Following years of rumor-mongering, Taiwan’s famous dumpling maker Din Tai Fung is officially coming to the Bay Area.
Din Tai Fung dates back to 1958 Taipei, where it opened as a cooking oil retail shop, transitioning into a full restaurant in the 1970s on the success of its xiaolong bao (soup dumplings). It now has locations in Los Angeles and Seattle, in addition to Japan, China, Thailand, and elsewhere in Asia.
Bourdain called Din Tai Fung a “deeply religious experience.” Time Magazine dubbed its soup dumplings “Shanghai’s greatest culinary joy”; Forbes called them the “world’s greatest dumplings.” Jonathan Gold described them as “structurally impeccable” and “small miracles.” You get the idea. Bay Area Yelpers will probably still complain — but we digress.
And yes, Din Tai Fung has finally confirmed its Bay Area entry (h/t to Chowhound). To be precise, it will open a sprawling restaurant in San Jose’s Westfield Valley Fair mall in late 2015. Westfield reps tell Scoop that Din Tai Fung will be located directly beneath the Dining Terrace, adjacent to J. Crew, in a 8,200 square foot space with 200 seats.
Some Din Tai Fung photos from social media to get you excited: