Din Tai Fung, a Taiwanese restaurant chain, has gone viral on social media. This Michelin-Star restaurant, famous for its soup dumplings, appetizers, and out-of-the-box desserts, recently arrived in New York. So, naturally, when my family and I planned our Christmas trip to New York, we had to put dining at Din Tai Fung on the itinerary.
The fact that we had to make reservations a month ahead speaks to the popularity of the place. But is it worth all the attention? To answer that question, here is my review of Din Tai Fung NYC.
Photo by Ellie Wen
Want to Write for The Teen Magazine?
Share your ideas and get published on The Teen Magazine. Whether itβs entertainment, wellness, or academics, your voice matters here!
Apply NowAtmosphere: 10/10
The overall design of the restaurant was very unique. When we first walked in, we were greeted by service and directed down a winding staircase that led below ground. The lounge area is spacious and the wait was not long.
The actual seating varied from booths to tables to a mix of both. We were lucky to be seated near the dumpling-making room, allowing us to observe as the chefs precisely weighed and folded each soup dumpling. It was noisy but in a lively, not overwhelming way. The dim lighting added a touch of sophistication.
Photo by Ellie Wen
Service was quick and kind. Our waiter was always checking in on us and supplied us with helpful tips, such as the perfect soy-vinegar combination for dipping sauce.
The Food
Milk Tea: 7/10
We started off our dinner with drinks. Besides the complimentary water, beverage options include milk teas, iced teas, lemonade, and more. I opted for the milk tea with boba and found it to be pretty much what I expected.
The milk tea had a strong tea flavor, so for those who like their bubble tea with 100% sugar, this may not be the right drink to choose. The boba (tapioca pearls) helped make up somewhat for the lost sweetness and had a soft, sticky texture. A good palate cleanser.
Photo by Ellie Wen
Cucumber Salad: 8/10
We started with an assortment of smaller dishes, beginning with the cucumber salad. As someone who eats cucumber salad often and has tasted the dish at different restaurants, Din Tai Fung's version wasn't anything special. However, if you've never had cucumber salad before, I think this dish would perfectly introduce you to the flavors of Chinese cuisine. A combination of Persian cucumbers with mild Fresno chili peppers and sliced garlic, all topped with sesame oil and DTF's own chili oil, this dish is a great way to warm up the taste buds.
Photo by Ellie Wen
Sesame Noodles: 10/10
Sesame noodles are most notably from Sichuan and Taiwan, and I tried my first Taiwanese sesame noodles at Din Tai Fung. I definitely hold a bias towards this dish (I love sesame noodles!), but it was super tasty. The thin noodles were coated in a delicious, nutty sesame sauce and topped with DTF chili oil and crushed roasted peanuts.
The sesame sauce balanced sweet and sour and maintained a creamy consistency. I think what sets the Taiwanese version apart from the Sichuan one is the nuts in the sauce and sprinkled on top, which add a crunchy texture.
Photo by Ellie Wen
String Beans: 8/10
Not much to say about the string beans, but they were very fresh with less cooking oil and minced garlic to add to the flavor. They were a good balance to the heavier, richer sesame noodles.
Photo by Ellie Wen
Pork Xiao Long Bao: 10/10
The pork xiao long bao was just what I expected it to be! They were soft and juicy, and the filling burst with flavor. The soup was delicious as well and everything came together when dipped in the dipping sauce and topped with fresh ginger. There were ten dumplings in total, which I think was a good deal for the price and quality.
Photo by Ellie Wen
Pork and Crab Xiao Long Bao: 8/10
The pork and crab xiao long bao was a yummy twist on traditional xiao long bao. The sweet crab taste didn't come through as much as I would've liked, though, so it tasted pretty similar to the pork xiao long bao. Sad to say the little crab that came with the dumplings wasn't edible.
Photo by Ellie Wen
Shrimp and Pork Wonton Soup: 8/10
The shrimp and pork wonton soup was one of my favorite dishes of the night. Each wonton was filled just enough with delicious pork and shrimp and garnished with green onion. However, the broth was a bit too salty and wasn't warm, at least by the time it arrived at our table.
Photo by Ellie Wen
Chocolate Xiao Long Bao: 6/10
The chocolate xiao long bao have gone viral on social media, so I was determined to try them. I was slightly disappointed because the wrapper and mochi were both thin and easily overwhelmed by the chocolate inside. The sea salt cream that came with the dessert didn't stick well to the dumplings and was more like a glaze than a fluffy cream. Many diners love this dessert though, so don't be deterred from giving it a try!
Photo by Ellie Wen
Chocolate Steamed Buns: 6/10
I was really excited to get these chocolate steamed buns because they looked like gooey perfection in all the videos I had watched. However, the bun had little flavor, so I only got a mouthful of chocolate and dough. The buns were very cute and fluffy though!
Photo by Ellie Wen
Final Thoughts
Taking everything into account, my final rating of Din Tai Fung is an 8/10. So, is Din Tai Fung NYC worth the hype? For a restaurant that requires reservations a month in advance due to the sheer quantity of diners, I'd say no.
While there was nothing wrong with the dishes, there are a lot of other restaurants out there that serve equally delicious food. Nevertheless, I left feeling full. If you're up for a fancy night of fancy food, visit a Din Tai Fung near you!
