you're ever there :). Anyway, we ordered xiao long bao, onion pancake, and wonton soup. First off, the xiao long bao was average, not the best. Granted it was not dry, and had soup inside, but the flavor was not great. The onion pancake was horrible. It was really oily and I'm sure the oil was not changed because the pancake tasted fishy. I was truly disappointed espcially since it is my favorite dish. Finally, the wonton was alright... not horrible but not great. I felt a little tingly after leaving the restaurant. I'm guessing the MSG from the soup. Well I don't see myself returning to Jin Jian. I was disappointed that my family had to experience that kind of sup-par meal especially driving all the way from San Francisco. What surprised the me the most was that the workers are Shanghainese....how can they allow these kind of dishes be served to their customers??
(2)
Deborah B.
I went to this place because they raved about it in LA Magazine. I LOVE me some dumplings but this place was a BIG disappointment. It was packed with people on a sunday night at 9:30 so obviously people do like the place. Ordered XLB with crab, couldn't really taste the crab & had some shell mixed in with the meat. The pan fried buns were horrible, greasy and no flavor at all. We took one bite and couldn't finish them at all. My husband said we should save them to throw them at people that talk during the movies. The best thing was the pan fried dumplings but even those were just so so. I would say skip this place and go to Luscious Dumplings instead. They are way better. Only good thing about this place is free parking and hot tea.
(2)
T L.
I ordered xiao long bao, pan fry dumplings and shanghai fried noodles. I wouldn't say they're the best xiao long bao I've ever tasted but it definitely meet certain standard and the price is fairly reasonable though. The service here is so-so. Typical Chinese style if you know what I mean. The xiao lung bao here is a little different than ding tai fung But they both tasted good
(3)
Patrick M.
This place is awesome. I've been here twice for the xiaolongbao. This Shanghainese food is probably the most legit I've ever had in the U.S. The ambiance is simple, the people are nice, and I'm always the only white person there. Perfect.
(5)
Sara L.
Okay, people. Let's be clear about something. The food here is very good. And the prices are just as good. The xiao long bao are also very good. But to say that they come anywhere near comparing to Din Tai Fung's soup dumplings is an outrageous claim. They're tasty, relatively delicate, and you dont' hav to stand in line for them. These are all true. But DTF's dumplings just have some depth of flavor that's far beyond what J & J can offer. That said, the food is very good, and dumplings are MUCH better than most, the service is fast, and the prices are cheap. I'd absolutely come back, for both the regular menu items as well as the xiao long bao. Just don't compare it to Din Tai Fung and we'll be cool.
(4)
Kevin B.
Rather small restaurant that seats maybe 30 people. We waited about 10 minutes on a Saturday night for a party of 4. I loved their xiao long baos! The traditional pork style ones were good but their crab filled XLB's were awesome too! Both of them were filled with "soup" and exploded in my mouth. I didn't like their ginger tho, it was cut way too thick. Chao nian gao was pretty good too but a little bland for my tastes. Shanghai cong youbing is just okay too. I'd definitely like return to try other shanghainese foods here
(4)
Daniel C.
Great service and excellent Chinese food for not a bad price. I have gone to eat Xiao long bao at other restaurants in the USA and they rarely match in taste for the price. The xiao long bao and all other dishes here are very reasonably priced (meaning they're not the absolute best) and I would recommend this restaurant to anyone who wants a solid slightly more authentic place. I also recommend the spicy wontons. Very tasty
(4)
Kevin M.
J&J gets really crowded during peak times for lunch and dinner. The restaurant isn't very spacious, so just keep that in mind if you ever decide to go. As for the food, J&J can definitely hold its own against the Shanghai Restaurants, and Ding Tai Fungs of the world. Their food is delicious! I've been there multiple times but always order the same things. I usually get an order of the pork xiao long bao, crab xiao long bao, pork chop over vegetable rice, and pan fried rice cake. This is just one of those places that can hit the spot no matter when I go. Good authentic food and a good price is always a lethal combination. J&J is a fantastic alternative to the other Shanghainese restaurants in the area.
(4)
Robin S.
Crabmeat & pork dumplings were delicious! I was not at all crazy about their scallion pancake though. It didn't even look like pancake and it was super greasy and bleh.
(3)
Vince The G.
The service here was nice. Food was average. I just feel like it's the same as any other chinese food restaurant. Nothing less, nothing special, nothing really better. The restaurant right next door looked exactly the same too, except they had beef rolls! I wanted to have beef rolls, and they don't have it here! Got tricked. Chow Mein was good. Not that flavorful though. Pan fried baos (shen jian bao) they were okay. Pretty large order. i think they give 8 per order. Xiao Long Bao- these were good :) they had the soup in it and was nice and fresh. Good skin, good meat. about 20 dollars total for that plus tip for the ladies that work there. Cash only,
(3)
Peter C.
I had alot of xiao long bao all over LA and asia. Obviously, in the USA, the xiao long bao quality isnt as good, but i feel this restaurant is as close as it gets to Asia quality. The key to a good xiao long bao is two folds: (1) Thiness of the skin. This place thickness is ok... b/c youd ont want it to be too thick or else its too hard and doesnt just melt in your mouth. (2) Juicyness of meat... this place has really really juicy meat and they use real crab in the crab xiao long bao. Over all, I think this place is better than Ding Tai Feng. Its pretty damn good....the service is ok... but the xiao long bao cant get better. Also, please dont biatch about cash only.... its a chinese restaurant... and ppl dont want to pay more for credit card fees.
(5)
Kristin E.
A small unassuming hole in the wall that really, really made my day. I came here because I wanted xiaolongbao. Oh man, do I love XLB! If I miss anything from Shanghai, it's Coco Tea and XLB (oh and fry dumplings). I did a search on yelp for Shanghainese food, and this came up several times. On a drive from the Inland Empire, back home to Los Angeles, I decided to make a pit stop at Ranch 99 Market and here. I have to admit I am biased. Having lived in Shanghai for 15 months, and then seeing the pictures of the city on the wall of this restaurant put me int he right mood. I sat down and ordered crab XLB, and an onion pancake. I really enjoyed my xiaolongbao. It was just as good as some of the ones I had out in China. It took me back. I happened to be the only person in there at the moment and I had a conversation with my waitress who was from Shanghai. She was extremely friendly, was a native of Shanghai, and told me her story about coming here 21 years ago ... and what she thought of life here. I have to say that really made my experience. I am going to return to say hi, have some more XLB, and perhaps try some other items on the menu!
(4)
Kai G.
The food is GREAT! I mean its a small, little chinese restaurant which looks not really good from the outside but the food is pretty good for a late night snack.
(4)
Sherrie G.
What this place lacks in ambiance it makes up for in damn good xiao long bao. They didn't even have Diet Coke or Coke the day we were there, I think I had to make due with a Sprite (sorry! my pancreas craves high fructose corn syrup) but you kind of shake those minor inconveniences off when you're shoving pork dumplings into your face at an alarming rate. I also remember feeling a little piggy about the onion pancake dish, taking a bit more than my fellow diners did. I agree with another reviewer here that the XLBs at J&J have a lovely light delicate skin and feel soupier than most - so careful about gushing that hot stuff all over the person sitting next to you. I *still* suck at basic XLB eating technique and etiquette! While we dined away, one table over in the corner, two little ladies were deftly folding up dumplings, gossiping away while they did so. I like little moments like this. Makes the dumplings even tastier.
(4)
Angela T.
it's an okay substitute for Din Tai Fung, if you're craving dumplings. It's not great, but it sure is cheap. Think Quantity over quality. The dumplings are more soupy than the ones over at Din Tai Fung, which is nice. But in all honesty, the meat really isn't as fresh and you can tell. The dumpling skin is dry and thicker than i'd like. If there is one thing I have to say about this place, it's that the customer service is great. Not "great" for an Asian place or "great" for Alhambra, but it's sincerely good. I was there after 8pm the last two times and our food came out promptly and the waitress was very attentive. If you're craving dumplings and can go the extra 6 miles, go to Din Tai Fung. If you're on a budget, J&J's is half the price. J & J is a decent place. I'm definately going back for late night dumplings. If I happen to crave dumplings on a Sunday aroung 10am, I'll likely head to Din tai Fung.
(3)
Elaine D.
This is my favorite childhood restaurant and I have to say I think the food quality has been pretty consistent. Cheap, quick, and good. I actually prefer the xiao long bao here compared to din tai fung in Arcadia because 1. They are consistently juicy 2. There isn't a huge wait. I also am a fan of their shanghai style noodles, although I will admit they are a bit greasy, but that's to be expected with quick, delicious Chinese food
(5)
Jonas T.
Service was typical Chinese - horrible - but their xiao long bao was actually my favorite in this plaza, or possibly the whole San Gabriel Valley. The skin wasn't the thinnest (though it was pretty thin) but it had a nice texture to it. The inside was soupy and the meat didn't have any cartilage (I think that's what it was) unlike when I had dumplings at Din Tai Fung or Dragon mark. JONASAPPROVED!
(5)
Jeannie J.
Came here recently and was disappointed by their XLB. Where did all the soupiness go? Too bad, b/c this was my to-go place for XLB, gotta find a different joint now. On a positive note, the suan la tang (hot n sour soup) and the shanghai nian gao (chewy noodles) are still up to par.
(3)
sybril s.
A place my sister and I go to a lot when we were in college. Good Shanghai-nese food for an affordable price. Needless to say, I'm a fan of their crab meat steamed buns. I've been to Ding Tai Feng and I do not like that place at all - totally overrated. I also love the napa casserole here, perfect for cold winter days! Oh, and last but not least, the stuffed gluten balls - YUM!
(4)
Carol T.
I always come here for the xiao long bao with my sister. Recently we went there with my cousins and my mom and dad and we ordered a lot of good stuff. This place is known for their xiao long bao and their pan fried dumplings. This place is cheaper than Din Tai Fung and the taste is much better. They have a good drunken chicken and this dish with edamame is really good. They have good and cheap noodles in soup
(4)
Mimi P.
A lot of people think J&J has the best soup dumplings, but I only thought it was just ok. It wasn't bad, just nothing extraordinary. The dumpling wasn't as juicy and tasty as their next door neighbor, Mei Long Village's. But I do like J&J's radish cake and chicken broth soup. As for juicy dumplings, I'll still go to Din Tai Fung or Mei Long Village. J&J now offers Shanghainese hot dishes. I haven't tried it, but saw the dishes on other customers' tables. They looked pretty good. Maybe I'll go try those dishes next time.
(3)
urasso u.
Pretty good Xiao long bao. But the pan fried shanghai bao is little too doughy. The dough sucked up all the juice.
(4)
Cindy W.
Din Tai Fung xiao long baos are muuuuuch better. I came here on the referral of my cousin who's been eating everywhere. But sorry cousin, the J&J xiao long baos are okay, but not even close to as tasty as Din Tai Fung. I tried both the regular and crab xiao long baos at J&J and although the juicy soup inside the dumpling was tasty, I found the skin not as thin and al dente ("Q") as Din Tai Fung. It's like, at Din Tai Fung, after every bite of dumpling.. I wanted more. But after every bite of J&J dumplings, I had an oily taste i my mouth, probably from the meat. I mean, I wouldn't spit out these dumplings, but they weren't so good that I would want more. We also tried their Shanghi stir fried rice cake which also tasted very oily and too mushy. I honestly am hunting for another xiao long bao place because the lines at Din Tai Fung are just way too long sometimes. But if that weren't the case, Din Tai Fun xiao long baos are still the best in my book. Sorry J&J, but you don't even come close.
(2)
Jones T.
Came here again to give it another shot. Same results: just ok. The xiao long baos are not great, but pretty decent. The other food is fairly average as well. Can be crowded at times. Cheap prices though, 5 people ate for $40 bucks. This is a decent pick, but nothing about this restaurant makes it stand out from the hundreds just like it in the area.
(3)
Lisa V.
This is a pretty small authentic shanghai mom and pop restaurant. I've been coming here as well as the place next door for years due to the reasonable prices and quality of the food. However, as I ate the xiao long baos tonight, they tasted alright.... I regretted ordered the regular xiao long baos and wish I got the ones with crab meat!! :( I also ordered 2 noodle dishes, the regular noodles with beef stew and the hot and spicy noodles with 8 treasures. I thought both noodles were OK BUT I actually prefer the 101 noodles place on valley better because I think that the noodle soup flavor has a lot more spices to it and they also offer this chopped up cilantro garnish which is phenomenal! :) It was my first time ordering the hot and spicy noodles with 8 treasures which is basically a bowl of clear broth and noodles and a plate of this hot and spicy meat/peanut/tofu dish that you dump in the noodles. It wasn't that spicy... I was expecting something hot, but I guess that's what the chili on the table is for ;) For the 3 items that I ordered, it came out to be less than $20, and was more than enough for 2 people, so I was pretty stuffed but I think I still like the 101 noodles place... Sorry JJ!! :X
(3)
Anh-Dao T.
I guess I expected too much out of J & J because my favorite dish ended up being the fried noodle w/ "finless eel." I should've known. After all, it's a small space and there were still a couple of empty tables. In all fairness, the service was fine and the food came out quickly. The pork XLBs were good but the crab were far superior. We even got an additional order of the crab to go. All in all, it's nice to know there's a place to go when you don't feel like waiting for DTF. But I had to choose btwn the two, I'd rather wait it out.
(3)
Steve L.
There're two dumpling restaurants that I crave. One of them is Din Tai Fung, and everyone already knows about the place. It's where to go if you want dainty, nicely constructed xiao long baos with a clean, zen taste. But the place that most people don't know about that deserves highlighting is: Jin Jian, which in my opinion, has an edge over DTF in the xiao long bao department. Jin Jian is a hole-in-the-wall, so there's no swank and no Tokyo and Shanghai locations to boast. But, there also isn't a 45-minute wait. However, that can't be the compelling reason to come here. No! You want to eat here because its xiao long baos are probably the best in L.A. Unlike DTF, Jin Jian's little dumpling gems are more authentic in taste, with richer and more flavorful juices flowing. Biting into one is always a desirable experience as its steamy juices burst into every which corner of your mouth. It's hot!
(4)
Ying H.
Best soup dumplings ever!!! Very flavorful and just the right amount of soup. I like how the skin isn't too thick. Way better than DTF.
(5)
Leslie W.
My dad got some intel that this place has better dumplings than Din Tai Fung. Since it came from Shanghainese people, it had to be true. We ordered the pork xiao lung bao and the waitress convinced us to order the crab xlb too. The pork xlb was pretty good but the crab tasted a little odd and had bits of shell or something in it. I wasn't a fan. Can't beat the prices and the food is not bad. But I would still take Din Tai Fung over J&J.
(3)
Peter L.
This is a small restaurant inside prospect plaza. The xiao long bao but with crab and radish cake is the BEST I've ever had. Definitely one of the best in my opinion and I've been to New york as well and doesn't even compare to this place.
(5)
Michelle H.
Rating: 3.5 Stars Dined here tonight with the fam. Xiao Long Baos are pretty good. Haven't tried DTF, but bro in law says this place is better. Scallion pancakes were good too. Slightly thicker than most places, but fried just right. Fried noodles with chicken was pretty yummy although I wasn't the biggest fan of the noodles. I was expecting the thin egg noodles, but this was the slightly fatter. The eggplant and the braised pork w/tofu skin were both delish. We left quite full. Would come back again.
(3)
Hae A.
Total fail on the xiao long baos. The soy sauce dip was disgusting and three of us only had one xlb each and threw the rest away. The meat wasn't good, the skin was decent. I would not go back for the xlb.
(1)
Siu M.
Love the xiao long bao there! I have tried many places and this is still the best! The juicy and meaty bao just taste soooo good. I also like the fish head hot pot and pan fried shanghai noodle.
(4)
Diana Y.
It's Saturday night and I wanted to try something new for dinner so I decided to go to one of many Yelp inspired restaurants that I've had bookmarked but haven't tried yet. Since I was feeling like Chinese food, the decision was made to go to J&J. J&J is located in a small strip mall with a handful of other Chinese restaurants and shops, one of them being Bearded Papa and Mei Long Village which is also on the "Yelp Hot List". =P As we approached the storefront, I noticed that J&J has a "B" rating. Now you know what that means (at least for Chinese places), it has extra flavor and will be extra delicious...haha. There were two other parties in front of us and we waited about 15 minutes before we were seated. Now a word of caution, this place is pretty small, it has about 10 tables only, but they are pretty efficient at getting you in and out. Anyways, on to the important part, the FOOD. Here's the breakdown of what we ordered and my thoughts. Xiao Long Bao (steamed dumplings) - I thought they were decent, about a 7 out of 10. I think it would've been an 8 if the jucies hadn't leaked out of most of the dumplings already. And isn't half the point of eating xiao long bao is to get as much dumpling juice as possible? The fillings were hearty, you get a good amount of meat, but the skin was a little on the thicker side, not super thick, but more so than what you would be used to compared to DTF. Sheng Jian Bao (Pan fried buns) - I had high hopes for this, mostly because I did like the xiao long baos, which came out before we got these. I would recommend you to stay away from ordering these. Again the same problem as the xlb, no juice! But aside from that, the dough was so heavy and thick and gummy tasting, like it was not fully cooked before they pan fried it or something. We didn't finish this plate. I think I might be a little biased on these because I had the BEST shen jian bao in Shanghai, so nothing can really live up to those. Shanghai stir fry noodle (sorry, forgot the real name) - A plate full of golden, thick, noodles. Stir fried with a little spinach and pork. The noodles weren't over cooked, they had a nice bite to them, and the seasoning they used gave it good flavor. Red bean bun (again, for the name) - These were a favorite! You get this flakey pastry like bun, with toasted seasme on top, all rolled around sweet red bean paste that does NOT taste like it came out of a can. Niu Rou Tang (beef noodle soup) - Mmm..I love soup, and these were GOOD. Again, compariosn to DTF. We also ordered this at DTF, but I didn't even drank half of it there, but I finished the WHOLE bowl here. It was very flavorful, with a good helping of tender beef. It's like A&J, but "cleaner" tasting to me. It was a good meal, and I want to go back to try some of their other dishes and soups. Although there were some misses, overall I enjoyed the food and the service was prompt and nice.
(4)
Helen K.
I've only had the crab and pork XLB dumplings here and they are pretty good. They are cheaper than DTF's and there is no wait, so that's definitely a plus. The decor is nothing to write home about and I can see how some people would complain about the cleanliness... but hey, the food's good so why complain about the little things. For the price, you get what you pay for. I want to go back to try out the other dishes since I've heard they were just as good as the XLBs. I can't say for sure if I like J&J's XLBs or DTF's... I'll have to do some more detective work and try them both out... again... and again... and... AGAIN.
(4)
Andrew G.
probably 3.75 actually. solid food in a slightly frenetic but definitely homestyle sgv atmosphere. my experiences here are limited to a trip this evening but i plan on going back. we tried the XLB's (of course), curry beef soup, stir-fried chinese greens and some cold cucumbers in chili sauce. the XLB's probably weren't as nuanced as DTF's but they were still great, probably better than the almost next door mei long village. curry beef soup was excellent, a study in undertones. i was concerned that the curry would be overpowering but the savory beef broth really anchored the dish, creating an experience that was at once rich and subtle. bravo. hard to mess up chinese greens and cucumbers in chili, but truth be told, the cukes could have used a little more chili. even better: the place was mostly populated with sgv locals and families. there was only one table of 20-something blogospherians tonight, and eavesdropping their mundance 'i found a website this' and 'we're looking for a bed and breakfast that' banter was more entertaining than distracting or annoying. in this context, at least.
(4)
Mike C.
This place is AWESOME for Xiao Long Bao. I haven't gotten the chance to compare them side to side with Din Tai Fung in Arcadia as it's been 8 years since i last ate there but I prefer these for 2 reasons: - It's GOOD - It's Cheap ($5.95 for regular & $7.95 for Crab & meat) Din Tai Fung is too expensive and never as good as the ones in Asia so why not get something just as good if not better and a much better price. A friend told me to try Mei Fong VIllage next door and their Xiao Long Bao were NOT nearly as good as these. I also like their: - Zhong Zi - Chong You bing is OK...but it's thicker than i like it - wife digs the Nu Ruo Mein (i've personally had better). - I plan to try the Twice cooked pork that I love at Indian Beer.
(4)
Iska B.
I've never had xiao long bao and I've wanted to try them since forever (or since I saw them on TV). I finally made the effort to look up places that serve them on Yelp and decided to try this place. There are so many mixed reviews for so many other places but this one seemed very solid (no lines, consistent quality). It's located in a rather unassuming strip of restaurants and stores (and next to another place that serves xiao long bao, Mei Long Village) and inside is nothing special. It's very simple. Tables and chairs and almost no decor. If you're looking for any sort of atmosphere you won't get it here. However, I've found that places that don't spend as much effort/money on decorating the place tend to focus on the food. I was not wrong in this. Clearly I had an order of the standard xiao long bao. There are about 10 of them per order. Suffice it to say they are delicious. I mean really really good. They burst in your mouth with salty, flavorful goodness and you just can't stop eating them! We ordered two other dishes (shrimp noodles and fresh pork bun) but this was the star and honestly I think next time I'll just order two of these and eat them all. By myself. Oink oink. I can't say they are the "best" since I've only had them this one time so I'll reserve that praise until I've tried some others but I'll certainly be coming back for more. Best of all, they were cheap as hell ($5.95) so you order to your heart's content. If only they tasted as good re-heated as they do fresh! You really do need to eat them fast because as they cool they lose that bursting hot soup thing, otherwise you know I would have taken an order to go...
(4)
Abby A.
Being a Din Tai Fung fan for a couple of years now, I didn't realize that there were quite a few other restaurants that also served excellent xia long baos or for short, XLBs, until I read a discussion thread on Chowhound naming some of those restaurants. With my curiosity aroused, I decided set up a restaurant series where I'd take my dining group to some of those restaurants listed in that thread. But first, a little explanation about XLBs, which I took from wikipedia.org . So what exactly is "Xiao Long Bao?" To start, xiao long bao (literally "little basket bun"; also known as soup dumpling) is a type of baozi (filled bun or bread-like item) from the Southern provinces of China, including Shanghai and Wuxi. XLBs are traditionally steamed in bamboo baskets, hence the name. It can be filled with hot soup and meat and/or vegetarian fillings, as well as other possibilities. The fillings are wrapped in something like a jiaozi wrapper that turns almost translucent after being steamed. Shanghai steamed buns can be recognized by their unique design, as the filled wrapper is gathered up into fine folds at the top, prior to steaming. To eat XLBs, first take the dumpling and deposit it into a Chinese soup spoon and if desired add the vinegar and soy sauce. Some places may also have shredded ginger. Take a small bite of the skin and suck out as much of the flavorful broth as possible. Then eat the rest of the dumpling from the spoon. Our first "XLB" journey took us to J&J. By the way, what we may refer to as XLBs shows up as "Steamed Pao" on their menu. We didn't know that until we asked the waitress. Our group ordered a total of 9 dishes. Two them were the Steamed Pao with Crab and the Steamed Pao with Pork & Crab and both were tasty In general, here's my take on the J&J's XLBs. The thing that I didn't like was the thicker, chewier wrapper. It just seemed more difficult to bite into the without the broth already starting to come out. Maybe, just a little bit thinner? I thought that the fillings were great - very meaty, very juicy, not as refined as you would find at Din Tai Fung, but more rustic, something a Mom would make in her kitchen. That somehow gave it more appeal. Overall, I liked the XLBs at J&J and it's nice to have more than one alternative for certain foods that you like. As mentioned, the XLBs weren't the only items we ordered. There were 7 more dishes that were a part of this meal. Standouts for me included their Green Onion Pancake which was light, flaky and with lots of great onion flavor as well as the Eggplant in Brown Sauce, which had a sauce to die for. The pan-fried dumplings were also amazing with a meat filling that was just as juicy and flavorful as the XLBs. Finally, the Fried Crab Shanghai Style was finger-looking good and the sauce had a nice hit of heat without being overwhelming. The XLBs at J&J are definitely quite delicious and apparently, some of the other items on the menu are tasty as well. I'm just glad that J&J isn't too far from me because I certainly want to make a return trip sometime soon to check out some of their other dishes. To see pics, go to: flickr.com/photos/la_add…
(4)
grace c.
This place is a rip off. My family ordered the set meal which was $20 dollars and tthere was barely any food.. on top of that the food wasnt eeven that great. Not coming back again.
(1)
Jason H.
Im not a huge dim sum eater...heck I didn't even know what dim sum was until a few years ago (ya ya ya). I actually thought it was an item that you ordered. You know like #44 I'll have an order of dim sum. Then one day a group was going to a great dim sum place up in San Francisco, so I just happened to join them and that is when I found out what dim sum was. Anyways we ended up at Jin Jiang (j & j) after our early morning bowling session at West Covina Bowl. The freeway on ramps were closed, so it was quite a long drive on Valley Blvd. It's a small joint, and our expert repeat diner (Nic) says the dumplings are really good here. So we ordered the pork dumplings, crab dumplings, egg rolls and I chose the pork fried rice (still looking for a good dry bbq pork fried rice place) since I'm looking for a good fried rice place. Both the pork and crab dumplings were good. The egg rolls were ok and the fried rice wasn't the BBQ pork version, and it was with sticky rice...it was ok too. Tea was up to par, as I was thirsty after 5 games of bowling. Definately order the dumplings. :-) One minus: In the soup bowl they handed me, there was a small fruit fly on it boo. I just wiped it off, cuz stuff like that happens...but boo.
(3)
Daisy C.
Xiao long bao was ok though not that juicy. Beef noodle soup wasn't that flavorful. Spicy kidney dish was...well, I've had better in Plano, TX. We ordered about 5 dishes for 5 people. We asked the server if it was enough, and she said we needed two more. Ended up with waaaay too much food. Had enough leftover for all of us for dinner, which is only a good thing when you're looking forward to eating it.
(2)
Sally Q.
This is a little dumpling shop located in an Asian plaza. No line when we got there and we had a big party so it was nice to be seated right away. The food came out relatively fast and service was alright. The food is inexpensive, but a little too oily for my liking. This is a nice place to go to if you want something quick to satisfy your dumpling and noodle cravings.
(3)
Leslie P.
I've been to this place for over 7 years now!! Their food is so good we always order so much our bill is over $80 for 4-5 people. I love their hot and sour soup, xiao long bao (crab-filled or original), twice cooked pork, potstickers, chewy rice cakes (don't know the actual name of that) and so much more!!! The prices are good but it did go up through the years (of course). I used to come to this place at least once a week but now since I've moved out of state, I miss it so much. The place is small so sometimes you have to wait. Oh...it's cash only.
(5)
Christie K.
I love the xiao long bao's here... it's soupy and the skin is really good... although i do prefer the DTF skins more because they're thinner.. the inside is super tasty!! If you just want xlb.. this is the place to go.. and their nian gao is yummy too.. nice and chewy! this place isn't fancy at all.. kinda ghetto, but! it's super cheap.. so it makes the food taste better :)
(4)
Mike L.
I don't know, maybe I have a higher expectation of how this place should be. This plaza alone has three places for dumplings that is worth noting. According to our Yelpers, J&J got a much more favorable rating than Dragon Mark or Mei Long Village. I took a chance on this place first because of the glowing reviews. As Jenny K. stated in her review, it is a small place with 9 tables with two big round tables with lazy Susan. It always seemed to be packed and get a long waiting list for a table. That is always a good sign. I did had a Xiao Long Bao (soup dumpling or commonly called as Little basket buns) from this place plenty of times, but it's their boiled dumplings and pork chop rice I am most fond of. Their pork chop rice: yelp.com/biz_photos/Cl6U… is very nicely done in terms of not too chalky or dry. It's hard to messed that up, but did a good job in preparing it. Though they did not have veggie or some sort of cucumbers or soy sauce egg with it. Their dumplings tends to be not bad, but I sort gotten the feeling it's a stiff on the dumpling wrapping sometimes. The big disappointment came in some of their noodle dishes where I thought it was soggy and lack of flavor: yelp.com/biz_photos/Cl6U… The big problem I had this place is that with the cooking style is Shanghai style, they tend to emphasize in bringing out the cabbage which does not suit me as much to others. I tend to like the "Chinese lettuce" to go along with most rice or noodle dish over the cabbage that was provided. In a weird sense, even a chow mein should not lacked that much flavor with or without the cabbage. Overall, the service was friendly and was accommodating on helping with the orders. If it were up to me to redo, I would suggest getting the goyza: yelp.com/biz_photos/Cl6U… , the fried onion cake: yelp.com/biz_photos/Cl6U… and the pork chop rice. My Shao long Bao adventure continues...
(3)
Caleb B.
J & J / Jin Jian Restaurant.. Becomes sometimes, when the world lets your down, dumplings are your best friend. _C$
(4)
Squirrel S.
Beware of their cold appetizer taken out of their fridge. There is mold in their . I ordered noodle and found that there is mold in their fish after I ate 1 piece. Told them about that and they still need to charge me the plain noodle price. Will never go back again. Should have taken a pic first.
(1)
Bernise G.
This is definitely not a classy restaurant but I love their original Xiao Long Bao and Shang Hai noodles (must add vinegar... it tastes better.) It's not as popular as Ding Tai Fung and the wait is not as long, and I personally think the Xiao Long Bao is the same. The prices are also very low here. WORTH IT. And you don't really need to know Mandarin to order... they understand English. I go at least once a month. It satisfies my Xiao Long Bao cravings! The only downside is that the place is pretty small, and the bathroom is a communal bathroom shared by all businesses within the plaza.
(4)
Momo K.
Tiny place with only about 9 tables or so. If you don't get here early, you'll be waiting outside staring inside at everyone's order of Xia Long Baos. Though their Xiao Long Baos aren't quite just like Ding Tai Fungs, I'd still consider it excellent XLBs because of the thin skin and juices swarming inside the bao. J&J XLBs sure beats Ding Tai Fungs 1.5 hour wait and is much better than any XLB I'd find in Irvine. It's so good I could probably eat the whole order of 10. They've also got crab XLBs too, but the order consist of 8. I also like the Pan Fried Baos (Sheng Jian Baos). It looks like a thick-skinned XLB so some might think of it as unappealing, yet it's meant to be made like that so J&J got it right. I love the crispy bottom bun layer; the filling also contain savory meaty juices~ yum! Everything is VERY reasonably priced. At $4.95 for XLBs, it's something not even DTF can beat. Service is okay--c'mon it's Chinese. But come here if you want to eat your fill of baos or dumplings!
(5)
Jin K.
I actually like J&J's. Theyre green onion pancake thing is a bit thicker than other places so it depends on your preference i guess. I like their thick panfried noodle not too sure what its called.. Their xiao long baos are yummy and juicy and their pan fried dumpling bun is good too. I think this place is open till 4 am? so thats always another plus for late night drunken munchies =D
(4)
Niko X.
We were very pleasantly surprised by the flavor of EVERYTHING we tried at J & J, which I understand is a Shanghainese style establishment. My party of six met up for Sunday morning eating...and we were pretty much the perfect sized party for the venue. I would warn against assembling a group any larger, unless you're OK with eating at different times at separate tables. The room is very small and the tables are fairly close together. The atmosphere here is no nonsense...they even use cheap Styrofoam cups for tea (I'm compelled to deduct one star but it was so inexpensive I don't have the heart to). The menu is also very unfriendly to white people... the English translations are absolutely deplorable...but of course for me that's a good thing as it's a sign of authenticity. The food however is wonderful...though I have no clue what anything was called. We started with the rice noodle and vegetable garlic-ish flavored dish thing. That was spectacular. We also ordered some green overgrown sprout like things...also excellent. Rounding out our meal we ordered both the pork and crabmeat steamed dumplings (both excellent with a slight edge to the pork), and a plate of boiled dumplings as well. We also ordered some rice ball thing with dry textured fried pork like substance inside (EXCELLENT..but be sure not to eat the plastic wrap holding them together). Finally we got the huge fried dough Chinese donut thing. I only had room for a bite but it was really great.
(5)
Chelsee H.
Whilst eating my way along coastal China earlier this summer, I ate many a xiao long bao; having returned to LA, I've begun a quest in search of the best of them in the area, bao that will single-handedly transfer me back to the motherland. One friend pointed me toward J & J, not guaranteeing any such powers but promising they'd be good, at least. I eagerly searched through their (thankfully pictured) menu and ordered some traditional pork xiao long bao and a crab version. My friends ordered other dishes to accompany them, but my mind stayed focused on just my soupy dumplings. When they arrived and I had sampled, I was very, very pleased. They were piping hot, and the pork was perfectly flavorful and the juice delicious. The crab version was rather tasty, too. I won't say they equaled those I had Hong Kong and Shanghai, but they were a close. Definitely worth my 35 minute drive down the 10. We also tried the tsien jien bao (pan fried buns), but they were unfortunately not near as divine as those in Shanghai, their city of origin. The meat was surrounded by too much dough, so I picked out the meat and just ate that.
(4)
Samuel K.
I like at this place a lot. Since I barely know any Mandarin, I would not have known about this place if weren't for my folks. That being said, walking in here and ordering can be like a hit-and-miss experience. Here is a list of things I'd to give notice to: What I normally would consider ordering if I walked in here: Xiao Long Bao - love the flavor of the juices. Xiao Long Bao w/ crab meat - the crab meat does make a difference here Shanghai Style Fried Rice Cake - terrific Shanghai Style Chow Mein - good stuff Onion Pancake - Love this Beef Noodle Soup - just the right flavor for me Sauteed Spinach (or any other sauteed green there) - nothing special here. It's just that if you're gonna eat all those meat, carbs, and grease, you'd better order some vegetables to clean up that system! What I would order if I feel like splurging: Sauteed Eels with Yellow Chive - not for the squeamish. If you can get past the idea of eating baby eels, you'll be in for a treat. ----------to be eaten with . . . Onion Noodle Soup - this is just for you to extract the noodles from and mix with your helping of the sauteed eels. That way, if you ever decide to take the eels home, the eels will still remain with its delicious sauce in a separate container. J&J does charge you for packaging the onion noodle soup (it's a charge exclusively for this item), so if you have any noodles leftover, just ditch em. They're not worth it. I don't recall how the soup tastes, and that matters little to me. Roasted Duck in Brown Sauce - oh man, one night when I was ordering this, I thought I was gonna get a roast duck I'd see in Sam Woo BBQ. I was wrong, and thank God I was wrong, because I got something even better! Very flavorful, to be eaten with many helpings of steamed rice. Fried Dumplings - If the pork filling is good, man, it can make any bun/dumpling taste good. (One exception mentioned later below). I enjoy the thick skin and the crunchy exterior of it. What I am not ordering again: (Your choice of entree) + rice combo plate - It's a decent dish for a decent price, but I sense that the rice was soaked with a lot of MSG and salt. It was too much for me. Shanghai Pork Stuffed Rice Balls and Soup - the pork could not save this bland and greasy bowl of stuff. I left the restaurant feeling very bloated. Don't get me wrong, I like rice balls, I just don't think that and pork were meant to be together, at least not this way.
(4)
Crystal C.
The best hole in the wall place ever! The only thing that I order is their lion's head. It is seriously the best by far that I have experience. It's basically the Chinese version of meat balls. It is served in a clay pot with sitting on a bed of clear thin noodles that absorbs all the flavor. Each order comes with 2 lion heads, cooked with shiitake mushrooms and napa cabbage. I always have this dish wish a bowl of steam white rice. It's my all time favorite dish, hands down! They had this special of hand made noodles for 99 cents, I don't know if it's available still tho. It's pretty tasty, it comes in a huge bowl with tender noodles in a really good broth soup. If that's still offered, definitely give it a try. I'm more than willing to deal with horrible parking and bad drivers if it comes to coming to J&J. They're really nice and super friendly. They don't really speak English so it might be a little language barrier but the menu's are in English so no worries. I was a bit let down when they gave you styrofoam cups to drink out of and the tea is a bit water down, but it doesn't matter when it's great food, fast service, and cheap prices.
(5)
Dee Y.
My friend took me here claiming that this is the second best xiao long bao in SGV. What's the first? I'll have to try it first to confirm... =) But that's another review. My friend did all the ordering. We had the drunken chicken, crab xiao long bao, the fried vermicelli dish, the wonton soup, and a yummy fatty pork dish everything for two people. I have no idea what they're all called except the XLB and the drunken chicken. ha ha... All was good. I particularly LOVE the wonton soup. To be honest, the XLB was good, but not the GREATEST that I've had. ha ha... he'd hate me to say this, but I still kinda like DTF a little bit better. Next time, I'll try the the best XLB in town, and yelp here... =)
(4)
Andy H.
Cliff notes: Okay you won't be blown away, but you will be HAPPY after you eat their food. Not really greasy, but BAM ! flavors in your mouth. Pretty small restaurant, efficient service, not expensive. What more can you ask for? *Our party of 4 went to this Happy Happy restaurant in monterey park at first. But it was so terrible that I feel I should alert you guys here too. =) Since we didn't get food at the other restaurant, we headed over to J & J. It was packed. With only 2 round tables for 5, and 5 tables for 4 (maxed) it's not too hard to pack this place. By the way, this place is Shanghainese owned if you care about that. Note: it was late too. maybe 8:30pm. and packed? that's saying something IMO. Food: Even though we were starving, we didnt mind waiting the ~15 minutes. And the moment we sunk our teeth into the Crab Xiao Long Baos, it was all worth it. While it's not MIND BLOWING OMFG I CAN DIE NOW XLB's, they were pretty damn good. We had 3 orders of them. They all had the yummeh soup inside each one. We also got the potstickers and those were just devoured. I also ordered pork chop noodle soup. The pork chop was done well, and the soup was clean and satisfying. Drinks: Just drank the tea they served. normal tea. styrofoam cups, but I could care less about that. Just saying for those picky picky people out there. Service: Service was pretty good. When we got there, there was a party of 2 in front of us. The waitress immediately brought us a menu. to look ahead. Maybe we just looked like we were starving. We also got to order before we got seated. So the moment we got seated our food came pretty quickly =D Can't really say anything bad about service cause since the place is pretty small, the waitresses were easy to get. Final Verdict: If youre craving chinese food. I would come here. Everything on everyones tables looked goood. Don't come here expecting to be blown away with the worlds most amazing food, cause its not. BUT i'm sure you will eat the food here, nod, and smile. Smile and say, pretty good =) But dude, for the inexpensiveness, the food is BOMbBB. I normally say, "you get what you pay for" but for this place, you get more. your mileage may vary.
(4)
John O.
Dumplings good, noodles good, price good. Nothing more really to say. Shanghai style. But this place is a bit too small and cramped.
(4)
Nam L.
This place is something you find straight out of China. The soup dumplings here are signature and totally hit the spot for a work lunch. The prices are so cheap too at around 4 dollars for 6 soup large soup dumplings (gasp!!) The bao are amazing and the service here is very very amicable. Though the restaurant isn't very classy because they use paper plates and cups, as well as plastic utensils I think that the food totally makes up for it. After a nice lunch though the hardest decision to make is whether or not to get the taiwanese shaved ice at JJ or head next door to Phoenix dessertfor....(go look at my review on phoenix dessert to find out!)
(3)
Benny J.
FYI This place is CASH ONLY and If we didn't have the recommendations of our Chinese friend written down...we would have never gotten any food. Small language barrier is an understatement, but we did get some really yummy food per our paper written directions! I say 3 stars because it was just really hard to order. Will someone please let them know, that non-Chinese people love their food, but we can't read the menu? I would love to go here again and have something else...that isn't written on my tiny piece of paper... Thanks!
(3)
Lynda T.
By far the best Xiao Long Bao I've had in Los Angeles. I went to Din Tai Fung last Saturday and was very disappointed. Our favorite dishes here are the XLB, fried onion pancake and fried steam roll. The waitresses always recommend the Shanghai noodles but I don't like it because it's kind of bland. They serve tea in tiny Styrofoam cups - which isn't very environmentally friendly - but it keeps the tea warm. I go here at least 2-3 times a month... and I'm not even Chinese/Taiwanese, so that must say something right? I'd pick XLB over Pho any day!
(4)
Lynn L.
I always saw their ads on the newspaper but I've finally had a chance to eat there. ( Simply, I thought the food may be okay only, so I've never tried it before) The food was delicious, especially the steamed dumpling, and famous shanghinese dessert (mini sesame ball soup) ~~the best one that I've tasted overall.
(4)
Nicole C.
While I liked their xiao long bao, I didn't like ones with the crab leg. In fact, the crab leg totally ruined them! =( Their dishes are pretty delicious, a little on the salty side if you asked me. I'm not very familiar with their dish names since my parents did all the ordering. But I'm gonna upload a few pictures some other time.. perhaps, that will be a better idea. I'm more of a visual person anyways. HAHA CASH ONLY!
(3)
Oliver W.
J & J is a small, Shanghai cuisine cafe on W. Valley Blvd, in the same complex as Mei Long Village. Our menu and opinions: Onion pancakes: Merely "ok." Could have been saltier and it didn't strike me as super-fresh out of the frier either even thought it was hot. Steamed pao w/ crabmeat (i.e. soup dumplings w/ crab meat): This is one of the signature dishes J & J is known for and it's a very Shanghai dish (the crabmeat inclusion, I mean). I thought these were good but not better than similar ones I've had other places, including Mei Long. If we had a bigger group, I would have also ordered the normal pork soup dumplings but unless they had a different skin, I don't think they would have been significantly better. Pan-fried pao: I was very very curious to try these. It's an unusual dish - the only other place in Los Angeles I know that does a version of this is the Kang Kang Foodcourt and they do a pretty good version. It's also a local Shanghai dish, so much so that even a lot of supposedly Shanghai restaurants around town don't carry it. When done right, it's a really good soup dumpling...but pan-fried, so it has that nice fried crispiness on the base. I won't mince words: it was terrible at J & J. The dough was far too thick and made the whole thing rather undesirable to eat. The pork filling was fine but eating the filling and discarding the dumpling skin pretty much negates the point of ordering a dumpling. Rice cake w/ pork spareribs: I really like fried rice cake dishes and this one was more unusual since I've never seen it paired with fried spareribs. Personally, I liked the dish but it wasn't outstanding and the rice cake seemed past al dente and was more mushy than chewy. Sauteed "hollow heart" aka Chinese watercress (w/ garlic): This was the best executed dish but it's an easy dish to pull off. To put it another way, I've never had a bad version of it anywhere. PRICE: $36.40 for 3 adults, two kids. Personally, I thought this was surprisingly high; came out to be about $15/adult. Didn't think it was worth the cost - maybe with a bigger group though, the overall cost would have been more evenly spread. VERDICT: Eh, I'd rather go to Mei Long Village which has a similar menu but has yet to disappoint in 4 outings. I just think they execute better on the dumplings AND it's much easier to get a seat there. And J & J's terrible pan-fried pao really lowered their average considerably.
(2)
Danny G.
Since GF is a huge fan of XLB, I took my choice from the top of the search result from yelp. This place's food definitely taste better than the way its exterior and interior decoration looks. XLB w. pork - Lots of flavor. Loved it. XLB w. pork and crab - It's ok. You can taste the crab in it, but it's less juicier than the first one. What really surprises me is the normal dishes on the menu. Probably the best shanghai style in SoCal. pork stew w. tofu knots - It is the best pork stew I've ever tasted outside my mom's kitchen. It's overly sweet, but right to the amount to balance the salty taste. The pork doesn't taste greasy at all. The tofu knots are full of the flavor from the sauce. Highly recommended! Fish tofu stew - The portion is ENORMOUS. Be aware to take home if you have less than 3-4 people at the table. The soup are very fresh. We asked for medium spicy, but agreed mild might be better. But it's still a pretty good order if you are really craving for some seafood taste. Overall, this is quite a sweet surprise. You don't need to pay for the extra $$ for XLB@Ding Taifeng.
(4)
Steve J.
This is a pretty good hole in the wall for xiaolongbao. For those of you unfamiliar with xiaolongbao, they are Shanghai dumplings with a wonderful soup inside that flows out with warm goodness when you bite into the thin dough skin. Traditionally they're filled with pork, but they can be filled with seafood or vegetables, too. They're served on the bamboo basket they were steamed in, usually on cabbage leaves (so that the skin doesn't puncture or tear), and delivered hot to your table. You dip them in a little dish of rice vinegar and ginger shavings. You want to be careful when you pick them up with chopsticks so you don't tear the skin, and a lot of people eat them on spoons in case you can't eat them in one bite (because the soup inside is very hot and can burn your tongue). This isn't a classy place like Din Tai Fung - as hole-in-the-wall's go, it takes the cake here and it's not just with the building. The skin on the dumplings isn't as delicate as it would be at a dim sum restaurant or DTF, but thicker, but that's all good with me. The way I see it, cheaper prices, shorter wait, and bigger, meatier XLB wins the match for me. Also, it's not served on bamboo but just metal baskets with paper lining instead of cabbage. Even better than the pork XLB are the crab-filled ones. The fried dumplings are also really good, especially when you mix the soy sauce and hot sauce together. It's really well-priced here and I typically don't have to wait any longer than 5 minutes to eat. It's not very clean, but you know that's street cred for quality Chinese food. There isn't much parking on top but there's plenty underground.
(4)
Duke F.
went there haging; same service.. great food.. i am a fan:)
(4)
Kat T.
The prices are pretty dang good here. My favorite dish aside from the obvious (sieu loong bao) is the pan fried rice cake dish. They make it pretty well here. I give this place three stars because their sieu loong baos have not been as great lately. The last three times I've been back, my dishes come out warm, not piping hot, just warm. It makes me think it's been sitting there or that someone else ordered it and didn't want it and they gave it to me instead.
(3)
Jake C.
Best dumpling in San Gabriel. Both Pork and Crab meat are great. It's small place, and parking may be difficult.
(5)
Mary F.
This is the best Shanghainese food I've had in southern California -really reminds me of my aunt and grandma's home-cooked meals, simple and full of favor. Their xiao long bao is one of the best I've had outside of China, always a pocket of juices and freshly steamed. Other Shanghainese restaurants in the area have higher reviews, e.g. Wang Jia, but this is definitely several steps up. Just wish they had some "you tiao" and porridge during dim sum! Nevertheless this will be my go-to place for Shanghainese food in LA from now on :)
(4)
Stella C.
After a LONG day of driving and caffeine overkill, I had a mid-20's-midday-meltdown. My dad called Din Tai Fung around 2pm but they were already sold out for the day. He called both locations. But being sold out was not going to get in the way of my dad's love for xiao long bao. Luckily, he had a backup plan in mind and all we had to do was drive one block and have me make a legal left turn while illegally driving in the lane of opposite traffic (oh well! who can blame a man's hunger...). The restaurant itself is very, very tiny and reminds me of places in Oakland Chinatown. We only waited about 5 mins to get seated and my parents ordered SEVERAL dishes for four of us! Luckily, the plates itself are not huge family style portions, I would say 75% of that. We had xiao long bao of course, sheng jian bao, fried pork, chao nian gao, the fried bread thing, and a few other dishes. EVERYTHING was delicious there! Their xiao long bao comes out perfectly, just the perfect amount of "soup" inside and it wasn't so hot that you couldn't eat it quickly. I don't always like it when it's so hot you have to eat each part separately (the soup and the actual dumpling) so I really liked that I could eat it whole. I thought the dough for the sheng jian bao was a little too thick and I wish it had a harder pan fried crust on the bottom, but it was still good. I was having a major case of "yeet-hay," that paired with my meltdown was a recipe for disaster for eating this kind of food. I still made sure to eat as much as I could because it was so delicious, I just couldn't skip on the opportunity. The best part was that their chili sauce is the best chili sauce I have ever had. I think it's homemade because it tastes so fresh, and it's bright orange rather than red. It's also ridiculously spicy! I love spicy food and can eat very spicy foods, but this was just so hot --- it was so delicious! I had to eat it with everything! I didn't have a problem with the service, probably because I was with my parents. They even had a mosquito eater sitting on their wall that scared me, and just joked around about it. They didn't rush us to eat either, which I really appreciated because we had a LONG day. I thought their food was very delicious and would definitely come back here!
(5)
Emoh E.
Of all the restaurants that I say are comfort food, this is my #! place away from home. I used to order the red bean bing (pastry) and hand carry the order to my Popo in Hawai'i. My family is from the Shanghai area and so I grew up with this sort of food. It's the place I always bring my mother to when she visits. We've tried many places in the area and somehow always come back to this one. Perhaps, we go back for sentimental reasons but its definitely not the only thing. Lets be real, if the food wasn't good, I don't care how much I am emotionally attached I wouldn't eat there. So the food is GOOD. The dumplings are good (we usually order the XLB and the crabmeat XLB and the boiled dumplings). The fried pork chops are good. Green onion pancakes, chicken soup, and the small dishes! Drunken chicken, preserved fish, pickled mustard cabbage, soy beans, with bean curd skin. Shanghai style fried noodles. I wish I could go this minute! I've never had a problem with the service or the timing of the food. It's been consistently good. Cash only. Anyway, take it or leave it. This is a good spot.
(5)
Simon C.
there's an ugly new trend happening throughout LA: for some inexplicable reason, when a bunch of asians are pondering which xlb place to go to for brunch, we seem to be increasingly taking the recommendation of... ...the token white guy. =/ hopefully he originally heard about j&j from an asian person, otherwise there may well be a tear in the time/space continuum. nevertheless, j&j proved itself to be respectable, if not inspired. we ordered: xlb - we ordered two baskets. the dough is a bit thicker than dtf's, with a similiarly subtle yet rich pork filling. j&j's xlb's have more juice in them, but the extra fattiness and thicker skin means that you have to eat them IMMEDIATELY before they become a bit rubbery and gooey. we were one of only two tables occupied at the time, so maybe that's why, but they brought out both baskets at the same time, which meant the second was not nearly as good. dtf tends to space out when they bring the baskets if you order more than one. stir fried string beans - kind of flavorless and lacked the seared garlic that characterizes this dish. my mom would probably say that the wok wasn't hot or seasoned enough. rice cakes with beef and onions - i can never remember what the english name for this dish is. as per the string beans, the dish was not as tasty and fragrant as i've had elsewhere. pork lo mein - i didn't eat this, because ich bin ein chineser and that's poser food. =P onion pancake - probably one of the better executed dishes, although also not super fresh because the center was melded together and a bit gummy, which happens when you let the dough sit for too long and the air escapes. we went at about 10.30A on a sunday and the place and parking lot were empty, which was super convenient since we were headed off to the car show afterward. service was gracious, even toward the non-chinese speakers, which all of us were that day because i seem to have had brain freeze. it wasn't until 10 minutes into the meal that i could finally remember what the chinese names of all the dishes were. decent place overall, although i prefer dtf's xlb's more. the rest of j&j's dishes are on par if not even slightly better than dtf's. for me, however, xlb's are the primary draw when i go. $40 for four people, including tax and tip.
(3)
Jim C.
Good size portions but Din Tai Fung has better taste
(2)
Anthony C.
Maybe I am a little biased after coming back from a half year stint in Asia, but I merely found their xiaolongbao and their dumpling to be okay. If you are in a rush and have no where else to go it is passable, but nothing I would really stand out and wait for.
(3)
Jessica Y.
Definitely one of the best dumpling joints in the SGV. In addition to the typical pot stickers and dumplings which are all fantastic, get their shanghai-style noodles too. Chewy and greasy, just the way I like it!
(5)
Milton F.
In my opinion, the best xiao long bao (steamed dumplings) in LA. Get the crab meat infused ones. I think they're something like $6.95, probably half price of the Arcadia Ding Tai Fung. DTF is way overrated anyway, at least outside of Taiwan. Even the Shanghai DTF was in the expats ghetto and was mucho expensive (500RMB+ for 2 people or about $50 back in 2006) for selling Shanghai style street food in freakin Shanghai. However, the original Taiwan DTF does definitely live up to its name. Anyway, sorry for digressing. Jin Jiang's Xie Fen Xiao Long Bao (hereafter referred to as XLB), besides being cheap, is very flavorful with the taste of crab meat featured prominently among the regular pork filling. The juices are not overwhelming, as in overflowing when you bite in, but there are some moderate amounts of juice. When it first comes, definitely take that little tiny bite of skin off and blow on it for a few secs before drinking the XLB juice. After 10 minutes or so the XLBs are safe to just pop in your mouth, if there are any left. Their Shanghai spring rolls are also pretty authentic. The outside is fried into a paper thin crispy wafer, and the inside is almost chowdery, like a very thick stew of mainly napa, mushrooms, and perhaps some meat. Very authentic. I also saw other people order pork chops, and they looked good too. Here's how to do pork chop noodle soup on the cheap. They have bowls of Yang Chun Mien, or plain noodle soup for 99 cents, dine in only. Get two and get a dish of fried pork chops for $6. $8 for two bowls of pork chop noodles, and more pork chops too! A meal for two of 1 crab XLB (8 pieces?), 1 order of spring roll, 2 bowls of plain noodle soup, and a side plate of Ba Bao Jiang (8-treasures sauce) for your plain noodle soup will run you about $18, including tax and tips. That's about 1/5th of the price at DTF... This place is nothing fancy, but the value and taste is +++ After reading some of the reviews here, I have to remind you that this place is more of a Chinese fast food. So why complain about the tea or the seating arrangements?
(4)
Alexander C.
Crab and pork soup dumplings.. need I say more?!
(4)
Jorge M.
I was blinded by pure dumpling awesomeness!!!!
(5)
Bil B.
My wife loves dumplings and we decided to try this place because of Los Angeles magazines recommendation and her favorite place Luscious Dumpling was closed. Ordered the XLB dumplings with crab but not that tasty. The pan fried bun wasn't even edible. We took one bite and couldn't finish it. The pan fried dumplings were the best thing there but that isn't saying much. Prices aren't bad but if you can't eat what they serve then what's the point?? Stay clear and go to Luscious Dumpling instead....
(1)
Bao T.
Primo and I decided to meet up for dinner on Thursday night at 9:30 pm, and since he wanted Asian, I proposed the SGV. Albeit, it was a bit of a drive for the both of us, but I couldn't think of any other area where he could indulge in his Asian cuisine. In hindsight, it was probably a bad idea to try to grab dinner that late since the majority of the decent establishments have already closed and the only places that were left were naturally the mediocre ones. So, it didn't come as a big surprise that our dining experience didn't really end on a good note, but at least I got to try out J&J Restaurant's XLB thanks to Yelp. "You Chinese You Don't Speak Chinese" is certainly a statement that I could never forget, but at least the waitress at J&J with her limited English didn't try to give me that kind of an attitude. She was trying her best to communicate to Primo and me, but somehow she omitted his noodle order so we just ended up having 1 order of the onion pancake, 1 order of the vegetable XLB and 1 order of the regular XLB with crab meat all for about $17. I liked the onion pancake although it was a bit oily, and my steamed vegetable XLB was actually really decent with mushrooms, tofu, and spinach. I wasn't expecting a lot of flavor, but it had a great balance of seasoning so it was a good start to our "surreal" dining misadventure in the SGV.
(3)
T D.
J & J serves one of the best xiao long bao in town. I would characterize it as "rustic" because it has a slightly thicker skin with lots of flavor. It's definitely one of my favorite restaurants.
(4)
J W.
I've had Shanghainese food many times and this place has to be one of the worst. Beef curry noodle was ok, I wish they use beef brisket and add some vegetables though. Pork wrapped in mochi was terrible. Zhong zi (rice wrapped in lotus leaves) sucks because there's no filling: only lean pork and rice soaked in soy sauce. It can't be compared to Cantonese style which is the best. Vermicelli noodle with some dumpling stuff was a rip off.
(2)
Jessica C.
Altogether, the food took around an hour to come out. I think they purposely made our order last because we are college students. The whole time one of the waitresses kept looking at me and laughing. My table ordered beef noodle soup, dumpling pao, and pan fried dumplings. I admit that I only ate the noodle soup (it only took 5 minutes). By the time the dumpling pao came, I wasn't hungry anymore (took 25 minutes and 15 more minutes on top of that for the pan fried dumplings to come). The noodle soup was only average. The soup came out warm and not hot like I like it. Even if the other dishes were more delicious, I wouldn't come back because of the time it took for our food to come out.
(3)
Min T.
Gotta love a cheap Chinese lunch! The five of us ordered: rice roll stuffed with preserved mustard greens and dried pork- apparently served as a traditional breakfast item. I've never had it before. It was okay. You unwrap it from its saran wrap and have it. I think I prefer the loh mi gai (lotus wrapped rice) at dim sum places better. rice cake with greens and sliced pork- a lighter option for rice cake than Shanghai style. It was simple and delicious. Could have used a bit more sliced pork but that's okay. pea sprouts with garlic- hm, the "sprouts" were rather mature looking but it was still tasty. Even after I saw the waitress pour some of the excess sauce into the trash before serving it to us. Shanghai style soup noodles with nappa cabbage- huge noodles, not my favorite. Soup was good though. XLBs with crab- I like Mei Long's better, the crab was a little too...artificial tasting to me XLBs- simple and delicious, the pork flavor really came through boiled dumplings- okay, nothing special panfried dumplings- more like "baos" and I didn't really like them very much. They're better at Mei Long, a few doors down. Chinese doughnut (yau til or as the Cantos say, yau jah gwei)- we didn't order porridge which is my preferred way of eating it but it's been years since I've had one so this was good. We call it a Chinese doughnut but it's probably closer to size and shape of a churro. After tip, it worked out to be $10 a person.
(3)
Peter C.
This is "the best" place for xiao long bao (), small pork dumpling, in SoCal. It is very much a Chinese "small shop" with limited wait-service, cash-only payment and tiny tables. If this put you off, like me for most of the time, just come and order an order or two of XLB for take-out and you'll be happy.
(4)
Simon V.
I have to say, this was a pleasant surprise. The small and unsightly interior will fool you, but the food is anything but a joke. Shanghai style fried noodles were tasty but quite oily, but as any other diehard fan of Shanghai cuisine will tell you, it's supposed to be glistening with grease. Then we had Beef with Vegetable and Rice. The rice was a bit gooey and sticky, but the consistency gradually grew on me. Sprinkled throughout were bits of 'suan cai' (or pickled mustard) and the beef was very tender and melted in my mouth. Sadly, the onion pancake was really bland. It should be bursting with flavor, but alas, there was none to be found. And of course, we had to sample their 'xiao long bao'. Having been unimpressed with Din Tai Fung, I didn't expect much from this establishment. It was actually pretty tasty, just as good if not better than Din Tai Fung. Overflowing with juice, it was even better with soy sauce/vinegar and slices of ginger. But I must admit that the 'xiao long bao' were presented much more nicely at Din Tai Fung, but that has no bearing on the taste. These four dishes filled a party of three quite nicely, with leftovers to spare at about $20. Pretty affordable. Although seating could be a problem as it gets a little crowded (even at 3pm, who eats at 3 anyways?), they might ask you to 'dap toi' (as we Cantonese like to call it), or in other words, share a table with another party. Come visit this place and fill up on cheap, greasy, Shanghainese food!
(4)
Jon K.
XIAO LONG BAO - this was the reason we came, but got there late around 9:30 pm and they only have the crab meat Xiao Long Bao left. Ordered it and they used real crab meat in them. Tasted good. Ordered the beef stew noodle soup and was pretty average. Don't order the beef stew noodle soup with "rice" noodles tho, because the noodle had no taste. Stick with the regular noodle. The soup was oily and very dark looking. Also ordered the vegetable dumplings, and the skin got hard after awhile. I would try to eat it while it's hot next time. There was only one waitress working and taking orders. A bunch of people came in after us for the last run before the place closed. There was also only one guy in the back cooking. The tables were old, and they serve your hot tea in Styrofoam cups. Typical dumpling places to keep the cost down and not have to wash that much dishes. The place is very small, but the food is like home cooking. Prices are okay, but not cheap. The two restaurants next to this had no business that nite. I think everyone came here when they saw people inside eating and no-one inside the other restaurants. Overall, I good place to get a simple meal late at night when a lot of restaurants close at 9 pm.
(3)
Pauline M.
stop #5 for the crawl. still the best for crab xlb. the review is solely for the crab xlb.
(5)
Nette C.
The soup in the xiao long bao must've had crack in it. I'm still fantasizing about them dumplings. The potstickers were yummy and crispy too, but the puddles of grease were a turn-off. The crab meat dumplings had a distinct crab flavor in the soup, and a different texture in the dumpling. It was done very well, but I discovered I'm not into crab meat dumplings at all =) The fried meat buns (shen zian bao) were too doughy and had already absorbed any soup that may have been there, so the inside was soggy. It's considered pretty good here though, since I haven't been to a restaurant in the U.S. where this was done right. The nian gao had only a few strips of chicken meat, and the texture of the rice ovals wasn't bouncy. The taste was very good. Overall, J&J doesn't disappoint, and my food came out piping hot (on a Sunday afternoon when it was quite busy.)
(4)
Derrick L.
Why this place is called J&J i have no idea but the food is pretty decent. I was in town for the weekend and wanted to try Din Tai Fung but wound up waking up pretty late; therefore, DTF was out of the question unless I was willing to wait a few hours. That being considered, I yelped this place for Xiao Long Baos and decided to give it a try. Upon arrival, the small restaurant was packed but tables quickly became vacated and we were seated. Ordered the hot and sour soup, an order of Xiao long bao, and shanghai noodles. The hot and sour soup was pretty decent. When I say decent, I mean its not your typical "soup of the day" that you get for free when you eat at a Chinese restaurant or Panda Express. And its not your chicken broth with an egg drop in it with some vinegar and pepper. This was the real deal. From wood ear fungus, to dark soy sauce marinated pork, to the bamboo shoots and tofu. None of that button mushroom, carrots and peas kinda crap most places use for filler. It was sour but not too sour, and a tiny bit spicy, just enough to make you open your eyes and say "Hello!" I personally like my hot and sour soup to be pretty spicy so this was a bit of a snooze for me on the heat level. But nonetheless, pretty authentic. The shanghai noodles were a disappointment. THere was a few spinach leaves here and there, and maybe like 2-3 tiny pieces of meat. Flavor was provided with light soy sauce and well, that's pretty much it. The Xiao Long Baos were pretty much the hit of the meal. The soup inside was flavorful and well balanced and the skin was firm yet tender. A lot of places either make them too firm so they taste kind of dough-y and some places make them too tender so that they fall apart even before they get to your table, thus totally defeating the delight in xiao long baos which is the soup. Overall, this place is decent and cheap eats. The bill came out to be I think close to 20 bucks. Not bad for a meal for 2 people with leftovers.
(3)
J W.
Din Tai Fung, Arcadia could learn a thing or two from the folks at J&J when it comes to making xiao long bao (steamed dumplings). The dumplings here are just packed with juices and ten times more flavorful. Your taste buds will love you for introducing them to your mouth. Yeah there is talk about how the skin is not as thin as the xlb from DTF, but as a dumpling connoisseur, my priorities are flavor and juiciness. J&J exceed both of those requirements. So last night we were looking forward to the pork xlb, but they ran out. BUT they still had pork and crab dumplings. Normally crab dumplings just do not come out as delicious as the meat ones, but last night they were juicy and impeccable. Their other menu items were good as well. The pan fried pork buns lacked juiciness, but were tasty and crunchified. Sauteed rice cake had a small hint of smokiness, but not as flavorful as it could be. Beef noodle soup was, (like D K said) not as spicy as preferred but still hit the spot. Everything else overall was not the best, but still very good. I have held back on writing a review for this place cuz I'm mindful of sharing those cherished little places I love and have it be more crowded than it already is. And this place is already SMALL and busy. We went on a Tuesday night and were still succumbed to at least a 15 minute wait. CASH ONLY.
(4)
Denis K.
Yelpers are the BESTEST and we KNOW where the best foods are at. But what we didn't expect was an UUYE (Unplanned Unofficial Yelp Event). Say what??? The wife and I felt like dumplings last night. Naturally we jumped in the car and headed for J&J. When we arrived we noticed the restaurant had remodeled a bit. Walls newly painted, new light fixtures (it's so much brighter now), and posters of their best dishes on the windows to torture you while you wait for a table in this small little restaurant. So there we were... waiting ... COLD and hungry. While the wife stayed in front of the door I wandered off to the side restaurants to see what they got. All of them EMPTY but J&J was packed with not a single empty seat. When i turned around to walk back to the restaurant, I noticed a familiar face. Yelpers!!! Judy and Ellis came right after us for the same purpose. Dumplings. (insert Homer Simpson drool sound bit.. aaarrraaawwwww dumplings.) Two minutes later another person was pointing up and down at Judy and asking "what are you doing here?" It was Merrill who just finished dinner next door. We had a "Yelpers Unite" moment right there. Anyway, a table opened up and we invited Judy and Ellis to come eat with us. I seriously doubt they wanted to continue to wait in the cold. Dinner with them was great. Great company. And since we have more people, we can order more variety.. A total win win. Ok back to the food. shau lone bao - (pork) they ran out. I was so disappointed. I couldn't get my fix. but they had the crab meat shau lone bao. shau lone bao - (crab meat) 2 orders.. this isn't always good at every restaurant. sometimes the crab meat is a bit fishy. But tonight the dumpling gods were looking over us. It was awesome. Each dumpling was full of soup inside and the taste was unbeatable. "Cow fu" - this is not a fighting style. But the name is how it sounds. Appetizer dish with gluten puff, black mushrooms, lily root, black fungus. It's a delightable Shanghainese dish. J&J doesn't have the best but it still really tasty. Pan fried pork buns - A tasty filler that compliment a salty dish with sauce to perfection. mmmmmm Chinese rice cakes with special vegetable (Jee chai) Another honest and good noodle like dish that just cant go wrong. Beef noodle soup (translated as red roasted) - I would prefer this to be alot spicier but the flavor is good and beef noodle soup always hits the spot. Yum is good. At the end we were STUFFED. Thanks Judy and Ellis for being great accidental dinner company. Plus I didn't want to take the chance of you two staring at us from across the room for not offering. hahah jk. Good times good times. For the financially conscious, the bill was about $9 per person. Can't beat that for variety. Oh minor detail. Cash only.
(4)
Heng Y.
Whenever I had cravings for dumplings, I would drive up from San Diego to eat here. This is how good their dumpling is. I have been to Din Tai Fung nearby, but I have to say in comparison, Din Tai Fun's dumpling is only good looking, but no where as tasty as J & J's.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : No Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Leslie W.
The xiao long bao here are seriously amazing! Better than Din Tai Fung. Perfectly seasoned, big chunks of meat, with a juicy soup inside and done fresh! Highly recommended.
(5)Mark Y.
First time I ate here everything was good. The hot and sour soup was perfect the Mapo tofu was nice and spicy and the Dumplings were good. But on my 2nd and 3rd visit something changed and for the worse. No flavor hot and sour, The mapo had no spice, but at least the dumplings were still good. Unfortunately I won't be going back
(2)Jenn B.
J & J makes delicious xiao long bao (XLB) without the wait time you'll surely find at DTF. My Chinese friends actually prefer this place over DTF. The pork chop fried rice is also very tasty, but stay away from the sheng jian bao (pan fried chinese bun). They are way too doughy and not even juicy. Everyone at the table had to struggle just to finish one dumpling. CASH ONLY.
(4)Mela F.
Have you ever loved a place so much that you actually didn't want to tell people so lines don't get crazy long? GUILTY AS CHARGED!! I've loved coming here for years. Their juicy dumplings (Xiao long bao) is on par with Din Tai Fung. The beef noodles and dan dan mein are my favorite of all of LA. There isn't much here I don't like eating, from the radish buns to the garlic stir fried veggies, I LOVE THIS PLACE!!! So - what you should get: Radish bun Crab Xiao Long Bao (2x) Pea spouts in garlic A Mein (dan dan, beef or just plain green onion) Good luck! =D
(5)Vincent R.
J & J is a fine establishment with delicious soup dumplings and Shanghinese cuisine at an affordable price. There's a good amount of parking underneath, so no need to stress out. They're cash only so there's that to take into consideration. Service is fair and clean but the condiments stuck in cheap containers were something that stuck out. Their soy sauce was inside a ketchup container and the vinegar was inside a mustard one. Also their tea was served in a styrofoam cup. Points off for presentation there. Their soup dumplings and salted fried pork were delicious. I was super pleased with what I got. Their presentation needs a bit more work but I wouldn't mind coming back if I were jonesing for some soup dumplings in the area.
(3)Stacy H.
look, i'm a vegetarian, so i can't really tell you about where the best xiao long baos are in los angeles. but what i can tell you is that i've been here for about 20 years, and it's always consistently good. jin jian is always my go-to restaurant after i come back to LA from boston (yes, even ahead of in-n-out), since it's got the best shanghainese food around. i always order the shanghainese rice cakes and/or the shanghai stir fry noodles, and you literally cannot go wrong. i've also ordered the vegetarian pan fried dumplings, but those are bland. the only reason why this place has 4 stars instead of 5 is that their menu has greatly decreased over the last 5 years, and their selection of vegetables isn't that great, but that's okay. i would agree with everyone else's statements about bringing cash and bringing someone that speaks mandarin and/or shanghainese - the waitresses don't really speak english.
(4)Jessica L.
My parents would take me here all the time when I was a little kid. I love there crab soup dumplings. My favorite!
(5)Robert M.
Had this place for lunch yesterday...OMG...it's the BOMB!!! Couldn't stop thinking about it today! The dumplings are the best that I've had and the food tastes like mama's home cooking! Din Tai Fung...you better watch out! :D
(5)Curtis T.
This place is pretty authentic. Staying in Shanghai for 5 years, I've tasted numerous street foods and I could say that some of the dishes are just like the ones in Shanghai. I WOULD NOT order xiao long bao or sheng jian bao even though the waitress will suggest it everytime. Those two dimsum are not authentic! People who comment here saying xiao long bao is good because they haven't tried real xiao long bao. Other than that, I say other dim sum are good. Come here for shanghainese food
(4)Andy L.
Best Xiao Long Bao with crab meat. Try it here and you will know how much DTF was overrated. I also like the pan fired Shang Hai rice cake and the sweet and sour soup.
(5)Sue Z.
went back-- seems portions have been greatly diminished while prices have skyrocketed. (The menu has also been cut down). The dishes are a hit or miss. So order wisely. The won tons here have always been super solid, as close to my moms as possible. The sautéed shrimp was delicious, but at 12 dollars a plate, and was it 12 shrimps ? They're definitely skimping now. Look for the specials on the walls, and avoid the stir fried rice cake, hunk of carbs with a few sprinklings of greens. If you want more spot on dishes go a few doors down to Mei Long.
(3)Gary L.
Steam dumplings were juicy and delicious! Pan fried pancakes were ok. Pork chop rice was so tasty, especially the rice, hard to explain, they cooked it with green veggies so it has a nice aroma. My buddy had the treasures noodle soup with tofu, I only sampled the soup and it was flavorful and light at the same time. He enjoyed it and said that's his usual dish, he raved about the noodles. Free tea and friendly service!
(4)Andrea C.
Best xiao long bao in Los Angeles!! So juicy and hot, and it's always excellent when I go there (although I have heard that there are off days). I prefer this place to Din Tai Fung, and it's way cheaper. I typically order the shanghai stir fry noodles and pork xiao long bao, and it's something I always get whenever I'm in the Pasadena area. I do recommend coming with a friend who speaks Mandarin: the waitresses, although friendly, only speak Mandarin. I asked for the trash can, and they pointed me towards the ATM machine. They also only accept cash. The place is pretty small and easy to miss, but is in a large plaza with plenty of parking so do yourself a favor and have their amazing XLB!
(4)Schel H.
some good some bad and mostly avg dumplings, yef #4 stop on the dumpling tour Well this is a mini dumpling stop from that LA Weekly top 10 dumpling joints in LA and it came in as #4. So I came here with a group of the homies and the munchkin to dumpling it up. Well it was not like whoa whatsoever. It was a very average kinda Chinese place. Some dishes were good, two things were great and several were meh... Pro Tip: Bring someone who speaks Chinese with you! The menu and the servers don't help on the English front very much. The regular pork dumplings were decent. They had a bit of soup, but not a lot, but the pork was tasty. They had a pan fried on its side version of this that was very good IMHO. My friends said the crab n pork dumplings were quite good as well. They also had a leafy greens veggie that we got at the beginning that was super good and tasted buttery but was made without butter! Just a little bit of oil and the greens! The fried garlic green beans were not very good and seemed almost overcooked. Pro Tip #2: Cash please... =\ The tea barely came out at all as well and getting the waitresses attention was a major PITA! Parking is downstairs underneath the plaza as is the case in many places in Asia and Alhambra. So yeah overall I am kinda wutevers about this place but wouldn't mark it as the #4 best dumpling house in LA.
(3)Jonathan K.
I love this place's Xiao Long Bao. In my opinion they are better than Din Tai Fung's however, it is sometimes inconsistent while Din Tai Fung's XLB are relatively consistent every time. My typical orders include XLB, sauteed bean leaflet, and the shanghai stir fry noodles. I do recommend that you have someone who speaks Chinese with you. The place is pretty small and can get busy at times. They only accept cash.
(4)Albert W.
We got our usual XLBs, pan fried dumpling, steamed dumpling, Shanghai rice cakes and onion pancake. They were okay but it wasn't wow. I read through an online review that this place is top 10 for dumplings. I'm a little disappointed. I think Dean Sin World, Hui Tou Xiang, Wang Xing Ji and Din Tai Fung was better.
(3)Suzee L.
Came here with friends and they ordered a whole bunch items for us in so I wouldn't know how to order in English but the pork dumplings were GOOD!
(4)Sam T.
Craving Shanghainese food? This is the place to go! My grandfather grew up in Shanghai, so I know what good Shanghainese food is. Jin Jian is my go-to Shanghainese place in the LA/Orange County area. It never disappoints! Here are some of my absolute must-haves whenever I go: 1. Xiao long bao with crab meat -- It just melts in your mouth. The natural sweetness of the crab combined with the freshly steamed pork is heavenly! Their XLB skin is not too thick (a common mistake that takes away from the delicious filling), but it's also not too thin (where it breaks apart and the soup leaks out). It's juicy and fresh from the steamer! Be careful when you eat it though, because the insides are hotter than they seem from the outside of the XLB. 2. Stir-fried rice cakes, Shanghainese style -- The flavors... Man, I just can't put it in words! The dish retains a light smokiness from the wok and the intense heat it's cooked in. You can taste the aroma of soy sauce with a hint of sweetness. The added vegetables and meat really capture the flavors seared onto to the rice cakes. Together, it's a symphony for your taste buds!! The rice cakes, meat, and vegetables have a light coating of sauce, which is nice because the tastiness never runs out! 3. Stir-fried rice cakes with Ji-cai/Ji-Tsai -- This is my grandfather's favorite. Ji cai is a vegetable that is rarely found here in the States. It's very common in traditional Shanghainese cooking. The dish is simple - rice cakes, ji cai, and meat. Ji cai has a nice subtle taste to it, and really makes the dish. If you prefer lighter flavors, this is a great choice! 4. Shanghainese pan-fried thick noodle -- The flavors in this dish is similar to the Shanghainese rice cakes I mentioned in #3. It is like the drier, thick noodle version. (Note: it's a good "drier"!) If you have a small party, I would recommend picking either the Shanghainese rice cakes or the Shanghainese thick noodle, but not both. You can save room in your stomach for another yummy dish on the menu! The ones I listed above are all the dishes I need to get every time I go to Jin Jian. However, other yummy things on the menu include the Pan Fried Dumplings and Green Onion Pancake. This concludes my very first Yelp review! I guess Jin Jian holds a special place in my heart and is worthy of being my first. I really hope that more people try it out! Definitely underrated :)
(5)Brian C.
It's a small restaurant (two 8-person tables and six 4-person tables), and the plates and bowls could be cleaner, but the food here is really good. I would recommend getting the xiao long bao (regular or with crab) and their pan fried dumplings. The pan fried buns were good, but it didn't have enough internal juices. I would definitely come here again.
(4)Jennifer R.
I went here and ordered the dumplings, greens, noodles, and rice cakes. The only thing worth eating was the greens and the dumplings. The soupy dumplings were great, but I've had better. I don't know I remember this place being good back 10 years ago. I don't care for it anymore.
(2)Julia Z.
Good XLB. Smoked fish is also good. Marinated beef is soso. It feels like the breakfast at home, Shanghai. Nothing spectacular, but it's authentic and home style. Love it :D
(4)Lawrence L.
We were out looking for a place that was still open on a Friday night in the SGV without the maddening crush of DTF. We thought about JTYH but they were closing in 15 minutes at the time so I continued down Valley until we got here... It wasn't too busy, but we managed to snag the only two orders of XLBs that they had left. In our luck it was the Steamed Pao with Crabmeat yelp.com/biz_photos/j-an… which is exactly what I wanted to try anyway. Eight XLB to an order, they had nice shape and size, juicy, full of crabmeat with binding pork. I had the lions share, at least half of them, and I only ran into one which had a tiny bit of the shell in it, which to me is statistically acceptable, like eating a fish and finding a bone... I don't know my Chinese greens as well as I feel that I should, but the Sauteed Bean Leaflets yelp.com/biz_photos/j-an… taste similar to snow pea shoots that I am used to and love. When my wife ordered this, I turned to her and said "..is that 'dao miu?...' " and the waitress nodded in the affirmative which was good considering my zero command of the Mandarin dialect; she could understand us, I could not understand her. Sauteed and wilted in garlic, they were tender and tasty... We also ordered the Stir Fried Rice Cakes Shanghai Style yelp.com/biz_photos/j-an… , and just as in the case of the leaflets, I asked "...this is like 'haw fun'..." and again the waitress nodded yes; we could have had this exchange all night. I liked the bite sized portions, and yes it tastes like dry style haw fun noodles... My better half also wanted some kind of soup so we also went for the Shanghai Style Wonton yelp.com/biz_photos/j-an… . Besides being a smaller portion than I had originally imagined from the picture of it in the menu yelp.com/biz_photos/j-an… , it seemed more of a soup dumpling (sui gow) to me than what I am used to calling a wonton, but no disrespect to the restaurant because that's the way it was depicted in the picture... Not a bad experience, everything tasted fine, I just felt fortunate to get the last XLB order in for the evening. They also turned away another couple coming in at 1000pm telling them that they were closed when the sign says that they close at 1030pm; I guess they felt that they had enough business for one day. To quote my son: "It sucks to be first...", well in this case 'it sucks to be last...' too...
(4)Matt C.
With all the reviews that compare this place to Din Tai Fung, I must say, they're right! We came early to this very small spot, so early that they were just hanging out in the dining room, just stuffing and folding and rolling. We got some potstickers and some sort of meat wrapped in rice wrapped in a banana leaf. What, I don't know what anything is called! In fact, many of the items here have comically long English names. Oh well, these two were awesome! And let's not forget cheap. No hype, no wait, and smack in the middle of Monterey Park. What's not to love about this place? I'll come back for the potstickers for sure.
(5)Chingman C.
Their siu lung bao (steam soup dumplings) is the best that I ever had!!!! Compare to the ones from din tai Fung,, their dumplings contains more soup and taste better!! Also,, it's cheaper than DTF.. The Shanghai noodle is really good too!! But it's cash only..
(5)Rosemary T.
1. Service is fast. 2. Crab Xiao Long Bao is juicy and delicious. Skin is thin but not falling apart. 3. Spicy and Sour Soup, well... not spicy nor sour enough, so just a soup. 4. Garlic Chinese watercress, not oily, perfectly cooked, fresh and garlicky. 5. Sheng Jian Bao... dough is WAY TOO THICK, so you're pretty much eating dough. 6. Wong Tong soup... best dish of the night. The ratio of dough to meat ratio was perfect, the soup was flavorful and not blend. 7. Stir fry noodle that the waiter is RAVING about... well... consider the dark color it has, there's no real flavor to it at all. 8. Will I come back... probably not... had to add this because of number fetish. Tip: Cash only~ Waitress thinks their food is better than they really are... do not take their recommendations.
(3)Teresa H.
Secret gem of San Gabriel. Superstar amongst other Shanghainese restaurants. I'll admit I forgot to take photos on my last trip here. Forgive me. The food was SO delicious I devoured some before the thought of photos crossed my mind. Try these if you're with some friends: 1. Fish Clay Pot Soup 2. Pork Chop w/ Veggie Rice 3. Sesame Glutinous Rice Balls with Chinese Rice Wine Dessert Soup All 3 were out of this world. I'm coming back!
(4)Lily Z.
I am always on the look out for good xlb and my experience with xlb in the state is that it is not hard to find delicate wrapper, multiple cute little pleats, and juicy interior. What most xlb here lack is the authentic porky broth and savory filling. Even the famed Joe's Shanghai in NYC had a chicken flavored broth and lacked authenticity. J&J did a decent job on the wrapper, but the filling and the broth had an excellent robust pork flavor, seasoned correctly with just a smidgen of sugar, and tasted just like the xlb I had in Shanghai. Most of the time, I don't bother with crab xlb, even the ones from DTF tasted overly fishy and lacked the orange colored roe and fat indicative of a good crab xlb. J&J is the only place that has a good authentic tasting crab xlb. The secret is that they use fresh crabs instead of the more bland pasteurized crab meat that doesn't come with roes and fat. The xlb here was 5 stars, but the wontons and rice cakes I ordered weren't as tasty. The rice cake was soggy from having too much greens and lacked the caramelization from wok hei. The Shanghai style wontons had an inferior filling and overwhelmed by excessive dried baby shrimps.
(4)Luke L.
So I had two separate to-go orders --- 1st to-go order - sheng jian bao (8 pan fried pork buns, $6.5 tax included - just don't order) - Dough was thick and the texture was dry. Not only that, THEY WEREN'T JUICY AT ALL! Not the worst sheng jian bao, but I will not recommend anyone to get it. If you are looking for quality sheng jian bao, try Kang Kang Food Court or Emperor Noodle. Regular Xiao Long Bao (10 juicy pork dumplings, $6.5 tax included - order this) - Compared with sheng jian bao, it was like night and day. I was surprised by its dough texture - so silky and smooth. Not only that, juice inside the dumpling was flavorful too. Definitely one of the top five XLB in the 626 (San Gabriel Valley) area. --- Overall, no sheng jian bao and yes xiao long bao! Additional note: cash only and don't expect off-the-chart service.
(4)Priscilla C.
What the heck happened? I used to love this place...more than DTF and Mama Lu's and almost as much as Kingdom of Dumpling in SF. But almost a year after my last visit here things are just not the same. Quality and flavor have seemed to gone down. Shanghai style noodles are not as tasty with the perfect balance of salty and hint of sweetness it once had. Pork chops were whatever, not bad not bomb. XLBs tore and leaked out the precious juices with the softest touch. Fried dumplings were aiight. And the hot sauce...the thing that had me coming back...not the same. Seems like they're cutting corners and just mixing store bought chili paste with sriracha or something. The lady was nice but just doing her own thing... After we ordered I saw her reach in the freezer and pull out this rock hard frozen brown/meat thing in a plastic bag like the ones used for produce at markets and send it to the cook in the back. Apparently she took my order wrong and thought that was what I was trying to order instead of the pork chops. It was some type of braised/stew meat...like sweet and sour pork. Even though she replaced it with the correct order if I had actually ordered that dish I would've been kind of wtf that they would try to sell me some frozen crap like that. Hopefully they didn't serve it to anyone else after we left bc the lady had just set it aside on the center dining table while she kicked it in the back and I had to shoo flies away while eating my own food so I'm sure the flies had a feast with that dish. Never coming back here again. I don't do bad quality food esp if the hot sauce is nothing special anymore. I guess I'll just wait for my trip to the bay for now... Meh
(2)Sunny S.
This place is legit. Home style cooking that totally hits the spot. Pork chop w/ rice is so yummy. They don't just give you white rice. It's sautéed with veggies and probably extra fat. AND they actually use fresh crab in the XLB and veggie dishes.
(4)Julia L.
All the reviews online talked about the crab and pork soup dumplings. It was nice, on the east coast, the soup dumplings are humongous and difficult to bite into because it's so hot but on the west coast, the soup dumplings are bite size. These little gems were packed full of flavor. Very delicious and I could see why all the hype. Another popular item on the menu was the Shanghai noodles. Flour noodles tossed with soy sauce, veggies and beef. I didn't think this dish was as great as the xiao long bao (soup dumplings). If I'm ever in this area again, I will definitely return for the soup dumplings.
(4)Jen H.
Review went from 3 1/2 stars to 1. J & J really turned me off when I saw an unlit cigarette hanging off the chef's mouth as he was stir frying some dish. I can't even imagine if the cigarette was lit or possible falling into the pan...gross! Luckily, I saw this at the end of my meal. I'm sure the chef wasn't pulling this stunt when the health inspector went through; they displayed an A outside. Service: Good (3 1/2 star), English limited, CASH ONLY Menu: English/Chinese, includes photos for their top dishes The food itself was decent, here's a list on my immediate take: -Pan-Fried Steam Bun-2 stars The Good-Crunch The Bad -Too much Dough, lack of flavor The Ugly - Overflow of meat gunk of tip -Shanghai Rice Cake-3 1/2 stars Plenty of flavor, oily, love the Rice Cake texture versus the crunchy cabbage -Shanghai Steamed Dumplings-3 stars Standard -Crab Style Shanghai Steamed Dumplings-4 stars Good filling amount, Good Balance, Tender -Veggies-5 stars All of the veggie dishes were fresh and great, definitely my favorite part of the meal -8 Flavor Rice-2 stars Deflated presentation, Oily, Unbalance (90% Rice, 5% Red Bean, 5% coloring) -Deep Fried Bun-3 stars Can't really go wrong with this dish; offer a side of condense milk Overall, J&J uses a lot of oil for their stir-fried dishes that brings the buttery taste out. Stick with simple dishes or better yet, go somewhere else in case there's a cigarette hiding in your dish. Luckily, I came out UN-poisoned after this place. Although I love their veggies and crab style steamed dumplings, I will not return to J & J.
(1)Kelly C.
Been going to this restaurant for years for their xiao long pao. It's cheap and the food's tasty. The service isn't the greatest but whatever, I never expect much service from the Chinese restaurants around here. Just gimme the good food and I'll be happy with our transaction.
(5)Emily C.
I've never had fried radish cake (I've had the bun) and I have to say, it's really good here. My dad said that they sell the same things in Hong Kong but stuffed with more radish, but I liked the mix of some green onion with my radish here. Delicious. The waitress was SUPER nice and recommended their XLB (of course) with crab. I think my first one was missing it but the rest after had little bits of crab in it, which was nice to try only once. The Shanghai Stir-Fried Broad Noodle had a great flavor. Not as much wok heat as Mama Lu's, but the flavor was spot-on here in my opinion. It wasn't too dry and had just enough sauce and tasted amazing. Dad saw a clay pot special on the wall that was winter melon and salted pork belly and immediately wanted it. It was one of the best dishes that day because the winter melon was cooked just right and soaked up the perfectly clear broth. The salted pork belly was delicious and paired well with everything. I wish they gave us more beancurd knots or pork belly though... Definitely would come back and try more menu items since their other clay pots sound really good!
(4)Adelaide L.
Whoever said this place's XLB are comparable to Ding Tai Fung clearly has never been to Ding Tai Fung...
(1)Jeff P.
An underrated Xiao Long Bao (juicy pork dumplings) place for sure! Been coming here for over 15 years and they're one of my favorite places for the XLBs. I've tried most of the popular places in the SGV (DTF, Mama Lus, Dean Sin, Wang Xin, luscious, etc.) and this place is #1 or #2. It's under $6 for 10 dumplings. Always comes out piping hot and juicy. Looks like a hole in the wall, but it's legit. I've also had various other dishes here and they're all pretty good and authentic. I like the rice cake noodles and usually get that along with my XLBs. Cash Only. Lots of underground parking. They understand some english, but don't fret, there are pictures to point at on the menu.
(5)Kim L.
Best Xiao Long Bao and Shanghai Chow Mein EVER!!! Enough said. :)
(5)Erica F.
We ordered xiao long bao with crab meat, onion pancake, and stir fried rice cake in shanghai style. Xiao long bao was decent, onion pancake was ok, and I like the rice cake the most!!! However, nothing really stood out! This is a family style restaurant. It is a bit small, service was ok!!!
(3)Jacob H.
This place is actually really good. I was deciding between this place and some of the other places in the plaza but eventually went with this because there were more people. Their XLB is really delicious and I would probably go here just for that. The Shanghai rice cakes were pretty good too and not extremely oily like some other places. Prices were very reasonable. This is probably the one time I went by the amount of people in the restaurant versus Yelp reviews and it worked out great.
(4)Lily Y.
If you want cheap, hole-in-the-wall, Chinese/Shanghainese food, you should check this place out. Service: Might be a little slow, but you can flag them down for attention Seating: Multiple tables, set-up family-style Food: -Steamed pork soup dumplings: ok, not as good as Din Tai Fung. The skin is thicker and several of our dumplings got stuck to the steamer so the soup leaked out :( -Steamed pork & crab soup dumplings: better flavor than the pork alone, but same problem with the thicker skin and having some soup leaking out :( -Shanghai rice cakes: very tasty! -Fried pork dumplings: yummy, pan-fried goodness :D Parking: Several spots in the plaza/lot, but can be tough to find parking during busy hours. Overall, a good place to stop by to fulfill your craving for Shanghainese food. It's pretty cheap and you get what you paid for. FYI, cash only.
(3)Mona C.
All I can say is, "WOW!" Their xiao long bao is fantabulous! Probably the best I've had in the past 15 years. Juicy, flavorful, and a perfect texture...these little dumplings are like tiny orgasms just waiting to happen! There is NO place like this in Las Vegas...I'm so jealous of you people in San Gabriel! J&J almost makes the 4 hour drive worth it! Their steamed crab and vegetarian dumplings rock, too! Good thing we went early, because there was a swarm of people waiting outside at 7pm. I will definitely hit this place up every time I'm in the SG Valley!
(5)Linda L.
Maybe I shouldn't have eaten here the day after trying DTF for the first time, but honestly it just wasn't as good. The XLB (dumplings) were alright, but the dumpling skin was too thick for my taste. It didn't help that they had a cart piled high with dirty dishes sitting next to the cash register, that pretty much made me lose my appetite. Also, their green onion pancakes were disappointingly bad. And I usually LOVE green onion pancakes! Instead of the "million layers" that the name of the dish promises, you get like one thick doughy layer which fills you up after a few bites. The frozen kind you get from 99 Ranch are better. This place is cheap and there wasn't a crazy wait, so they definitely beat DTF in that department. But even with that, I don't think that I will be back...
(2)syrus f.
This is the place where I go for my comfort food. Their crab xiao long bao is the BEST. It is SO juicy and favorable there's nothing like it. That's why I don't ever go to Din Tai Fung after trying the xiao long bao from here. Plus I think Din Tai Fung is really overrated. Anyway, this place is small but it still holds a fair amount of people. My favorite dishes are the crab xiao long bao (always order at least 3 trays), Shanghai pan fried noodles and garlic stir fried snow pea leaves. They also serve a special soup noodles for 99 cents. It's plain noodle with no meat, no vegetable, just noodle + soup. But it is pretty tasty especially for only 99cents. I would highly recommend crab xiao long bao lovers to come.
(5)Muck P.
Quite disappointing after knowing how good dumplings can be (think Din Tai Fung). We ordered what everyone else seem to be having: the pao dumplings and the Shanghai noodles. Both were greasy and bland. We also ordered the deep fried radish cake (they called it pan-fried in English, which is incorrect), and that was surprisingly good. I will give props to how cheap this place is, but it's not really worth the wait line.
(2)Liz X.
Disclaimer: Now, I know I'm going to get a lot of crap for this review partly because I'm not Chinese, have never eaten xiaolongbao in China, and because I'm going to come right out and say it, "I don't like Din Tai Fung and the XLB are better at J & J's." There I said it. Commence throwing stones (or the rock hard, dried-up nasty XLB from DTF) now. I first sampled these delectable morsels known as xiaolongbao at the famous "Joe's Shanghai" in NYC's Chinatown. Yes, I know they are XLB on steroids, but those tantalizing treasures served as my barometer. When I got out here knowing that SoCal has the best Chinese food outside of China, I was a woman warrior on a mission. (For those who don't know, XLB are dumplings with "soup" INSIDE them. The "soup" is a euphemism for flavorful greasy drippings). So as most decent ethnic joints go, it's pretty much a pre-requisite that the place is a hole-in-the-wall with a "B" rating. (An "A" stands for "Americanized.") You should pretty much expect very little English, and what little English there is should be misspelled. The servers should be rude and pushy and slap the steaming hot plates down at you and bring the entire meal out in whichever order they damn well please and you pretty much have the formula for a slammin' ethnic meal. As J & J is a true hole, you will be eating elbow to elbow with fellow elderly Asian patrons. Oh yeah, I almost forgot, you can serve you own damn tea by pouring it into styrofoam cups (weren't those outlawed in the 80s?). As for the XLB, much more plump, juicy, and moist than the sad, dried-up attempts at XLB at DTF. AND, as there is no "brand-name" factor that poor little J & J's has to deal with, their prices are ridiculously cheap and there isn't a 45 minute wait. J & J's does a great pea shoot dish mostly done in a chicken broth and does a great job of cutting the grease in the other dishes (noodles can be greasy, but good). I'm still a fan of good ol' Joe's Shanghai, but since I'm out here now, this is where I go for the next-best XLB (outside of NYC and China...but what the hell do I know?)
(4)Heejin L.
the assorted fried noodles were super greasy and too mushy. and the soup dumplings.. AY! no flavor. no juice. in the pork one. and the crab one.. tasted like the ocean.. not as good as DTF. and id even have to say mei long has better...
(1)NK M.
Their food is alright, but their Xiao Long Bao, YUM! The price is pretty good and reasonable too. Service... yea, it is Chinese-place-horrible. I didn't like how you have to go out to the restroom outside either. The place is kinda small too.
(3)Soo K.
This is not a gourmet restaurant with silly foo foo plating and fancy pants waiters; this is where you come to get good food for a good price! Steamed Pao, they are sooooooo good! Perfectly seasoned, I don't even need the ginger sauce or vinegar! I would go with 2 or 3 girls and we get about 4 orders, we're big eaters. Plus 2 orders of the fried onion cake, the lady used to say "Chinese pizza" for those of us who spoke no Chinese. 1 order of the fried Shanghai style rice cake, OMG. We would clear the table, tea and all. best of all, the tab was always easy on the wallet. As we leave, we're always unbuttoning the button on our jeans. Most of the time there isn't a wait, but every once in a while , there is.
(5)Albert H.
I tried J&J last week after seeing some yelp reviews.. When I found the place, I realized that I'd eaten here a long, long time ago when my family used to visit LA relatives in the summer. It was probably under different ownership, or was a different restaurant entirely, given the high turnover in these parts. Anyway, just as a disclaimer: I came here on a pseudo-date that was possibly my worst date ever.. the horrible company may have tainted my experience. The service was pretty bad even for a chinese joint. While we were seated quickly, we had no menus until I asked for some 10 minutes later. The restaurant is smaller than my bedroom, and yet they still managed to mix up the tables. There were also flies buzzing around inside. So appetizing, huh? At least there weren't any nasty odors.. As for the food? My expectations were too high so I was pretty disappointed. But it was actually not bad. Granted, I ordered the Sheng Jian Bao instead of Xiao Long Bao, and that was solely my mistake. I forgot about the warnings here, so here's another to drill it in: J&J's Sheng Jian Bao are gross! Too much bao, not enough juice, not crispy on the bottom, and just not tasty in general. Blegh. Do not get them. Niu Rou Mian was just ok, not bad, but not great either. Same with Green Onion Pancakes, acceptable, but nothing special. Still, you can't get this stuff on the Westside, so they definitely hit the spot for me. I also took a Pork Chop Rice to go for lunch the next day. The rice didn't keep well (too oily/gooey), but the porkchops were good. I couldn't order/taste more food because my date ate beforehand and didn't want to get anything. Dipshit just picked at the food. Couldn't even provide me with decent conversation. God, what a waste of my time. (Not attractive to begin with and a bad personality made him even uglier.) I'm gonna give J&J another chance, because they're obviously known for their Xiao Long Bao and I didn't try them. But I just read about the two places next door, so I might check them out first...
(3)Grace L.
Whenever I'm craving xiao long bao I always end up here. It's not as clean as din tai fung but their XLB is sooo much better and cheaper too. An orderr of the same or larger portion here is a little more than half the price of DTF's... my favorite dishes here are the shanghai style noodles and rice cake. the service is really fast and the waitresses are really nice. As far as I know, the owners are shanghainese and this is the place to go for legitimate shanghainese food!
(5)Katherine P.
So my sister and I tried Mei Long Village and Dragon Mark (by accident) a few months back. Now we needed to see how J&J compared. There were bits of shell in the pork & crab soup dumplings (hey, at least they're using real crab?). A good amount of soup, but honestly we didn't think they were that good. Same for the pork soup dumplings. The green onion pancake was a lot more dough-y than the lighter flakier version at Dragon Mark. Just to make a good comparison, we walked over to Mei Long and shared an order of the pork soup dumplings. Not as much soup, but so much yummier! The skins were a bit thinner too. I guess now we have to try DTF ....
(3)Anonymous P.
I ordered Item #1 on their menu--the fish in soy bean sauce. I found it really bad. The fish seemed very old--it had the telltale desiccated texture and heavy fishiness. Cooked in a gloopy sauce, this was a serious disappointment--so bad that I will not eat there again under any circumstances. The green bean starch sheets with vegetables was good, as it is at all the Shanghainese restaurants I have tried in the area. Rice was pretty good. Tea was lame--the worst I've had in the SGV. All in all I think this restaurant is catering to the less wealthy FOB Chinese in the SGV. There is no question that I would pay a little more to eat the far superior food in the far superior surroundings at Green Village.
(2)Sarah Kouoon Y.
JJ i love the dumplings here! the prices is cheap for the taste you get! the place itself is small and can be so packed and busy, but its worth the wait! yumyum yummy!!
(4)Edmund L.
I used to eat here all the time - Xiao Lung Bao, fried porkchops, bamboo shoots with pea sprouts, vegetable fried rice, etc. Sometimes the food was very good, but other times it was very so-so. The ingredents were not that fresh. You could smell it in the meat. I think many Chinese restaurants have that problem...prices are low and Chinese eat like no tommorow, so you'll always run into the quantity vs. quality issue. That being said, if you like to eat a lot, and don't mind the occasional quality/consistency issue then everything else about this place is good. Service is typical, prices are San Gabriel-cheap, and you usually only have to wait 15-20 minutes tops. Not a bad place. But not great...
(3)Jack L.
Review based on COUNTLESS visits. Best xiao long baos in the area! They're AMAZING. The skin is just the right texture each and every time, the meat is tasty, and the bao is filled with juices! Be warned, it DOES take some mastery of the chopsticks in order to pick a bao out of the steaming contraption without it breaking! I've been coming here for years, and I personally have not been served any popped baos nor have I broken any through careless chopsticks. Oh, and there are two different types. The regular ones that come in orders of 10, and the ones that contain a bit of crab meat which come in orders of 8. The chicken broth is super hot and great on cold days if you like light broths. The shanghai style rice cake dish is yummy. My parents always get this spicy crab thing that comes in a tin bowl when they're in season. I don't know much about it, but it seems like every table has one. The store is SMALL though, so expect a wait on weekends and especially during meal hours. Overview: Best xiao long baos in the area. Very juicy and fresh! Other dishes are great too, but not what they're known for. Parking can be painful! Small above ground parking area. The restaurant is very small, so there may be a long wait if busy. A bit messy and dirty, and sometimes waiters don't have enough hands. Atmosphere is a bit hectic due to the small area.
(4)Olivia L.
My boyfriend and I always drive along valley and pass by the kang kang food court, and on their window is a picture of some shanghai pan fried buns. I was craving them and I heard J&J had some decent ones, so we had to hit this place up. We went here on a Saturday night around 6pm. It wasn't too busy, we didn't even have to wait for a table. We ordered the Crab and Pork Soup Dumplings (xiao long bao) $6.50, the shanghai pan fried buns ($5.95), the shanghai pan fried cakes (nian gao) $5.95, and the lion's head (si zi tou) $6.95. The service pretty much sucked, we didn't get our waters refilled even once. The only time they came over to our table was to grab the metal steamer that our xiao long baos were in. I mean seriously?, the restaurant isn't very big (maybe 8 tables) and it wasn't even full! Eh, I guess that's a Chinese restaurant for you, you should be surprised to get service. As for the food, the xiao long bao was pretty good. It's on par with any of the shanghai restaurants in the San Gabriel Valley. They have a thicker skin than din tai fung (overrated restaurant) and that's the style I am used to from NYC. The shanghai pan fried buns were really good. I wish there were a little bit more meat filling to bun ratio, but it was still yummy. They got an excellent sear on the bottom and even above around the edges, which makes me think they bake it in a muffin pan or something (how could you possibly brown the edges?). I thought the best dish was the shanghai pan fried cakes. It's something my mom makes (we're Taiwanese though, haha) and I thought J&J's were the best I've had in LA thus far. The lion's head is always delicious, you really can't get that wrong. The dish had 2-3 nice big and tender pork meatballs with napa cabbage in a slightly sweet brown sauce. I didn't see it on the menu menu, but it was listed on the upright menu in plastic on the table (only in Chinese!). I think it was number 8 on that menu? I would definitely recommend this place. I myself will have to come back and try some of the other dishes that other yelpsters have recommended.
(4)melinda F.
OMG Yes!!!!!!! You need the dumplings, rice cake, scallion pancakes,... OK you should really try everything. Go with a lot of people so you can try everything. It's so freaking cheap!!! I wish I could go there right now. I eat here almost every week... No bathroom. Kind of hole in the wall.... But try everything. Not joking.
(5)Dan C.
JJ's is a small place in your typical Asian plaza on Valley. The seating capacity is real small, like around 8 tables at most. We had a makeshift table placed by the doorway. The Xiao Lum Bao (steamed dumplings) is money! You have to eat them when they're hot and when you bite into them the hot juices of the dumpling squirt into your mouth, burning your tongue, but in a forgivable way. The fried dumplings were delicious as well. The Shanghai style fried noodles were on every table, as it should be. Highly recommend this place for dumpling lovers. Just don't go with more than 4 people.
(4)L S.
J&J dumplings is prob one of the best dumpling houses in the sgv .. Its a little hole in the wall place.. one blink and u might miss it.. it gets pretty packed here during dinner time and the seats are very very limited.. i suggest coming early and hungry because its well worth the wait..
(4)A P.
We've been coming to this Shanghai eatery since it opened over 15 yr ago, and we keep returning for the consistently tasty food. We are all huge fans of pork and crab xiaolongbao (a small soup dumpling), a specialty here. The crab flavor is fresh and rich. It really tastes like essence of deep ocean. When we've come very early in the morning, we see the kitchen and waitstaff picking the crabs to put into their crab xiaolongbao. The service is friendly but hurried. It helps to speak Mandarin or Shanghainese. We also go to Din Tai Fung and Mei Long Village for the same dumplings, but I always regret not going to J & J instead. You'll pay 30% more at Din Tai Fung for blander food, smaller portions but sit in a more beautiful dining room. So save yourself the trouble, get over the need for a beautiful dining room, and go to J & J for authentic, flavorful, and reasonably priced Shanghai fare. Warning: do NOT order Chinese- American things like broccoli beef, kung pao shrimp, etc... This is NOT what this chef does well here. Come here for the Shanghai specialties such as dumplings, clay pots, soups. If you have to dine in a beautifully appointed space with A+ service, then this is not the place for you.
(4)Charissa S.
The hot & sour soup is crack. $6.75, umami for days.
(4)Tiffany S.
Xiao long bao and beef noodle soup were not bad, I think they're better at Kuan's. Not a fan of the Shanghai noodles because they're pretty greasy.
(2)Lauren V.
pretty damn good Xiao Long Bao, or Xlb's as the cauc-asians call it. This is what J&J i known for, unless you are there for a personal favorite dish you grew up with here, you come for the excellent XLB. The addition of REAL crab meat in the pork and crab xlb's puts these over the top. I just order a bunch of these and im straight. Unfortuntely, cant say they're my favorite (still a percentage point in favor of Din Tai Fung in my head) This is one of those places that kinda makes you feel a little awkward for not being chinese. Thankfully, the people here are very gracious and they'll hold your hand through the ordering process. As small as it is i cant say ive even been the only non-chinese person here, there are others so you're not alone. I have a habit of ordering 2 of something if it looks or sounds good (and its cheap) but even the lady told me to just get 1 because "maybe you dont like". In my book, she's lookin out for me. Other things on their menu are pretty good. The other dish I really like is the pork and rice cakes. They taste like crispy sweet pork chop bites... with rice cakes. I really didnt think Id like it, but somebody i brought once got the beef and broccoli. I dont typically like beef and broccoli but J&J makes it really sweet. This place is found in the same busines plaza with mei long village which i know others have said is pretty good (in fact its like 2 doors down) so if you have a last minute change of heart for which place to go to, you can flip a coin right then and there. Speaking of coins, its CASH ONLY!! I also like how there's a beard papa and a quickly in the plaza so you can pick up some dessert after.
(4)C P.
My friends said I ought to yelp this place because the food was good and cheap. The stir-fried eel was tasty, but most things we ordered was not as good as I expected. First of all, they do not have sweet and sour fish. Nor do they have SH style stewed chicken noodle. Their hot and spicy soup was thin... like... soup (it ought to be thicker! I loved the tofu though). Their pork dumplings were not very presentable--you could see the pork on top of the dumplings, and they looked dry (because there wasn't enough juice/soup in each!) Now, I shouldn't be too harsh on them. Their sweet and sour spare ribs actually tasted fine, and we really enjoyed the eel. It's a tiny restaurant and it was filled with the smell of vinegar. I had to confess that I liked it that way. The servers were not very personable but they were not rude. I could see why it was a popular place. I probably expected too much, and I certainly did not read the sign carefully. It isn't a Shanghainese restaurant. It specializes in Northern Chinese cuisine (or so they claim) and it doesn't only offer SH style food....I am convinced that you've to be skeptical when a place offers more than one thing... It's like ordering a creme brulee at an American diner. I mean, seriously? We ordered two bowls of rice, one steamed roll (you know who ordered that...), hot and sour soup, stir-fried eel, sweet and sour spare ribs, and a tomato and egg dish. $42 for 3 people including tax and tips. I guess you could say that it's fairly cheap.
(3)Andrea O.
i know everyone raves about their xiao-long-bao and scallion pancake; however, i want to rave about their seaweed!! i love chilled marinated cucumbers and seaweed, i always order these side dishes. my cousin took me here to eat the xiao-long-bao and instead i fell in love with the chilled seaweed! SEAWEED!!!!
(4)Karen L.
Rude service, questionable cleanliness, greasy food-- in other words, a really authentic restaurant! I love the food here. The "ants climbing trees" is good and the XLB is nice and juicy. Great prices. The waitresses ignore you and give off a "we don't need your business, we're busy enough" vibe...and they're right. And I keep coming back. It's in the same plaza as three $15-20 foot massage places (the $20 foot massage place upstairs is the best IMO).
(4)Kat N.
Forget the long lines at Din Tai Fung. The pork and crab dumplings (xiao lung bao) are excellent here. However, downside is the service is lacking (typical of these joints) and you have to take a risk with the other items on the menu. The beef noodle soup is a very basic item for a Northern Chinese restaurant but JJ's was terrible (soup and beef lacked flavor and the noodles were waaaaaay too soft). The onion pancake is also another staple but JJ's was deep-fried instead of pan-fried - that's lazy and obviously the pancake was store bought. To give them credit, the dumplings are handmade to order though. 5 stars if you're satisfied with just eating dumplings.
(3)Tim T.
Hmmm..... Is all I can really think of everytime I am on my way to this place. Talk about Asian comfort food! Not only is the taste one of the best around, it's also damn CHEAP; About $20 for 3-4 people! Now, it's really easy to order multiples of everything. So just remember self control. Since my Mandarin is really horrible, I order like most 2 or 3 generation Asian Americans; in English. J&J is one of my favorite places for brunch or an afternoon snack. Not too heavy and it always seems hits the spot. From steamed dumplings to Shanghai style noodles to deliciously simple onion pancakes. I love it all! Located on Valley Blvd. in a little plaza, this little gem is usually busy, but the wait is short. Best bet is to park underground because it's nearly impossible to find parking on the first floor.
(5)Iris Y.
This is a small place good for small gatherings, but not for large groups of people. During my dinner, every table was taken but it was not overly crowded, which is a good thing. Do not wear high heels or shoes that have no traction. You have been warned. It's like playing Putt-Putt Penguin from iminlikewithyou. Good original pork xiao long bao but not so great crabmeat ones. Don't get the spring rolls. Get lots and lots of pork xiao long bao. Nuff said.
(4)Dijon Y.
After reading some reviews saying how good the xiao long bao was here, we decided to stop by. It was very mediocre and a disappointment. Not that it was horrible, but if you're going out of your way to find XLB to eat, then it should be good and not barely edible. If people didnt rave about how good it was, I'd probably give it 3 stars. I definitely won't stop by here despite the other reviews if I was specifically looking for xiao long bao. Maybe other dishes are good.
(2)Keith S.
I used to love this place. They have one of the best xiao long baos. The pork and the pork with crab xiao long baos are really good. However, other dishes are not that great. Also, at times, the chef can be MSG happy. If you are in the mood for xiao long bao, J&J is definitely worth a try.
(3)Food L.
This is the place to go if you want DELICIOUS xiao long bao (regular or with crabmeat), Shanghai stir fried rice cake and noodle, pot stickers, pan-fried pork bun and much more.....if you are in the area. Yeah the Din Tai Fung in Arcadia is delicious, but too far and much more pricey and long wait. J&J a gem that you can really enjoy the food and prices are cheap. Been going to this restaurant for years. The quality has been very consistent and I haven't got any disappointment so far.
(4)S C.
The only thing I consistently get is the xiao long baos (Shanghai steamed dumplings). The dumplings are almost as good as NYC's version. Very juicy and tender. The black vinegar they serve is very strong. Definitely a five stars. I do wish the prices were a bit cheaper though. $7 for a dish is expensive (for someone used to paying $4 in NY). HOWEVER, I would avoid the noodles. I ordered a "spicy" noodle soup, and there is no way that the soup could be called spicy. I asked the waitress and she says they put a little spice in it. Yeah, right. I gave the soup a 0 star. It was edible but very very bland.
(4)ruby w.
After reading an article on the best Chinese breakfast in Los Angeles Times, I suddenly had an urge for Xiao Long Boa and Fan Tuan. After reading reviews on yelp, I was excited to try this place out. The XLB was decent, but not as good as everyone else is claiming. Their Shen Jian Boa was way too greasy and bland. The rice on the Fan Tuan was dry and their Bat Bo Fan (eight treasure rice) was way too sweet and not enough ingredients. I've had better at traditional Chinese weddings. Overall, most, if not all the menu items are greasy and not worth the calorie count... I guess that is the drawback of Shanghai food. bleh...
(3)Bonnie S.
so after reading the raving reviews, i decided to check this place out with my mom. this place is a tiny and was hella crowded. this place isn't for ones who don't appreciate hole in the walls. So i ordered xiao long bao, rice cake shanghai style and noodles with pork and persevered veggies. this place is ok. not terrible but just okay. i think everything would taste better if it was a bit more saltier. Everything tasted bland. the dumplings.. looked great, when u bit into it, it was juicy but just bland. i needed hella soy sauce. i want to give it hope and i think will try it again. i just think maybe i went on a bad day...the day they were short on soy sauce?
(3)G K.
Went today based on reviews and I might have gone on an off day. The skin on some of the XLB's were punctured and the soup inside did not have the depth of DTF. Onion pancakes were okay... not my favorite. They are a little too thick and crispy for my liking. Not bad though. Pot stickers were ok. A little too dougy inside for me. I prefer the longer thinner skinned pan fried dumplings. The price beats DTF so it's good eating if you're passing by or in the area.
(3)Chi L.
Our order of Xiao Lun Bao contained raw... yes RAW PORK. They provide a new order for us but did not apologize for what was clearly a mistake on their part.... after that we received little to no service from the staff. I am telling everyone that I know to STAY AWAY from this place.
(1)Vikki T.
My friend and I tried this place this weekend. This is not what we would call "dim sum". We thought dim sum was what started in Hong Kong in giant restaurants with little carts and what I remember from New York and Houston in giant restaurants (ok, sometimes not so giant in New York) with little carts and what we had in other places in the Los Angeles Chinatown and the San Gabriel Valley in restaurants (also sometimes not so giant) with little carts. This restaurant does not have that. It does have a section of its menu, called "dim sum", which friend and I know of as dumplings and little finger foods. I would call this restaurant a little hole-in-the-wall, which is ok, since there are some great hole-in-the-wall restaurants. However, with all the food places in the SGV, I'm not sure whether we will ever make it back here. We ordered a bunch of stuff and the crabmeat dumplings were excellent, though I'm not sure whether it was the greatest crab. They were very tasty though. The rest of our meal was sort of ok to bad. We were a bit dismayed by the tea in styrofoams cups, though the tea itself was ok, so we got over it. However, we weren't really sure whether there were any green onions in our green onion pancake; the bun of our vegetable/mushroom bao was very heavy which we did not like; our fried turnip cake was shredded turnips, which is different from the more familiar paste, though not necessarily bad; and our steamed pork dumplings were more like boiled dumplings and I think they make their own because the way it was wrapped was boring and not very appetizing and the wrapper was very thicker and a bit too chewy for us and the filling was just meat and nothing else and very boring since it was boiled. Based upon their "water" dumplings, I would guess that they get their crab dumplings made by someone else; they were so much neater, better made and appetizing than the xue jiao. There was a lot more to the menu, so it's possible other dishes are better. I would have also liked to have tried their eel but this experience was not good and with so many other eateries... As my friend said, she would have preferred the typical dim sum experience. We had some xue jiao and onion pancake left over, which we took home. Hubby came around later to inform me that our leftovers were crap. Guess hubby isn't going to eat here anytime soon. As an aside, this mall has an underground parking lot. We were there about noon on Sunday and the parking lot underground was empty! And there are like 6 restaurants in this mall...I think maybe one was sort of busy to warrant a wait...and it wasn't J&J. (Circumstances that day caused us to be later than usual. We usually like to get to Sunday dim sum before 11am, before the crowds, and then get to the market, also before the crowds.)
(2)Ken W.
We came a few times to this restaurant and we like the food, but about a year ago, we went to the restaurant early, while I was enjoying my food, I saw the waitress took the tea pot from a table that the customers just left and pour it back into the main tea pot, is water so expensive that she needed to recycle the tea? Who knows what else she recycles? I don't even want to go there. It grossed me out, I never went back to the restaurant again.
(1)Sheena C.
This place is super good. Personally, I prefer J & J over Din Tai Fung (based on the xiao long bao) as I don't really care much for the other food. The shanghai pan fried noodle is edible, but the wintermelon soup is delish, and the hot and sour soup is cool too. Sure, the service doesn't come with a manicure or anything, but what do you expect- it's cheap. Anyway, come hungry and be ready to go home with a burnt tongue. Tip for those unfamiliar to the xiao long bao: put your dumpling in a spoon before eating so that once you bite into it, you can catch the juices in the spoon and slurp it up :yum:
(4)Ryan C.
we came here at about 10pm after a bad meal at 818 shaokao. the waitress speaks english and when you come in tries to get you to order xiaolongbao. we also got chao niangao (shanghai rice cake), vegetables, and the tang yuan (sweet rice dumplings). the food was all very good. even though the sign says open until 11:30, they started trying to rush us out at around 10:50.
(4)Julia Z.
This strip mall restaurant has really good Shanghainese food. I felt like we ordered almost everything on the menu (including xiao long bao, rice cakes, beef noodle, chicken noodle, watercress, snow pea leaves, dumplings, radish cakes, soy bean and tofu sheets) and we still wanted more. The food was light yet flavorful and the service was super fast. Top your night off with a $15/hr foot massage and/or some bubble tea at one of the neighboring stores. We ate, got massages and drank tea...truly living the kobe beef life.
(4)Richard S.
The xiao long bao here was pretty good. The beef noodle soup was alright. Not much else to say, everything here tastes pretty average but it is definitely cheap. I prefer it over the place next door.
(3)Diana N.
what the hell is wrong with me...? how did i forget to write a review of JJ??? i went here on a gloomy monday after a shitty day at work. the only thing that kept me going through the day was the fact that i would see juggles along with elle, frankilicous, and linda and eat a whole china boatload of dumplings. juggles had told me about this place. well, not really. i asked what was so great about JJ and she just stood there with her mouth open and started going on this high pitch rant about steamed dumplings..... chinese people...odd anyways, so we get here and i am so hungry i want to walk across the parking lot to beard papa's and start sucking on their cream machine (hahaha....i don't know why that is funny) so the dumplings come out FAST! i forgot what we ordered, one had shrimp, other had chicken, blahblah...honestly they all tasted the same to me. but that's not a bad thing because they were SO GOOD. they were HOT, JUUIIICYY, and we ordered about 3 more orders because i ate them all....sorry u guys we also ordered some noodle dish with spinach and other beef stuff in it and it was AWESOME (we ordered 2 of those too) this place is a little too far for my liking. so only when juggles decides to come here will i go. or when anyone goes. or when i want dumplings. or if someone posts a thread calling for dumpling night....(ahem) another plus??? WAAAAAY CHEAP. cheap enough that my broke Korean ass can TREAT people to this!!! that was figurative speech people
(4)Sophia J.
6 people 2 orders of xiao long baos, 3 beef noodle soup, shanghai fried noodles, pan fried dumplings, green onion pancake, and some peanut buttery noodles. total came out $47. not bad at all.!!! all were yummy and qucikly served. beef noodle soup taste better than supreme dragon. the broth is more clear and less fatty. xlbs are juicy and filled with lots of soup. i like it better than din tai fung. those are the two highlights
(5)Michael T.
This place is very small and you might end up having to wait a few minutes before getting a table. I usually go here for the dumplings when the line at Din Tai Fung is too long. Although DTF's are still the best, this place isn't half bad. I tried the dumplings, the fish fillet and the tofu soup. I would not recommend the fish fillet unless you want a mouth full of bones. That thing has a tone of bones in it and just kills the eating experience. Other than that everything else was good. Also...remember...its asian so CASH ONLY! Haha.
(3)Jen R.
came here as part of a xiao long bao crawl. this was my favorite stop of the day: the dumplings are a good bite-size. the wrapper is thicker than din tai fung (which isn't a judgment, just a comparison...i actually think i prefer the din tai fung wrapper). the overall flavor though was the best - much preferred over din tai fung's (which was flavorless and a little greasy).
(4)Ronnie D.
This place is bomb diggity! I been coming here for ages now, and 30 lbs later I'm still lovin' it. Peep the spicy crab with hella oil, purely pimptastical. This place is the real Shanghai shiznet, the waitresses working 12 hours a day 7 days a week. And the food is authentic too. When your done head over to Beard Papas and Bin Bin Konjac in the same plaza to connect the love triangle.
(5)Ricky C.
Oh hey, this is my friend's mother's place. I'd have to agree, crab shiao lung bao is the item to order. I'd go there just for that. They're very good and differs from your traditional pork shiao lung bao. Many places bungle their steamed foods and they come out hard and a bit dry. You won't find this at J & J. Biting into these soft and chewy suckers with the juices flowing out is a very _________ (insert word) "addictive" experience. Parking in the plaza can be a bit of a pain at times though. But then again, the crab shiao lung baos are worth it. I'd rather come to J & J for dumplings and shiao lung baos than Ding Tai Fung in Arcadia.
(4)J Z.
1. Leaky XLB. All but one of mine (I had 6pcs) lost their soup. But they taste ok. Their XLB wrapper is definitely not as delicate as DTF, which doesn't bother me. But if you are picky about this, I say don't even bother getting XLB from here. In summary, their XLB is tasty, but nowhere as refined (meant as a compliment) as DTF's. 2. Their wintermelon soup is yummy. I would go back for that. 3. This place is small. Seats about 35 people tops.
(3)Brandi H.
Had lunch yesterday w/my bf and still think here have the BEST shiao long bao!! I also think their Shanghai dish are delicious too.
(5)Dustin S.
ever full of good advice, e. has the right idea, telling me, "the trick is to nibble a little piece off the top so you don't spray yourself." but she apparently has trouble executing her own strategy as she somehow sprays meat juice all over herself. but then again, that is a telltale sign of a freaking delicious, juicy shiao long bao. yum. them little dumplings full of meat and juices. or crabmeat and meat and juices. so much fun to eat even though we looked like a bunch of idiots, freaking out over lost meat juices, mourning each careless stab of the chopstick breaking the delicate plumpness of each bao. forlorn puddles of juice pooling in the steamer, dripped onto the table. perhaps we are amateur hour at eating shiao long bao...i guess we'll just have to practice more. dunno if its better than joe's shanghai in nyc but i like that it is less touristy, less noisy and somehow a bit cozier (in the asian restaurant way). like a place i can visit time and again, filling up on shiao long bao without it seeming like an Event. mmm gluttony without the guilt. thats what i'm talking about.
(4)Rob C.
Just come here for the dumplings! You won't regret it. I know all the fuss is about Din Tai Fung, but this place is cheaper and tastes just as good if not better. They have a pork and a crab version. Personally I prefer the pork ones, they're just more flavorful. But I have seen them prepare the crab ones and I can say that they do use genuine crab meat that they pull from crab legs. If for some crazy reason you're not a dumpling fan, don't come here...the rest of the menu is okay. Better can be had elsewhere. More dumplings for me though! mwahhaha...
(4)Nia I.
dumplings cheaper than din tai fung but taste pretty good, service good and love their sesame noodles.. suit for vegetarian as no meat at all in it =). Will be back pretty soon..
(3)thealiceline ..
i love xlb and after reading so much about this place on chowhound, i finally gave it a try. i have to say i still prefer the xlb at mei long village a few stores down. they are juicier and more flavorful and i like the dumpling skin better. the xlb skin at j&j is thicker and enjoyable as well - tastes meatier. the crab xlb were more fishy. we also had the shanghai rice cake dish which was very greasy. i prefer that dish at mei long village as well, even though i'm not a big rice cake fan. the xlb at ding tai fung are different, so i think it's difficult to compare. they are more delicate at ding tai fung, and maybe heartier at mei long village. overall, still pretty good and beats anything on the westside. actually i don't think there are really any xlb places on the westside?
(3)A C.
Best Steamed Dumplings (Shao Long Bao's). The only place in the world that might beat this place is a place in Shanghai called Nanxiang Dumplings. J&J has the best shao long bao's...I've heard this from many and I concur! Been eating here for years and it's surprising how they still stand above many other places.
(5)Lisa Q.
xiao lung baooooo!!!! i'm addicted to these stuff!!! mMm yuM!!!! i've been here a few times... however... i must say.. the first time was the best.... i don't know why... o.O haha.. anyways... i like their crab dumplings, pork dumplings, noodles in soup, and their shang hai noodles. mMm yum =D =P !!! other things i tried was drunken chicken and fried onion pancake. =) but this is a place totally for their xiao lung baos!!! i don't know if it's disturbing or the fact that i know it's REAL crab meat.. when i see the workers cracking the crabs in the middle table. ahahah.....and they do it quite often. loL =P like what the boyfren said.. it would be nice if they didn't bring both the dumpligns out together.. the first few were REALLLLY DELICIOUS... however... it takes time to finish them... and the last few were cold and hard =( !!!!! all in all.. yummy place... and btw... there's a line sometimes.. not a long line... but at least a few minutes wait because it's a tiny restaurant. not the best service... but it's do-able. and cheap food! hehehe =D =P !!!
(4)Ceci L.
Very good northern China cuisine... more traditional style.. I think they are even better than Din Tai Fung as it is too commercial now. "Shanghai fry noodles" and "small steamed bun" are nice~
(4)Matt T.
For a small place, it's quite impressive that Jin Jiang is able to maintain such a high standard over a relatively extensive menu. With as many choices as there are, we ended up ordering way too much food. Their long beans are quite good and the scallion pancakes are great. I also found their vegetable dumplings to be better than those found at Din Tai Fung. I realize this is not the dish Din Tai Fung is known for, but it's still worth pointing out. The only dish we had I wasn't too enthralled with as a Chinese squash and fried dough soup. It's listed on the menu as a 'casserole' (well, the English one at least), but it's served in a clear broth. The broth kills the wonderful crispy texture of fried dough, which to me is a huge part of its appeal. In the broth, it was just soggy and bland. Apart from that misstep, however both the amount and the quality of the food is very high for the cost. Defiinitely a place I'd reccomend to anyone looking for some excellent Chinese food that goes well beyond the generic offerings we get in LA.
(4)Andrew C.
I recommend the "crab-powder" shao lung bao only. It's the only reason I come here. All other dishes are only so-so, and the equivalent dishes taste better next door at dragon mark, especially the potstickers and spicy beef noodles.
(3)Janet L.
a two hour drive is all worth it for a bite of J & J's savory, delicious xiao long baos!! especially the one w/ crabmeat! a great deal too! 8 BIG steamed treasures for only $5.95! i'd have to say, they have the best xiao long baos i've ever had! each one is holding a juicy ball of meat accompanied by REAL crabmeat (you can see the waiteresses bringing out bucket of crabs and breaking their shells for the juicy interior) all wrapped and hidden under a nice, thick skin of dough that is plump from the soupy goodness enveloped inside! are you craving for some now? my description is nothing like the actual thing. you have to try it yourself and fall in love! my only complaint? nine messy tables w/ broken chairs in a crammed little dining area. the waitresses don't even bother cleaning up after the group that ate before you. they just simply use a towel and wipe away the obvious food particles! and the wait is LONGG. there isn't really that much room to wait inside so you have to join the massive, hungry crowd outside. you're thinking "WHAT? THEN LEAVE! IT'S MONTEREY PARK! THERE'S PLENTY OF OTHER GOOD CHINESE RESTAURANTS!" ohh, but how wrong you are! you haven't really found the meaning of life if you never tried their xiao long baos. all that chaos, waiting, long-drive, sticky tables, wobbly chairs, noisy crowd, unfriendly customer service is NOTHINGG! it all doesn't matter for me because i'm lost in my own world as i let the soup of the xiao long baos trickle down my throat.. mmm. guess what?!? we're going tomorrow for lunch!!!!!! so i feel sorry for all of you who can't... unless you come too! see you there! (as we fight for a table). --------- edit// coming here again, i had to take a star down for the terrible customer service. probably the worst i've seen in a chinese restaurant. they didn't take our order when we were ready ten minutes before we started to get up and walk over to the cash register for someone. when we asked for more sauce for our xiao long bao, they just nodded and never returned with any sauce. we had to ask three more times until we finally had to (again) walk up to the cash register and get it ourselves. and when we wanted to order another xiao long bao, the waitress seemed upset that we didn't order it all together in the beginning of the meal & was like "is there anything ELSE?" in a really frustrated, annoyed tone of voice. another thing that suprised me was that one of the waitresses put the tins of xiao long bao on the floor because she had too many on her hands! at least, the juicy dumplings were protected inside, but still. okay, so the service is terrible! why four stars? the xiao long bao is definitely the only thing that keeps this place filled with customers. i also recommend the wonton soup! they're almost as great as the xiao long bao! sooooo delicious! and each wonton is juicy and plump from the big portion of pork & greens! we ordered two of the wonton soup! and three of the xiao long bao (warning: be careful when you eat the xiao long bao. as much as you want to stuff the whole thing down your throat, you might find crab shells hidden beneath the dough! we found FIVE HUGE pieces of crab shells!) i also recommend the fried egg rolls! each piece is so juicy and crispy at the same time! dip it in some vinegar or use the xiao long bao sauce! mmmm... the last time we came here, my mom ordered two bags (16) of their lotus leaf sticky rice w/ chinese beef! our whole family loves the glutinous rice filled with huge pieces of sweet, savory beef! and we were so afraid we wouldn't be back in a while (living so far away..) we ordered so many!! for a comparison review for din tai fung vs. J & J, go to my review for din tai fung: yelp.com/biz/din-tai-fun…
(4)soon k.
for the best xiao long bao, don't go to din tai fung, go to j & j - or jin jian. i've been going to this place for 15 years now. jin jian may not have the super modern interior of din tai fung - nor the super efficient service. but, they have the best xiao long bao. i'm not a fan of mei long. i think jin jian has the best meat and soup ratio. xiao long bao is steamed meat wrapped in a wonton skin filled with tasty soup. dip it in the soy-vinegar sauce, and put a little cut ginger. you have to drink the soup inside the bao. i always get xiao long bao (#70), with spinach vegetable and the shanghai cake. that's plenty of food. other good dish to try is the winter melon and salt pork casserole. it's served in a hot pot. eat it with steam rice. yummy. i would've given 5 stars. however, since they don't accept any credit card, and the rest room is a community rest room, 1 less star for jin jian.
(4)Kimie L.
This is a little gem that very few people know about. My favorite to go spot for xiao long bao and beef noodle soup. It's similar to ding tai fung but a lot cheaper and there's never a wait.
(4)Annie L.
Xiao long bao lovers!! Come here and treat yourself a good dinner. Honestly, i would rather come here than wait in line for DTF.
(4)Yoyo M.
I just had lunch at J& J today. this place is small but nice, you can park underground. they only have 1 waitress, she is kind to me. I like the sweet pork and yun-tong soup. 5 star for my 1st visit :)
(5)G. L.
Great classic hole in the wall place. For the price and the convenience (no wait), The running joke I had on this place is that the quality of the food seems to depend on the mood of the people. If they are in a good mood the rating is 5 stars. otherwise, its three stars.
(4)Kris H.
J & J is a nice alternative to DTF for xiao long baos (crab) when you can't deal with the hour long waits. The fried dumplings were equally tasty. I would skip the fried pancakes. They're dry and very doughy. It's a hole in the wall, mom and pop shop. Don't expect much in terms of service nor ambience.
(4)Andrew K.
My friend and I had to make another visit to J & J because we were both craving the sauteed baby eels with yellow chives in sweet brown sauce, a dish I've only tried here. I grew very fond of this dish because it was very flavorful and unique. The sweetened and starchy brown sauce - probably a heated mixture of beef bouillon, soy sauce, honey, corn starch, red pepper, ginger and garlic - is mixed with the sauteed baby eels and yellow chives. Eel meat is rather sweet so it blended well with the brown sauce and the more mild yellow chives added some contrast and texture. Then it got topped over fresh rice noodles that comes separately and had been cooking in its own delicately seasoned consomme. Forget the pao (steamed pork dumplings), this is the tasty dish you can order here in my opinion! We also ordered a new dish. Their roasted duck with mushrooms in brown sauce was another pleasant surprise. There were bamboo shoots, onions, green scallions, carrots and an indistinguishable leafy vegetable mixed into the sauce as well. An excellent marriage of flavors! The roasted duck, like eel meat, is sweet and rich in flavor. It, therefore, blended perfectly with the thick brown sauce and added ingredients. Two very unique and flavorful dishes you can only find at Chinese restaurants specializing in Shanghai cuisine. The food here, however, more accurately represents Shandong cuisine, popular throughout China for their soups and very flavorful meat and seafood dishes. If you are familiar with Shandong cuisine or willing to try, J & J is one of the first places I would recommend.
(4)Annie H.
I'm not going to lie, but this place has the best crab XLB! My first bite into it, I fell in love, haha. I came here Saturday night and it was a full house. There was only 1 big table open and I was a party of 2. Then another lady comes in by herself, so the waitress said to share the big table. No big deal. I ordered the crab XLB, Shanghai style noodles, hot and sour soup, Shanghai egg rolls, onion pancake, and pan fried pork buns. The soup was too watery and was not hot or sour. I did not like the egg rolls because it was mostly filled with cabbage and everything else was great. Service was just okay because there was one 3 waitresses and at times it looked like they didn't want to do their job and just chat with one another. I will go back for more XLB!
(4)Raeraerae Z.
I only have one sentence to say about this place: It's better than Ding Tai Fung!
(5)henry t.
I loved this place. This is my regular since I was a kid. Been coming here for over 10 years. Went in for breakfast today and they said the restaurant was sold. New owners and new cooks. I left and I'll try it next time to see if it compares to the old place
(5)J L.
I really do love this place. I was shown this place by a foodie friend who claims they have awesome dumplings. He mentioned everything else is not very good but the dumplings are legit. He was right! They are tasty full of juice and the texture is slightly doughy which I enjoy.
(4)Denny C.
To be fair, I really hovered between three and four stars for J&J. I came here yesterday for a late dinner with a friend. There was a very short wait, but we were quickly seated. We ordered the pork soupy dumplings (XLB) and the pea tips to start. The pork XLB were okay. The skin is definitely thinner than Mama Lu's, which is a quality I look for in good XLB, but the filling didn't have a lot of flavor. To be honest, given the reviews on Yelp, I was a little disappointed. The pea tips were fine, think standard stir-fried Chinese veggie. When we realized this wasn't going to be enough food (my friend and I were starving, this is not a remark about their portion size), we also ordered a steamer of the crab XLB and the fried pork chop with peppers. The crab XLB (the filling is actually crab with pork) hit the spot in a way the pork ones did not. The crab flavor of the dumplings definitely stand out and transform the experience. Again the wrapper is thin, so I appreciated that. The only thing I was a little disappointed about was that it seemed like a few of the XLB (at least two) were already punctured or there was pork goo on the wrapper. I'm not huge about presentation, but if it affects the amount of soup in the dumpling, I'm going to start caring. The pork chops were good, too, because they were lightly fried, amazingly crispy, and the bones weren't very big either. And, I liked that the pork wasn't dry either, it was fried but still moist. Service: Wait staff are very efficient and pretty friendly for the neighborhood. Bottom line: Better XLB than Mama Lu's. Lacks a bit in terms of presentation and refinement that DTF would probably make up for, but regardless satisfies the XLB craving without the wait time. Get crab over regular pork.
(3)Vivian C.
I know that some of you may find this blasphemous, but I personally think their Xiao Long Bao (XLB) or soup dumplings are wayyyyy better than Din Tai Fung. The dumpling skin is moist not dry like Din Tai Fung, also the soup is more authentic and delicious. ITS ALSO MUCH CHEAPER THAN DIN TAI FUNG! What I suggest getting here are three things if you're here for two: XLB, green onion pancake, and the Shang Hai fried noodles with beef or the glutinous rice cake. They're all delicious. The fried noodles are a little oily, but it makes it taste great! Just eat it on a plate separate from the soup dumpling so your soup dumplings don't get oily! The one thing I don't like about this place is that it does not have a convenient bathroom. The bathroom is outside for the entire plaza and its not very well maintained so go to the bathroom beforehand or don't drink too much tea! This place also got remodeled recently so its more comfortable now. The staff are still the same, nice older Asian women. Their English is decent, so feel free to come here even if you can't speak Mandarin. Just a reminder: there may be a wait on weekends if so go to New Taste Dumpling House next door which is comparable (but their pan fried dumplings are better). Service - 4.5 Food - 5, authentic! Ambiance - 4 Bathroom - 2 :( Price - 5 This place gets 4 stars because of the bathroom, boo!
(4)Nitar L.
I was really disappointed when my family chose to eat at this restaurant for lunch. First, the tea was cold, room temperature at best served in styrofoam cups. We ordered pan friend dumplings, two orders of XLB, noodles, string beans, and seaweed. The seaweed came out first in a plastic container that looked like it was purchased from a grocery store. It was really sweet and lacked enough garlic to overcome that flavor. When the XLB came out, the skin was soggy and the pork was tasteless. After reading Yelp! reviews, I was hoping for a far better experience. The pan fried dumplings were also tasteless with too much dough that it dried up my mouth before I even got to the pork. The pork in both dishes were definitely not seasoned properly. However, the string beans and noodles made the experience a little better. Although they were oily, they were lightly seasoned enough to taste better than the pork dishes. I'd rather wait in line at Din Tai Fung than go here again.
(2)Jackson W.
I know it's been a while since I've eaten here, but is it possible they actually improved their crab meat XLB?! Tastes so much better than I remember. I was surprised and pleased that each XLB had a significant amount of crab meat. The wrapping was absolute perfect for me, just the right thickness. The crab filling also seemed fresh and they were definitely not frozen. Again, J&J reigns over all other dumplings for their crab meat XLB. I was slightly disappointed at the regular steamed pork dumplings, but I guess its because the flavors from both don't mix well when you eat one after the other. I never eat XLB with any sauces, especially without vinegar, so it was easy for me to notice the difference in taste from previous visits - the regular ones had a little too much vinegar in the filling. But that will never stop this fatty from eating them. HAHA. Their potstickers are extra thick, has fried crispy bottoms, and filled with a pork filling that is extra juicy - so beware of definite squirtage (radius of at least 1.5 ft.). I recommend breaking the skin of the potsticker first and letting the soup leak out before taking a bite, otherwise you'll get the juices all over the table and likely onto your clothes. Also ordered the fried rice cake noodle, stir fried in a dark soy sauce, and mixed with some spinach, and chopped napa cabbages. Talk about ultimate comfort food! I'm kinda surprised by the overall yelp rating of being less than 4 stars. Then again, I can't speak for other people since a lot of people I know prefer their XLB in multiple ways - like the people who prefer DTF (we can't be foodie friends, EVER.). I simply prefer Shanghai style soup dumplings over Taiwanese style.
(4)Tiffany H.
The sure sign of a good time with XLB is a burnt tongue. And I walked out in glorious pain that was worth it. SKIN: not as QQ as Din Tai Fung but wasn't too thick but didn't break either. Good in my book! INSIDES: Steaming hot just like how it should be! It was flavorful & juicy. I didn't have any oiliness or sweetness problems. $$: 10 for $5.95 - price is much more friendly than DTF's. Unexpected star? Guo Tie! Omgosshhh. SKIN: It was like the skin of shen jian bao. Well, just the bottom was like that! The little side flap still had the soft guo tie texture. And meat was delicious to eat by itself too. I got some with dumpling juice in it but others didn't...boo! We also ordered the shanghai chow mian and bao zi. Both of these dishes weren't bad but I've had better. I ended up at J&J when I was heading to that plaza to eat Mei Long 'cause Luscious Dumpling was closed. But seriously, 4 XLB restaurants in a row? Ended up choosing J&J when a man, who was walking back to his party inside, said that he tried all four and this was the best. Decor is also more updated than other Chinese places. $24 for 2 people (4 dishes) - woot!
(4)Sue P.
Bought some dumplings to go this week. It was still warm by the time I got home. The dumpling wrap was too doughy. The meat filling was just ground pork. This was not an exciting meal.
(2)Jasmine H.
I haven't had Xiao Long Bao (XLB for short) outside of Las Vegas in a long time! My friend brought me here, to try theirs out, as in Las Vegas I think Three Villages has the best. It's a small restaurant located in a small plaza. We only tried the pork and crab dumplings and both were good! (Yes, better than Vegas for sure) I could literally sit here and eat them all day. The prices are awesome! It is SO much cheaper and you get more for $5.95 we got 10 pork dumplings and $6.95 we got 10 crab dumplings!! I believe that's right or I might have the prices switched. In Las Vegas, they're closer to $1 per dumpling. It's cash only that I know of, I'm not sure if they do accept cards at all, but the sign says cash only. The service is what you would expect of a small place like this located in what looks to be the ghetto (it's really run down) but the food is definitely worth it! I'm coming back the next time I come to LA (which is a little too frequent) to get more XLB! And I'll definitely try some other dishes as well and update as I go!
(4)chris c.
Cash only. Inside Prospect Plaza. Been there for ages, same ladies always working. Best XLB! Just went in recently to try again since I've been tellin all my mates that it's better than Din Tai Fung. And it is! My favorite part is just nipping the skin and drinking the inside. Second fav is devouring it covered in vinegar and fresh ginger. So happy it's still good there!
(4)Sylvia C.
Very very greasy. Period. Though my Shanghainese husband did say it's very authentic. One meal here is enough.
(3)Dean Q.
Pretty good. Solid shanghai dumplings (crab version and regular pork). Shanghai noodles were a little too salty and okay. The snow pea tips were great. Nice service. I think this was the old Dragon Mark location?
(3)Ray G.
I just ate here yesterday with my folks. It was my first time having xiao long baos and I liked them a lot. My parents said they were some of the better ones they had and rivaled many of the places in China where they've enjoyed them. In addition to the xlb's, we ordered a delicous noodle dish with greens. Can anyone tell me what the name or description of this dish is? Here's another yelper's photo of this superb dish: yelp.com/biz_photos/3Uf2… What is this dish called? What is the name of this rice noodle?
(4)Autumn S.
Best. Fried Rice Cakes. EVER! I could eat everything here. All the time. In fact, I was here today.
(5)Lily T.
Just dined at this place with my mom and she said that this place is a three. I asked her why and she said that the onion pancake needs to be thinner and the rice cake and noodles need more flavor. The dumplings at this location is okay because my crab dumpling tasted crabby LOL! I have to say that I had better and so have my mom.
(3)Daniel L.
There are several dumpling houses in the San Gabriel Valley but this is one of the few that is Shanghainese operated. It's a small restaurant located in one of the many strip malls in the area, and they are known for crab xiao long bao and carries a list of Shanghai specialties on the weekends. This place came highly recommended by my Shanghainese friend so the three of us decided to drop in for an afternoon of dumplings and tea. The eight-piece Crab Xiao Long Bao ($6.95) was juicy and loaded with crabs to mix with a smear of pork to hold the fillings together. The size of their dumplings was larger than Din Tai Fung and similar to Din Sin World, and the crab tasted sweet with a delicious flow of juices to support a nice wow factor. Loved it! We also tried the eight-piece Pan Fried Vegetarian Dumplings ($5.95) that came with a voluptuous, thick buttery skin with a pan-fried bottom with a mix of vegetables embedded. The wrappers had a nice bite and the vegetables that included leeks, cabbage, carrots, and shitake was robust. It's one of the better vegetarian potstickers I've tasted. The regular Xiao Long Bao ($5.50) was a lot juicier and savory than the Crab Xiao Long Bao. The skin was soft and chewy and fully loaded with juicy ground pork. I thought their pork could use a better marinade, but it was still very tasty. I really enjoyed their Assorted Fried Noodles Shanghai Style ($5.95) that came with small strips of pork, cabbage and thick noodles that struck a nice balance of firm and tender bite. The noodles were easy to pick up, separate, with the flavor was actually anchored in the noodles itself with the other ingredients playing a secondary caveat. Recommend it. Lastly, we had to try their Green Onion Pancakes ($2.95). It came with a crispy outer layer to combine with a soft doughy interior with hints of green onions here and there. I personally prefer a much thinner version of this dish, but the layered version is the one that is the most common in San Gabriel Valley. Service was very friendly but brief unless you wave them down with questions and requests. Overall, I still prefer Din Sin World but this restaurant is authentic and worth visiting. The strength of this restaurant has to be the soft chewy wrappers, juicy dumplings, and the overall balanced and consistent taste and culinary technique. I'd be interested in returning to try their Pan Fried Chinese Buns, Boiled Dumplings, Braised Pork and Bean Curd Skin, and more Xiao Long Bao.
(4)Willy W.
Stopped by for their Xiao Long Bao. But it's not just any other one cuz you can order ones with crab meat here! Service is typical for a Chinese restaurant, and they are cash only. Parking can be hard to find on weekends in this plaza, but they have an underground lot. Very good stuff especially since I was having a craving for XLB.
(4)Su L.
This is not the best Shanghai restaurant I've ever visited but it's cheap. Considering it's price, the quality of the food is awesome. This is one of my regular places in San Gabriel. I almost always order Crab Meat Xiaolongbao, dishes with rice cakes, Pork Stew, sometimes sweet and sour ribs. Nothing ever disappointed me and price is sooooo reasonable. It'll continue to be my regular place to visit for Shanghai food!
(5)Karen T.
I like the curry beef noodle soup here. The xiao long bao is not very good here because it doesn't have any soup in them and it's not because of broken shells.
(3)Wes S.
Considering what an utter failure the Asian Market in Pasadena was, needless to say we knew we could get better and affordable food at the source, SGV. The place was empty (thanks to the debacle of that "market), so we got seated right away. We ordered the hot and sour soup, baby eels with noodles, an order of pork and crab dumplings, pork dumplings, and radish cakes. The hot and sour soup was just right. It didn't have the typical overpowering of sour, or hot like most places. It had a good balance of ying/yang, probably one of the best taste wise I've ever had. The baby eels were really good, the sweetness of it's flesh, mixed with noodles was just right, maybe I should've just ate it all by myself, but I needed to share with my friends. Blah. The pork and pork and crab dumplings were good, they were not DTF quality, but really good for what they were and something I could and probably would eat by the truck load. The radish cakes were a little disappointing. I was thinking it would be like what you get at dim sum places, but it looked more like a radish biscuit? It was filled with veggies, so it was quite good, but I probably would pass on my next visit. Three of us ate like Kings and I was more than happy to pay about $15 (including tax+tip) for this food with no lines and with the quantity. Parking can be a bit difficult, but I've never had an issue finding parking at the underground garage.
(4)Chris C.
This is my favorite Shanghainese restaurant in the San Gabriel Valley. Before I became vegetarian, I used to eat their crab xiao lung bao on an almost regular basis. Now, I get to watch my wife and kids eat the crab xiao lung bao (and they all agree it is better than Din Tai Fung or any of the other "popular" places). Some of the other things that you can get here that are really good: Shanghainese Fried Chow Mein Shanghainese Fried Rice Cake Wonton in Soup Any of the "vegetable rice" dishes Braised tilapia (my wife and kids love this) They can accommodate vegetarians. I usually ask for the Shanghainese Fried Chow Mein to be made vegetarian (it normally comes with pork). They also have a vegetarian bao and dumpling (both deep fried and steamed). The staff is really friendly and helpful. It is a small restaurant, so plan accordingly (especially if you have a large party). I've been coming here for almost thirteen years...wow!
(5)Juliana Y.
i like it here.. the wait is never long.. CASH ONLY! always get the steamed bao and the rice cake here.. also had the hot and sour soup which came out in a large bowl.. it was only the 2 of us.. i really think they should give more ginger.. but yes love it here no wait and not over priced..
(4)Sarah K.
Best crab xiao long bao in L.A.
(5)Justin S.
Best xiao long bao ever. Always my go to place and I prefer it way over din tai fung. You get 10 per order instead of 8 and the dumplings are bigger. There's also rarely a wait to get a table unless you go during the weekends
(4)Peter C.
This was a complicated review for me. I liked the food here, and the dumplings really are quite good. The J&J xiao long bao might have even more delicate skins and "soupy" insides than (gasp!) Din Tai Fung. You almost pause after you take a bite, just to let the soup linger on your tongue. But, I didn't realize how ginger is such an integral part of eating XLB until I had (almost) none to eat with. I suppose I could have asked for more, but that's ok. There's more to the story. The other good thing we got was the cold cucumber appetizer. I'd rank 101 Noodle Express's cold cucumbers the best, and this one second. Mrs. C doesn't even like spicy food that much, but she ate 80% of this dish! It's got the right balance of sweet vs. salty vs. spicy. We also got the Shanghai noodles and the pan crisped pork buns. Not gyoza - the ones with a more bread-like wrapper. Here's the thing for me - not all Chinese restaurants have a really well-rounded menu. I'd say the closest for me is Mei Long Village. I love the lion's head casserole, the eggplant and the XLB. 101 Noodle Express? You go there for the beef roll, but I'd rate everything else a B or a B-. A&E? The do a pretty good job with some of their main dishes, but the XLB comes 4 to a small steamer, and goodness gracious that was the weakest thing on their menu. So while J&J serves up up mighty fine dumplings, if I'm grading against Mei Long Village, I'm gonna round down slightly. However, I'm completely willing to attribute the 3-stars rating to my idiot savant ordering. So this is one of those places that i'd be more than happy to visit again, and maybe round up if I get some pointers or explore more of the menu. I have walked past J&J a million times, tho, so I'm glad I walked in & got to try it.
(3)Teresa N.
*************** CASH ONLY ******************** Xiao Long Bao (no, thank you): I love xiao long bao and I was so excited to try this place because this place is known for their xiao long bao, it turned out that it was a disappointment. The meat inside the xiao long bao was not fresh, very bland, and also dry. The soup was also not flavorful. Din Tai Fung in Arcadia is definitely much better (just FYI, I think Din Tai Fung in Taipei is THE BEST). Other items: baby eels (okay) suate veggies (okay) shanghai noodles (just alright) pan fried dumplings (bland and dry meat inside and it was REALLY BURNED, no thanks) I don't think I will ever come back.
(2)Jessica N.
We got the $20 dinner special that came with cold soy sauce chicken, garlic stir-fried veggies, fried pork-chop, and xiao long bao. The meal didn't come with rice, but us 3 girls were able to share a bowl of rice with all the food we got. I've actually been coming here for years since I was younger. We used to always get their xiao long bao, potstickers, and shanghai cake noodles. As a traditional restaurant, they do run a little on the oily side, and some of their plates are a little more heavy handed with their seasonings. But I do keep my palate on the milder side. I keep coming back because their food that hasn't changed all these years and it's still here.
(5)Smitcha B.
Three letters you need to remember... X L B Xiao Long Bao - Steamed Soup Dumplings FTW! They have pork and crab versions. Get them. That's all you need. The noodles in sesame sauce was pretty good too (no meat). Pair it off with some XLB and you're straight. Small hole in the wall joint in a big plaza. You'll most likely have to park downstairs. Seedy bathroom is NOT located in the restaurant but around the corner. No frills, nothing fancy, but some bomb homemade dumplings. Cheap eats! 3.5 (rounded up) stars for the dumplings & the overall price. Had some other noodles too but wasn't too impressed so it's not worth mentioning.
(4)Yen N.
My absolute favorites at J&J are the crab/pork soup dumplings xiao long bao and sweet-and-sour soup. For the price, you get a lot of high quality, delicious food. I have ordered this so many times that the owner knows those choices are my regulars. All in all, I've had soup dumplings at other places and at a much higher cost, and I have to say it's not worth it. Come to J&J for the best dumplings and soup in San Gabriel. The only thing I don't like is that the restaurant is super small, so if you want a sit-down lunch/dinner, you may have to wait. However, this place is great for take-out. They also don't accept credit card, so you always have to have cash on hand -- which gets super annoying at times, but it's not surprising given the area. Still, you get a lot of food for what you pay for. The restaurant is open until late night as well, so it's awesome for late Chinese food cravings. J&J is still one of my favorites since moving to LA.
(4)Sabrina L.
everything here is good. we got a variety of things, vegetables, noodles, xiao long baos, and we finished everything it was that good. i just wish the waitresses spoke a little english -- ordering would have been pretty difficult if my cousin didn't know the language. wouldn't hesitate to come back if i was in the area!
(4)Alicia M.
So I went there with my family and the food was delicious! The Xiao Long Bao was fantastic. The skin was thin and it was very juicy. Then we ordered the Fried Rice Cake. The texture was okay and the flavor was good. We also ordered the beef and curry soup and I absolutely loved it. THE SOUP WAS REALLY GOOD and my family really enjoy it. I would definitely go there again. MUST GET ITEMS: -XIAO LONG BAO -FRIED NODDLES -FRIED PORK AND RICE
(5)rl v.
My review is gonna pretty much disagree with most.. Unfortunately its too late for me, I cannot be saved. I recently experienced Xiao Long Bao for the first time at Joe's Shanghai in New York. I think someone stuck a needle in my arm cuz I got rings around my eyes, my lips are cracked and blue......I'm an XLB junkie! On 2 separate occasions I endured 3 hours worth of asses in my face in the NYC subways just to get my fix, I thought I could easily come home to L.A.., shoot out to Da SGV via Yelp and keep the poison in my system. NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so West Coast like Snoop and Dre, but man Da NYC has got us beat on this one. I have spent nearly $600. in the last 3 weeks trying the legendary XLB places as seen on Yelp and as concurred by my own acquaintances. So for those of us that have that Joe's addiction....here's what I found. It will save you $$$$ and long wait times. Mama Lu's XLB's are the smallest and if you throw a whole one in your mouth the meat gets lost in the wrapper. Yes, kinda skimpy on the meat, and probably the ugliest ones I've had, but yes it was cheap. The onion pancake was good but very greasy. The crab and pork ones are pricey compared to the pork only XLB. I kind of didn't dig the fishiness of the crab. I like that you can buy frozen dumplings to go. I bought them to throw in my Bomb-Ass Top Ramen that I do...LOL Din Tai Fung DTF DTF, WTF? I don't get it. By the reviews, the long lines and wait times, I presume this to be the peoples champion. I was excited to see the guys pressing, pulling, rolling and sweating out those hand made fresh dumplings. The XLB's looked nice, the skin was lighter and better than the other locals, but man....how bout seasoning that meat. Sheesh! I tried 4 different dumplings, also the Shanghai rice cake, fried rice, garlic spinach, and string beans. All of it seriously lacked flavor.. Big let down. It all looked nice but as they say in Texas...That fella is all hat, no cattle. JJ/Jin Jian Luv it, I think this little place is gonna have to be my local favorite. Their XLB kicks butt over DTF and the others. They had the best green onion pancake, tasty, light and slightly crispy. non-greasy. Their steamed/ pan fried pork dumpling Sheng Jian Bao was to my surprise the star of the show. Big and Juicy. It probably had more juiciness than the XLB's. nice al dente feeling as you bite into it, followed by the kiss of delicious pork, topped of with the pleasantly light crunch of the fried bottom. They also had a very good chili on the table, which was unlike I have ever had.. Shanghai Fried Rice Cake was also great. The lady who served us was very helpful and nice, the price was right.......5 stars for them. Luscious Dumplings I didn't particularly care for their XLB's due to a slight sesame flavor they had. The Fried Pork Dumplings once again stole the show. Awesome juiciness, al dente on first bite, followed by the pork and slight crisp from the pan fry. I think I;m gonna stop searching for XLB's and stick to the Fried Pork Dumplings. These suckers had juice just oozing out of them. Shanghai Palace in Lomita I live in the South Bay so I'm happy to say that this place fulfills my XLB cravings without the SGV drive or wait times.. I love their spicy shredded beef, homemade chili sauce, salt and pepper fish, and Flat pan fried beef noodle. The other places I have tried for XLB is not worthy to mention. Save yourself and stay away from Joe's Shanghai. You will never be satisfied! once you partake of this poison.
(4)Nelson L.
Compared to other chinese restaurant on valley blvd, I am surprised why this place still in business. We arrived around 9pm which is not late for this area on sunday night. From yelp review that their Xiao Long Bao is supposed to be Okey; that is the reason we ordered 2 of these and 1 wonton soup. OMG!! they brought two bamboo pot up and the top one look like it was just microwaved from some previous customer's left over!!! The bottom one was totally fresh!! We point it out to them and ask how come they look so different, ONE LOOKED FRESH AND ONE LOOK LIKE IT HAS BEEN RAPED BY RATS!!! Their reply was "these are the last two remaining for the day, can't replace." when I said I don't want one of them, they refused and said it was cooked already. I swear to GOD that I never never and NEVER go back to that place again!
(1)Tiffany L.
This place should have five stars! Their shanghai food is so legit that the 40 minute drive for me is always worth it. Their dishes such as shanghai noodles, cuttle fish with stir fried mustard, etc are really good but whats the best are the shanghai dumplings, otherwise known as xiao long bao. I've tried a number of places that sell shanghai dumplings and this place is seriously the yummiest. Din tai fung is famous for their shanghai dumplings but this place, in my opinion, is just as good! I always get the crab shanghai dumplings which are so juicy, sweet, and piping hot! You know the stuffing in the dumplings contains real crab and not some fake store bought imitation crab because one of the cute old ladies always sits in the back of the restaurant, removing the crab meat from fresh crabs by hand. This is always the place I go to whenever I'm in the mood for shanghai dumplings!
(5)Johnson W.
I am an avid xlb eater and I think this place has one of the best in the SGV. Yes Ding Tai Fung has the ambiance...but this place has both the taste and the value. I've been here for the past 10 years so this review is long overdue. This particular time I ordered the following: *Crab + Pork Steamed XLB *Pork Steamed XLB *8 Treasures Spicy Noodle Soup They were all excellent...even the ginger sauce with the soy and chili sauce complimented the dishes perfectly. People really should order the noodle soup more here...because it is truly excellent...even better than the XLB...FRESHLY made. The 8 treasures can be a bit spicy, but definitely worth the kick! The tab came out to be $20 for the three...it's quite a deal.
(5)Angie W.
Love this place! Been coming here for more than 10 years. They have the best fried dumplings, shanghainese fried noodles and xiao lung bao! (get the one with crab!) This place is pretty small with 8 tables, but can hold bigger (6 +) parties. It's located in a busy plaza so most likely, you'll have to park underground.
(4)Misha T.
The search for good XLB is one of those quests that one can devote years to without ever being satisfied enough to not think "man those ones in Shanghai were just so much better". That being said, J & J is not the end of the road for you, weary adventurer, but it's good enough to keep you going, to keep you chasing the white soupy whale that torments you in your moments of weakness and inspires you to continue on ever forward. Also the Shui Zhen Bao aren't even close to as good as the kind that eludes me.
(4)Anna W.
Love this place!! I actually went to try this place out because of Dorothy R.'s yelp review. :) It was so good, it totally lived up to her review. I'm from Shanghai so I know Xiao Long Bao. I been to like over 20 XLB places in Shanghai, another 5 -10 outside of Shanghai, but in China. 3 really good XLB places in NY and have tried roughly 20 places here in Los Angeles and I have to say this place makes my top 5 list. If you like xiao long bao you have to try this place!! This place's XLB was really good. I was really excited to find out that they have crab meat XLB, but at the same time I was skeptical that it would be good. Most place that have crab meat XLB they either don't put enough carb for you to even taste the crab meat or it's not fresh so it smells fishy. This place's crab meat XLB didn't have any of those problems. There was plenty of crab, but it didn't smell fishy at all. It was juicy and there was plenty of meat too. The regular xiao long bao had even more juices than the crab one. The meat was tender, but not too lose. It was the perfect blend of favors, not too salty or oily. The wrapping was also not too thin or thick. It was perfect!! I definitely will be going back to this place many many times :) Can't wait to try the other dishes!! PS. The owner is from Shanghai - I spoke to them in Shanghai-ness to make sure. That's how you know it's authentic.
(5)Susy C.
You come here for one thing, and one thing only: CRAB STEAMED DUMPLINGS. I fuh-reaking LuHHRrVvEee XLB's aka xiao long bao aka soup dumplings. You have to come here and order the crab soup dumplings okay? THAT'S IT. Just order a bunch of these. You know what else? They're much better than the crab ones at DTF (Din Tai Fung)' The crab ones here are SOOO FREAKING JUICY. Not just that, you can TASTE the crab meat as well as SEE the crab meat. CA$H ONLY. leave the plastic at home, bring the green.
(4)Sunny L.
Great alternative to Din Tai Fung. Their Xiao Long Bao Crab meat and pork is all I would order. For something so good, I expected a grander venue, but it's a very small restaurant with about 8 tables. It's cash only, and they only speak chinese.
(4)Joyce L.
I absolutely love this place and I've been coming here as a kid with my family and now whenever i have a craving for xiao long baos i come with my friends (: I always order the fried shanghai noodles with the regular style pork xiao long baos and sometimes $1 noodles. My friend said that this place has a weird smell though but i never smelled anything weird... I think its just the smell of all the food mixed together though. By the way, this place is CASH ONLY!
(5)Anita L.
We tried the XLBs here. It wasn't bad, but they weren't fantastic. We'd just had really decent ones at Dean Sin World and so in comparison these weren't nearly as good. Service was very abrupt, what I would expect in the SGV, food came to the table rather swiftly. We also ordered some scallion pancakes, again, just okay.The beef rolls were good though. If I live around the area, this wouldn't be a bad place to stop by once in a while, but having to make the trek from Irvine, I wouldn't drive the one hour just to come here for teh XLBs.
(3)Enjella L.
Mom and pop store. I came here solely to try the dumplings. I was expecting to be blown away, especially from reading the other reviews. It was good, and I'd come back to grub for sure. But, I feel that the food I ate here is SGV standard. So, I could probably find the same tasting, same quality, same good grub at the next Taiwanese joint..is all I'm sayin'. Kind of hard to order if you don't speak Chinese, but you will be able to manage even if your friend can only speak Cantonese. or...Just make sure you know what to order beforehand. The fried green onion pancake is dry (which I think is the way it's supposed to taste) and oily. Again, it was good, but can't I at least get it warm? I mean, come on now - the place was empty when we ate here - lah. Parking: Lot Peep the pix.
(3)Mike Z.
Food are average, not too much on the plate. Poor customer service whenever I been there. Cash only unless u reach 20 or 25, I can't remember. Really bad place for u to go during midnight on Friday and Saturday cuz those club dumbs finished their club thing and come to this open till 4am restaurant to find something to eat before having sex. U gonna see tons of gang people during that period of time. thumb down
(2)Colleen M.
Some of the best xiao long baos around. A combination of simplicity and flavor and ringadingding: perfection. Shanghai might as well be upstairs, because the legitimacy of their dishes is unbelievable. For $5.95 you get 8 small/medium xiao long baos (soup dumplings!) So amazingly good! Thin skins and very flavorful soup. Mmmm! I can't remember what everything we ordered was, but I do remember liking every single dish. And we ordered a LOT. Trust. The service was kind and thoughtful (except for seating 12 of us to a table...) and spoke broken English, Cantonese, and Mandarin. Yeah! :) Con: This hole in the wall is literally a hole in the wall; they have about 8-9 small tables and as I came in a group of nearly 20... Yeah. Not a good idea. Small groups are the way to go here. End note - Just come here and try for yourself! There's a parking lot (a littleee small, but manageable) out front.
(4)carol s.
The place is best known for its crab dumpling and I personally love the curry beef soup and vegetable fired rice cake (ji cai nian gao). Additionally, there is a tip about the dumplings there. Din Tai Fung (Dumpling House) offers Taiwan style of dumpling, and this place offers Shanghai style of dumplings. So, it really depends on individual's eating habit and childhood experience to determine their favorite dumplings. Most of my Taiwan friends love the dumpling house and people from mainland China just love Jin Jian. By the way, it is a cash only place. So preparing about $15-20 per person before shows up.
(4)Anita L.
If you are craving Xiao Long Bao ("XLB") and can't decide on where to get them. Prospect Plaza is probably your best bet because they have 3 restaurants that serves XLB one right next to the other. J&J/ Jin Jian is the tiny one of the right. The ambiance at this location is bad, service is bleh, but they serve decent XLB here. (Oh.. make sure the dishes are clean before you use them because I have been given dirty/greasy ones on several occasion here). They don't have the best XLB, but it would serve the purpose if you want to get a quick fix. The order on my most recent visit (12/11): - Xiao Long Bao: (OK) Yes, it have juice in it, but it is no different than the hundreds that serve it in the area. - Shanghai Noodle: (OK) The flavor is great, but I need to make a mental note to tell them to go easy on the grease next time. - Hot & Sour Soup: (OK) A little on the watery side, but still edible. NOTE: Cash Only!
(3)Jason K.
Awesome, authentic Chinese food. I lived in LA for about 5 years, and this was my favorite place to go on a regular basis. Lunch highlights include the stir fried rice cakes (chao niangao), the xiao long bao/soup dumplings, and the boiled dumplings (shui jiao). Also a good place to go if you're looking for sweet or savory soy bean soup and everything that comes with it (dou jiang, youtiao, fantuan). That stuff's only available on the weekends though.
(5)Suzanna L.
Interesting, ratings are all across the board. I don't get it because I thought that the pork xlb was really tasty. I actually liked the pork filling flavor a bit better than the crab xlb. The other dishes we had were average to good, but not exceptional. Go here for the pork and crab xlb, really though.
(5)Winnie L.
Jin Jiang (J&J) is only OK. there's usually a wait because the place is dang small. It pales in comparison to Shau May/Kang Kang Food Court. This is what i had: -crab dumplings - it's good, try this here, but for xiao long bao, you should really go to Din Tai Fung (read my review / see my pics) -pan fried dumplings - skip it and eat it at Shau May's (read my review / see my pics) -green onion pancake - pretty good -shanghai pan fried rice - Shao May or Din Tai Fung is better -eggplant stew - it's okay... Overall i didn't think this place was that great that i'll put on the list to re-visit. I've had it once in like 2004...my memory and rating hasn't really changed.
(3)Michael C.
Food was OK. But the place is not clean. Styrofoam cups were used for tea. Ceiling was dripping water.
(2)Connie T.
I came here to try the xiao long bao. My assessment of the various items we ordered: Crab/pork xiao long bao: The skins are pretty good; a little thicker than Din Tai Fung, a little thinner than Dean Sin World. Lots of juice. You can taste more crab than the crab/pork xlb at DTF, but it's not quite flavorful enough for me. Pork xiao long bao: Same assessment re skin and juice. Pork is more subtle than DSW (I'm not a fan of DSW xlb though), but not nearly as flavorful as DTF. Shui jiao (boiled dumplings): Skin was way too thick, and pork filling was not very flavorful. We didn't even try to finish the dish. Dumplings at DSW are much better. Shanghai cao nian gao (rice cakes): Flavoring not bad but not quite strong enough. A little bland and oily. Veggies were fine, they were generally what you expect at a Chinese restaurant. By the end of the meal, we concluded that some of the food wasn't bad, but the flavors don't pop enough here. I wouldn't be upset if I ended up eating here again, but I wouldn't seek it out.
(3)K D.
I wanted something light after my hike, so my gf suggested some XLBs. Now I've had XLBs just once in my life probably 7 years ago at Mei Long VIllage so I really have nothing to base my taste on (like other reviewers have done comparing it to DTF) other than the fact that I did find it quite delicious. -XLB and Crab XLBs. I actually prefer the regular pork filling one. The crab filled one was good, but the crab taste/smell was way over powering for me. The bao was juicy and light. I had a hard time eating the first few because it kept breaking but I got the hang of it after a while. -Chinese Spinach & Mushrooms - Standard fare, a small portion but cooked to perfection. Wish there was more of this. -Kung Pao Shrimp (hey she actually ordered it). Crispy and spicy. Full of flavor, it really is a good dish. Even though it was a SCORCHING day, they still serve automatic hot tea. They also gave us water cups (which didn't taste like water - more like some type of herbal tea that has been diluted). The lady working was uber nice. She wouldn't take my $ though when I tried to pay - my gf was speaking to her in Mandarin saying something or other. DAMN IT! My gf told me this place was Shanghai style food. I personally don't know the difference but whatever it was, it was delicious. I would go back here just because there is no long wait.. I hate waiting a long time for food... unless it comes with a free happy ending :)
(4)Candy L.
Amazing dumplings for a great price! remember, this place is cash only.
(5)Lesley C.
Meeting with a friend for dinner in San Gabriel and she suggested to come here to J&J for their xiao long bao. I don't eat xiao long baos often especially as there aren't many around, especially since Din Tai Fung is way too overrated and the wait there is horrendous. My friend and I ordered a regular xiao long bao (10 pieces), beef noodle, and fried green pancake. Granted I was a bit under the weather so may not have been able to taste all the flavors that they had to offer from each of the dishes but overall, the tastes of the xiao long bao were awesome! The fried green pancake was a bit too oil fried for me but it was still great. The beef noodle was not great though. Not much flavors from that... Overall, for both of us, we only spent $9 each! We were sooo full and there was still leftovers of the beef noodle to take home! The prices here are awesome and is what Chinese food should be. I wouldn't mind coming back here again. There is also underground parking but no security guards.
(4)Karen L.
XLB - Super Duper Soupy Juicy Dumpling! Perfectly balance among the thickness of the skin, the amount of meat & the soup inside the dumpling. The other items were good enough. Could be better in terms of flavor. The ladies were attentive and service was good. Personally, $6 for a steamy tray of XLB, nothing else really matters.
(4)Allen L.
My friends and I decided that we needed to go to a new place. We saw J&J Restaurant (short for Jin Jian Restaurant) and we said let's try it! We ordered a wide variety of dishes from dumplings (awesome!), pan fried radish cake (sounds weird but was pretty good), beef rolls, and hot & sour soup with 8 treasures. Their soup dishes look good. This other table had this cool looking noodle dish that I want to try when we go back here. So you probably read that last dish and are wondering what the heck are the 8 treasures in the Hot and Sour soup? From what I could tell it was tofu, chicken, eggplant and 5 other things that I couldn't identify. Doesn't matter as it was freaking good! They are a cash only business so you can't use the credit card. The lady there was nice as she could tell we were brand new customers. We asked what she recommended and she pointed us in the right direction. Service was pretty fast and since our table was right next to the counter, we received our food pretty fast. For three people we ordered the right amount of food. We left pretty full. You can park in the spaces that are outside the restaurant or you can park underground. Be warned, if you do park underground, to watch out for the Asian drivers who seem to be oblivious to the STOP sign when you come out of the parking lot.
(4)Catherine T.
The shanghai dumplings are definitely delicious here! The place is very small, w/ about 4 tables. However, clean enough and there are tables that would sit a bigger group. I like the pork shanghai dumplings. The broth that oozes out is great and complements the dumpling filling perfectly. It can be very hot so be careful. I've tried the crab and shrimp dumplings and they were just ok. The filling is actually a little more soggy than the pork ones. The bean leaves stir fried was surprisingly very good. The texture is somewhat similar to spinach, but isn't as filmy as spinach can be. It had a nice crunch even though it was sauteed. I love the Shanghai noodles, even though it can be a little greasy, it just goes perfect w/ the dumplings. Green onion pancakes were ok, a little too dry and not enough onion flavors. You can probably do w/o them. Parking is in a plaza that appears to be very limited. However, there is a back area and even a garage downstairs. Everything is just a little tight. I would definitely come back for the Shanghai dumplings!
(4)Erica P.
Lots of reviews for J& J.... And really, for most people just in off the street, this place should be a solid 4+. I am not Chinese, so i'm not comparing this to my mom's soup or how i make dumplings at home. My take on this Chinese restaurant: terrific! Vegetable fried rice was actually a revelation - not greasy, loaded with real veggies (not 3 frozen variety bag of corn, carrot and pea) and absolutely delicious. Why do I have to drive 30 minutes to get veggie fried rice like this? Seafood noodle soup - so YUM. I think it's easier to load some of the heavy noodles in the ladle and then put in the soup dish. Flavor was fresh. Okay, there were lots of bones in the fish; that makes it there for flavor, right? Pan fried vegetarian dumplings (I would call them gyoza) - amazing. Yes, the XLB- crab meat soup dumplings - were tasty and super hot! We couldn't wait and burned our mouths, of course. So we're comfortable in a Japanese or Thai restaurant... Authentic Chinese takes it out of the box for me, and we like it! Our server, a lovely lady, was terrific and friendly and nice. Brought us everything we asked for: more water, napkins, extra chopsticks. And, $28 for four dishes? That alone is worth the drive for us. See ya soon, J & J.
(4)Kim l.
My buddies and I enjoyed a very delicious lunch on Sunday at JJ. The place was recently remodeled so it looks nice and clean. We arrived around noon and were seated right away. We devoured: 2 orders of the shanghai dumplings (10 pieces for $5.50)- 5 stars Pan fried dumplings - 5 stars Rice cake shanghai style (a little on the heavy side) - 4.5 stars Million layer onion cake (flaky and tasty but very filling) - 4 stars Complimentary tea: 5 stars Service (food came out pretty quick): 4 stars Bottom line: GREAT dumplings, good food, reasonable prices, good service for a Chinese spot and pretty clean for SGV!
(4)Kevin C.
This place is not for everyone. While I have to admit they use very fresh ingredient for their crab xiao long bao. All their xlb have vinegar already added inside them. If you love vinegar, you will probably love this place. If not, than this isn't the place for you. Their other dish like stir fried shrimp or the eel is cooked very well. But still isn't enough for me to come back again. Was just very disappointed that they don't make xlb without vinegar already inside it.
(3)Jenny K.
this was one of the rare times that i went to yelp for a chinese place. i realized afterwards that it was a bad choice. if you are known for your xiao long bao (XLB), how come all the juice leaked out of each XLB? the juice should stay inside of the delicate XLB skin for it to be made correctly. shanghainese rice cakes were horribly greasy for my taste. shenjen bao had skin that was too thick. the outside and filling just wasn't satisfying. they have noodles (yang chow noodles) for 99 cents. but after ordering it, i would forego it since they were overcooked ramen noodles with a lot of oil floating at the top of the broth. boiled dumplings were okay. nothing to rave about. the one thing i liked the most were the veggies...da dou miao. luckily they weren't overly greasy like everything else. maybe it was an off night...or maybe since non-chinese people have been showing up, they don't feel like they have to have good food. perhaps they have a new chef. heard that jin jian used to be the XLB nazi. if you requested one order but wanted to add another, you couldn't since the line was long outside. definitely not a good experience. there are so many dumpling/noodles places in SGV that if you randomly chose one, you would probably do better than jin jian. (there are 2-3 right next door even!!) on another note, i was a bit sad that "one dragon" next door was gone. can't believe "one dragon" is gone and jin jian is still there.. there is a reason i don't trust yelp for chinese and japanese food.
(2)Stephanie Y.
I can't believe I haven't written a review for this place!! I grew up eating here so although I might be slightly biased, I have brought many friends here and they also think its delicious! I especially enjoy their xiao long bao (regular or crab). I like how the skin is not too thick, but because it's thinner -- you have to make sure not to leave it out for too long or else the outer layer will tear, causing all the juicy soup to seep out! What else is good/dishes I've tried: -- Curry Beef Noodle Soup: I often have this similar taste of curry beef in Shanghai so it's nice to have it here in LA. Their soup is very tasty and I usually order at least every other time I go. -- Shanghai Fried Noodle: This is also a common noodle dish we order when we're more in the mood for dry noodle. The taste can sometimes be a bit bland, but still good. -- Fried Rice Cake: Can't go wrong with this either. I usually like to switch off between ordering the shanghai style or the jee-chai (which is veggie and shredded pork). -- Sesame & Red Bean Cake: This is a sweet dish that I also order with my dad. It comes with two large pieces, and we usually eat one of them and bring the other home. It always comes out steaming hot and fresh. -- Radish Pan Cake: Had this a few times and I just remember burning myself from them! They were definitely made fresh. I remember it tasting slightly bland, but it's a nice dim sum plate. -- Shanghai Pan Fried Buns (Shen Jiang Bao): This is the only thing I would not recommend. The skin on these buns are way too thick and makes the entire thing unenjoyable! I also didn't like how they were not as crispy as I'm used to! Yes, the food can be a little oily and they are CASH ONLY, but I love this place!! When it gets packed, service can be somewhat lacking but when you frequent it as much as me -- they start remembering you! TRY IT, TRY IT !! :)
(5)Christina L.
I've never liked their soup dumplings-- there's no comparison's to Din Tai Fung's hotter, juicier counterparts. The first time I went here, I didn't understand why my friend recommended it. However, it is much closer to my house so sometimes I will go. I tend to request an order of the pork ones. I'm not a big fan of the crab ones. I don't understand why tea is served in styrofoam cups but it is a sure sign (as there are many) that this Shanghainese restaurant is a serious hole-in-the-wall joint. I'm also not a big fan of rice cake or the half steamed & half-fried dumplings. What do I like? J & J has the BEST hot & sour soup! This restaurant is located in a plaza (there are no restrooms in the restaurant) & at times, parking can be a pain. There is also another Shanghainese restaurant nearby, Mei Long Village, which was also just okay. If you're craving soup dumplings (xiao long bao), make the drive & be prepared for a long wait at Din Tai Fung.
(3)Stanley C.
I normally don't venture this far but my friends wanted to eat in Monterey Park. Originally we wanted to eat at the Dragon restaurant, but it closed down...so we came here instead for lunch. We ordered the following: 1) 2 Xiao Long Bao (dumplings) - which were tasty and had the soup inside them, but I have had better...however they're cheap and comes 10/order 2) Fried scallion pancakes - decent, but best eaten when it's hot...not when it cools down 3) Shanghai pan fried noodles - I liked it a lot and so did my friends...they give you a decent portion, not overwhelming but good size 4) pan fried dumplings - were pretty good and worth trying. I wouldn't venture out from the OC just to come to this place, but if I were in the area, I might try it again. I didn't get to touch the noodle section and you know how much I love noodles...
(3)Josh W.
The only reasons why we came here was because my friend had a coupon for free xiao long bao and indecisiveness on my part. I should have been more adamant about going to tried and true places. My friend said that he and his dad used to go here, so I thought, 'why not give it a shot.' It was later at night, so there weren't that many people in the restaurant, and we ordered the xiao long bao, shanghai noodles, beef with scallion, and kung pao chicken. I wasn't very impressed with the xiao long bao, and I'm not sure if they make it, or if they buy it premade. The Shanghai noodles were the best thing that we ordered. The beef with scallion somehow turned into beef with brocolli, which wasn't impressive and the beef had a strange taste to it, and finally the kung pao chicken was what you expect an asian place making american-asian cuisine to taste like. If I were ever to come back, I would definitely order the shanghai noodles again, and if eating with a different crowd of friends, I would try the stir fried eels and the fish dishes. Overall, the food was edible, the staff friendly, and if anything I may be giving them too much grief because I ordered the wrong dishes. Pros: - Waitress was friendly - Shanghai Noodles were tasty - health code rating of A Cons: - Cash only - wasn't impressed with the menu (perhaps I ordered the wrong things) - pricey for what you get
(2)Peter C.
3 Stars With Mei Long Village being next door, I've never thought about going to J&J. But my last few visits to MLV, I noticed lines at J&J, so I decided to try it out. The place seats about 35 people and specializes in Shanghainese food like it's neighbor MLV. The Xiao Long Bao (Soup Dumplings), have been getting a lot of fanfare recently, as well as other steamed dumplings. They have a pretty lengthy menu, with Chef specialties, noodles, dumplings and rice. We ordered a lot of dishes, our meal started with the following: Sauteed Spinach Marinated Smoked Fish (Cold Plate) Chinese Mustard Greens with Bean Curd (Cold Plate) The spinach was not the freshest, but it was sauteed nicely with a hint of garlic. Both cold plates were good, but the fish was really delicious. It had a similar flavor to Chinese red braised beef, a little sweetness and some saltiness. The next set of dishes were: XLB Scallion Pancakes Shanghai Noodles Steamed Vegetable Dumplings Shengjian mantou I thought the XLB was good, but not better than MLV next door. The dumpling skins were too thin and broke on contact, letting all of the delicious broth leak out. The Shanghai Noodles looked promising, but lacked seasoning. The Scallion pancakes, were crispy but also lacked salt. I did enjoy the vegetable dumplings and shengjian mantou. Typical service for a Chinese restaurant in SGV and he prices a comparable. This is another decent Shanghainese restaurant, but there are so many, each with strengths. At the end it just comes down to your preference.
(3)Dave H.
This small, plain restaurant in the SGV focuses on food and it shows. Service is quick and efficient - not very personable - which meant our lunch was quick as well - we were in and out fast! For lunch, my friend asked for two orders of Shanghainese crab dumplings which were exquisite. Bite the top off the dumpling and suck out the pork soup cooking simmering inside. The filling was tender and a treat. We shared a plate of Shanghai-style noodles which was outstanding and washed everything down with jasmine tea. Not sure how J&J makes money, but for the two of us, the bill came to about $15. I plan on returning the next time I'm in the area!
(4)Chuck L.
Was good but look... XLB is better at DinTai Fung. Execution is just not in the same class. Flavor, consistency of juice, texture... Only way I see how someone truly prefers over DTF is that it is cheaper and less crowds to fight. Potstickers are better at Mei Long Village (flavor of meat and texture of wrapper) No diet coke. Drinks served in foam cups. Not a lot of tables so expect to wait during peak hours, or you could go to. MLV or the other 3 dumpling houses next door.
(3)Wilson Z.
When others say let's go get some dumplings they think of Din Tai Fong, but when they say it to me, I say let's go get some J&J's handcrafted xiao long baos. Don't get me wrong, I love Din Tai Fong as well but it just this place still has that magical taste WITH the respect for my emptied wallet. I've been a regular here since about 8 years ago and I still love it just as much as I did back then. Now they even offer noodles for a dollar which can be anybody's budget. The waitresses are nice, foods good, homey atmosphere, what more can you ask for from a small shop in middle of Valley?
(5)Amy G.
Many, many similar dim sum restaurants all clustered together in the Chinese settlement of San Gabriel, but J & J was the busiest for lunch on a random Wednesday. We got the crab meat xiao long bao (8) at the insistence of my sister, the regular pork XLB (10), steamed vegetable dumplings, and a plate of shanghai-style stir-fried nian gao. Yes, our eyes are bigger than our stomachs. I personally would be just as satisfied with the regular XLB, for which you can get more buns for the same price, than the crab ones because the latter contain just some seafood mixed in with meat and the ocean flavor is not incredibly strong. The vegetable dumplings with tofu, mushrooms, and green veggies were a nice break from the extreme greasiness of the nian gao dish, which had delightfully tender rice noodle pieces. Surprisingly, I remember most the free pickled purple cabbage appetizer they set at everyone's table up front. For some reason, I really liked the cool, sour, and spicy flavors of the snack. The staff is nice and assertive. We originally wanted a different nian gao dish, but the waitress suggested that we get the shanghai-style entree because the other involved frozen vegetables not in season. If I ever come back, I would simply stick with a few trays of baos and/or dumplings, with which one can never go wrong!
(3)Dorothy L.
I crave JJ's dumplings all the time. (I'm actually only on here to look at the pictures to hold me over until I can make it over there again!) In addition to the steamed pork dumplings/xiao long bao, we like the Shanghai chow mein, which is pan-fried noodle dish with pork, cabbage, and spinach. We also get the Bao Zi, which are breaded pan-fried dumplings.This trifecta of dishes is freaking delicious!! And cheap! This staple meal, with the traditional heart-warming jasmine tea, is less than $20. Note: This restaurant is small, and cash only. Advice: Get your belly full of Chinese soul food at JJ's, then head over to one of the foot spas in the same plaza for $15 + tip. It'll be the best food coma you've ever experienced.
(5)Miriam H.
Went there last night with some friends, and had a wonderful meal! The XLB were amazing (that's what I was really craving, and totally satisfied) -- very juicy, tender and flavorful filling, and a good size. Best I've had so far. We also got a braised pork dish with tofu knots (not sure what the proper name is), which was good; very tender pork (needed to pick around the fat a bit, though) and a tasty sweet brown sauce. The sauteed pea shoots were really good as well. Definitely will go back!
(4)Jeanie C.
Stop #6 on the XLB tour of the SGV! After we went to Mei Long Village, we didn't want to leave on a bad note.. we had to stop at one more spot. This restaurant was only two doors down and had appetizing pictures on the outside windows, so we gave it a shot. Out came the XLB - and for such an assuming little restaurant, they were really good! I'd say these had probably the best flavor broth and meat of all the XLB we tried. I'll have to say I tie them with Din Tai Fung for my favorite XLB in the SGV! My friends agreed, these were great. We also got an order of 'shanghai style egg rolls' and I was not much of a fan of them - they had a bubbly fried look on the picture, but the egg roll we got instead had a flaky fried wrapper instead. The inside was really wet and gooey, we weren't sure if there was taro in there or if it was just gooey from sitting out too long or what. Anyway, forget the egg rolls, just have the XLB! I definitely recommend this place for anyone looking for an alternative to Din Tai Fung!
(4)Yi Z.
They lied to me about their Shengjianbao. I pointed to the picture of Shengjianbao on their menu and I asked the waitress "Does your restaurant's Shengjianbao look like this?" She responded affirmatively and when it came out, it looked nothing like the picture. They brought out a regular bun that's pan-fried on the bottom. For the last time people, authentic Shanghainese Shengjianbao are cooked upside down and squeezed together to form a cube-like shape. The bread portion of the bun rises a little bit, but not nearly as much as a regular baozi. But why still 4 stars? J&J was the last stop on our 5 stop xiaolongbao crawl and everyone agreed that out of the 3 restaurants that we went to that served crab & pork XLB, J&J was by far the best. It's on the cover of their menu so you know it's gotta be good. There is a ton of crab in those little things. Just take a bite and look inside and you'll see all of the pieces of hand-picked crab. I know it's hand-picked because once in a while you get a piece of shell. Pork XLB: overall 4 stars Appearance: 4 stars Juiciness: 3.5 stars Flavor: 4 stars Crab & Pork XLB: overall 4.5 stars Appearance: 4 stars Juiciness: 3.5 stars Flavor: 5 stars
(4)Debbie P.
After reading all the reviews about the to die for xiao long bao I had to try this place since after visiting Din Tai Fong in Taiwan I haven't been able to find a proper place to have them. Even the DTF here just doesn't compare so I was super excited to find this gem.... or so I thought. Ambiance is the least of my concern when going to a restaurant as long as the food is great but I was a little concerned since the restaurant was quite empty when we arrived. I know it's a bad indicator but in my experience the best restaurants usually have long waits or reservations that take weeks to score. I kept telling myself well maybe it's because I went on a weekday during lunch... We ordered an order of the crab xlb since the waitress highly recommended these and kept raving how they use real crabs not imitation crabs along with Shanghainese rice cakes and pan fried pot stickers. When the xlb arrived it was accompanied with the soy, vinegar blend but to my surprise it only had one single strand of ginger. When we requested for more ginger several strands followed... all I can say is whats up with the stinginess on ginger? The xlb was piping hot with lots of soup and the skin was the standard thickness... all great things until I almost choked on the crab. They use real crab meat right but how hard is it to make sure that the meat doesn't come accompanied with the thin inedible shells? The soup was tasty; however I soon discovered why... it's filled with msg! A sure sign of msg for me is when I feel as if I'm going to die of thirst all day long after my meal. No wonder I was inhaling tea during my meal. The rice cakes were nothing special . They didn't have the chewy consistency I'm use to and were a on the oily side. The pot stickers were the only saving grace. They were perfectly pan fried, juicy and piping hot. I think I enjoyed them much more than the rest of my meal. Once again I find myself puzzled at the recent raving reviews. Maybe I'm just spoiled since once you have the best nothing else compares.
(3)Jojo L.
The service was good, but the food was neither fresh or tasty. We ended up going there just because that was the only place serving dim sum after 3pm in new year's day in that area. well, i guess we could of tried to drive further...but we were so hangover and that werent an option back then. Anyways, the cold dish were good,but they didnt really have dim sum. They served buns instead. no good. :(
(2)Grace W.
super like this place. xiao lung bao (crab) - super yum. i want to try their regular one too soon. shanghai pan fried noodle - it was good but wasnt very flavorful. but this totally saved my life when i became a starving child after a long night of shopping -___- veggie (dow mieu)-- ignore my attempt at cantonese english. the veggie was good, they didnt over cook it but i think they did kinda undercook this. but probably because to keep the flavor. wonton soup - wtf.. do the wontons every run out? i think we ordered too much food and was having a hard time finishing this. but no really, theres a ton of wontons in here.. get it? no? ok. ); wine chicken - TOTALLY LOVE THIS. MUST MUST TRY! i like to come here and get to go, taste just the same. ok maybe slightly different for the XLB.
(4)Lindsay A.
what it lacks in decor it makes up for in taste. Everyone I have taken here has thanked me. .. yes i know my entries to date are all pretty much positive and i'll have some hate on reviews at some point. Why not focus on the good. The mouthwatering, holyish making restaurants that you think about in the middle of the night. Soup dumplings - check! (do not get these to go... ever.. they are never as good when you get home) Their kung pow chicken is the best thing EVER. I dont like gwai lo (round eye, for those in the know) food. I like real asian spice.. no hot pink sauce and NO fork. We always order one extra order of this to go because it's so good. Laden with nuts and chilies and just great flavor are as amazing as the price. The crab special they always have is great too. A little too putchky (thats fidgity) for me but the flavor is out of the world. And the pan fried noodles... well you can imagine. go here. it's a great little drive and it's worth it. I love it
(4)Kathy T.
I am definitely a fan of J&J's xiao long baos. They are delicious here. My first experience with the xlbs were here and I like them WAY better than Din Tai Fung because they're cheaper and they taste better. We've tried a few other dishes here (the shanghai noodles...and some other stuff we just pointed at on the menu) and found them to be pretty greasy, but they were good nonetheless. I highly recommend the eating the original xiao long bao (as opposed to the crab ones) because they taste a lot better. The wait isn't as long, but this place is literally a hole in a wall, very small, and not the cleanest place to eat. Service is pretty good and the ladies are really nice. Parking can be a pain, but just go to the underground garage because you'll most likely not find parking anywhere else.
(4)Dee T.
I've been coming here for years now, and I'm still so glad I found it when I did. It's a great alternative for din tai fung if you're in the mood for soup dumplings! For me, it's closer, cheaper, and although it's considerably smaller than din tai fung, the wait is never as long.. Possibly because it isn't as well known. If you come at peak hours, be prepared to take a number..I did say it was a small place. My usual victims: 1. Soup dumplings- I order the standard pork ones. Eat them while they're hot! The skin can get a little tough if you let it sit too long. I think they changed the recipe; the skin is a bit thicker than it used to be. Possibly a new chef? The plus side is that the soup was darker and so much more flavorful today! 2. Hot and sour soup noodles- my boyfriend's favorite combo! He thinks they added it to the menu per his constant requests for it. I laughed, but as we were eating, two separate parties asked the waitress about our dish! I think it's too salty for me, but the noodles are soft and I the soup is good in small portions. 3. Shang hai fried rice cake- I asked for less oil this time.. It's usually super greasy (traditional asian cooking at its best!). It was really soft and chewy and kind of bland. I added vinegar, soy sauce, and the chili.. Haha, I mainly order it because I like the vegetables that they use. I pass on these: 1. Onion pancake- It's not soft and chewy.. Not what I'm used to. 2. Potstickers- I used to order them all the time, but they were so thick and dry.. 3. Shang Hai fried noodles- it's just the rice cake dish subbed with noodles.. Bland, greasy, and ...maybe I should stop ordering the rice cake dish as well.. Haha. Stick to ordering the soup dumplings .. Oh! And I like that they are open late and that they add lemon slices to their ice water.. Yum.
(4)Daisy C.
This is one of my favorite dim sum houses. Everything here that I've had tastes pretty good. Got the regular siu lung bao, I believe its pork. This was really good, I just love the flavor that this contains and the broth that it has. Very good and something that I will always get when I come. I also like their Wo teep. Its nice and crispy on the bottom and soft on top. very good. their 8 treasure noodle soup is to die for. So much flavor it's just so freaking delicious. really, come here and try it for yourself. fyi its cash only.
(4)Eli G.
I had been craving soup dumplings for months and I finally got my fix. I had asked my resident Chinese soup dumpling expert what he thought the next best place after Ding Tai Fung was and J&J was near the top of his list. So I invited the gang and luckily only 6 of us made it out, the place really is tiny! Like smaller than most Subway stores. Since I suck at knowing exactly what everything is, I'll keep it brief. First was some plastic wrapped rice roll thing that was filled with fried dough and dried shredded pork. It was good, but nothing spectacular. yelp.com/biz_photos/3Uf2… Next was some silver dollar sized rice noodle type thing that was absolutely amazing! Everyone at the table was pleased with this dish. Great flavors and texture throughout. yelp.com/biz_photos/3Uf2… Along with that, came some veggies. They were pretty good, nice garlic sauce. yelp.com/biz_photos/3Uf2… At last was the soup dumplings. We got both the pork and the crab filled ones. The crab ones were nice but not nearly as good as the pork ones. And while these were fine for me, I know the ones at DTF were better. yelp.com/biz_photos/3Uf2… Then we got some boiled dumplings that were surprisingly good. No idea of exactly what they were filled with but with a little spicy vinegar, they were great. yelp.com/biz_photos/3Uf2… Next we got some pan fried dumplings that we saw on another table, actually most of what we got was based off seeing it on another table. These were pretty damn tasty! The one I ate looked like a little alien guy. yelp.com/biz_photos/3Uf2… After all that we also ordered a huge bowl of soup with udon like noodles and a giant donut like thing of very lightly sweetened dough. Both were pretty good but I guess you're supposed to get the donut with porridge, which we were too full for by that time. So guess how much the bill was for eight items plus tax and a generous tip split 6 ways? $10! I couldn't believe how cheap it was! We ordered the perfect amount of food too, almost nothing was wasted and we all left happily stuffed, for $10!!! 4.5 stars.
(5)Wilson L.
I went on a Saturday nite. They ran out of pork xiao long bao. The crab meat xiao long bao was overcooked. So was the fried dumplings. They actually tasted like they were pre-made and came from the frozen aisle in the supermarket. The rice cake and hot and sour soup were good. Tasted just as good as DTF. I would come here only if I really wanted to eat average quality xiao long bao and didn't wanna wait for the long line at DTF.
(3)Angela L.
Lets star with their Shengjian pan fried baos: Man, seriously?!? its like a fried ball with meat and soup inside. My all time favorite dish here. I used to come here a lot because I was kinda of addicted to the pan fried baos here. They also have good xiao long baos and they are gooood! I ordered here a couple of times for the fambam and they love the eggplant and so do I! the food here gets addicting cause its so simple but yet the flavors make you want to eat more!
(4)Will T.
This place got the best XLB dumplings in San Gabriel Valley. A lot of people prefer to go to Din Tai Fung ( yelp.com/biz/din-tai-fun… ) for their Xiao Long Bao fix but I think this place is way better than those in DTF. Cheaper, no wait, and taste much better. Whenever my gf and I come here for lunch, we would always order two Xiao Long Bao (regular ones) and a plate of vege to go with them. The pork chop vege rice and the preserved vege with meat noodle are pretty awesome as well. I took my two white coworkers here once all the way from West LA after work and ever since then, they've been hooked and kept asking me to take them here again. "It's like Chinese crack, you can never get enough of it" - one of the two white coworkers. IMO, the only things that DTF beats J&J is the location, decor and the cleanliness of it. This place is a hole-in-the-wall type of typical Chinese restaurant. Once in a while if it gets busy, you will be asked to share tables since this place is tiny and it gets packed during lunch time on the weekends. Service is friendly and the waitresses do speak a bit of English.
(5)Sam T.
My girlfriend brought me here noting the Xiao Long Bao are better than DTF. The food was decent but I think the presentation and the way they serve their Xiao Long Bao can be better. I first 3 dumplings were very good but we ordered two batches. The last 2 pieces I ate were really disappointing. This reminded me of the way DTF served it. DTF doesn't bring your next batch until you finish the current one. Overall the food is really good. The crab dumplings had real crab meat in it though I found a few pieces of crab shell in it. The Shanghai noodles tasted better than most places but definitely not the best. The service was ok....nothing stood out...typical service from your hole in the wall restaurant. Environment: Gotta love these hole in the wall restaurants! Definitely cheaper than DTF. Overall definitely worth the price. Great alternative to DTF. Plentiful parking and cheaper price! Food: 4 Service: 2 Environment: 2 Price: 4
(3)Jessica H.
Writing this review makes me sad. I've been coming here with my family since I was in elementary school. I was so excited to revisit now that I've moved back to SGV and introduce my friend to this place that I've been hyping up. This was my favorite Shanghainese restaurant up until now. Most disappointing meal =(. The one thing this place is known for is ther xiao long bao. Every single XLB in our order was shriveled up like an old man because all the juice leaked out of each bao. The soup in each dumpling is what makes it so gloriously delicious!! The stir fried rice cakes were super greasy and lacked flavor. The onion pancake was by far the worst I've ever had - soggy because it was so greasy. There weren't even onions to be found in it! it looked like a limp piece of paper that was drenched in oil....=(. The only good thing we had in this meal was the hot and sour soup.... It could've been an off night or a new chef, but after this experience I will not be returning to J&J.
(2)Yuping X.
My Dad's business partners from Shanghai said they come here to J+J for Shanghainese food when they are in L.A. So that says something. The Xiaolongbao's are fine by me, though of course most unique here are the Crab xlb's, which are pretty crabby. It's a small hole in the wall, so around meal time, you'll probably have to wait, but I would come here or Luscious Dumplings or something before Dintaifung to support the little guys (unless it was like for a more formal crowd or to give a favorable impression to Non-Asians). I have to admit though, the Xlb's served about 5 years ago at what later became Phoenix up on Main are still the standard in the area for me - 8 for $3? Come on. In the face DTF.
(3)Mitch W.
Based on the reviews here, I tried J & J last night. It was OK. The three of us ate: - Shanghai noodles (OK) - Xiao Long Bao (OK, but better at other places) - Pot stickers (good, but skin a bit thicker than I'd like) - Boiled dumplings (good with some juice in each dumpling) - Hot and Sour soup (good) Overall, I've had better Shanghai Chinese food at other restaurants, so I probably won't frequent J & J much in the future. I like Mei Long Village (in the same plaza) much better. The total bill was $36 including tip for the three of us. Cheers!
(3)Brandon C.
I've been coming here for years. It's a small little place in the back of the plaza. Many years ago this place was known in the area to have the best pork juicy dumplings, Shanghai style. These days more people go to Din Tai Fung in Arcadia for dumplings. The Xiao Long Bao is still pretty good. I like them for their flavor and juicyness. They also have other Shanghai style dishes such as Fried Pork Thick Noodles and Onion pancake. One of my favorite dishes is the Fried Pork Chop Noodle soup. This restaurant is not the best in town but definitely a place I will come from time to time. BTW, they only accept cash, so be prepared!
(4)Christine C.
Great hole in the wall that my coworker recommended! Juicy XLBs, lots of flavor AND no wait! Will come back again and try the pan fried baos!
(4)Louisa T.
This place holds a special place in my heart. The waitresses (2 of them are actually the owners) have seen me literally grow up. They are super friendly and happy to give suggestions. And you can't beat their prices; you really get a good filling meal at incredibly affordable prices My usual meal is the drunken pig tongue (comes in a little clay pot), Shanghainese style fried noodles, and their regular XLB (the crab ones aren't as good). My entire family is Shanghainese, and we all think that J&J has the best XLB in the US (and we've eaten in Shanghai restaurants from LA to SF to NYC to everywhere in between). They give good sized portions, the skin doesn't rip when you pick it up, and there's actually more than a mouthful of soup inside. If you've never had the drunken pig tongue, try it out. It's delicious; don't let the name of the dish scare you. I personally love their fried noodles (the waitresses know that I'll order it) and everyone I've taken there loves the noodles too. Once in a while I also get their chicken soup, but it's gotten a little too greasy. The place is small; the restaurant has been in the same spot for over 20 years. J&J has to be doing something right to have that kind of staying power on Valley.
(5)Tiffany L.
Came here on two times, both times I got the xiao long bao (which has been delicious both times). I've also had their noodles - oily, but good. Their sheng Jian bao was disappointing... Why didn't they have soup?!? :(
(4)Darren H.
I never thought I'd give a 1-star rating to a business. A lot of people trust Yelp, and skewed reviews can hurt a business. However, I went to J&J for xiao long bao, based on numerous other reviews. After stopping by Mei Long Village, which I found to be decent but lacking on soup, I walked a few steps down to J&J to try it out. I just ordered the pork xiao long bao. The meat tasted rancid. It literally tasted and smelled like kitchen sewage. I tried another bun just to be sure, and it was the same. My eating partner agreed. I'm seriously hoping that my experience was a fluke. I know that people have different tastes and preferences, but I have been all over America and China eating xiao long bao (and food in general). The taste of rotten meat is unforgettably bad.
(1)Lensman G.
Rock-solid steamed dumplings and xiao long bao! J&J has withstood the test of time! This cafe-styled Chinese restaurant serves foods that typify Northern Chinese/Shanghai-nese cuisine. This restaurant has been around San Gabriel (and at this particular plaza) for as long as I can remember, so its capacity to survive in a very competitive market in the SGV says a lot! Other Yelpers have done justice to what this joint offers. Xiao long bao (regular or with crab meat) are all pretty darn good. And yes, it is indeed a good alternative to Din Tai Fung in Arcadia which -- IMHO -- isn't worth the ungodly waits. (Metaphysical moment: Does food taste better if you wait a long for it?!) Some other honorable mentions on their menu: -- Beef Noodle Soup, dark/red style (nioh roh mien); -- Pan-fried rice cakes, Shanghai-style (nian gao); -- Pan-fried dumplings of all sorts. Lots of items to choose from on this menu, particularly if you're feeling like Shanghai-nese cuisine. Good eats! Service: Typical Asian service, but nothing horrendous. What matters most is the food is rock-solid. The matron of this restaurant rarely shows her face anymore. I remembered in my younger days her reigning over this little restaurant from behind the cashier's both, barking in Shanghai-nese. Altogether, great xiao long bao dumplings and Chinese fried dumplings can be gotten here. I've not dealt with long waits here, but I'd recommend avoiding peak meal hours. Parking: Sucky. The above ground parking lot is pretty tough, though there is underground parking, as well as a lot in the rear. Beware of crazy Asian drivers -- they will run you over and not think twice, especially in this cozy/tight (u-shaped) lot.
(4)Cahaya S.
oooo, a great place to head to when that xlb craving hits! $5.95 for 10 exquisite soupy dumplings! It was worth the hour drive.... Oh PS: It's Cash Only...
(5)Vicky L.
MMMMmmmM!!! Yummy!! Consistently good dim sum that puts the Chinese food down in San Diego to shame. I can't believe we used to drive 2 hours to get a decent meal... The siu mai was tasty, the wrapper still had some chew to it. The shiao lung bao dumplings here hit the spot, but not as fantastic as Din Tai Fung, but they come in close. Service here is fast... they're quick on refilling your tea and water.
(3)Colleen C.
I created a Yelp account just to voice my opinion about Jin Jian. I was fooled by the reviews I read on Yelp. I brought my family who were visiting from San Francisco (we were planning on going to Din Tai Fung) to try a Shanghainese restaurant. My family is Shanghainese, so we know good Shanghainese food when we taste it... which by the way, can be found in Richmond, British Columbia if you're ever there :). Anyway, we ordered xiao long bao, onion pancake, and wonton soup. First off, the xiao long bao was average, not the best. Granted it was not dry, and had soup inside, but the flavor was not great. The onion pancake was horrible. It was really oily and I'm sure the oil was not changed because the pancake tasted fishy. I was truly disappointed espcially since it is my favorite dish. Finally, the wonton was alright... not horrible but not great. I felt a little tingly after leaving the restaurant. I'm guessing the MSG from the soup. Well I don't see myself returning to Jin Jian. I was disappointed that my family had to experience that kind of sup-par meal especially driving all the way from San Francisco. What surprised the me the most was that the workers are Shanghainese....how can they allow these kind of dishes be served to their customers??
(2)Deborah B.
I went to this place because they raved about it in LA Magazine. I LOVE me some dumplings but this place was a BIG disappointment. It was packed with people on a sunday night at 9:30 so obviously people do like the place. Ordered XLB with crab, couldn't really taste the crab & had some shell mixed in with the meat. The pan fried buns were horrible, greasy and no flavor at all. We took one bite and couldn't finish them at all. My husband said we should save them to throw them at people that talk during the movies. The best thing was the pan fried dumplings but even those were just so so. I would say skip this place and go to Luscious Dumplings instead. They are way better. Only good thing about this place is free parking and hot tea.
(2)T L.
I ordered xiao long bao, pan fry dumplings and shanghai fried noodles. I wouldn't say they're the best xiao long bao I've ever tasted but it definitely meet certain standard and the price is fairly reasonable though. The service here is so-so. Typical Chinese style if you know what I mean. The xiao lung bao here is a little different than ding tai fung But they both tasted good
(3)Patrick M.
This place is awesome. I've been here twice for the xiaolongbao. This Shanghainese food is probably the most legit I've ever had in the U.S. The ambiance is simple, the people are nice, and I'm always the only white person there. Perfect.
(5)Sara L.
Okay, people. Let's be clear about something. The food here is very good. And the prices are just as good. The xiao long bao are also very good. But to say that they come anywhere near comparing to Din Tai Fung's soup dumplings is an outrageous claim. They're tasty, relatively delicate, and you dont' hav to stand in line for them. These are all true. But DTF's dumplings just have some depth of flavor that's far beyond what J & J can offer. That said, the food is very good, and dumplings are MUCH better than most, the service is fast, and the prices are cheap. I'd absolutely come back, for both the regular menu items as well as the xiao long bao. Just don't compare it to Din Tai Fung and we'll be cool.
(4)Kevin B.
Rather small restaurant that seats maybe 30 people. We waited about 10 minutes on a Saturday night for a party of 4. I loved their xiao long baos! The traditional pork style ones were good but their crab filled XLB's were awesome too! Both of them were filled with "soup" and exploded in my mouth. I didn't like their ginger tho, it was cut way too thick. Chao nian gao was pretty good too but a little bland for my tastes. Shanghai cong youbing is just okay too. I'd definitely like return to try other shanghainese foods here
(4)Daniel C.
Great service and excellent Chinese food for not a bad price. I have gone to eat Xiao long bao at other restaurants in the USA and they rarely match in taste for the price. The xiao long bao and all other dishes here are very reasonably priced (meaning they're not the absolute best) and I would recommend this restaurant to anyone who wants a solid slightly more authentic place. I also recommend the spicy wontons. Very tasty
(4)Kevin M.
J&J gets really crowded during peak times for lunch and dinner. The restaurant isn't very spacious, so just keep that in mind if you ever decide to go. As for the food, J&J can definitely hold its own against the Shanghai Restaurants, and Ding Tai Fungs of the world. Their food is delicious! I've been there multiple times but always order the same things. I usually get an order of the pork xiao long bao, crab xiao long bao, pork chop over vegetable rice, and pan fried rice cake. This is just one of those places that can hit the spot no matter when I go. Good authentic food and a good price is always a lethal combination. J&J is a fantastic alternative to the other Shanghainese restaurants in the area.
(4)Robin S.
Crabmeat & pork dumplings were delicious! I was not at all crazy about their scallion pancake though. It didn't even look like pancake and it was super greasy and bleh.
(3)Vince The G.
The service here was nice. Food was average. I just feel like it's the same as any other chinese food restaurant. Nothing less, nothing special, nothing really better. The restaurant right next door looked exactly the same too, except they had beef rolls! I wanted to have beef rolls, and they don't have it here! Got tricked. Chow Mein was good. Not that flavorful though. Pan fried baos (shen jian bao) they were okay. Pretty large order. i think they give 8 per order. Xiao Long Bao- these were good :) they had the soup in it and was nice and fresh. Good skin, good meat. about 20 dollars total for that plus tip for the ladies that work there. Cash only,
(3)Peter C.
I had alot of xiao long bao all over LA and asia. Obviously, in the USA, the xiao long bao quality isnt as good, but i feel this restaurant is as close as it gets to Asia quality. The key to a good xiao long bao is two folds: (1) Thiness of the skin. This place thickness is ok... b/c youd ont want it to be too thick or else its too hard and doesnt just melt in your mouth. (2) Juicyness of meat... this place has really really juicy meat and they use real crab in the crab xiao long bao. Over all, I think this place is better than Ding Tai Feng. Its pretty damn good....the service is ok... but the xiao long bao cant get better. Also, please dont biatch about cash only.... its a chinese restaurant... and ppl dont want to pay more for credit card fees.
(5)Kristin E.
A small unassuming hole in the wall that really, really made my day. I came here because I wanted xiaolongbao. Oh man, do I love XLB! If I miss anything from Shanghai, it's Coco Tea and XLB (oh and fry dumplings). I did a search on yelp for Shanghainese food, and this came up several times. On a drive from the Inland Empire, back home to Los Angeles, I decided to make a pit stop at Ranch 99 Market and here. I have to admit I am biased. Having lived in Shanghai for 15 months, and then seeing the pictures of the city on the wall of this restaurant put me int he right mood. I sat down and ordered crab XLB, and an onion pancake. I really enjoyed my xiaolongbao. It was just as good as some of the ones I had out in China. It took me back. I happened to be the only person in there at the moment and I had a conversation with my waitress who was from Shanghai. She was extremely friendly, was a native of Shanghai, and told me her story about coming here 21 years ago ... and what she thought of life here. I have to say that really made my experience. I am going to return to say hi, have some more XLB, and perhaps try some other items on the menu!
(4)Kai G.
The food is GREAT! I mean its a small, little chinese restaurant which looks not really good from the outside but the food is pretty good for a late night snack.
(4)Sherrie G.
What this place lacks in ambiance it makes up for in damn good xiao long bao. They didn't even have Diet Coke or Coke the day we were there, I think I had to make due with a Sprite (sorry! my pancreas craves high fructose corn syrup) but you kind of shake those minor inconveniences off when you're shoving pork dumplings into your face at an alarming rate. I also remember feeling a little piggy about the onion pancake dish, taking a bit more than my fellow diners did. I agree with another reviewer here that the XLBs at J&J have a lovely light delicate skin and feel soupier than most - so careful about gushing that hot stuff all over the person sitting next to you. I *still* suck at basic XLB eating technique and etiquette! While we dined away, one table over in the corner, two little ladies were deftly folding up dumplings, gossiping away while they did so. I like little moments like this. Makes the dumplings even tastier.
(4)Angela T.
it's an okay substitute for Din Tai Fung, if you're craving dumplings. It's not great, but it sure is cheap. Think Quantity over quality. The dumplings are more soupy than the ones over at Din Tai Fung, which is nice. But in all honesty, the meat really isn't as fresh and you can tell. The dumpling skin is dry and thicker than i'd like. If there is one thing I have to say about this place, it's that the customer service is great. Not "great" for an Asian place or "great" for Alhambra, but it's sincerely good. I was there after 8pm the last two times and our food came out promptly and the waitress was very attentive. If you're craving dumplings and can go the extra 6 miles, go to Din Tai Fung. If you're on a budget, J&J's is half the price. J & J is a decent place. I'm definately going back for late night dumplings. If I happen to crave dumplings on a Sunday aroung 10am, I'll likely head to Din tai Fung.
(3)Elaine D.
This is my favorite childhood restaurant and I have to say I think the food quality has been pretty consistent. Cheap, quick, and good. I actually prefer the xiao long bao here compared to din tai fung in Arcadia because 1. They are consistently juicy 2. There isn't a huge wait. I also am a fan of their shanghai style noodles, although I will admit they are a bit greasy, but that's to be expected with quick, delicious Chinese food
(5)Jonas T.
Service was typical Chinese - horrible - but their xiao long bao was actually my favorite in this plaza, or possibly the whole San Gabriel Valley. The skin wasn't the thinnest (though it was pretty thin) but it had a nice texture to it. The inside was soupy and the meat didn't have any cartilage (I think that's what it was) unlike when I had dumplings at Din Tai Fung or Dragon mark. JONASAPPROVED!
(5)Jeannie J.
Came here recently and was disappointed by their XLB. Where did all the soupiness go? Too bad, b/c this was my to-go place for XLB, gotta find a different joint now. On a positive note, the suan la tang (hot n sour soup) and the shanghai nian gao (chewy noodles) are still up to par.
(3)sybril s.
A place my sister and I go to a lot when we were in college. Good Shanghai-nese food for an affordable price. Needless to say, I'm a fan of their crab meat steamed buns. I've been to Ding Tai Feng and I do not like that place at all - totally overrated. I also love the napa casserole here, perfect for cold winter days! Oh, and last but not least, the stuffed gluten balls - YUM!
(4)Carol T.
I always come here for the xiao long bao with my sister. Recently we went there with my cousins and my mom and dad and we ordered a lot of good stuff. This place is known for their xiao long bao and their pan fried dumplings. This place is cheaper than Din Tai Fung and the taste is much better. They have a good drunken chicken and this dish with edamame is really good. They have good and cheap noodles in soup
(4)Mimi P.
A lot of people think J&J has the best soup dumplings, but I only thought it was just ok. It wasn't bad, just nothing extraordinary. The dumpling wasn't as juicy and tasty as their next door neighbor, Mei Long Village's. But I do like J&J's radish cake and chicken broth soup. As for juicy dumplings, I'll still go to Din Tai Fung or Mei Long Village. J&J now offers Shanghainese hot dishes. I haven't tried it, but saw the dishes on other customers' tables. They looked pretty good. Maybe I'll go try those dishes next time.
(3)urasso u.
Pretty good Xiao long bao. But the pan fried shanghai bao is little too doughy. The dough sucked up all the juice.
(4)Cindy W.
Din Tai Fung xiao long baos are muuuuuch better. I came here on the referral of my cousin who's been eating everywhere. But sorry cousin, the J&J xiao long baos are okay, but not even close to as tasty as Din Tai Fung. I tried both the regular and crab xiao long baos at J&J and although the juicy soup inside the dumpling was tasty, I found the skin not as thin and al dente ("Q") as Din Tai Fung. It's like, at Din Tai Fung, after every bite of dumpling.. I wanted more. But after every bite of J&J dumplings, I had an oily taste i my mouth, probably from the meat. I mean, I wouldn't spit out these dumplings, but they weren't so good that I would want more. We also tried their Shanghi stir fried rice cake which also tasted very oily and too mushy. I honestly am hunting for another xiao long bao place because the lines at Din Tai Fung are just way too long sometimes. But if that weren't the case, Din Tai Fun xiao long baos are still the best in my book. Sorry J&J, but you don't even come close.
(2)Jones T.
Came here again to give it another shot. Same results: just ok. The xiao long baos are not great, but pretty decent. The other food is fairly average as well. Can be crowded at times. Cheap prices though, 5 people ate for $40 bucks. This is a decent pick, but nothing about this restaurant makes it stand out from the hundreds just like it in the area.
(3)Lisa V.
This is a pretty small authentic shanghai mom and pop restaurant. I've been coming here as well as the place next door for years due to the reasonable prices and quality of the food. However, as I ate the xiao long baos tonight, they tasted alright.... I regretted ordered the regular xiao long baos and wish I got the ones with crab meat!! :( I also ordered 2 noodle dishes, the regular noodles with beef stew and the hot and spicy noodles with 8 treasures. I thought both noodles were OK BUT I actually prefer the 101 noodles place on valley better because I think that the noodle soup flavor has a lot more spices to it and they also offer this chopped up cilantro garnish which is phenomenal! :) It was my first time ordering the hot and spicy noodles with 8 treasures which is basically a bowl of clear broth and noodles and a plate of this hot and spicy meat/peanut/tofu dish that you dump in the noodles. It wasn't that spicy... I was expecting something hot, but I guess that's what the chili on the table is for ;) For the 3 items that I ordered, it came out to be less than $20, and was more than enough for 2 people, so I was pretty stuffed but I think I still like the 101 noodles place... Sorry JJ!! :X
(3)Anh-Dao T.
I guess I expected too much out of J & J because my favorite dish ended up being the fried noodle w/ "finless eel." I should've known. After all, it's a small space and there were still a couple of empty tables. In all fairness, the service was fine and the food came out quickly. The pork XLBs were good but the crab were far superior. We even got an additional order of the crab to go. All in all, it's nice to know there's a place to go when you don't feel like waiting for DTF. But I had to choose btwn the two, I'd rather wait it out.
(3)Steve L.
There're two dumpling restaurants that I crave. One of them is Din Tai Fung, and everyone already knows about the place. It's where to go if you want dainty, nicely constructed xiao long baos with a clean, zen taste. But the place that most people don't know about that deserves highlighting is: Jin Jian, which in my opinion, has an edge over DTF in the xiao long bao department. Jin Jian is a hole-in-the-wall, so there's no swank and no Tokyo and Shanghai locations to boast. But, there also isn't a 45-minute wait. However, that can't be the compelling reason to come here. No! You want to eat here because its xiao long baos are probably the best in L.A. Unlike DTF, Jin Jian's little dumpling gems are more authentic in taste, with richer and more flavorful juices flowing. Biting into one is always a desirable experience as its steamy juices burst into every which corner of your mouth. It's hot!
(4)Ying H.
Best soup dumplings ever!!! Very flavorful and just the right amount of soup. I like how the skin isn't too thick. Way better than DTF.
(5)Leslie W.
My dad got some intel that this place has better dumplings than Din Tai Fung. Since it came from Shanghainese people, it had to be true. We ordered the pork xiao lung bao and the waitress convinced us to order the crab xlb too. The pork xlb was pretty good but the crab tasted a little odd and had bits of shell or something in it. I wasn't a fan. Can't beat the prices and the food is not bad. But I would still take Din Tai Fung over J&J.
(3)Peter L.
This is a small restaurant inside prospect plaza. The xiao long bao but with crab and radish cake is the BEST I've ever had. Definitely one of the best in my opinion and I've been to New york as well and doesn't even compare to this place.
(5)Michelle H.
Rating: 3.5 Stars Dined here tonight with the fam. Xiao Long Baos are pretty good. Haven't tried DTF, but bro in law says this place is better. Scallion pancakes were good too. Slightly thicker than most places, but fried just right. Fried noodles with chicken was pretty yummy although I wasn't the biggest fan of the noodles. I was expecting the thin egg noodles, but this was the slightly fatter. The eggplant and the braised pork w/tofu skin were both delish. We left quite full. Would come back again.
(3)Hae A.
Total fail on the xiao long baos. The soy sauce dip was disgusting and three of us only had one xlb each and threw the rest away. The meat wasn't good, the skin was decent. I would not go back for the xlb.
(1)Siu M.
Love the xiao long bao there! I have tried many places and this is still the best! The juicy and meaty bao just taste soooo good. I also like the fish head hot pot and pan fried shanghai noodle.
(4)Diana Y.
It's Saturday night and I wanted to try something new for dinner so I decided to go to one of many Yelp inspired restaurants that I've had bookmarked but haven't tried yet. Since I was feeling like Chinese food, the decision was made to go to J&J. J&J is located in a small strip mall with a handful of other Chinese restaurants and shops, one of them being Bearded Papa and Mei Long Village which is also on the "Yelp Hot List". =P As we approached the storefront, I noticed that J&J has a "B" rating. Now you know what that means (at least for Chinese places), it has extra flavor and will be extra delicious...haha. There were two other parties in front of us and we waited about 15 minutes before we were seated. Now a word of caution, this place is pretty small, it has about 10 tables only, but they are pretty efficient at getting you in and out. Anyways, on to the important part, the FOOD. Here's the breakdown of what we ordered and my thoughts. Xiao Long Bao (steamed dumplings) - I thought they were decent, about a 7 out of 10. I think it would've been an 8 if the jucies hadn't leaked out of most of the dumplings already. And isn't half the point of eating xiao long bao is to get as much dumpling juice as possible? The fillings were hearty, you get a good amount of meat, but the skin was a little on the thicker side, not super thick, but more so than what you would be used to compared to DTF. Sheng Jian Bao (Pan fried buns) - I had high hopes for this, mostly because I did like the xiao long baos, which came out before we got these. I would recommend you to stay away from ordering these. Again the same problem as the xlb, no juice! But aside from that, the dough was so heavy and thick and gummy tasting, like it was not fully cooked before they pan fried it or something. We didn't finish this plate. I think I might be a little biased on these because I had the BEST shen jian bao in Shanghai, so nothing can really live up to those. Shanghai stir fry noodle (sorry, forgot the real name) - A plate full of golden, thick, noodles. Stir fried with a little spinach and pork. The noodles weren't over cooked, they had a nice bite to them, and the seasoning they used gave it good flavor. Red bean bun (again, for the name) - These were a favorite! You get this flakey pastry like bun, with toasted seasme on top, all rolled around sweet red bean paste that does NOT taste like it came out of a can. Niu Rou Tang (beef noodle soup) - Mmm..I love soup, and these were GOOD. Again, compariosn to DTF. We also ordered this at DTF, but I didn't even drank half of it there, but I finished the WHOLE bowl here. It was very flavorful, with a good helping of tender beef. It's like A&J, but "cleaner" tasting to me. It was a good meal, and I want to go back to try some of their other dishes and soups. Although there were some misses, overall I enjoyed the food and the service was prompt and nice.
(4)Helen K.
I've only had the crab and pork XLB dumplings here and they are pretty good. They are cheaper than DTF's and there is no wait, so that's definitely a plus. The decor is nothing to write home about and I can see how some people would complain about the cleanliness... but hey, the food's good so why complain about the little things. For the price, you get what you pay for. I want to go back to try out the other dishes since I've heard they were just as good as the XLBs. I can't say for sure if I like J&J's XLBs or DTF's... I'll have to do some more detective work and try them both out... again... and again... and... AGAIN.
(4)Andrew G.
probably 3.75 actually. solid food in a slightly frenetic but definitely homestyle sgv atmosphere. my experiences here are limited to a trip this evening but i plan on going back. we tried the XLB's (of course), curry beef soup, stir-fried chinese greens and some cold cucumbers in chili sauce. the XLB's probably weren't as nuanced as DTF's but they were still great, probably better than the almost next door mei long village. curry beef soup was excellent, a study in undertones. i was concerned that the curry would be overpowering but the savory beef broth really anchored the dish, creating an experience that was at once rich and subtle. bravo. hard to mess up chinese greens and cucumbers in chili, but truth be told, the cukes could have used a little more chili. even better: the place was mostly populated with sgv locals and families. there was only one table of 20-something blogospherians tonight, and eavesdropping their mundance 'i found a website this' and 'we're looking for a bed and breakfast that' banter was more entertaining than distracting or annoying. in this context, at least.
(4)Mike C.
This place is AWESOME for Xiao Long Bao. I haven't gotten the chance to compare them side to side with Din Tai Fung in Arcadia as it's been 8 years since i last ate there but I prefer these for 2 reasons: - It's GOOD - It's Cheap ($5.95 for regular & $7.95 for Crab & meat) Din Tai Fung is too expensive and never as good as the ones in Asia so why not get something just as good if not better and a much better price. A friend told me to try Mei Fong VIllage next door and their Xiao Long Bao were NOT nearly as good as these. I also like their: - Zhong Zi - Chong You bing is OK...but it's thicker than i like it - wife digs the Nu Ruo Mein (i've personally had better). - I plan to try the Twice cooked pork that I love at Indian Beer.
(4)Iska B.
I've never had xiao long bao and I've wanted to try them since forever (or since I saw them on TV). I finally made the effort to look up places that serve them on Yelp and decided to try this place. There are so many mixed reviews for so many other places but this one seemed very solid (no lines, consistent quality). It's located in a rather unassuming strip of restaurants and stores (and next to another place that serves xiao long bao, Mei Long Village) and inside is nothing special. It's very simple. Tables and chairs and almost no decor. If you're looking for any sort of atmosphere you won't get it here. However, I've found that places that don't spend as much effort/money on decorating the place tend to focus on the food. I was not wrong in this. Clearly I had an order of the standard xiao long bao. There are about 10 of them per order. Suffice it to say they are delicious. I mean really really good. They burst in your mouth with salty, flavorful goodness and you just can't stop eating them! We ordered two other dishes (shrimp noodles and fresh pork bun) but this was the star and honestly I think next time I'll just order two of these and eat them all. By myself. Oink oink. I can't say they are the "best" since I've only had them this one time so I'll reserve that praise until I've tried some others but I'll certainly be coming back for more. Best of all, they were cheap as hell ($5.95) so you order to your heart's content. If only they tasted as good re-heated as they do fresh! You really do need to eat them fast because as they cool they lose that bursting hot soup thing, otherwise you know I would have taken an order to go...
(4)Abby A.
Being a Din Tai Fung fan for a couple of years now, I didn't realize that there were quite a few other restaurants that also served excellent xia long baos or for short, XLBs, until I read a discussion thread on Chowhound naming some of those restaurants. With my curiosity aroused, I decided set up a restaurant series where I'd take my dining group to some of those restaurants listed in that thread. But first, a little explanation about XLBs, which I took from wikipedia.org . So what exactly is "Xiao Long Bao?" To start, xiao long bao (literally "little basket bun"; also known as soup dumpling) is a type of baozi (filled bun or bread-like item) from the Southern provinces of China, including Shanghai and Wuxi. XLBs are traditionally steamed in bamboo baskets, hence the name. It can be filled with hot soup and meat and/or vegetarian fillings, as well as other possibilities. The fillings are wrapped in something like a jiaozi wrapper that turns almost translucent after being steamed. Shanghai steamed buns can be recognized by their unique design, as the filled wrapper is gathered up into fine folds at the top, prior to steaming. To eat XLBs, first take the dumpling and deposit it into a Chinese soup spoon and if desired add the vinegar and soy sauce. Some places may also have shredded ginger. Take a small bite of the skin and suck out as much of the flavorful broth as possible. Then eat the rest of the dumpling from the spoon. Our first "XLB" journey took us to J&J. By the way, what we may refer to as XLBs shows up as "Steamed Pao" on their menu. We didn't know that until we asked the waitress. Our group ordered a total of 9 dishes. Two them were the Steamed Pao with Crab and the Steamed Pao with Pork & Crab and both were tasty In general, here's my take on the J&J's XLBs. The thing that I didn't like was the thicker, chewier wrapper. It just seemed more difficult to bite into the without the broth already starting to come out. Maybe, just a little bit thinner? I thought that the fillings were great - very meaty, very juicy, not as refined as you would find at Din Tai Fung, but more rustic, something a Mom would make in her kitchen. That somehow gave it more appeal. Overall, I liked the XLBs at J&J and it's nice to have more than one alternative for certain foods that you like. As mentioned, the XLBs weren't the only items we ordered. There were 7 more dishes that were a part of this meal. Standouts for me included their Green Onion Pancake which was light, flaky and with lots of great onion flavor as well as the Eggplant in Brown Sauce, which had a sauce to die for. The pan-fried dumplings were also amazing with a meat filling that was just as juicy and flavorful as the XLBs. Finally, the Fried Crab Shanghai Style was finger-looking good and the sauce had a nice hit of heat without being overwhelming. The XLBs at J&J are definitely quite delicious and apparently, some of the other items on the menu are tasty as well. I'm just glad that J&J isn't too far from me because I certainly want to make a return trip sometime soon to check out some of their other dishes. To see pics, go to: flickr.com/photos/la_add…
(4)grace c.
This place is a rip off. My family ordered the set meal which was $20 dollars and tthere was barely any food.. on top of that the food wasnt eeven that great. Not coming back again.
(1)Jason H.
Im not a huge dim sum eater...heck I didn't even know what dim sum was until a few years ago (ya ya ya). I actually thought it was an item that you ordered. You know like #44 I'll have an order of dim sum. Then one day a group was going to a great dim sum place up in San Francisco, so I just happened to join them and that is when I found out what dim sum was. Anyways we ended up at Jin Jiang (j & j) after our early morning bowling session at West Covina Bowl. The freeway on ramps were closed, so it was quite a long drive on Valley Blvd. It's a small joint, and our expert repeat diner (Nic) says the dumplings are really good here. So we ordered the pork dumplings, crab dumplings, egg rolls and I chose the pork fried rice (still looking for a good dry bbq pork fried rice place) since I'm looking for a good fried rice place. Both the pork and crab dumplings were good. The egg rolls were ok and the fried rice wasn't the BBQ pork version, and it was with sticky rice...it was ok too. Tea was up to par, as I was thirsty after 5 games of bowling. Definately order the dumplings. :-) One minus: In the soup bowl they handed me, there was a small fruit fly on it boo. I just wiped it off, cuz stuff like that happens...but boo.
(3)Daisy C.
Xiao long bao was ok though not that juicy. Beef noodle soup wasn't that flavorful. Spicy kidney dish was...well, I've had better in Plano, TX. We ordered about 5 dishes for 5 people. We asked the server if it was enough, and she said we needed two more. Ended up with waaaay too much food. Had enough leftover for all of us for dinner, which is only a good thing when you're looking forward to eating it.
(2)Sally Q.
This is a little dumpling shop located in an Asian plaza. No line when we got there and we had a big party so it was nice to be seated right away. The food came out relatively fast and service was alright. The food is inexpensive, but a little too oily for my liking. This is a nice place to go to if you want something quick to satisfy your dumpling and noodle cravings.
(3)Leslie P.
I've been to this place for over 7 years now!! Their food is so good we always order so much our bill is over $80 for 4-5 people. I love their hot and sour soup, xiao long bao (crab-filled or original), twice cooked pork, potstickers, chewy rice cakes (don't know the actual name of that) and so much more!!! The prices are good but it did go up through the years (of course). I used to come to this place at least once a week but now since I've moved out of state, I miss it so much. The place is small so sometimes you have to wait. Oh...it's cash only.
(5)Christie K.
I love the xiao long bao's here... it's soupy and the skin is really good... although i do prefer the DTF skins more because they're thinner.. the inside is super tasty!! If you just want xlb.. this is the place to go.. and their nian gao is yummy too.. nice and chewy! this place isn't fancy at all.. kinda ghetto, but! it's super cheap.. so it makes the food taste better :)
(4)Mike L.
I don't know, maybe I have a higher expectation of how this place should be. This plaza alone has three places for dumplings that is worth noting. According to our Yelpers, J&J got a much more favorable rating than Dragon Mark or Mei Long Village. I took a chance on this place first because of the glowing reviews. As Jenny K. stated in her review, it is a small place with 9 tables with two big round tables with lazy Susan. It always seemed to be packed and get a long waiting list for a table. That is always a good sign. I did had a Xiao Long Bao (soup dumpling or commonly called as Little basket buns) from this place plenty of times, but it's their boiled dumplings and pork chop rice I am most fond of. Their pork chop rice: yelp.com/biz_photos/Cl6U… is very nicely done in terms of not too chalky or dry. It's hard to messed that up, but did a good job in preparing it. Though they did not have veggie or some sort of cucumbers or soy sauce egg with it. Their dumplings tends to be not bad, but I sort gotten the feeling it's a stiff on the dumpling wrapping sometimes. The big disappointment came in some of their noodle dishes where I thought it was soggy and lack of flavor: yelp.com/biz_photos/Cl6U… The big problem I had this place is that with the cooking style is Shanghai style, they tend to emphasize in bringing out the cabbage which does not suit me as much to others. I tend to like the "Chinese lettuce" to go along with most rice or noodle dish over the cabbage that was provided. In a weird sense, even a chow mein should not lacked that much flavor with or without the cabbage. Overall, the service was friendly and was accommodating on helping with the orders. If it were up to me to redo, I would suggest getting the goyza: yelp.com/biz_photos/Cl6U… , the fried onion cake: yelp.com/biz_photos/Cl6U… and the pork chop rice. My Shao long Bao adventure continues...
(3)Caleb B.
J & J / Jin Jian Restaurant.. Becomes sometimes, when the world lets your down, dumplings are your best friend. _C$
(4)Squirrel S.
Beware of their cold appetizer taken out of their fridge. There is mold in their . I ordered noodle and found that there is mold in their fish after I ate 1 piece. Told them about that and they still need to charge me the plain noodle price. Will never go back again. Should have taken a pic first.
(1)Bernise G.
This is definitely not a classy restaurant but I love their original Xiao Long Bao and Shang Hai noodles (must add vinegar... it tastes better.) It's not as popular as Ding Tai Fung and the wait is not as long, and I personally think the Xiao Long Bao is the same. The prices are also very low here. WORTH IT. And you don't really need to know Mandarin to order... they understand English. I go at least once a month. It satisfies my Xiao Long Bao cravings! The only downside is that the place is pretty small, and the bathroom is a communal bathroom shared by all businesses within the plaza.
(4)Momo K.
Tiny place with only about 9 tables or so. If you don't get here early, you'll be waiting outside staring inside at everyone's order of Xia Long Baos. Though their Xiao Long Baos aren't quite just like Ding Tai Fungs, I'd still consider it excellent XLBs because of the thin skin and juices swarming inside the bao. J&J XLBs sure beats Ding Tai Fungs 1.5 hour wait and is much better than any XLB I'd find in Irvine. It's so good I could probably eat the whole order of 10. They've also got crab XLBs too, but the order consist of 8. I also like the Pan Fried Baos (Sheng Jian Baos). It looks like a thick-skinned XLB so some might think of it as unappealing, yet it's meant to be made like that so J&J got it right. I love the crispy bottom bun layer; the filling also contain savory meaty juices~ yum! Everything is VERY reasonably priced. At $4.95 for XLBs, it's something not even DTF can beat. Service is okay--c'mon it's Chinese. But come here if you want to eat your fill of baos or dumplings!
(5)Jin K.
I actually like J&J's. Theyre green onion pancake thing is a bit thicker than other places so it depends on your preference i guess. I like their thick panfried noodle not too sure what its called.. Their xiao long baos are yummy and juicy and their pan fried dumpling bun is good too. I think this place is open till 4 am? so thats always another plus for late night drunken munchies =D
(4)Niko X.
We were very pleasantly surprised by the flavor of EVERYTHING we tried at J & J, which I understand is a Shanghainese style establishment. My party of six met up for Sunday morning eating...and we were pretty much the perfect sized party for the venue. I would warn against assembling a group any larger, unless you're OK with eating at different times at separate tables. The room is very small and the tables are fairly close together. The atmosphere here is no nonsense...they even use cheap Styrofoam cups for tea (I'm compelled to deduct one star but it was so inexpensive I don't have the heart to). The menu is also very unfriendly to white people... the English translations are absolutely deplorable...but of course for me that's a good thing as it's a sign of authenticity. The food however is wonderful...though I have no clue what anything was called. We started with the rice noodle and vegetable garlic-ish flavored dish thing. That was spectacular. We also ordered some green overgrown sprout like things...also excellent. Rounding out our meal we ordered both the pork and crabmeat steamed dumplings (both excellent with a slight edge to the pork), and a plate of boiled dumplings as well. We also ordered some rice ball thing with dry textured fried pork like substance inside (EXCELLENT..but be sure not to eat the plastic wrap holding them together). Finally we got the huge fried dough Chinese donut thing. I only had room for a bite but it was really great.
(5)Chelsee H.
Whilst eating my way along coastal China earlier this summer, I ate many a xiao long bao; having returned to LA, I've begun a quest in search of the best of them in the area, bao that will single-handedly transfer me back to the motherland. One friend pointed me toward J & J, not guaranteeing any such powers but promising they'd be good, at least. I eagerly searched through their (thankfully pictured) menu and ordered some traditional pork xiao long bao and a crab version. My friends ordered other dishes to accompany them, but my mind stayed focused on just my soupy dumplings. When they arrived and I had sampled, I was very, very pleased. They were piping hot, and the pork was perfectly flavorful and the juice delicious. The crab version was rather tasty, too. I won't say they equaled those I had Hong Kong and Shanghai, but they were a close. Definitely worth my 35 minute drive down the 10. We also tried the tsien jien bao (pan fried buns), but they were unfortunately not near as divine as those in Shanghai, their city of origin. The meat was surrounded by too much dough, so I picked out the meat and just ate that.
(4)Samuel K.
I like at this place a lot. Since I barely know any Mandarin, I would not have known about this place if weren't for my folks. That being said, walking in here and ordering can be like a hit-and-miss experience. Here is a list of things I'd to give notice to: What I normally would consider ordering if I walked in here: Xiao Long Bao - love the flavor of the juices. Xiao Long Bao w/ crab meat - the crab meat does make a difference here Shanghai Style Fried Rice Cake - terrific Shanghai Style Chow Mein - good stuff Onion Pancake - Love this Beef Noodle Soup - just the right flavor for me Sauteed Spinach (or any other sauteed green there) - nothing special here. It's just that if you're gonna eat all those meat, carbs, and grease, you'd better order some vegetables to clean up that system! What I would order if I feel like splurging: Sauteed Eels with Yellow Chive - not for the squeamish. If you can get past the idea of eating baby eels, you'll be in for a treat. ----------to be eaten with . . . Onion Noodle Soup - this is just for you to extract the noodles from and mix with your helping of the sauteed eels. That way, if you ever decide to take the eels home, the eels will still remain with its delicious sauce in a separate container. J&J does charge you for packaging the onion noodle soup (it's a charge exclusively for this item), so if you have any noodles leftover, just ditch em. They're not worth it. I don't recall how the soup tastes, and that matters little to me. Roasted Duck in Brown Sauce - oh man, one night when I was ordering this, I thought I was gonna get a roast duck I'd see in Sam Woo BBQ. I was wrong, and thank God I was wrong, because I got something even better! Very flavorful, to be eaten with many helpings of steamed rice. Fried Dumplings - If the pork filling is good, man, it can make any bun/dumpling taste good. (One exception mentioned later below). I enjoy the thick skin and the crunchy exterior of it. What I am not ordering again: (Your choice of entree) + rice combo plate - It's a decent dish for a decent price, but I sense that the rice was soaked with a lot of MSG and salt. It was too much for me. Shanghai Pork Stuffed Rice Balls and Soup - the pork could not save this bland and greasy bowl of stuff. I left the restaurant feeling very bloated. Don't get me wrong, I like rice balls, I just don't think that and pork were meant to be together, at least not this way.
(4)Crystal C.
The best hole in the wall place ever! The only thing that I order is their lion's head. It is seriously the best by far that I have experience. It's basically the Chinese version of meat balls. It is served in a clay pot with sitting on a bed of clear thin noodles that absorbs all the flavor. Each order comes with 2 lion heads, cooked with shiitake mushrooms and napa cabbage. I always have this dish wish a bowl of steam white rice. It's my all time favorite dish, hands down! They had this special of hand made noodles for 99 cents, I don't know if it's available still tho. It's pretty tasty, it comes in a huge bowl with tender noodles in a really good broth soup. If that's still offered, definitely give it a try. I'm more than willing to deal with horrible parking and bad drivers if it comes to coming to J&J. They're really nice and super friendly. They don't really speak English so it might be a little language barrier but the menu's are in English so no worries. I was a bit let down when they gave you styrofoam cups to drink out of and the tea is a bit water down, but it doesn't matter when it's great food, fast service, and cheap prices.
(5)Dee Y.
My friend took me here claiming that this is the second best xiao long bao in SGV. What's the first? I'll have to try it first to confirm... =) But that's another review. My friend did all the ordering. We had the drunken chicken, crab xiao long bao, the fried vermicelli dish, the wonton soup, and a yummy fatty pork dish everything for two people. I have no idea what they're all called except the XLB and the drunken chicken. ha ha... All was good. I particularly LOVE the wonton soup. To be honest, the XLB was good, but not the GREATEST that I've had. ha ha... he'd hate me to say this, but I still kinda like DTF a little bit better. Next time, I'll try the the best XLB in town, and yelp here... =)
(4)Andy H.
Cliff notes: Okay you won't be blown away, but you will be HAPPY after you eat their food. Not really greasy, but BAM ! flavors in your mouth. Pretty small restaurant, efficient service, not expensive. What more can you ask for? *Our party of 4 went to this Happy Happy restaurant in monterey park at first. But it was so terrible that I feel I should alert you guys here too. =) Since we didn't get food at the other restaurant, we headed over to J & J. It was packed. With only 2 round tables for 5, and 5 tables for 4 (maxed) it's not too hard to pack this place. By the way, this place is Shanghainese owned if you care about that. Note: it was late too. maybe 8:30pm. and packed? that's saying something IMO. Food: Even though we were starving, we didnt mind waiting the ~15 minutes. And the moment we sunk our teeth into the Crab Xiao Long Baos, it was all worth it. While it's not MIND BLOWING OMFG I CAN DIE NOW XLB's, they were pretty damn good. We had 3 orders of them. They all had the yummeh soup inside each one. We also got the potstickers and those were just devoured. I also ordered pork chop noodle soup. The pork chop was done well, and the soup was clean and satisfying. Drinks: Just drank the tea they served. normal tea. styrofoam cups, but I could care less about that. Just saying for those picky picky people out there. Service: Service was pretty good. When we got there, there was a party of 2 in front of us. The waitress immediately brought us a menu. to look ahead. Maybe we just looked like we were starving. We also got to order before we got seated. So the moment we got seated our food came pretty quickly =D Can't really say anything bad about service cause since the place is pretty small, the waitresses were easy to get. Final Verdict: If youre craving chinese food. I would come here. Everything on everyones tables looked goood. Don't come here expecting to be blown away with the worlds most amazing food, cause its not. BUT i'm sure you will eat the food here, nod, and smile. Smile and say, pretty good =) But dude, for the inexpensiveness, the food is BOMbBB. I normally say, "you get what you pay for" but for this place, you get more. your mileage may vary.
(4)John O.
Dumplings good, noodles good, price good. Nothing more really to say. Shanghai style. But this place is a bit too small and cramped.
(4)Nam L.
This place is something you find straight out of China. The soup dumplings here are signature and totally hit the spot for a work lunch. The prices are so cheap too at around 4 dollars for 6 soup large soup dumplings (gasp!!) The bao are amazing and the service here is very very amicable. Though the restaurant isn't very classy because they use paper plates and cups, as well as plastic utensils I think that the food totally makes up for it. After a nice lunch though the hardest decision to make is whether or not to get the taiwanese shaved ice at JJ or head next door to Phoenix dessertfor....(go look at my review on phoenix dessert to find out!)
(3)Benny J.
FYI This place is CASH ONLY and If we didn't have the recommendations of our Chinese friend written down...we would have never gotten any food. Small language barrier is an understatement, but we did get some really yummy food per our paper written directions! I say 3 stars because it was just really hard to order. Will someone please let them know, that non-Chinese people love their food, but we can't read the menu? I would love to go here again and have something else...that isn't written on my tiny piece of paper... Thanks!
(3)Lynda T.
By far the best Xiao Long Bao I've had in Los Angeles. I went to Din Tai Fung last Saturday and was very disappointed. Our favorite dishes here are the XLB, fried onion pancake and fried steam roll. The waitresses always recommend the Shanghai noodles but I don't like it because it's kind of bland. They serve tea in tiny Styrofoam cups - which isn't very environmentally friendly - but it keeps the tea warm. I go here at least 2-3 times a month... and I'm not even Chinese/Taiwanese, so that must say something right? I'd pick XLB over Pho any day!
(4)Lynn L.
I always saw their ads on the newspaper but I've finally had a chance to eat there. ( Simply, I thought the food may be okay only, so I've never tried it before) The food was delicious, especially the steamed dumpling, and famous shanghinese dessert (mini sesame ball soup) ~~the best one that I've tasted overall.
(4)Nicole C.
While I liked their xiao long bao, I didn't like ones with the crab leg. In fact, the crab leg totally ruined them! =( Their dishes are pretty delicious, a little on the salty side if you asked me. I'm not very familiar with their dish names since my parents did all the ordering. But I'm gonna upload a few pictures some other time.. perhaps, that will be a better idea. I'm more of a visual person anyways. HAHA CASH ONLY!
(3)Oliver W.
J & J is a small, Shanghai cuisine cafe on W. Valley Blvd, in the same complex as Mei Long Village. Our menu and opinions: Onion pancakes: Merely "ok." Could have been saltier and it didn't strike me as super-fresh out of the frier either even thought it was hot. Steamed pao w/ crabmeat (i.e. soup dumplings w/ crab meat): This is one of the signature dishes J & J is known for and it's a very Shanghai dish (the crabmeat inclusion, I mean). I thought these were good but not better than similar ones I've had other places, including Mei Long. If we had a bigger group, I would have also ordered the normal pork soup dumplings but unless they had a different skin, I don't think they would have been significantly better. Pan-fried pao: I was very very curious to try these. It's an unusual dish - the only other place in Los Angeles I know that does a version of this is the Kang Kang Foodcourt and they do a pretty good version. It's also a local Shanghai dish, so much so that even a lot of supposedly Shanghai restaurants around town don't carry it. When done right, it's a really good soup dumpling...but pan-fried, so it has that nice fried crispiness on the base. I won't mince words: it was terrible at J & J. The dough was far too thick and made the whole thing rather undesirable to eat. The pork filling was fine but eating the filling and discarding the dumpling skin pretty much negates the point of ordering a dumpling. Rice cake w/ pork spareribs: I really like fried rice cake dishes and this one was more unusual since I've never seen it paired with fried spareribs. Personally, I liked the dish but it wasn't outstanding and the rice cake seemed past al dente and was more mushy than chewy. Sauteed "hollow heart" aka Chinese watercress (w/ garlic): This was the best executed dish but it's an easy dish to pull off. To put it another way, I've never had a bad version of it anywhere. PRICE: $36.40 for 3 adults, two kids. Personally, I thought this was surprisingly high; came out to be about $15/adult. Didn't think it was worth the cost - maybe with a bigger group though, the overall cost would have been more evenly spread. VERDICT: Eh, I'd rather go to Mei Long Village which has a similar menu but has yet to disappoint in 4 outings. I just think they execute better on the dumplings AND it's much easier to get a seat there. And J & J's terrible pan-fried pao really lowered their average considerably.
(2)Danny G.
Since GF is a huge fan of XLB, I took my choice from the top of the search result from yelp. This place's food definitely taste better than the way its exterior and interior decoration looks. XLB w. pork - Lots of flavor. Loved it. XLB w. pork and crab - It's ok. You can taste the crab in it, but it's less juicier than the first one. What really surprises me is the normal dishes on the menu. Probably the best shanghai style in SoCal. pork stew w. tofu knots - It is the best pork stew I've ever tasted outside my mom's kitchen. It's overly sweet, but right to the amount to balance the salty taste. The pork doesn't taste greasy at all. The tofu knots are full of the flavor from the sauce. Highly recommended! Fish tofu stew - The portion is ENORMOUS. Be aware to take home if you have less than 3-4 people at the table. The soup are very fresh. We asked for medium spicy, but agreed mild might be better. But it's still a pretty good order if you are really craving for some seafood taste. Overall, this is quite a sweet surprise. You don't need to pay for the extra $$ for XLB@Ding Taifeng.
(4)Steve J.
This is a pretty good hole in the wall for xiaolongbao. For those of you unfamiliar with xiaolongbao, they are Shanghai dumplings with a wonderful soup inside that flows out with warm goodness when you bite into the thin dough skin. Traditionally they're filled with pork, but they can be filled with seafood or vegetables, too. They're served on the bamboo basket they were steamed in, usually on cabbage leaves (so that the skin doesn't puncture or tear), and delivered hot to your table. You dip them in a little dish of rice vinegar and ginger shavings. You want to be careful when you pick them up with chopsticks so you don't tear the skin, and a lot of people eat them on spoons in case you can't eat them in one bite (because the soup inside is very hot and can burn your tongue). This isn't a classy place like Din Tai Fung - as hole-in-the-wall's go, it takes the cake here and it's not just with the building. The skin on the dumplings isn't as delicate as it would be at a dim sum restaurant or DTF, but thicker, but that's all good with me. The way I see it, cheaper prices, shorter wait, and bigger, meatier XLB wins the match for me. Also, it's not served on bamboo but just metal baskets with paper lining instead of cabbage. Even better than the pork XLB are the crab-filled ones. The fried dumplings are also really good, especially when you mix the soy sauce and hot sauce together. It's really well-priced here and I typically don't have to wait any longer than 5 minutes to eat. It's not very clean, but you know that's street cred for quality Chinese food. There isn't much parking on top but there's plenty underground.
(4)Duke F.
went there haging; same service.. great food.. i am a fan:)
(4)Kat T.
The prices are pretty dang good here. My favorite dish aside from the obvious (sieu loong bao) is the pan fried rice cake dish. They make it pretty well here. I give this place three stars because their sieu loong baos have not been as great lately. The last three times I've been back, my dishes come out warm, not piping hot, just warm. It makes me think it's been sitting there or that someone else ordered it and didn't want it and they gave it to me instead.
(3)Jake C.
Best dumpling in San Gabriel. Both Pork and Crab meat are great. It's small place, and parking may be difficult.
(5)Mary F.
This is the best Shanghainese food I've had in southern California -really reminds me of my aunt and grandma's home-cooked meals, simple and full of favor. Their xiao long bao is one of the best I've had outside of China, always a pocket of juices and freshly steamed. Other Shanghainese restaurants in the area have higher reviews, e.g. Wang Jia, but this is definitely several steps up. Just wish they had some "you tiao" and porridge during dim sum! Nevertheless this will be my go-to place for Shanghainese food in LA from now on :)
(4)Stella C.
After a LONG day of driving and caffeine overkill, I had a mid-20's-midday-meltdown. My dad called Din Tai Fung around 2pm but they were already sold out for the day. He called both locations. But being sold out was not going to get in the way of my dad's love for xiao long bao. Luckily, he had a backup plan in mind and all we had to do was drive one block and have me make a legal left turn while illegally driving in the lane of opposite traffic (oh well! who can blame a man's hunger...). The restaurant itself is very, very tiny and reminds me of places in Oakland Chinatown. We only waited about 5 mins to get seated and my parents ordered SEVERAL dishes for four of us! Luckily, the plates itself are not huge family style portions, I would say 75% of that. We had xiao long bao of course, sheng jian bao, fried pork, chao nian gao, the fried bread thing, and a few other dishes. EVERYTHING was delicious there! Their xiao long bao comes out perfectly, just the perfect amount of "soup" inside and it wasn't so hot that you couldn't eat it quickly. I don't always like it when it's so hot you have to eat each part separately (the soup and the actual dumpling) so I really liked that I could eat it whole. I thought the dough for the sheng jian bao was a little too thick and I wish it had a harder pan fried crust on the bottom, but it was still good. I was having a major case of "yeet-hay," that paired with my meltdown was a recipe for disaster for eating this kind of food. I still made sure to eat as much as I could because it was so delicious, I just couldn't skip on the opportunity. The best part was that their chili sauce is the best chili sauce I have ever had. I think it's homemade because it tastes so fresh, and it's bright orange rather than red. It's also ridiculously spicy! I love spicy food and can eat very spicy foods, but this was just so hot --- it was so delicious! I had to eat it with everything! I didn't have a problem with the service, probably because I was with my parents. They even had a mosquito eater sitting on their wall that scared me, and just joked around about it. They didn't rush us to eat either, which I really appreciated because we had a LONG day. I thought their food was very delicious and would definitely come back here!
(5)Emoh E.
Of all the restaurants that I say are comfort food, this is my #! place away from home. I used to order the red bean bing (pastry) and hand carry the order to my Popo in Hawai'i. My family is from the Shanghai area and so I grew up with this sort of food. It's the place I always bring my mother to when she visits. We've tried many places in the area and somehow always come back to this one. Perhaps, we go back for sentimental reasons but its definitely not the only thing. Lets be real, if the food wasn't good, I don't care how much I am emotionally attached I wouldn't eat there. So the food is GOOD. The dumplings are good (we usually order the XLB and the crabmeat XLB and the boiled dumplings). The fried pork chops are good. Green onion pancakes, chicken soup, and the small dishes! Drunken chicken, preserved fish, pickled mustard cabbage, soy beans, with bean curd skin. Shanghai style fried noodles. I wish I could go this minute! I've never had a problem with the service or the timing of the food. It's been consistently good. Cash only. Anyway, take it or leave it. This is a good spot.
(5)Simon C.
there's an ugly new trend happening throughout LA: for some inexplicable reason, when a bunch of asians are pondering which xlb place to go to for brunch, we seem to be increasingly taking the recommendation of... ...the token white guy. =/ hopefully he originally heard about j&j from an asian person, otherwise there may well be a tear in the time/space continuum. nevertheless, j&j proved itself to be respectable, if not inspired. we ordered: xlb - we ordered two baskets. the dough is a bit thicker than dtf's, with a similiarly subtle yet rich pork filling. j&j's xlb's have more juice in them, but the extra fattiness and thicker skin means that you have to eat them IMMEDIATELY before they become a bit rubbery and gooey. we were one of only two tables occupied at the time, so maybe that's why, but they brought out both baskets at the same time, which meant the second was not nearly as good. dtf tends to space out when they bring the baskets if you order more than one. stir fried string beans - kind of flavorless and lacked the seared garlic that characterizes this dish. my mom would probably say that the wok wasn't hot or seasoned enough. rice cakes with beef and onions - i can never remember what the english name for this dish is. as per the string beans, the dish was not as tasty and fragrant as i've had elsewhere. pork lo mein - i didn't eat this, because ich bin ein chineser and that's poser food. =P onion pancake - probably one of the better executed dishes, although also not super fresh because the center was melded together and a bit gummy, which happens when you let the dough sit for too long and the air escapes. we went at about 10.30A on a sunday and the place and parking lot were empty, which was super convenient since we were headed off to the car show afterward. service was gracious, even toward the non-chinese speakers, which all of us were that day because i seem to have had brain freeze. it wasn't until 10 minutes into the meal that i could finally remember what the chinese names of all the dishes were. decent place overall, although i prefer dtf's xlb's more. the rest of j&j's dishes are on par if not even slightly better than dtf's. for me, however, xlb's are the primary draw when i go. $40 for four people, including tax and tip.
(3)Jim C.
Good size portions but Din Tai Fung has better taste
(2)Anthony C.
Maybe I am a little biased after coming back from a half year stint in Asia, but I merely found their xiaolongbao and their dumpling to be okay. If you are in a rush and have no where else to go it is passable, but nothing I would really stand out and wait for.
(3)Jessica Y.
Definitely one of the best dumpling joints in the SGV. In addition to the typical pot stickers and dumplings which are all fantastic, get their shanghai-style noodles too. Chewy and greasy, just the way I like it!
(5)Milton F.
In my opinion, the best xiao long bao (steamed dumplings) in LA. Get the crab meat infused ones. I think they're something like $6.95, probably half price of the Arcadia Ding Tai Fung. DTF is way overrated anyway, at least outside of Taiwan. Even the Shanghai DTF was in the expats ghetto and was mucho expensive (500RMB+ for 2 people or about $50 back in 2006) for selling Shanghai style street food in freakin Shanghai. However, the original Taiwan DTF does definitely live up to its name. Anyway, sorry for digressing. Jin Jiang's Xie Fen Xiao Long Bao (hereafter referred to as XLB), besides being cheap, is very flavorful with the taste of crab meat featured prominently among the regular pork filling. The juices are not overwhelming, as in overflowing when you bite in, but there are some moderate amounts of juice. When it first comes, definitely take that little tiny bite of skin off and blow on it for a few secs before drinking the XLB juice. After 10 minutes or so the XLBs are safe to just pop in your mouth, if there are any left. Their Shanghai spring rolls are also pretty authentic. The outside is fried into a paper thin crispy wafer, and the inside is almost chowdery, like a very thick stew of mainly napa, mushrooms, and perhaps some meat. Very authentic. I also saw other people order pork chops, and they looked good too. Here's how to do pork chop noodle soup on the cheap. They have bowls of Yang Chun Mien, or plain noodle soup for 99 cents, dine in only. Get two and get a dish of fried pork chops for $6. $8 for two bowls of pork chop noodles, and more pork chops too! A meal for two of 1 crab XLB (8 pieces?), 1 order of spring roll, 2 bowls of plain noodle soup, and a side plate of Ba Bao Jiang (8-treasures sauce) for your plain noodle soup will run you about $18, including tax and tips. That's about 1/5th of the price at DTF... This place is nothing fancy, but the value and taste is +++ After reading some of the reviews here, I have to remind you that this place is more of a Chinese fast food. So why complain about the tea or the seating arrangements?
(4)Alexander C.
Crab and pork soup dumplings.. need I say more?!
(4)Jorge M.
I was blinded by pure dumpling awesomeness!!!!
(5)Bil B.
My wife loves dumplings and we decided to try this place because of Los Angeles magazines recommendation and her favorite place Luscious Dumpling was closed. Ordered the XLB dumplings with crab but not that tasty. The pan fried bun wasn't even edible. We took one bite and couldn't finish it. The pan fried dumplings were the best thing there but that isn't saying much. Prices aren't bad but if you can't eat what they serve then what's the point?? Stay clear and go to Luscious Dumpling instead....
(1)Bao T.
Primo and I decided to meet up for dinner on Thursday night at 9:30 pm, and since he wanted Asian, I proposed the SGV. Albeit, it was a bit of a drive for the both of us, but I couldn't think of any other area where he could indulge in his Asian cuisine. In hindsight, it was probably a bad idea to try to grab dinner that late since the majority of the decent establishments have already closed and the only places that were left were naturally the mediocre ones. So, it didn't come as a big surprise that our dining experience didn't really end on a good note, but at least I got to try out J&J Restaurant's XLB thanks to Yelp. "You Chinese You Don't Speak Chinese" is certainly a statement that I could never forget, but at least the waitress at J&J with her limited English didn't try to give me that kind of an attitude. She was trying her best to communicate to Primo and me, but somehow she omitted his noodle order so we just ended up having 1 order of the onion pancake, 1 order of the vegetable XLB and 1 order of the regular XLB with crab meat all for about $17. I liked the onion pancake although it was a bit oily, and my steamed vegetable XLB was actually really decent with mushrooms, tofu, and spinach. I wasn't expecting a lot of flavor, but it had a great balance of seasoning so it was a good start to our "surreal" dining misadventure in the SGV.
(3)T D.
J & J serves one of the best xiao long bao in town. I would characterize it as "rustic" because it has a slightly thicker skin with lots of flavor. It's definitely one of my favorite restaurants.
(4)J W.
I've had Shanghainese food many times and this place has to be one of the worst. Beef curry noodle was ok, I wish they use beef brisket and add some vegetables though. Pork wrapped in mochi was terrible. Zhong zi (rice wrapped in lotus leaves) sucks because there's no filling: only lean pork and rice soaked in soy sauce. It can't be compared to Cantonese style which is the best. Vermicelli noodle with some dumpling stuff was a rip off.
(2)Jessica C.
Altogether, the food took around an hour to come out. I think they purposely made our order last because we are college students. The whole time one of the waitresses kept looking at me and laughing. My table ordered beef noodle soup, dumpling pao, and pan fried dumplings. I admit that I only ate the noodle soup (it only took 5 minutes). By the time the dumpling pao came, I wasn't hungry anymore (took 25 minutes and 15 more minutes on top of that for the pan fried dumplings to come). The noodle soup was only average. The soup came out warm and not hot like I like it. Even if the other dishes were more delicious, I wouldn't come back because of the time it took for our food to come out.
(3)Min T.
Gotta love a cheap Chinese lunch! The five of us ordered: rice roll stuffed with preserved mustard greens and dried pork- apparently served as a traditional breakfast item. I've never had it before. It was okay. You unwrap it from its saran wrap and have it. I think I prefer the loh mi gai (lotus wrapped rice) at dim sum places better. rice cake with greens and sliced pork- a lighter option for rice cake than Shanghai style. It was simple and delicious. Could have used a bit more sliced pork but that's okay. pea sprouts with garlic- hm, the "sprouts" were rather mature looking but it was still tasty. Even after I saw the waitress pour some of the excess sauce into the trash before serving it to us. Shanghai style soup noodles with nappa cabbage- huge noodles, not my favorite. Soup was good though. XLBs with crab- I like Mei Long's better, the crab was a little too...artificial tasting to me XLBs- simple and delicious, the pork flavor really came through boiled dumplings- okay, nothing special panfried dumplings- more like "baos" and I didn't really like them very much. They're better at Mei Long, a few doors down. Chinese doughnut (yau til or as the Cantos say, yau jah gwei)- we didn't order porridge which is my preferred way of eating it but it's been years since I've had one so this was good. We call it a Chinese doughnut but it's probably closer to size and shape of a churro. After tip, it worked out to be $10 a person.
(3)Peter C.
This is "the best" place for xiao long bao (), small pork dumpling, in SoCal. It is very much a Chinese "small shop" with limited wait-service, cash-only payment and tiny tables. If this put you off, like me for most of the time, just come and order an order or two of XLB for take-out and you'll be happy.
(4)Simon V.
I have to say, this was a pleasant surprise. The small and unsightly interior will fool you, but the food is anything but a joke. Shanghai style fried noodles were tasty but quite oily, but as any other diehard fan of Shanghai cuisine will tell you, it's supposed to be glistening with grease. Then we had Beef with Vegetable and Rice. The rice was a bit gooey and sticky, but the consistency gradually grew on me. Sprinkled throughout were bits of 'suan cai' (or pickled mustard) and the beef was very tender and melted in my mouth. Sadly, the onion pancake was really bland. It should be bursting with flavor, but alas, there was none to be found. And of course, we had to sample their 'xiao long bao'. Having been unimpressed with Din Tai Fung, I didn't expect much from this establishment. It was actually pretty tasty, just as good if not better than Din Tai Fung. Overflowing with juice, it was even better with soy sauce/vinegar and slices of ginger. But I must admit that the 'xiao long bao' were presented much more nicely at Din Tai Fung, but that has no bearing on the taste. These four dishes filled a party of three quite nicely, with leftovers to spare at about $20. Pretty affordable. Although seating could be a problem as it gets a little crowded (even at 3pm, who eats at 3 anyways?), they might ask you to 'dap toi' (as we Cantonese like to call it), or in other words, share a table with another party. Come visit this place and fill up on cheap, greasy, Shanghainese food!
(4)Jon K.
XIAO LONG BAO - this was the reason we came, but got there late around 9:30 pm and they only have the crab meat Xiao Long Bao left. Ordered it and they used real crab meat in them. Tasted good. Ordered the beef stew noodle soup and was pretty average. Don't order the beef stew noodle soup with "rice" noodles tho, because the noodle had no taste. Stick with the regular noodle. The soup was oily and very dark looking. Also ordered the vegetable dumplings, and the skin got hard after awhile. I would try to eat it while it's hot next time. There was only one waitress working and taking orders. A bunch of people came in after us for the last run before the place closed. There was also only one guy in the back cooking. The tables were old, and they serve your hot tea in Styrofoam cups. Typical dumpling places to keep the cost down and not have to wash that much dishes. The place is very small, but the food is like home cooking. Prices are okay, but not cheap. The two restaurants next to this had no business that nite. I think everyone came here when they saw people inside eating and no-one inside the other restaurants. Overall, I good place to get a simple meal late at night when a lot of restaurants close at 9 pm.
(3)Pauline M.
stop #5 for the crawl. still the best for crab xlb. the review is solely for the crab xlb.
(5)Nette C.
The soup in the xiao long bao must've had crack in it. I'm still fantasizing about them dumplings. The potstickers were yummy and crispy too, but the puddles of grease were a turn-off. The crab meat dumplings had a distinct crab flavor in the soup, and a different texture in the dumpling. It was done very well, but I discovered I'm not into crab meat dumplings at all =) The fried meat buns (shen zian bao) were too doughy and had already absorbed any soup that may have been there, so the inside was soggy. It's considered pretty good here though, since I haven't been to a restaurant in the U.S. where this was done right. The nian gao had only a few strips of chicken meat, and the texture of the rice ovals wasn't bouncy. The taste was very good. Overall, J&J doesn't disappoint, and my food came out piping hot (on a Sunday afternoon when it was quite busy.)
(4)Derrick L.
Why this place is called J&J i have no idea but the food is pretty decent. I was in town for the weekend and wanted to try Din Tai Fung but wound up waking up pretty late; therefore, DTF was out of the question unless I was willing to wait a few hours. That being considered, I yelped this place for Xiao Long Baos and decided to give it a try. Upon arrival, the small restaurant was packed but tables quickly became vacated and we were seated. Ordered the hot and sour soup, an order of Xiao long bao, and shanghai noodles. The hot and sour soup was pretty decent. When I say decent, I mean its not your typical "soup of the day" that you get for free when you eat at a Chinese restaurant or Panda Express. And its not your chicken broth with an egg drop in it with some vinegar and pepper. This was the real deal. From wood ear fungus, to dark soy sauce marinated pork, to the bamboo shoots and tofu. None of that button mushroom, carrots and peas kinda crap most places use for filler. It was sour but not too sour, and a tiny bit spicy, just enough to make you open your eyes and say "Hello!" I personally like my hot and sour soup to be pretty spicy so this was a bit of a snooze for me on the heat level. But nonetheless, pretty authentic. The shanghai noodles were a disappointment. THere was a few spinach leaves here and there, and maybe like 2-3 tiny pieces of meat. Flavor was provided with light soy sauce and well, that's pretty much it. The Xiao Long Baos were pretty much the hit of the meal. The soup inside was flavorful and well balanced and the skin was firm yet tender. A lot of places either make them too firm so they taste kind of dough-y and some places make them too tender so that they fall apart even before they get to your table, thus totally defeating the delight in xiao long baos which is the soup. Overall, this place is decent and cheap eats. The bill came out to be I think close to 20 bucks. Not bad for a meal for 2 people with leftovers.
(3)J W.
Din Tai Fung, Arcadia could learn a thing or two from the folks at J&J when it comes to making xiao long bao (steamed dumplings). The dumplings here are just packed with juices and ten times more flavorful. Your taste buds will love you for introducing them to your mouth. Yeah there is talk about how the skin is not as thin as the xlb from DTF, but as a dumpling connoisseur, my priorities are flavor and juiciness. J&J exceed both of those requirements. So last night we were looking forward to the pork xlb, but they ran out. BUT they still had pork and crab dumplings. Normally crab dumplings just do not come out as delicious as the meat ones, but last night they were juicy and impeccable. Their other menu items were good as well. The pan fried pork buns lacked juiciness, but were tasty and crunchified. Sauteed rice cake had a small hint of smokiness, but not as flavorful as it could be. Beef noodle soup was, (like D K said) not as spicy as preferred but still hit the spot. Everything else overall was not the best, but still very good. I have held back on writing a review for this place cuz I'm mindful of sharing those cherished little places I love and have it be more crowded than it already is. And this place is already SMALL and busy. We went on a Tuesday night and were still succumbed to at least a 15 minute wait. CASH ONLY.
(4)Denis K.
Yelpers are the BESTEST and we KNOW where the best foods are at. But what we didn't expect was an UUYE (Unplanned Unofficial Yelp Event). Say what??? The wife and I felt like dumplings last night. Naturally we jumped in the car and headed for J&J. When we arrived we noticed the restaurant had remodeled a bit. Walls newly painted, new light fixtures (it's so much brighter now), and posters of their best dishes on the windows to torture you while you wait for a table in this small little restaurant. So there we were... waiting ... COLD and hungry. While the wife stayed in front of the door I wandered off to the side restaurants to see what they got. All of them EMPTY but J&J was packed with not a single empty seat. When i turned around to walk back to the restaurant, I noticed a familiar face. Yelpers!!! Judy and Ellis came right after us for the same purpose. Dumplings. (insert Homer Simpson drool sound bit.. aaarrraaawwwww dumplings.) Two minutes later another person was pointing up and down at Judy and asking "what are you doing here?" It was Merrill who just finished dinner next door. We had a "Yelpers Unite" moment right there. Anyway, a table opened up and we invited Judy and Ellis to come eat with us. I seriously doubt they wanted to continue to wait in the cold. Dinner with them was great. Great company. And since we have more people, we can order more variety.. A total win win. Ok back to the food. shau lone bao - (pork) they ran out. I was so disappointed. I couldn't get my fix. but they had the crab meat shau lone bao. shau lone bao - (crab meat) 2 orders.. this isn't always good at every restaurant. sometimes the crab meat is a bit fishy. But tonight the dumpling gods were looking over us. It was awesome. Each dumpling was full of soup inside and the taste was unbeatable. "Cow fu" - this is not a fighting style. But the name is how it sounds. Appetizer dish with gluten puff, black mushrooms, lily root, black fungus. It's a delightable Shanghainese dish. J&J doesn't have the best but it still really tasty. Pan fried pork buns - A tasty filler that compliment a salty dish with sauce to perfection. mmmmmm Chinese rice cakes with special vegetable (Jee chai) Another honest and good noodle like dish that just cant go wrong. Beef noodle soup (translated as red roasted) - I would prefer this to be alot spicier but the flavor is good and beef noodle soup always hits the spot. Yum is good. At the end we were STUFFED. Thanks Judy and Ellis for being great accidental dinner company. Plus I didn't want to take the chance of you two staring at us from across the room for not offering. hahah jk. Good times good times. For the financially conscious, the bill was about $9 per person. Can't beat that for variety. Oh minor detail. Cash only.
(4)Heng Y.
Whenever I had cravings for dumplings, I would drive up from San Diego to eat here. This is how good their dumpling is. I have been to Din Tai Fung nearby, but I have to say in comparison, Din Tai Fun's dumpling is only good looking, but no where as tasty as J & J's.
(5)