Serious Eats - seriouseats.com

I was just driving into work dreaming of XLB (not unusual for me..) and this post just took my craving to the next level! Thankfully I live near Din Tai Fung!

awww, that jug always reminds me of my childhood. There always used to be a smaller version tucked away somewhere in the kitchen.

I must second @sobriquet - this line is perfection btw -- "I forgot that the "no drinking in the park" rule is suspended whenever a critical mass of white people gets together to eat hummus on blankets adjacent to Culture." lol, almost lost my sip of tea

I'm a Cali girl - born and raised - and I agree with the outcome. Shake Shack is to die for! I love In&Out too and the 5guys that just opened by my job is cool occasionally.
One gripe - In&Out cheese usually isn't as melty as pictured. I think your reheating messed with it. Usually the cheese is melted but still quite solid (does that make sense?). I feel like Shake Shack could of taken that category.

This is a pretty cruel weekday post. So tempting, yet so out of reach. Thanks, I guess ;)

Very cool guys! BIG improvement

Another vote for xiaolongbao...although we usually call it "those dumplings with the pork and hot soup that you try really hard not to pierce with your chopsticks so you can have that wonderful juicy mouthful." I also live for those red bean paste things. However, the last two times I went for dim sum they had them filled with this coconut junk :( I can't complain though because there are so many places to choose from near me in San Gabriel Valley :)

the whole grilled onion is the best - been on that for years now

Wasn't it more of a Angelo/Mike Isabella bromance?

Coming to town next week and have Tuesday reservations...very excited! Thanx for the preview Kenji :)

Ribeye please

Grits!

@shimpiphany - totally agree w/ your first comment about this spot.