"This beloved Taiwanese dumpling chain needs no introduction, but their location on the third floor of Santa Monica Place offers something special—the opportunity to eat xiao long bao with an ocean view. Expect expertly pleated soup dumplings, garlicky string beans, and spicy wontons with chili oil that you’ll want to put on everything. The spacious turf-lined patio, bamboo steamer-shaped booths, and see-through dumpling window into the kitchen? Bonuses. There’s even a giant abacus by the front, in case you want to calculate the tip the old-fashioned way." - brant cox