Zhu Ting Ji 竹亭记 — Restaurant in Taylorsville

I have been wanting to try Zhu Ting Ji for a few weeks now due to its apparent and obvious comparison to Din Tai Fung in the reviews here. With that being said, it warrants being reviewed without comparing it to Din Tai Fung dish by dish. Zhu Ting Ji has made a name for itself in my eyes, and I’m grateful to have a Chinese restaurant of this caliber in Utah! The dining experience I had this past Saturday easily helped Zhu Ting Ji climb to one of my favorite local restaurants with such ease.

I went during the day on Saturday to ensure that my husband and I could really enjoy our meal without the hindrance of a dinner rush. This was absolutely the right move for us as we were sat very quickly, and service was consistent and quick for the duration of our meal. While they do have a fairly large menu, we went into the meal with an idea of what items we were hoping to try here from experience with other restaurants’ similar menu items. And let me tell you, there was not one item that we did not thoroughly enjoy. The dishes came out as they were ready, which was great for really focusing on trying each item separate from one another.

Chicken Xiao Long Bao: I have been searching high and low for a local restaurant that has chicken Xiao Long Bao, so I was very excited to try the ones here. The broth temperature inside the soup dumpling level was perfectly hot, and the flavor was incredible. I will mention that the wrapper was a bit thick towards the top, but you can tell that every soup dumpling was made with precision and care as they were visually very consistent across the board. We would have ordered a second order if we weren’t wanting to try more of a variety of items.

Chicken Wontons: These were most definitely a highlight of our meal. When ordering the wontons, you have the option to choose the flavor, and we went with the Szechuan Pepper Spicy flavor. The flavor was absolutely to die for and the umami to the flavor was mouth-watering. The Szechuan flavor was truly Sichuan with it having that almost numbing effect after eating the wontons in the sauce. It was an incredible mouth-feel experience paired with flavor that packed a punch.

Cold Noodle with Chili Garlic Sauce: This was a definite must-have with our order. You should, of course, mix all the toppings in with the noodles to form the perfect bite. This is a very garlic forward dish and paired with the medium heat level of the chili; we absolutely could not have enough of this dish. The heat from the spices was the perfect compliment to the cold noodles.

Shrimp Chow Mein: We ordered this dish with the intent that we wanted to bring it home for leftovers, and it carried out well. While it wasn’t the showstopper of the meal, it was still really great Shrimp Chow Mein. The shrimp were plump and cooked to perfection. The noodles were executed well, and I enjoyed that the vegetables were julienned so they could wrap into a bite with the noodles well.

Beef and Onion Bao Buns: My husband ordered these for himself as I don’t eat beef, but he really enjoyed these. Once again, the craftsmanship with the folding technique is seriously so impressive; each Bao was a perfect replication of the one next to it. He mentioned that that he especially enjoyed the texture of the Bao wrapper, and for 3 for $7.99 the flavor to value ratio cannot be beat.

Overall, the food experience we had here was once that a lot of Utah restaurants are not able to offer. There are not many mistakes that one can make when ordering off the menu as every item is made with the same level of care across the board. Additionally, we spent under $70 for six items, including my husband’s green tea, which felt like such a steal for the quality of food you’re ordering here. Upon leaving, we were already thinking about other items that we are wanting to try for our next visit to Zhu Ting Ji, and I have a feeling that our next visit will be right...

Im sorry, but I have to be completely honest with my feedback in hopes of the restaurant using this to improve in some things. I was kind of expecting a lot more from this place as i did browse the menu beforehand. My boyfriend and I decided to come here for the first time for his birthday dinner and overall, we were quite disappointed. As someone who eats a lot of Chinese food from many Chinese restaurants and is from an Asian background, this experience was not the greatest. The atmosphere itself was very nice and the servers were great, but the food was not. Looking at their menu, all of the dishes looked great and appealed to me. I wanted to try their Chinese ramen as i have ate at other Chinese restaurants that make fresh noodles. That was the only thing i wanted from their menu. The waitress then came to take our orders and i asked for beef stew ramen in which she then stated they have no ramen at all because of them having no chef specifically for that dish. I was quite disappointed but i said it's fine and ordered the pork wonton soup with chicken broth. As I wanted something in regards to soup. I also wanted to order the custard buns as those are my favorite but she said they dont have those as well. I thought maybe they should have put a note on those sections of the menu stating they are currently not serving tht dish so that customers are aware at least. My boyfriend ordered the pork chow mein and the soup dumplings . When our food was served, i tasted the broth and it was very very plain with hardly any flavoring. Tasted like just water with a hint of chicken broth. My boyfriend had also said the same. I was quite disappointed and i had asked the waitress for some soy sauce and black pepper to give it more flavor. My boyfriends chow mein was also more on the bland side and he did not finish his dish. We tried the soup dumpling and was not satisfied as well. Overall, the food just need more flavoring. It is just disappointing when you pay for food that you did not enjoy :( I'm not sure if it just depends on what chefs that is working, but that is my feedback...

My recent visit to this restaurant was nothing short of outstanding. The food and service exceeded expectations, providing one of the most authentic Chinese dining experiences I have ever had. As someone who prioritizes healthy eating, it can be challenging to find high-quality Chinese cuisine that is free from excessive sugar and artificial ingredients. However, this establishment stands out by using only fresh, high-quality ingredients and preparing everything from scratch. The open kitchen concept further reinforces the restaurant’s commitment to transparency and excellence, allowing guests to witness the meticulous care put into each dish. The flavors were exceptional, and the overall experience ensures that I will be returning regularly.

We arrived on a Saturday evening around 6:00 PM and experienced a brief wait of approximately 30 minutes before being seated. Given the restaurant’s popularity and the exceptional quality of the food, this was entirely reasonable, especially at peak dining hours. Once seated, the service was prompt and efficient, with the first dish arriving within eight minutes of ordering. Subsequent dishes were served at well-timed intervals of approximately 5 to 10 minutes, allowing us to enjoy each selection at a comfortable pace. For those seeking fast, casual Chinese food, this is not the place—this restaurant prioritizes quality over speed, and the results speak for themselves.

In terms of pricing, our group of four ordered approximately seven family-style dishes, a large portion of white rice, and three cups of soup, bringing the total to $140 before gratuity. The portion sizes were generous, leaving us with enough leftovers for another full dinner for all four of us the following evening.

Overall, this was an exceptional dining experience. I extend my gratitude to the staff for their professionalism, attentiveness, and commitment to providing outstanding service. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone seeking high-quality, authentic...