The standard bearer for xiao long bao (soup dumplings), Din Tai Fung’s impossibly thin wrappers have just enough transparency to show soup underneath while still packing a rich soup and meat filling.

This new Highland Park strip mall shop comes from the folks behind Luscious Dumplings in Arcadia, and everything tastes just as good as the SGV version. Prices are slightly higher but honestly, it’s worth saving the trip out east. Try the pan fried pork dumplings and the baby bok choy with oyster sauce. —Matthew Kang

It’s easy to miss Tasty Noodle House, what with Golden Deli so prominently nearby, but this small shop puts out a doughy fried pork bun that’s got a crunchy bottom not unlike the shengjianbao at Kang Kang Food Court.

Uncovering the vegetarian dumplings at Happy Noodles was thanks to a post on bustling bulletin board community at Food Talk Central, and the squash, wood-ear mushroom and glass noodle filled dumplings don’t disappoint.

Pine and Crane is as good as Chinese food gets west of the 110, and that’s not much of a qualifier here: The pan fried pork buns with kurobuta pork stand up to anything in the SGV.

Zui Xiang Yuan occupies the old Flavor Garden space, and in a trend that’s becoming increasingly familiar, occupies the same Flavor Garden menu and specialties — including those great leek and scrambled egg pockets.

101 Noodle Express might famous for their beef rolls, but the thick-skinned potstickers also get heavy rotation alongside the hand-pulled noodle dishes.

At this point it hardly bears repeating that Kang Kang has some of the best sheng jian bao in the game — those shatteringly crunchy-fried pleated tops and scalding soupy filling are as trademark as it gets in the SGV. That said, on a list of dumplings in Los Angeles, omitting Kang Kang’s sheng jian bao would probably amount to a minor crime.

Whether it’s steamed pork and cabbage or xiao long bao, the Beverly Grove branch of this rapidly expanding chain plays all the hits in some tony digs. Able to stand up to much of the SGV, it’s a welcome development in a part of town dotted with high-end dining options.

Qing Dao Bread Food has a funny name and an absolute date-destroying garlic sauce that’s perfect paired with its boiled dumpling options. Whether it’s beef or sole and chinese parsley, there are no dumpling duds at QDBF.

Golden Pouch has been a more-than-serviceable respite for many of those unwilling to make the trek all the way to the San Gabriel Valley proper, including some well-constructed xiao long bao and dim sum offerings.

The Taiwanese restaurant with the killer leek and pork dumplings is a bit of a drive for most Angelenos, but it’s one of a few great options for dumplings in Hacienda Heights, along with Rowland Heights an oft-overlooked area for some great Chinese food in general.