11/24/2018
It's really funny how these "best" lists work.
Value or chi chi poo poo ness?
Traditional versus fusion (chicken foie gras dumplings...c'mon)? Location, ambience, or kickbacks?
To be honest, I have yet to eat at a dumpling place in San Francisco (and other parts of the Bay Area) that really dazzled me...lights my tastebuds on fire...makes my tongue fall off with excitement.
With dumplings, sauces, dips, drizzles...are really important to enhance the dumplings. All dumplings places I've been to throw away an opportunity to elevate this dish into the stratosphere.
And then there are sometimes just oddities that go into putting a best list together. For example, eatery #4 on the list (Mong Gok) is a take out dim sum place. I've bought stuff there and thought they were okay. I don't think it is particularly known for the dumplings. There's always a line....mostly tourists. So I'm guessing that place is listed in guidebooks. And there's this phenomenon of perpetuation: there's a long line, let's stand in it, the food must be good. In fact, the food is...meh.
The funny thing is that the eatery just north of it has THE WORLD'S TASTIEST FRIED CHICKEN WINGS...and THERE IS HARDLY EVER A LINE. People who know just quietly and steadily go in to buy the yumminess. It delights me to no end that I get to revel in my little secret, walk past these people who love to stand in lines and just get my yummy chicken wings.
So there you go.
World renowned Ding Tai Fung in Cupertino is just okay. I've heard a couple places in Fremont are to die for. So I need to check them out and get back to y'alls.
So yes...Onward to find tasty dumplings!
Where to feast on the city's top dough
