Mar 2013

Hui Tou Xiang Noodles House – San Gabriel

Hui Tou Xiang Noodles House - San Gabriel

Have you ever woken up with a killer craving for dumplings? I swear this happens to me every other weekend, and thankfully, I live minutes away from the best dumplings around. Though not particularly known for its dining options, Pasadena is the gateway to Chinese food heaven. I’d snag a summer home here if I were you.

Hui Tou Xiang Noodles House - San Gabriel

To satisfy the beast this Sunday morning, The Astronomer and I passed over our beloved haunts (Mama’s Lu, Dean Sin World, Din Tai Fung, etc.) and headed to Hui Tou Xiang Noodles House. This newish spot in town came recommended by Louise and Jonathan—two very trusty bellies.

Hui Tou Xiang Noodles House - San Gabriel

We were seated straightaway and treated to a dish of kimchi. Mostly sweet and a little spicy, the fermented cabbage offered a fine diversion as we perused the menu and placed our orders.

Hui Tou Xiang Noodles House - San Gabriel

Showing uncharacteristic restraint this afternoon, The Astronomer and I selected just a duo of dumplings. While ordering two dishes for two people is standard behavior, this was a legitimate milestone for these two lil’ pigs. Oink.

Hui Tou Xiang Noodles House - San Gabriel

The first dish to arrive was the xiao long bao, soup dumplings packed with pork and crab meat ($6.95). I was hoping for a rush of sweet crab meat followed by a whisper of pork, but experienced the opposite instead. The kitchen may have changed the recipe since Louise’s visit—I mean, look at that roe.

The lack of crab meat didn’t hinder my enjoyment of these xiao long bao, it just made it difficult to differentiate them from the sea of soup dumplings in the neighborhood.

Hui Tou Xiang Noodles House - San Gabriel

Our second and final dish was Hui Tou Xiang’s signature offering, the pork hui tou ($6.95). While the soup dumplings left a little to be desired, these were as awesome as billed. The dumplings’ skins were nice and chewy with a fabulously golden sear, while the innards were imbued with onions and juicy like you wouldn’t believe.

Dumpling craving: satisfied.

Hui Tou Xiang Noodles House
704 W Las Tunas Drive, Ste. 5
San Gabriel, CA 91776
Phone: 626-281-9888

There’s more delicious Chinese (and Vietnamese) food to eat in San Gabriel:

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3 thoughts on “Hui Tou Xiang Noodles House – San Gabriel

  1. This is my new favorite mini mal in the SGV-
    this place rocks, as does Luscious Dumplings RIGHT next door. Add in Michelle’s Pancakes (yum) and the Vietnamese Restaurant across the parking lot, adn you really don’t need to go anywhere else.

  2. Scott – You’ll also have to try Nanjing Kitchen next door to Michelle’s Pancakes. They make an exceptional Nanjing-style salted duck.

  3. Glad you got your craving satisfied even if it was slightly different than what you expected.

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