Photo by J.B. Forbes (Post-Dispatch)
Private Kitchen and Soup Dumplings STL
Lawrence Chen’s Private Kitchen repays the (slightly) additional effort it requires to dine here. Peruse the menu on the restaurant’s Facebook page and know what you want to order when you call or text to make a reservation. Chen’s cooking generally focuses on the cuisine of Shanghai — soup dumplings and the Shanghai-style braised shrimp are good introductions for first-time diners — but don’t overlook his gorgeously crisp-skinned version of classic Peking duck. (You must order that at least two days ahead.) Chen’s Soup Dumplings STL in the same small University City shopping strip features his signature soup dumplings with various meat and seafood fillings in a much more casual setting.
Hours: Private Kitchen: Dinner daily (closed Tuesday); Soup Dumplings STL: 11 a.m.-8 p.m. (closed Tuesday)
Last year's ranking: Rest of the Best
Opened: 2015