Din Tai Fung

Reservations: Tables are difficult to snag at Din Tai Fung’s first East Coast location. Reservations open at midnight 30 days in advance, so you’ll have to stay up late and plan well in advance to get a particular date. I snagged mine at 3AM (don’t ask) but would also suggest waking up early to see what’s left from the overnight hours. There are often weekday late lunch reservations readily available if you feel like playing hooky. Also note that the Manhattan location does not take walk-ins.

Experience: Don’t let the menu of soup dumplings and crushed cucumber fool you, Din Tai Fung takes itself very seriously. Upon arrival you feel like you’re checking in to a high end hotel rather than a dumpling restaurant. Despite this, the staff is laid back to the point of being undertrained (our server couldn’t explain a dish to us). The “dumpling room” (my term not theirs) is both fascinating and a little sad, as it’s designed for people to gawk at the chefs and cooks working hard through their shifts. Another thing to note is that the food seemed to come out as it was ready, so if you want things in a particular order let your server know.

Food: The xao long buns (aka soup dumplings) are the star of the show here. Are they worth staying up late to get a reservation a month out? Not quite. I preferred the Chicken Spicy Wontons over the Kurobuta Pork Xiao Long Bao (aka pork soup dumplings). The Truffle and Pork Xiao Long Bao and Kurobuta Pork Buns were nothing special. The Chocolate Buns, however, were fantastic (skip the Sweet Taro Buns).

Who to Bring: This is a place to bring anyone, but it’s a particularly good fit for someone looking for an upscale experience without having dainty plates that leave you hungry. Your date will be impressed that you got a reservation, and your parents will be fascinated by the space itself.

What to Wear: Despite not having a dress code, Din Tai Fung is fairly upscale and most people play their part and keep it smart casual. You can wear the dress for sure, but I recommend something slightly less dressy. It is a dumpling restaurant, after all.

Top Row: Interior, Dumpling Room, Truffle and Pork Xiao Long Bao, Kurobata Pork Bun.

Bottom Row: Chicken Spicy Wontons, Chocolate and Sweet Taro Buns, Sweet Taro Bun, Chocolate Bun.