A few weeks ago I met up with the rest of the Global Traveler team for our annual GT Tested Reader Survey awards in Beverly Hills. The event was held on the stunning rooftop of L’Ermitage Beverly Hills.

During our time in LA, I got to check some restaurants off my food bucket list, starting with Din Tai Fung, a chain restaurant that has grown popular thanks to social media. Known for its dumplings and family-style plates, Din Tai Fung did not disappoint. Walking to our table, we passed large windows that offered a glimpse into the dumpling- and wonton-making process, with chefs crafting the dough to make it as thin as possible.

We didn’t skimp on the food once we sat down. We indulged in the famous cucumber salad and sweet and sour pork baby back ribs. I loved the cucumber salad, but I was pleasantly surprised by the ribs, which were oh-so-tender. For dumplings, we ordered Kurobuta Pork Xiao Long Bao, a classic and comforting dish with hot broth seeping out of each dumpling. We also ordered Kurobuta Pork Buns and spicy chicken wontons. The wontons were one of my favorite dishes of the day. Garlic string beans were the perfect accompaniment, as was a bowl of spicy noodles and shrimp and pork pot stickers. I would argue the other star of the show was the dessert, the chocolate and mochi xiao long bao. To sum up this dish, it’s like biting into the middle of a molten lava cake, with a delicate layer of mochi wrapped around it.

The other place on my food bucket list was In-N-Out, a classic fast-food staple in California. I opted for the classic cheeseburger with a side of animal-style fries. Boy, this did not fall short of my expectations. The sauce, especially, blew me away, as it had small pieces of pickles or gherkins in it, which I loved. Everything tasted fresh, too, which was refreshing for fast food.

— Aoife O’Riordan, associate editor