@jaybeas I don't have recs for Santa Monica 🤷🏻♀️ but some recs if you're willing to travel to the San Gabriel Valley:
- Tam's Noodle House, San Gabriel (wonton noodle soup with shrimp)
- The Bund 8, San Gabriel (my dad ordered a $30 ham hock dish that could have easily cost $100 elsewhere)
- NBC Seafood, Monterey Park (did my mom right for her banquet. Also does dim sum during the day)
- Din Tai Fung (a chain, but also the best soup dumplings)
- Five Star Seafood, San Gabriel (dim sum)

