Reviewing Mama Lu’s Dumpling House: A traditional Chinese family-style restaurant with a Taiwanese twist in Monterey Park.  

Mama Lu’s is located in the infamous 626 area, also known as the San Gabriel Valley (SGV), where some of the best Chinese food in the L.A. area can be found. Mama Lu’s is absolutely no exception with their extensive menu containing a variety of authentic Chinese dishes as well as some interesting fusion ones. This is a great spot to bring your friends or family as there is bound to be something on the menu for everyone!  

I went on a Sunday evening, and there was definitely a long wait for a table. However, they were very efficient with taking orders and serving food, so the wait time flew by. Once seated, I was given a teapot of piping hot tea as well as iced water. It was nice to be provided with tea because I find that Chinese food is served best with a cup of tea. Their menu had both English and Chinese names, making it inclusive for all customers. 

After scanning the menu, I decided to order some of their most popular dishes: spicy green beans, beef roll, corn and egg soup, stir fry beef udon, salt and pepper chicken wings, and spicy pork and shrimp wontons. I probably ordered more than enough food, but I wanted to try a bunch of their dishes and it was so difficult to just pick a couple! After ordering, the food came out quickly and not all at once. They seemed to bring out each dish as it was finished cooking, so it came to the table piping hot.

All of the dishes I ordered were absolutely delicious! My favorites were definitely the green beans, beef udon, and chicken wings. The spicy green beans were fried lightly first so they had some blistering on the outside. Then, they were stir fried in this tasty, spicy sauce. The udon dish was super saucy and flavorful, and the udon noodles were perfectly cooked so they still had a nice, chewy texture. The chicken wings were fried well, giving the exterior a nice crunch, and they were generously seasoned with salt and pepper. 

After eating, I was left with plenty of leftovers because their portion sizes are rather sizable. Mama Lu’s is a must-visit for anyone craving some delicious, authentic Chinese food in the L.A. area. Be sure to visit in between meal times, or on weekdays, because they are a popular choice that gets busy.  

Next time I visit, I will be sure to try some of their other popular dishes like the pork xiao long bao (soup dumplings) or salt and pepper pork chop. Regardless of what you order at Mama Lu’s, you will not be disappointed. Every dish here knocked it out of the park with bursting flavors and a gorgeous presentation. I can’t wait to come back!