Aristocrat Motel

It’s hard to order poorly at this delightful retreat. The menu is concise, with half of the items dedicated to the eponymous specialty. Indeed, this narrow hot spot has been a city-wide favorite since it opened in 2001 and continues to draw lines so long that servers leave a sign-in sheet outside. The secret to their success? Discipline. While many spots make dumplings ahead of time and freeze them, this kitchen starts fresh every morning.It’s best to begin slowly with a tray of boiled pork and celery jiaozi—the wrapping smooth to the touch and boasting just the right amount of bite. Anything

This beloved Cantonese restaurant could easily glide solely on its reputation, and yet, its devoted chefs meet the moment again and again. One of the first of its kind to offer dim sum à la carte, rather than by an actual cart, items arrive piping hot, fresh from the steamer. You really can’t go wrong, with each course seasoned and cooked to exacting standards. Bigger plates are all the rage at night — including sweet and sour pork, which finds elevation in this trusty kitchen's hands. Anything with seafood is a sure bet, but don’t miss the preserved salty egg bun with molten yolk. Families ca

Lines form long before doors open at this landmark Taiwanese restaurant, which has history dating back several decades. Once inside, things move quickly. A concise menu hangs above the cash register, though most already know what they’re here for: The spicy, wonderfully aromatic beef noodle soup is one of the very best in town. Other hits include sesame dry noodles and the beef tripe and pork shank. The food comes quickly, and you’ll be out in 20 minutes — but talking about your meal for weeks to come.

Manohar's Delhi Palace is a mainstay thanks to their delicious Punjabi cuisine, and there's a welcoming vibe about this place, where the waitstaff is especially friendly and attentive. Indicative of its north Indian focus, the food here leans on the milder side, so don't expect an onslaught of spices. Order à la carte or go all in on the tandoori dinner but be sure to get an order of the samosas, fried to a perfect crisp with that comforting filling of potatoes and peas. Chicken tikka masala features a generous amount of tender and juicy chicken that's skewered and seared before being added to

The shopping block exterior off Rosemead Boulevard might be unremarkable, but the expansive interior, splashed with red, gold and blue, is as comfortable as it is eye-catching. The culinary offerings are no less opulent, deriving from royal Manchu cuisine, first established in the imperial courts of the Qing dynasty, and boasting no shortage of luxury ingredients. The menu has a plentitude of options, but you’re likely to see many neighboring tables enjoying a signature lightly battered shrimp, fried together with their tender shells to an airy crispness, and diced black pepper Angus beef is s

This Rosemead restaurant may be slightly short on fuss, with a well-lit dining room with booths and banquette seating and ordering conducted via a tablet, but the Chinese menu with a variety of offerings is the real reason you're here anyway. Several items are musts, including the rou jia mo, a street food-style Chinese hamburger of sorts with your choice of a protein (order the Kurobuta pork that's slow cooked and sandwiched between a properly crispy flatbread). Other nonnegotiables include xiao long bao, or soup dumplings, and the braised beef noodles with tender and flavorful beef and sprin

Tony He may not be a household name, but dim sum enthusiasts know him from his work at Sea Harbour, which he opened in Vancouver in 1999, and then later in Rosemead. Just a few miles down the road in Arcadia, he offers a similar experience in a more casual setting with nary a fish tank in sight and a large window offering views into the kitchen. Steam rises at all hours as chefs prepare delicate bites, like steamed shrimp and scallop dumplings crowned with roe, or sticky rice wrapped in lotus root. Everything is ordered à la carte, so those hoping for roving carts should look elsewhere.