Chinese, where would you live?

[gaogi]

I am seldom wrong Crispy. You have a boy?

Crispy, since you've been roaming on the forums for a while, you probably already know many of irvinehomeshopper's comments are tongue-in-cheek.  I don't think you need to worry much about gangs here.  Irvine PD is pretty active in cracking down on anyone wearing Dickie's.

 

[traceimage]

http://www.streetgangs.com/asian/arcadiahttp://articles.latimes.com/1993-06-09/local/me-1164_1_arcadia-high-students

I realize the second link is old. But Wah-Ching has shown up in Arcadia High again recently and has made front page in the chinese new paper a few times in the last couple of years. It is rumored that the San Gabriel Valley area has become THE place to duck out for Wah-Ching when there's trouble... I have no idea if the rumor is true or not but I'd rather not risk it.

Hahaha...my husband always jokes that once something appears in the Chinese newspaper, it becomes absolute gospel truth to the community that reads it.

 

[Crispy3]

Hehe, it's actually a big deal for my family. I actually landed in NY when I first came to the states... We lived in Queens for a couple of months and eventually bought a place in Long Island. I am not sure if anyone is familiar with Great Neck, one can compare it to Black Hawk or Beverly Hills on the west coast. We stayed in Great Neck for about 2-3 years and suddenly moved to Northern Cali. I was later told that we moved due to one of my sisters thinking she was in love with a local Chinese gang member from Queens. Ever since then it's been a sensitive topic for the family and you can bet my parents makes a big deal out of it when gang stories shows up on Chinese news papers.

But yes... I have been quietly roaming the board and is familiar with irvinehomeshopper's comments. I figured I'd entertain since it's my first day posting.

http://www.streetgangs.com/asian/arcadiahttp://articles.latimes.com/1993-06-09/local/me-1164_1_arcadia-high-students

I realize the second link is old. But Wah-Ching has shown up in Arcadia High again recently and has made front page in the chinese new paper a few times in the last couple of years. It is rumored that the San Gabriel Valley area has become THE place to duck out for Wah-Ching when there's trouble... I have no idea if the rumor is true or not but I'd rather not risk it.

Hahaha...my husband always jokes that once something appears in the Chinese newspaper, it becomes absolute gospel truth to the community that reads it.

 

[irvinehomeshopper]

Black Hawk in Danville is nothing other than giant oversize tract boxes. Sports celebrities are not exactly known for the good taste in houses. If you said Atherton, Hillsbourough, even the hills of Piedmont or St Francis Wood of the Bay Area then I would say you know your Great Neck architecture well with a predominantly high pitch roof exceeding 9:12 slope comprised of mostly shingle, colonial and Tudor homes while Blackhawk homes has less than 6:12 pitch roof of mostly Mediterranean varieties built after 1975. Beverly Hills may be too ostentatious comparatively.

 

[irvinehomeshopper]

Queen has been the stumping ground for new immigrants for almost 30 years just like Monterey Park. Flushing is the new Chinatown like Rowland Heights. All are not pretty. However who cares as long the restaurants are awesome! If you are still well connected to NY still. Which one the two places is the champion for their steam dumplings? Joes Shanghai in manhattan or Nan Xiang in Flushing? Ding in Arcadia is overrated so don't mention it. So is Mama Lu on Garvey.

Hehe, it's actually a big deal for my family. I actually landed in NY when I first came to the states... We lived in Queens for a couple of months and eventually bought a place in Long Island. I am not sure if anyone is familiar with Great Neck, one can compare it to Black Hawk or Beverly Hills on the west coast. We stayed in Great Neck for about 2-3 years and suddenly moved to Northern Cali. I was later told that we moved due to one of my sisters thinking she was in love with a local Chinese gang member from Queens. Ever since then it's been a sensitive topic for the family and you can bet my parents makes a big deal out of it when gang stories shows up on Chinese news papers.

But yes... I have been quietly roaming the board and is familiar with irvinehomeshopper's comments. I figured I'd entertain since it's my first day posting.

http://www.streetgangs.com/asian/arcadiahttp://articles.latimes.com/1993-06-09/local/me-1164_1_arcadia-high-students

I realize the second link is old. But Wah-Ching has shown up in Arcadia High again recently and has made front page in the chinese new paper a few times in the last couple of years. It is rumored that the San Gabriel Valley area has become THE place to duck out for Wah-Ching when there's trouble... I have no idea if the rumor is true or not but I'd rather not risk it.

Hahaha...my husband always jokes that once something appears in the Chinese newspaper, it becomes absolute gospel truth to the community that reads it.

 

[gld2]

Are you a Chinese, IHS?  You seem knowing everything about Chinese

Queen has been the stumping ground for new immigrants for almost 30 years just like Monterey Park. Flushing is the new Chinatown like Rowland Heights. All are not pretty. However who cares as long the restaurants are awesome! If you are still well connected to NY still. Which one the two places is the champion for their steam dumplings? Joes Shanghai in manhattan or Nan Xiang in Flushing? Ding in Arcadia is overrated so don't mention it. So is Mama Lu on Garvey.

Hehe, it's actually a big deal for my family. I actually landed in NY when I first came to the states... We lived in Queens for a couple of months and eventually bought a place in Long Island. I am not sure if anyone is familiar with Great Neck, one can compare it to Black Hawk or Beverly Hills on the west coast. We stayed in Great Neck for about 2-3 years and suddenly moved to Northern Cali. I was later told that we moved due to one of my sisters thinking she was in love with a local Chinese gang member from Queens. Ever since then it's been a sensitive topic for the family and you can bet my parents makes a big deal out of it when gang stories shows up on Chinese news papers.

But yes... I have been quietly roaming the board and is familiar with irvinehomeshopper's comments. I figured I'd entertain since it's my first day posting.

http://www.streetgangs.com/asian/arcadiahttp://articles.latimes.com/1993-06-09/local/me-1164_1_arcadia-high-students

I realize the second link is old. But Wah-Ching has shown up in Arcadia High again recently and has made front page in the chinese new paper a few times in the last couple of years. It is rumored that the San Gabriel Valley area has become THE place to duck out for Wah-Ching when there's trouble... I have no idea if the rumor is true or not but I'd rather not risk it.

Hahaha...my husband always jokes that once something appears in the Chinese newspaper, it becomes absolute gospel truth to the community that reads it.

 

[zubs]

I think he use to live in shipping containers in HK.

FYI: I heard asian optometry place has to pay protection money in Irvine.  Just a rumor.

 

[jamboreedude]

If you were a newly arrived Chinese immigrant or even a Chinese American, where in Southern California would you want to live and why?

example: Irvine, Diamond Bar, Arcadia, Monterey Park, Chino Hills?

Give me your top five places?

If all depends how much money you have. But I would rule out places like Malibu or Beverly Hills that are far from Chinese communities. If you have $2m+ cash, Newport Coast, Shady Canyon or Turtle Ridge of Irvine. I spoke to Joele who is specialized in Turtle Ridge. Move than half of the sales in Turtle Ridge are to all cash buyers from China.

My friend's nanny came from Shanghai. She sold her house in Shanghai and bought a detached condo in Woodbury. Even though she doesn't speak English and doesn't have a school year kid, she still prefers Irvine. Irvine is safe and nanny job pays higher here.

Is she legal in the States?

Yes, immigration sponsored by adult siblings, which took more than 10 years in waiting.

Our of curiosity, how much is nanny care a month (preferably chinese native (mainlander), mandarin speaker)?

 

[Crispy3]

I was just using Black Hawk and Beverly Hills as analogy for Great Neck because they are well known prestigious communities. I don't know jack about architecture and never claimed that I did.

Black Hawk in Danville is nothing other than giant oversize tract boxes. Sports celebrities are not exactly known for the good taste in houses. If you said Atherton, Hillsbourough, even the hills of Piedmont or St Francis Wood of the Bay Area then I would say you know your Great Neck architecture well with a predominantly high pitch roof exceeding 9:12 slope comprised of mostly shingle, colonial and Tudor homes while Blackhawk homes has less than 6:12 pitch roof of mostly Mediterranean varieties built after 1975. Beverly Hills may be too ostentatious comparatively.

 

[flipper]

If you were a newly arrived Chinese immigrant or even a Chinese American, where in Southern California would you want to live and why?

example: Irvine, Diamond Bar, Arcadia, Monterey Park, Chino Hills?

Give me your top five places?

If all depends how much money you have. But I would rule out places like Malibu or Beverly Hills that are far from Chinese communities. If you have $2m+ cash, Newport Coast, Shady Canyon or Turtle Ridge of Irvine. I spoke to Joele who is specialized in Turtle Ridge. Move than half of the sales in Turtle Ridge are to all cash buyers from China.

My friend's nanny came from Shanghai. She sold her house in Shanghai and bought a detached condo in Woodbury. Even though she doesn't speak English and doesn't have a school year kid, she still prefers Irvine. Irvine is safe and nanny job pays higher here.

Is she legal in the States?

Yes, immigration sponsored by adult siblings, which took more than 10 years in waiting.

Our of curiosity, how much is nanny care a month (preferably chinese native (mainlander), mandarin speaker)?

Around $1800/mo cash for live-in nanny.

 

[irvinehomeshopper]

The wealth floundering attitude and my house is goldier than yours. I get it.

I was just using Black Hawk and Beverly Hills as analogy for Great Neck because they are well known prestigious communities. I don't know jack about architecture and never claimed that I did.

Black Hawk in Danville is nothing other than giant oversize tract boxes. Sports celebrities are not exactly known for the good taste in houses. If you said Atherton, Hillsbourough, even the hills of Piedmont or St Francis Wood of the Bay Area then I would say you know your Great Neck architecture well with a predominantly high pitch roof exceeding 9:12 slope comprised of mostly shingle, colonial and Tudor homes while Blackhawk homes has less than 6:12 pitch roof of mostly Mediterranean varieties built after 1975. Beverly Hills may be too ostentatious comparatively.

 

[irvinehomeshopper]

Where I live there are too many Chinese, properties are finger length from each other Then I could hear my neighbor whispering. With good ear dropping  skill I learned a lot of cultural information and gossips.

Are you a Chinese, IHS?  You seem knowing everything about Chinese

Queen has been the stumping ground for new immigrants for almost 30 years just like Monterey Park. Flushing is the new Chinatown like Rowland Heights. All are not pretty. However who cares as long the restaurants are awesome! If you are still well connected to NY still. Which one the two places is the champion for their steam dumplings? Joes Shanghai in manhattan or Nan Xiang in Flushing? Ding in Arcadia is overrated so don't mention it. So is Mama Lu on Garvey.

Hehe, it's actually a big deal for my family. I actually landed in NY when I first came to the states... We lived in Queens for a couple of months and eventually bought a place in Long Island. I am not sure if anyone is familiar with Great Neck, one can compare it to Black Hawk or Beverly Hills on the west coast. We stayed in Great Neck for about 2-3 years and suddenly moved to Northern Cali. I was later told that we moved due to one of my sisters thinking she was in love with a local Chinese gang member from Queens. Ever since then it's been a sensitive topic for the family and you can bet my parents makes a big deal out of it when gang stories shows up on Chinese news papers.

But yes... I have been quietly roaming the board and is familiar with irvinehomeshopper's comments. I figured I'd entertain since it's my first day posting.

http://www.streetgangs.com/asian/arcadiahttp://articles.latimes.com/1993-06-09/local/me-1164_1_arcadia-high-students

I realize the second link is old. But Wah-Ching has shown up in Arcadia High again recently and has made front page in the chinese new paper a few times in the last couple of years. It is rumored that the San Gabriel Valley area has become THE place to duck out for Wah-Ching when there's trouble... I have no idea if the rumor is true or not but I'd rather not risk it.

Hahaha...my husband always jokes that once something appears in the Chinese newspaper, it becomes absolute gospel truth to the community that reads it.

 

[NYDave]

Nan Xiang is the best.  After being recommended in the NY Michelin Guide they added English to their previously Chinese-only sign and took over the neighboring restaurant's space to double the seating area, but without increasing the size of their kitchen.  The wait time to get in didn't really go down, and wait time to get your soup dumplings once seated went up, but it was still worth it (as long as you didn't go in already hungry). Later on they opened multiple new locations, I never made it to those because the original location got more bearable at that point.

Din Tai Fung was one of the bigger culinary disappointments in my life.  I miss Nan Xiang.

Queen has been the stumping ground for new immigrants for almost 30 years just like Monterey Park. Flushing is the new Chinatown like Rowland Heights. All are not pretty. However who cares as long the restaurants are awesome! If you are still well connected to NY still. Which one the two places is the champion for their steam dumplings? Joes Shanghai in manhattan or Nan Xiang in Flushing? Ding in Arcadia is overrated so don't mention it. So is Mama Lu on Garvey.

 

[gld2]

Din Tai Fung is the Best ! 8)

Nan Xiang is the best.  After being recommended in the NY Michelin Guide they added English to their previously Chinese-only sign and took over the neighboring restaurant's space to double the seating area, but without increasing the size of their kitchen.  The wait time to get in didn't really go down, and wait time to get your soup dumplings once seated went up, but it was still worth it (as long as you didn't go in already hungry). Later on they opened multiple new locations, I never made it to those because the original location got more bearable at that point.

Din Tai Fung was one of the bigger culinary disappointments in my life.  I miss Nan Xiang.

Queen has been the stumping ground for new immigrants for almost 30 years just like Monterey Park. Flushing is the new Chinatown like Rowland Heights. All are not pretty. However who cares as long the restaurants are awesome! If you are still well connected to NY still. Which one the two places is the champion for their steam dumplings? Joes Shanghai in manhattan or Nan Xiang in Flushing? Ding in Arcadia is overrated so don't mention it. So is Mama Lu on Garvey.

 

[irvinehomeshopper]

I eat there just about on the average 5 times a year. Joes I have been there much more frequently.

The restaurant is a dump. The waiting area is literally a 3 foot wide hall with at least a 40 minute wait always. The expansion to include the next door space was a hole cut into the wall and a long ramp to connect the 2 spaces with a 3 foot drop. Before becoming successful the steamer basket was larger so the dumplings were not stuck together. Since then all the table have been downsized 40% and so are the steamer baskets to fit on the table top. I hated when the skin tore when dumplings stuck to one another and the soup of the dumpling leaked out. Elbow room distance was a unpleasant experience but yet I returned there many times despite of dry dumplings, lousy ambiance and service and bored to death playing my guitar on the #7 train ride to end of the terminal in Flushing. I did earned my meal with passengers donations on the train.
Joes Shanghai is better than Nan and both are above Din Tai Fung

Nan Xiang is the best.  After being recommended in the NY Michelin Guide they added English to their previously Chinese-only sign and took over the neighboring restaurant's space to double the seating area, but without increasing the size of their kitchen.  The wait time to get in didn't really go down, and wait time to get your soup dumplings once seated went up, but it was still worth it (as long as you didn't go in already hungry). Later on they opened multiple new locations, I never made it to those because the original location got more bearable at that point.

Din Tai Fung was one of the bigger culinary disappointments in my life.  I miss Nan Xiang.

Queen has been the stumping ground for new immigrants for almost 30 years just like Monterey Park. Flushing is the new Chinatown like Rowland Heights. All are not pretty. However who cares as long the restaurants are awesome! If you are still well connected to NY still. Which one the two places is the champion for their steam dumplings? Joes Shanghai in manhattan or Nan Xiang in Flushing? Ding in Arcadia is overrated so don't mention it. So is Mama Lu on Garvey.

 

[NYDave]

I eat there just about on the average 5 times a year. Joes I have been there much more frequently.

The restaurant is a dump. The waiting area is literally a 3 foot wide hall with at least a 40 minute wait always. The expansion to include the next door space was a hole cut into the wall and a long ramp to connect the 2 spaces with a 3 foot drop. Before becoming successful the steamer basket was larger so the dumplings were not stuck together. Since then all the table have been downsized 40% and so are the steamer baskets to fit on the table top. I hated when the skin tore when dumplings stuck to one another and the soup of the dumpling leaked out. Elbow room distance was a unpleasant experience but yet I returned there many times despite of dry dumplings, lousy ambiance and service and bored to death playing my guitar on the #7 train ride to end of the terminal in Flushing. I did earned my meal with passengers donations on the train.
Joes Shanghai is better than Nan and both are above Din Tai Fung

It might just be my bad luck, but the several times I ate at Joe's in either Manhattan or Flushing, the food wasn't hot enough and the soup portion small relative to the size of the dumpling.  Also I always got more flavor from the soup at Nan Xiang.  The ambiance and service (or lack thereof) just add to the experience.    Thanks for reminding me of the service though ... being told by the waitress to take my time eating as she was putting down the check and taking away my plate while I still had food in my mouth.  Mmmmm...

Din Tai Fung is the Best ! 8)

Thinking back, I'm not sure what it would've taken for me to feel Din Tai Fung is worth the hype.  But going once and waiting in line, then finding out after being seated that the soup-filled variety was sold out, forcing a return trip on another weekend right at opening time, certainly didn't help.  At Nan Xiang at least I knew I'd get their xiao long bao eventually, even if they sold out of half the other stuff I wanted to eat.

 

[Crispy3]

ok I've had it with this nonsense... Din Tai Feng is crap, it varies from location to location. The only ones I've had that were decent was in Shanghai. I can actually get frozen xiao long baos from one of the ex-chefs. You go through someone else to get them but they are made by one of the ex-chefs at Ding. PM me if you want the contact I'll see if I can dig it up. The lady only speaks Chinese and you go pick it up at her house in monterey park. She has 4 freezers in her living room and you'll see people stop by through out the day to buy dumplings from her. I know people that come all the way from San Diego to buy frozen dumplings from there.

As far as the best dumplings in southern cali goes, I would have to say Luscious Dumplings..

704 W Las Tunas Dr
Ste 4
San Gabriel, CA 91776

It's actually 2 blocks away from me. Go early cause they tend to run out of the popular items quickly. They are dumpling Nazis and will not let you do takeout for certain items cause it won't taste as good. I believe the menu is all in Chinese as well but go there a few times and you'll know what the popular items are because they are usually crossed out/sold out. They'll also serve you incomplete quantities sometimes- an order might come with 8 but they'll give you 3 to start then 3 more and 2 more as they become avail.

There is another one that opened in Arcadia but SG is the original.
Go try it, you will not be disappointed

I eat there just about on the average 5 times a year. Joes I have been there much more frequently.

The restaurant is a dump. The waiting area is literally a 3 foot wide hall with at least a 40 minute wait always. The expansion to include the next door space was a hole cut into the wall and a long ramp to connect the 2 spaces with a 3 foot drop. Before becoming successful the steamer basket was larger so the dumplings were not stuck together. Since then all the table have been downsized 40% and so are the steamer baskets to fit on the table top. I hated when the skin tore when dumplings stuck to one another and the soup of the dumpling leaked out. Elbow room distance was a unpleasant experience but yet I returned there many times despite of dry dumplings, lousy ambiance and service and bored to death playing my guitar on the #7 train ride to end of the terminal in Flushing. I did earned my meal with passengers donations on the train.
Joes Shanghai is better than Nan and both are above Din Tai Fung

It might just be my bad luck, but the several times I ate at Joe's in either Manhattan or Flushing, the food wasn't hot enough and the soup portion small relative to the size of the dumpling.  Also I always got more flavor from the soup at Nan Xiang.  The ambiance and service (or lack thereof) just add to the experience.    Thanks for reminding me of the service though ... being told by the waitress to take my time eating as she was putting down the check and taking away my plate while I still had food in my mouth.  Mmmmm...

Din Tai Fung is the Best ! 8)

Thinking back, I'm not sure what it would've taken for me to feel Din Tai Fung is worth the hype.  But going once and waiting in line, then finding out after being seated that the soup-filled variety was sold out, forcing a return trip on another weekend right at opening time, certainly didn't help.  At Nan Xiang at least I knew I'd get their xiao long bao eventually, even if they sold out of half the other stuff I wanted to eat.

 

[irvinehomeshopper]

Will give it a try tonight.

 

[irvinehomeshopper]

That is typical of Chinese passive agressive attitude. The longer you sit the less money they make. That bill should give you a signal.

I had really good luck with Joes. The real down side is sharing a table with stranger and the tips is automatically added regardless of poor service. Typical tax cheating owners at both places "cash only". Did you see the knock-offs eateries with some slight twist to the restaurant names?

I eat there just about on the average 5 times a year. Joes I have been there much more frequently.

The restaurant is a dump. The waiting area is literally a 3 foot wide hall with at least a 40 minute wait always. The expansion to include the next door space was a hole cut into the wall and a long ramp to connect the 2 spaces with a 3 foot drop. Before becoming successful the steamer basket was larger so the dumplings were not stuck together. Since then all the table have been downsized 40% and so are the steamer baskets to fit on the table top. I hated when the skin tore when dumplings stuck to one another and the soup of the dumpling leaked out. Elbow room distance was a unpleasant experience but yet I returned there many times despite of dry dumplings, lousy ambiance and service and bored to death playing my guitar on the #7 train ride to end of the terminal in Flushing. I did earned my meal with passengers donations on the train.
Joes Shanghai is better than Nan and both are above Din Tai Fung

It might just be my bad luck, but the several times I ate at Joe's in either Manhattan or Flushing, the food wasn't hot enough and the soup portion small relative to the size of the dumpling.  Also I always got more flavor from the soup at Nan Xiang.  The ambiance and service (or lack thereof) just add to the experience.    Thanks for reminding me of the service though ... being told by the waitress to take my time eating as she was putting down the check and taking away my plate while I still had food in my mouth.  Mmmmm...

Din Tai Fung is the Best ! 8)

Thinking back, I'm not sure what it would've taken for me to feel Din Tai Fung is worth the hype.  But going once and waiting in line, then finding out after being seated that the soup-filled variety was sold out, forcing a return trip on another weekend right at opening time, certainly didn't help.  At Nan Xiang at least I knew I'd get their xiao long bao eventually, even if they sold out of half the other stuff I wanted to eat.

 

[gld2]

I've only been to Din Tia Fung only once,  and we waited for over an hour.  However the food was delicous.  No comments on the hole on the wall,  since it was a long time ago,  don't remember anything  :'(