Location: 855 S Baldwin Ave, Arcadia, CA 91007. (626) 445-3700
Date: January 23, 2020
Cuisine: Chinese
Rating: A- dim sum
Continuing our Lunch Quest series of random lunch visits we decide to check in on the China Red dim sum.
For some reason I’ve been on a run of places on the slightly more “Eastern” half of the main SGV. Slightly more annoying drive too as it’s 10-15 minutes further.
The outside.
The interior is typical midsized Cantonese. There is some DM (deferred maintenance). This is very Chinese, but the place is only a couple years old and is showing some wear and tear.
Zoom.
Sauces.
Har Gow (shrimp dumplings) – large, but hot and good.
Chicken feet in XO sauce.
Pork ribs — ugly but tasty.
Shu Mai (pork and shrimp dumplings) — large but tasty version of the classic.
Shrimp and Leek Dumplings — quite nice. One of the better dumplings.
Sticky rice in lotus leaf — good.
Crunchy baked BBQ pork bun — slightly mushy interior.
Pork Rib Chow Fun — I didn’t realize that this was just the ribs on top of some chow fun. I would have ordered a different one had I known.
Dumplings with an interesting peanut and meat paste inside. I didn’t adore.
XLB (Xao Lao Bao) – juicy pork dumplings. Very nice version.
Shrimp paste with almonds – Basically a shrimp spring roll covered in almonds. Interesting texture.
Another dumpling type with a brown spinach mush inside — not my favorite at all.
Beef balls — ok.
Crispy fried squab — very dense and meaty. Not my favorite squab.
Spicy cabbage — I love this dish as always.
Double Shot Gelato — Hot brewed espresso gelato with house-made dark chocolate hazelnut ganache — made by me for @sweetmilkgelato — this will keep you up! — #dessert #icecream #FrozenDessert #nomnom #dessertlovers #dessertporn #icecreamlovers #gelatoitaliano #foodporn #gelatolover #food #foodgasm #foodblogger #dessertgasm #desserttime #foodphotography #gelatoartigianale #gelatomania #dessertlover #icecream #icecreamlovers #chocolate #valrhona #espresso #coffee #hazelnut #ganache
Peppered Lemongrass Ginger Creme Brûlée Gelato — A blended milk and Thai coconut cream base steeped with lemongrass and ginger and then juiced up with yuzu and black pepper. For sugar, I used coconut palm sugar and even torched the top! — created by me for @sweetmilkgelato –#SweetMilkGelato #gelato #dessert #icecream #FrozenDessert #nomnom #dessertlovers #dessertporn #icecreamlovers #gelatoitaliano #foodporn #gelatolover #food #foodgasm #foodblogger #dessertgasm #desserttime #foodphotography #gelatoartigianale #gelatomania #dessertlover #icecream #icecreamlovers #lemongrass #ginger #CremeBrûlée #BlackPepper #coconut #yuzu
China Red is a solid “made to order” dimsum place. It’s better than pretty much all the cart places, but it’s not the best ever, and the menu is pretty small and straightforward. Which place is the best in the SGV is always changing, but generally 2-3 are A+ and a whole bunch are good but not quite as good — that’s where China Red falls.
For my catalog of Chinese restaurant reviews in China, click here.