Bistro 1968

Once or twice a year, a splashy new dim sum spot appears on the SGV scene like a wild Pokémon, adding a dash of excitement to what is otherwise a fairly static group of contenders. Most recently this honor went to Bistro 1968, an upscale all-day dim sum and Cantonese restaurant in San Gabriel equipped with a gorgeous dining room, fantastic service (your pot of oolong will never run dry), and a private parking garage in the back. Did we mention the made-to-order dim sum is great too? You’ll find creative options like crispy lobster rolls that come with a side of mayo for dipping, green-colored ham sui gok shaped liked tiny pears, and golden salted egg scallop dumplings. Savory items tend to be superior to sweet ones (aside from the must-order peanut mochi with black sesame), and we wish the kitchen took a little closer care with fundamentals (as with the squid ink har gow that showed up with split wrappers), but overall Bistro 1968 has clear star power.