This popular spot serves wheat-heavy, northern Chinese-style dishes including hand-cut noodles and dumplings. Every crevice in the thick noodles soaks up gravy and sauce, while the dumpling skins provide a satisfying bounce with every bite. Order zha jiang mian (spicy meat sauce noodles) or the ma jiang mian (sesame paste noodles), and get a scallion pancake too to add some crispiness to the mix.

Shan Dong is one of the few restaurants in Oakland Chinatown focusing on Northern Chinese cuisine. Known for their handmade dumplings and knife-cut noodles, everything is made from scratch here. Charles, the second-generation owner who became involved in the family business while in college, is the smiling, friendly face that first greets customers.

When you order noodles at Shan Dong Restaurant, make sure to get the handmade noodles – the slight extra cost is so worth it. Try your handmade noodles in a variety of noodle dishes, such as their deliciously chewy chow mein or sesame noodles.

Two delicious eponymous dishes -- Shan Dong beef and Shan Dong dumplings with pork and vegetables -- are generously portioned platters large enough to feed four hungry diners. The wonton noodle soup has a richly flavored broth chock-full of vegetables, chicken, beef and shrimp. For an extra dollar, you can substitute in their plump, homemade noodles -- which I recommend if you're ordering their spicy sesame paste noodles.

Indulge your senses at Shan Dong, a culinary hotspot that sizzles with excitement any night of the week. The delectable dishes served here are nothing short of extraordinary, leaving taste buds tingling with delight. Don't miss out on their signature deluxe fried rice and tantalizing honey walnut shrimp - absolute game-changers that will keep you coming back for more.

Head to this Chinatown legend for the chewy, hand-pulled noodles. Whittling down the 30 menu options to one or two selections may appear to be a daunting prospect, but — considering all the raves — the spicy Sesame Paste Noodles are hard to pass up. Supplement with the signature Shan Dong Chicken, with its glossy vinegar-laced sauce.

I am a huge fan of trying new dishes and exploring what the local cuisine has to offer, especially when it is as rewarding as the mind-blowing dumplings at Shan Dong Restaurant. Here is all the information on this foodie dream so you can check it out yourself.

It is a renowned restaurant in Oakland Chinatown that serves traditional Northern Chinese dishes. The specialty here is their hand-made noodles that are made fresh daily. The restaurant can get pretty crowded during peak hours, but it is worth waiting.

At Shan Dong in Oakland Chinatown, the #1 noodle spot among our readers, you might try the zha cai rou si mian (Sichuan shredded pork and pickled mustard greens).