la.foodblogging

Just when you thought I was all done writing about dumplings, here I go again… I had been avoiding writing about Din Tai Fung because: 1) most people have already been there by now and have made their own opinions; and 2) a lot of food critics have written about this place already, so I didn’t want to be redundant. What changed my mind? Seeing this restaurant through the eyes of someone who had never dined here before. The day before I headed out of LA, my former office husband/lunch partner, Joe, came to have goodbye lunch with me. Prior to me, Joe’s experience in Asian foods were fairly basic (fried rice, chow mein, sweet & sour stuff, and so forth). His previous lunch partner(s) were regulars at McDonald’s and BBQ places. I just didn’t feel right about leaving town without introducing him to the joys of dumplings.

During the drive, I gave Joe a brief summary of Din Tai Fung’s history… which was basically about the success it has had in Taiwan and Japan. I’m not sure, but I believe one will be opening soon in China, as well. I told Joe about how when Din Tai Fung first opened in Arcadia, people came from near and far and lined up at the door for literally hours just to dine there. He was definitely intrigued, and he figured it had to be good because when we got there for lunch (on a weekday), the place was packed.

We ordered spicy beef noodles, pork and vegetable won ton soup, fish dumplings, pork and crab juicy dumplings, and pork and rice shui mai. I explained to Joe that Din Tai Fung is famous for its juicy dumplings, but as far as I’m concerned, the best dish is the pork and vegetable won ton soup. I’ve had a lot of won ton soup in my life, as it is my comfort food, and I would go as far as to say that Din Tai Fung makes the best won ton soup I’ve ever had (so far). Joe and I were chit-chatting non-stop until the food came. Once our food arrived, he only stopped eating long enough to tell me, “Mmmm…. so good.” While I never complain about my won tons, and the juicy dumplings and shui mai were excellent as usual, I wasn’t crazy about the noodles and fish dumplings. I had been a bit critical, thinking how the fish dumplings were not as good as the ones at Dumpling 10053 and that the spicy beef noodles were a bit bland. As if reading my mind about my dissatisfaction with some of the food, Joe just kept repeating emphatically, “This is so good!” Dining with Joe made me realize that I was taking Din Tai Fung for granted. The food really is very good. I just had been there so many times that I was no longer impressed. After that, I stifled the overly critical voice in my head and just enjoyed my meal. This was the first time I had ever gone to Din Tai Fung for a meal and not gone home with any left overs. Joe and I finished EVERYTHING we ordered.

Tips:

On weekends, get there about 10 minutes before they open for immediate seating.

It’s better to park on the street or in the parking lot on Duarte because the parking lot in the plaza can get a bit tight, and the people who park there aren’t exactly the best drivers.

Din Tai Fung also does to-go orders, and the staff packs everything up really nicely.

Din Tai Fung Dumpling House
1108 S. Baldwin Ave. (inside Baldwin Plaza)
Arcadia, CA 91006
(626) 574-7068
Open Daily: lunch 11 a.m. to2:30 p.m.; dinner 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. (except Sundays which closes at 9 p.m.)

By Pauline (see more of her posts).