For Those Who Will Never Get To Walnut--A Visit To XLB Dumpling Bar

**chandavkl** · December 10, 2018, 5:34pm

Yes. Chinese have an affinity for newly constructed residential subivisions.

**JThur01** · December 10, 2018, 5:51pm

Rowland Heights, City of Industry and Hacienda Heights are considered part of the San Gabriel Valley mainly for metro purposes, though they are techincally in a branch valley. Walnut and Diamond Bar are considered SGV along the same lines, but that is pushing it. Chino Hills is in San Bernardino County, over the hills, so it is not. It’s in the Pomona Valley.

In case anyone would wonder a literal definition, it would be based on the valley created by the San Gabriel River.

**JThur01** · December 10, 2018, 5:54pm

Another point is newer areas allow for newer developments restaurant wise as well. Newer spaces, often lower rents and, perhaps more favorable conditions and circumstances in the permit process.

**J_L** · December 10, 2018, 6:45pm

AKA Irvine. It’s also important that all the homes look the SAME, 'cuz we all know what happens to the tallest blade of grass…

**teriyakichi** · December 10, 2018, 7:12pm

Those all happened to be good School Districts.

**Sgee** · December 10, 2018, 8:17pm

It must adhere to Feng Shui master approved ‘throne’ configuration.

**Xochitl** · December 10, 2018, 8:44pm

I went to high school in Irvine, and how I hated it! Boring suburbia. Cookie cutter homes, we called them. The homes are just as stifling, but at least the food has improved, dramatically.

**LAFoodiePanda** · December 11, 2018, 6:17pm

Talk about going eastward, there is a plaza with 99 Ranch Market, a Sichuanese restaurant, an XLB dumpling place, and an HK style cafe place out in Rancho Cucamonga. Sichuanese food was pretty solid.

As for the cheeseburger buns…I think the Cheeseburger Potstickers at Shirley Chung’s Ms. Chi in Culver City would be a better bite. There’s also a new food court out in Chino Hills, where one of the eateries is offering a cheeseburger dumpling as well…

**chandavkl** · December 11, 2018, 7:34pm

99 Ranch Market has been in Rancho Cucamonga for quite a while (I’m guessing 12 to 15 years). Originally there was little in the way appurtenant of Chinese businesses but that has changed with the recent surge of Chinese homebuyers in that community. Still I wonder where the Chinese in Rancho Cucamonga go for their Chinese food, as there aren’t that many places in and around 99 Ranch Market to service them all.

I’m aware of Ms Chi’s cheeseburger dumplings, which is reasonably convenient geographically for me. However, having been unimpressed with a number of offerings at their Culver City location, I haven’t been inclined to give it another round.

**LAFoodiePanda** · December 11, 2018, 8:11pm

Red Chilli House would be one. In the same plaza as 99 Ranch, and the food is quite good. I’m surprised to hear that the market’s been around that long.

**chandavkl** · December 11, 2018, 8:37pm

This location opened 8 years ago, but they were over on Foothill Blvd. for a while a few years earlier.

**CiaoBob** · December 11, 2018, 9:18pm

This makes me laugh: we are watching and discussing the proliferation of Chinese (and other Asian) fare “Eastward,” as it moves farther and farther from the Far East.
#onlyinla #everythingisrelative

**bruins** · December 11, 2018, 9:48pm

That Chino Hills food court (Cravings) is actually owned by 99 Ranch. I’ve been once so far and enjoyed it. Very much a hipster/instagram feel but the food my coworkers and I got was tasty.

I also let the coworkers know that we should check out XLB Dumping Bar and they informed me that they had already been (and enjoyed). Ugh I am forever behind.

**A5KOBE** · December 12, 2018, 5:31am

**chandavkl** · December 12, 2018, 5:58am

There’s also the Philly cheesesteak wrap at the Bao Shoppe in Manhattan Chinatown, which essentially is a beef roll with cheese thrown in. Historically I guess these are all descendants of the Philly Cheesesteak egg roll invented a number of years ago in Philadelphia.

**MrTaster** · December 13, 2018, 9:10am

To be fair, I’m not sure the observation of the “shift” originated with any one person, but rather is obvious to anyone who cares to gives the SGV more than a cursory look. I do recall at one point many years ago the late Jonathan Gold discussing how the East SGV scene as being more intensely Chinese and the harbinger of things to come elsewhere in the SGV. I’m not saying he originated the idea, only that the evidence is out there for all to see.

By the way I’m coming back for a visit 19-26 Dec and I’m checking in to see what changes have happened since I left (in 2015-- how the time flies). I wonder if XLB Dumpling Bar is worth a visit? (By the way, is it XLB and Dumplings?

Mr Taster

**chandavkl** · December 13, 2018, 6:18pm

XLB Dumpling Bar is probably too far out of the way for you to go by, particularly given everything that’s happened the last 3 years. I would highlight newer restaurant openings, particularly Mainland China chains that have opened up branches such as Bistro Na’s, as well as perhaps the new leader in dim sum, Longo Seafood

**bulavinaka** · December 13, 2018, 9:04pm

Hot pots are outpacing boba shops in the SGV.

**bruins** · December 21, 2018, 6:39pm

Finally made it yesterday. Getting there around noon on a Thursday with a group of 8 was no issue; the restaurant was lively but not super packed.

We were also unable to get any of the cheeseburger baos, but can confirm the XLB were porky and delicious, the wontons were delicate and pretty good, the dan dan noodles were very peanuty, and the pork + shrimp dumplings were good when dipped in their ginger vinegar sauce or spicy dipping sauce. Coworkers who ordered the purple taro ube milk tea enjoyed it. An enormous feast ended up being $13/pp. Also the space is fairly gleaming, looking not unlike every all-white kitchen on HGTV these days.

**bruins** · April 16, 2019, 8:04pm

Just had the cheeseburger bao for the first time. The flavor is not unlike that of a McDonald’s double cheeseburger.