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

Atmosphere: 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.

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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

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

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

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!