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ROC My World

ROC Soup Dumplings
Few things bring me as much joy as dumplings. I like to think of them as little wrapped presents that I open in my mouth. Well-crafted Chinese dumplings are especially nice gifts, the kind that I buy for myself after a particularly grueling work week or as a reward for doing my best to navigate the chutes and ladders of modern life. Sometime I gift dumplings to myself for no special reason at all, and occasionally I will even purchase them for others.

The best place for Chinese Dumplings is the San Gabriel Valley, but when I don’t have time to schlep out that far, I usually go to ROC Kitchen in West LA’s Asian food mecca known as “Little Osaka.” ROC opened last December and, despite a recent expansion into the space next door, there is almost always a wait for a table. The decor is modern and minimalist, with the focus, as it should be, on the food.

A meal at ROC should properly start with Xiao Long Bao aka Shanghai Soup Dumplings; little doughy sacks of broth and meat that explode in your mouth as you eat them whole. After that, I recommend moving on to the Crispy Dumplings with Pork and Shrimp — eight fried dumplings that have been fused together to form a crispy pancake of sorts, followed by some fluffy Steamed Pork Buns. Take a brief respite from the carbs and try the Three Cups Chicken with Fresh Chilies, Thai Basil & Roasted Garlic or the Pepper Beef. Both are excellent. For dessert, you can resume carbo-loading with sweet red bean or taro dumplings.

ROC Kitchen is located at 2049 Sawtelle Blvd., Los Angeles (in West LA).

Xiao Long Bao aka Shanghai Soup Dumplings

Xiao Long Bao aka Shanghai Soup Dumplings


Scallion Pancake with Gingered Soy Dipping Sauce

Scallion Pancake with Gingered Soy Dipping Sauce


Pickled Szechuan Cucumbers

Pickled Szechuan Cucumbers


Steamed Pork Bun

Steamed Pork Bun


Beef Rolls

Beef Rolls


Crispy Dumplings with Pork and Shrimp

Crispy Dumplings with Pork and Shrimp


Pan Fried Pork Dumplings

Pan Fried Pork Dumplings


ROC Rice Cake with Chicken, Napa Cabbage & Spinach

ROC Rice Cake with Chicken, Napa Cabbage & Spinach


Three Cups Chicken with Fresh Chilies, Thai Basil & Roasted Garlic

Three Cups Chicken with Fresh Chilies, Thai Basil & Roasted Garlic


Pepper Beef

Pepper Beef


A dumpling house for Westsiders

A dumpling house for Westsiders



ROC Kitchen on Urbanspoon

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