Din Tai Fung 鼎泰豐 — Restaurant in New York

Din Tai Fung Review

Visiting Din Tai Fung is always an experience, but unfortunately, this location fell short in several key areas. While the staff was incredibly nice and accommodating, the overall experience left much to be desired.

First, the atmosphere was underwhelming. The loud music made it difficult to have a conversation or enjoy the dining ambiance, creating a chaotic and touristy feel rather than the refined experience the brand is known for. In addition the design of the restaurant copies the design of the 5th avenue Apple Store almost 1-1.

The food, too, wasn’t up to my standard. It felt more toned to an American palate, lacking the authenticity and nuanced flavors that made Din Tai Fung famous. It seemed tailored to a more general, less adventurous taste, which could be a letdown for those familiar with the brand’s legacy.

Service was another drawback. Despite the friendly demeanor of our server, their inexperience was evident in simple tasks, such as pouring water without spilling. The service was slow in the beginning, with long waits for drinks and food, but it did pick up pace as the meal went on. However, even though we had a reservation, we were handed a buzzer upon arrival and made to wait up to 30 minutes before being seated. This gave the impression of disorganization and overbooking.

I do want to mention Jojo, who wasn’t our assigned server but was incredibly nice and honest with us about each dish. He was a breath of fresh air, offering sincere recommendations and giving us the best insight into the food, which made our experience a bit more pleasant.

Finally, it’s worth noting that this location is not expensive, even by New York standards, with the average price per person is around $50, which is quite reasonable for New York and falls into the “good food” category for that price. Still, given the lack of authenticity and the service issues, it felt like the overall experience didn’t justify the cost.

Food Ratings • Cucumber Salad: 10/10 – Perfectly fresh, crunchy, and well-balanced with a great sauce; definitely the highlight of the meal. • Seaweed Tofu Salad: 5/10 – Bland and lacking the depth of flavor expected from such a dish. • Vegetable Dumplings: 6/10 – Decent flavor, but the filling could have been more vibrant and the texture was slightly off. • Boba: 9/10 – Up to standard, smooth, sweet, and refreshing; a treat that almost lived up to expectations. • Chicken Fried Rice: 9/10 – Flavorful, well-seasoned, and packed with tender chicken and vegetables; a great dish overall. • Broccoli: 1/10 – Overcooked and bland, with no seasoning or notable flavor. • Wood Ear Mushroom: 3/10 – Chewy and lacking flavor, with a texture that felt out of place. • Chocolate Bao Buns (Dessert): 8/10 – The flavor was rich and enjoyable, but a bit too sweet for my palate. • Red Bean Buns (Dessert): 6/10 – An acquired taste, as the earthy flavor of red bean didn’t suit my preference.

Overall Food Rating: 7/10 – While a few dishes stood out, others didn’t quite meet my expectations. Overall, it was a solid meal but didn’t live up to the high standards set by the Din Tai Fung name.

Overall Service Rating: 4.5/10 – Despite the friendly and helpful staff, the service was slow at first, and the inexperience of our server showed in simple tasks.

Overall Atmosphere Rating: 8/10 – A modern and clean setting, but the loud music and touristy vibe detracted from the more refined experience typically expected from...

Having been here 4x now, I can say for sure that the green beans are my favorite from here time and time again!

Each time I come here I always make sure to have a reservation. It will minimize the wait time. The interior is dark, wooden, lamp-lit kind of vibe. Tables are close together yet far enough apart to have your own space from a different party.

Food: Once again, I strongly recommend the green beans! They’re crunchy and full of garlic! Flavor is on point!

My second favorite here has got to be the braised beef noodle soup! But you need to eat it while it’s hot otherwise it’s not good when warm/cold. It comes in a pretty big portion, would share this. Decent amount of beef and veggies. Also add chili oil to the beef if that’s your thing :)

My third favorite are the spicy wontons! I tried the chicken ones and the shrimp/pork ones. The shrimp/pork ones were a little more flavorful and juicier which we absolutely loved and were considering ordering another of but we ended up being too full.

We’ve also tried the pork soup dumplings, crab soup dumplings, truffle and kurobuta pork soup dumplings, and the chocolate mochi soup dumplings with a side of sea salt cream to top it off. The pork soup dumplings, though standard, were the best ones here. The truffle one while rich in taste, had too much of a lingering truffle aftertaste for us. A little truffle is good but too much can be overpowering! The chocolate mochi came highly recommended and it was good but at the same time, very sweet!

Noodles with sesame sauce was good but you quickly get tired of this taste. Recommend putting some hot chili oil on it! Noodles with Spicy Sauce was good! Very flavorful! Also would recommend the pork fried noodles!

Would not recommend the cucumber salad (bland), seaweed and bean curd salad, or the pork chop fried rice. The seaweed and bean curd salad is refreshing and good to try since it’s somewhat different but wouldn’t order again. The pork chop fried rice was also pretty bland.

Their boba teas are also pretty good! Not as sweet as other vendors but fulfills the craving and good to have with the meal.

Also at this location only is their black sesame espresso martini which I absolutely loved. Hints of black sesame, stronger espresso taste! Mmm!

Pricier joint than many but would come back to celebrate or catch up...

If you’ve been around here long enough, you already know I have a serious crush on Din Tai Fung. Tokyo stole my heart first, then San Diego kept the spark alive, and now—hello, New York.

On a recent quick trip to the city with my friend Alex, I had just one day, one Broadway show, and one mission: get to Din Tai Fung at all costs. I made a reservation for 1:15 PM like the responsible adult I pretend to be, but then the day unraveled faster than a Chinatown knockoff purse. We missed the 15-minute grace window, and I thought the dumpling dream was over.

But never underestimate my determination (or my pleading skills). After our show, we sprinted to Din Tai Fung’s new location inside the Shops at Columbus Circle. Yes, it's their first East Coast spot, and it's massive. When we arrived, I went straight to the host stand and met Haya, who instantly restored my faith in humanity. I explained our tragic missed reservation, and she smiled like someone who’s seen it all. She popped us on the waitlist and directed us to the bar. Each interaction with her was wonderful. She easily made conversation and genuinely looked like she enjoys her job 🤩.

At the bar, I ordered my go-to: the Pear Lychee Martini. It’s sweet, refreshing, and sneaky—exactly how I like my drinks. One drink in and boom, our table was ready. Just like that. Dumpling destiny, baby.

Naturally, I wasted no time and ordered two baskets of the Kurobuta Pork Xiao Long Bao. These little soup bombs never miss. The wrapper is thin and delicate, the broth is flavorful, and the temperature is perfectly ready-to-eat (no lip-scorching here). I don’t know how they do it, but I don’t ask questions. I just eat.

Now, let’s talk about the Great Soup Dumpling Debate. Alex followed the “proper” technique: place the dumpling on a spoon, poke it open, sip the soup, then bite. I, on the other hand, am more of a thrill-seeker. I pop the whole thing in my mouth like I’m defusing a delicious bomb. We agreed to disagree and ordered another round.

Final thoughts: Din Tai Fung is now officially a non-negotiable part of my NYC (and California) routine. The food is consistent, the service is kind, and the dumplings are borderline emotional support-worthy.

Din Tai Fung, if you're reading this: Miami is...