Mei Long Village (San Gabriel)

Mei Long Village is the last of the Xiao Long Bao stop in this plaza. It's one of the three that served the popular juice dumplings along with the neighboring restaurants of Dragon Mark and J&J Restaurant.

This also happens to be my favorite XLB place out of the three with a little exception. It also happened to be the more *cough*upscale*cough* restaurant than the other two joints.

Walking inside, you do feel a reminisce of a cuisine restaurant with a touch of Italian look to it. Funny looking square patch table cloths with the floral curtains hanging on the window. Yes, it does looked a little bit more fancier, but the food offered the same thing as the other with the menu more specialized in entrees than the lunch/dinner special the other two joints above would offer.

The place does offer a better ambiance and decor compares to their neighbors who are two doors down, but they also made it up with some of the better service.

The food on the menu ranges from noodles, rice, dumplings to other Chinese specialty dish. Affordable pricing for each item can range from $5 to $7 for one of the ample size plate of hot meals.

Xiao Long Bao (Juicy Soup Pork Dumplings)

As in for the long running debate about Xiao Long Bao (juicy pork/beef dumplings), I prefer Mei Long Villages over J&J where they are served not too salty and have plenty of juice to kick that thing up. These little side pockets of buns stuffed with meat are just too irresistible to pass it up. Put a little soy sauce and they are the 8th wonders.

Goyza

Inside of Fried Goyza

I also like to order their goyza (fried dumplings) when I can. The meat inside are freshly made everyday and when served hot are a better filler than your hot pocket.

Fried Pork Chop Rice

The only downer for me is their pork chop rice, which I still preferred Dragon Mark's over Mei Long Village. That is something I still search for with no mistake to be made. It's a comfort food for me which brings me joy. I do liked it in here, but it just lacked the other stuff like a soy sauced hard boiled egg, soy sauced tofu, and minced beef. It's just plain and naked without the other associates.

Overall, I still give them the high kudos for serving out necessary dishes, even though their next door neighbors are selling the same things. They have an edge on them for ambiance and some of the items. However, in a long run, you know one of them will crack under pressure. I just hope it's not this one that bites the dust.

Mei Long Village
301 W Valley Blvd
Ste 112
San Gabriel, CA 91776
(626) 284-4769

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