Dumplings in spicy chile oil

Quite possibly my favorite Chinese dish, dumplings in chile oil. The chile oil is really a paste of chile and sichuan pepper. Dumplings make a great foil for intensely flavored sauces (like Chinese vinegar and sliced raw ginger on Xiao Long Bao, another legendary combination). Here’s some great places to try them (in no particular order):

ZEN Asian Bistro (Carmel Mountain Ranch). This place might be my favorite, right around the corner and right on the money.

Din Tai Fung (SoCal and worldwide)

Spicy City (Kearney Mesa)

Dumpling Inn (Kearney Mesa)

Crystal Jade (but only in Hong Kong)