Monterey Park

Though the dinner scene at Elite is a little intense (they've got a long menu full of traditional Chinese delicacies, and it's easy to rack up a significant bill), the weekend dim sum is accessible and blessedly cheap, as even the chef's specials top out at under $7. Foodie types come here for the egg custard, a classic dish that they do especially well, and the pork shu mai, which comes topped with a delicate scallop and a generous dollop of roe.

This old-school spot in Monterey Park doesn't have any carts—you order your dim sum (which is priced at a seriously cheap $2.09 per order) from a fill-in paper menu. The menu is huge and a little intimidating, but it's pretty hard to screw up an order here, since they do most things well—keep an eye out for siu mai, har gow, and the steamed bean curd roll, and they're most famous for their yellow shumai with orange crab roe. Crowds can get intense on the weekends, so we recommend coming early or late, or during the week. Another pro tip: Park in the surrounding neighborhood, as the spots in their lot are tricky to access.