In this month’s edition of First Friday Feast, we tried out Bao Master, a newer restaurant that lives up to its lofty name.

First Friday Feast is a monthly series debuting on the first Friday of each month and elaborates on a recent dining experience. For avoidance of doubt, this post was in no way sponsored by the restaurant.

We’ve been trying to have a date night each month this year (and post about it on the first Friday of every month). Sometimes we bring the kids along for date night and sometimes they stay at home. But that’s fine by us–the kids are more than welcome to tag along if they want. This time we had a little family dinner out at a newer restaurant.

Arrival to Bao Master (Alhambra)

We wanted to take Jenn’s parents out for a night on the town and this time wanted to check out a newer restaurant that still is in the process of opening. Bao Master is found near the corner of Main and Garfield, close to Sprouts grocery store. In truth, it’s across a side street, but that should get you into the correct general area. If you drive a Tesla, it’s in the same structure as the set of Tesla Superchargers.

The kids saw the giant statue of a dumpling mascot and had to pose in front of it. I didn’t ask them to be goofy in this photo but they let their true colors show here.

As Bao Master is still relatively new, there was no wait for us and the restaurant is still lightly filled. We’re sure as word gets out about this place, that will change over time.

Our table for this evening was in the corner of the restaurant, underneath some signage and a couple of video monitors showing the cooking process on repeat.

The menu

At each table is a QR code that leads to the menu and ordering system. The staff didn’t provide us with any printed menu, but it seems like some have popped up on Yelp. The cuisine is what you would typically expect from Shanghainese food: plenty of dumplings, noodles, rice cakes, and steamed vegetables.

The food at Bao Master

A trio of appetizers

To start our dining experience at Bao Master, the server placed a small tray at the table containing seaweed salad, wood ear mushrooms, and peanuts. It’s nice to get this as a free starter to whet our appetite.

Crab meat & scallion oil noodles (蟹粉葱油拌麵)

Jenn is a big fan of this dish. What sets it apart for her is the flavor combination of the rich taste of the crab meat mixed with an aromatic scallion oil. The noodles taste freshly made and help adds to the authenticity of the dish. I tried some, and thought it was good, but not quite as spectacular as she found it to be. This can certainly be something that brings up past memories for her that build on the flavors of the dish. Still, we would recommend the dish.

Spicy shrimp & kurobuta pork wontons (麻辣红油抄手)

These spicy wontons have the perfect balance of spice and flavor. We want some dumplings that are have that soft, supple dumpling wrapper containing juicy meat inside. The spicy oil blend splashed on top and pooled underneath is better than what we would get at Din Tai Fung. Chopped green onions on top adds a nice amount of freshness. If you like spicy dumplings, this is a good dish to get.

Crispy beef pancake roll (酱酥牛肉卷饼)

The crispy beef pancake roll is a bit of a guilty pleasure and a typical dish you’d find at places specializing in dumplings. It works for those looking for something a bit heartier than dumplings. The cucumbers and other vegetables mixed in with the shaved beef add some much needed freshness and lightness to the dish. Our kids tend not to like this dish yet because of the fresh cilantro inside, but us adults appreciate it.

Of all the dishes we had that night, we probably didn’t need this one because of how filling it can be. That said, we would still recommend it.

Braised beef noodle soup (原汁紅燒牛肉麵)

And now for our son Alex’s favorite dish at Din Tai Fung. We’re going to make several comparisons to Din Tai Fung over the course of this review because it’s only natural. Both restaurants serve similar food. The soup broth tastes like it has several layers of depth, and again the noodles taste freshly pulled. Big chunks of very tender beef fill the bowl. While Din Tai Fung’s version doesn’t have too much spiciness in it, this one has more of a kick and we welcomed it.

On top of this being Alex’s favorite, it was also Jenn’s dad’s favorite of the evening, which speaks just to how great the flavors work together. We highly recommend this one.

Pan-fried Kurobuta pork buns (黑豚生煎包)

Five big buns filled with savory Kurobuta pork, these are a nice alternate version of dumplings. The pan-fried aspect really just comes from them sitting on a pan for a bit, but it works. I think it’s better than a steamed version of the bao. The flavor inside is rich and juicy, as though you’re eating the xiao long bao but in a different format. With a thicker wrapper than the dumplings, these will fill you up more, that’s for sure.

We’d rate this as not as good as the other dumplings we had this evening, but still glad we had a chance to try them.

Rice cakes with pork & spinach (上海炒年糕)

One of our daughter Char’s newfound loves are rice cakes. These rice cakes have a tender texture and are chewy. The version here at Bao Master taste fresher than at Din Tai Fung. The flavor is a bit lighter but the texture of the rice cakes themselves we’d argue is superior to the equivalent at the chain restaurant. You’ll also get plenty of stir-fried veggies mixed in. A classic dish that we’re fans of.

Kurobuta pork soup dumplings (黑豚小籠包)

And now for the star of the show at Bao Master. What visit is complete to a dumpling house without at least one order of xiao long bao? The best way we can honor this dish is to once again compare it to Din Tai Fung. The Bao Master version is

• Slightly larger than at Din Tai Fung
• Marginally thicker than at Din Tai Fung, but not so thick that it takes away from the texture of the wrapper
• Just as juicy inside with a similar combination of flavors

If you’re a fan of xiao long bao, you’d agree that the version served here stands up to the test. And indeed, the kids forced us to order three of these. This is another dish we highly recommend.

Recommendation: Yes

The food itself is absolutely delicious and everything we were hoping for from a dumpling restaurant. We didn’t expect it to stack up favorably to Din Tai Fung, but we were pleasantly surprised that it did. What’s more, with lines much more reasonable than what you would find at Din Tai Fung, we’re tempted to say it’s a bit more of a diamond in the rough. How does the price compare? Prior to tax and tip, we spent about $140 on the food above (including some green beans not pictured). I’d say the pricing is perhaps marginally better than what we expected coming in.

If you happen to be in the San Gabriel Valley and want some delicious dumplings, we wholeheartedly recommend you check out Bao Master.

How many orders of xiao long bao do you order?

Suggested reading:

• Other Destinations and Restaurants We’ve Visited
• Quick Hit: Earning Amex Resy Credits
• Bestia: An Excellent Dining Option in Los Angeles