Din Tai Fung is worth the wait
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We preferred the spicy wontons to the classic soup dumplings, but they were both worth the trip. Photo: Jessica Boehm/Axios
Dear readers, we have news. We finally got a reservation at Din Tai Fung in Scottsdale.
Why it matters: The April debut of Arizona's first location of the critically acclaimed Taiwanese chain was met with a groundswell of enthusiasm that made getting a table nearly impossible.
We're glad to report that the dumplings were worth the wait and deserving of the hype.
The vibe: It's very Scottsdale. You check in at a long black front desk and wait to be escorted to the surprisingly large and swanky dining room.
- It's intentionally Instagrammable, as was evident by the deluge of teen diners with iPhones in hand.
Best bites: We had to try a smattering of everything, for journalism.
- Cucumber salad: Not what we were expecting, but in a good way. Slices of Persian cucumber are assembled in a pyramid and then covered in sesame and chile oils for a crunchy, spicy starter.
- Crab & Kurobuta Pork Xiao Long Bao: These are the soup dumplings that put Din Tai Fung on the culinary map, and they require an intricate eating process, which includes dunking them in a special sauce and poking them to release the broth (don't worry, there are signs to guide you). They're saucy, flavorful, 100% worth trying, but weren't our favorite thing on the menu.
- Shrimp & Kurobuta pork spicy wontons: Sorry soup dumplings, these stole the show for both of us. The chewy-but-not-too-chewy wontons are doused in a "house spicy sauce" that brings sweet heat and richness.
- Chicken dumplings: These were good, made great by dipping them in the leftover sauce from the spicy wontons.
Why we'll go back: We filled up on dumplings and wontons before we got a chance to turn to the backside of the menu, which featured delicious looking noodle and rice dishes.
Pro tip: The crowds are starting to die down, at least if you pop in for an early lunch.
- There wasn't even a line when we arrived at 10:45am (activity picked up shortly thereafter).
What's next: A second location is coming to Chandler Fashion Center next year.
