Din Tai Fung (DTF) has become a sensation, especially among food lovers on TikTok. Known for its exquisite xiao long bao, or soup dumplings, this restaurant is only in a handful of states—New York, California, Washington, Arizona, Oregon, and Nevada—with some international spots as well. I had the pleasure of visiting their Las Vegas location over fall break.
We made a reservation for 9:15 p.m. on a Saturday, and the restaurant was bustling. Many diners were still waiting for tables, but we were excited to try the dishes we had heard so much about.
Our waitress was friendly and suggested the xiao long bao right away. We ordered a variety of dishes: string beans, cucumber salad, sweet and sour pork, baby back ribs, korobuta pork xiao long bao, spicy chicken wontons, noodles with spicy sauce, and chicken fried rice.
To our delight, the food came out quickly. In about five minutes, our table was filled with an array of flavors. We learned how to mix our dipping sauce for the dumplings using vinegar, soy sauce, and chili crunch. The dumplings were a definite highlight—soft and juicy, they quickly became my favorite. Watching the chefs at work through a window added to the experience.
The cucumber salad was light, flavored with garlic, sesame oil, and DTF’s signature chili oil. The string beans, coated with garlic, packed a rich umami punch, simple yet satisfying.
The sweet and sour pork ribs were another standout. They were incredibly tender, coated in a homemade sauce that made them irresistible. On the other hand, though the spicy chicken wontons were delicious, they didn’t quite measure up to the others.
The chicken fried rice was among the best I’ve ever had. The chefs stir-fried it over high heat, enhancing its delicate flavor. The spicy noodle dish I was eager to try had a strong kick, with thin house-made egg noodles that were very enjoyable.
We couldn’t leave without dessert. We opted for the chocolate and mochi xiao long bao with sea salt crème foam. This ended the meal on a high note—each dumpling burst with chocolate, perfectly balanced by the sea salt dip.
Dining with four friends made sharing easy, and overall, the meal came out to about $40 per person, including tip and tax. It felt well worth it for the experience we had.
In summary, Din Tai Fung certainly lived up to its reputation. Every dish seemed thoughtfully prepared, showcasing why the restaurant has gained such popularity both online and in person.
Interestingly, Din Tai Fung has also gained traction on social media platforms, with enthusiastic diners sharing their experiences. With numerous TikTok videos celebrating the dumplings, the restaurant perfectly captures the trend of dining as an experience, not just a meal.
So, next time you’re near one of their locations, it’s definitely worth checking out.
