New Din Tai Fung is Instantly Disneyland Resort’s Best Restaurant

As invited media, Din Thai Fung hosted WDWNT staff and provided complimentary food. As always, we will still provide our honest thoughts on all below.

Din Tai Fung at Downtown Disney District will have their grand opening on July 1 but we visited during the soft opening to try some of their menu items.

Din Tai Fung

The restaurant is located near the new Downtown Disney District security plaza on the west end. The exterior is inspired by Chinese architecture with a curved roof.

The entrance of the restaurant boasts large double doors framed by red Chinese characters above, exuding a warm welcome. Several strollers are parked outside, hinting at the family-friendly atmosphere inside this renowned Din Tai Fung establishment.

“Din Tai Fung” is in red Chinese characters and English letters above the door.

A busy restaurant interior reminiscent of Din Tai Fung, with a central bar, ornate chandelier, and patrons seated around the bar and at tables. Staff members are seen moving between the tables, and the decor includes warm lighting and wood accents.

Inside, hundreds of beads on strings hang over a circular bar.

A bustling bar with patrons sitting and chatting, ornate wooden ceiling decor, hanging lights, and a variety of bottles displayed on shelves behind the bar—it almost feels like you're at Din Tai Fung with friends.

Chinese lanterns hang between glass cabinets of liquor bottles.

People dining in a modern restaurant with wooden and patterned decor, hanging lights, and a bar area on the left, reminiscent of Din Tai Fung's elegant ambiance.

There are curved red benches.

Restaurant staff working behind a sleek, modern counter at Din Tai Fung, with empty shelves and decorative items on the wall in the background. Flowers are visible to the left side of the image.

Din Tai Fung merchandise will be available after opening.

A team of chefs, dressed in white uniforms and working behind a glass partition in a modern, tiled kitchen, showcase their culinary skills at Din Tai Fung.

There is a long wall of windows looking into the kitchen.

Chefs wearing white uniforms and masks prepare dumplings in the bustling Din Tai Fung kitchen. Steamer baskets, dough rounds, and metal bowls are seen on a marble countertop.

Guests can watch the chefs create Xiao Long Bao, their signature dumplings dish.

Chefs in white uniforms and gloves prepare dumplings at a floured counter. One chef fills dough with meat from a tray while others assist in the meticulous process, reminiscent of the precision found at Din Tai Fung.

Din Tai Fung Menu

A hand holding a menu featuring appetizers, steamed dumplings, hot wok dishes, greens, noodles, soups, drinks, and desserts in a bustling Din Tai Fung restaurant with people in the background.

A limited menu is available during the soft opening period. We ordered some of Din Tai Fung’s most popular dishes, including Xiao Long Bao.

A hand holding a menu featuring an image of Din Tai Fung staff making dumplings, accompanied by text detailing the restaurant's rich history since its founding in 1958 and its renowned specialty in handmade dumplings.

The story of Din Tai Fung is recounted on the back of the menu. It features an image of the original hand-painted sign from their first shop, which Bing-Yi Yang and Pen-Mei Lai opened in Taiwan in 1958.

Hand holding a black menu with Chinese characters on the cover in a bustling Din Tai Fung restaurant, with bar and patrons in the background.

The drinks menu is black with “Din Tai Fung” debossed on the cover.

A restaurant menu titled "Din Tai Fung Signature" featuring five exquisite cocktails: Pear Lychee Martini, Yuzu Margarita, Cucumber Gimlet, DTF Old Fashioned, and Lychee Mojito.

Of the signature drinks, we ordered the DTF Old Fashioned.

Two bottles labeled "Vinegar" and "Soy Sauce" on a black table. A small dish with sauce and ginger is in front, reminiscent of the flavors at Din Tai Fung. A bamboo steamer basket and a metal teapot are in the background.

Vinegar and soy sauce is on the table.

Instructional sign on a Din Tai Fung restaurant table titled "How to Eat Xiao Long Bao" with four steps and illustrations demonstrating the process. Diners are visible in the background.

There’s also a sign about how to eat Xiao Long Bao.

DTF Old Fashioned – $19

A glass with an amber-colored cocktail garnished with an orange peel, placed on a black napkin on a table in a Din Tai Fung restaurant setting.

This old-fashioned was absolute perfection. The Taiwanese whiskey was super light — no bite of alcohol at all. There was a hint of citrus to tie this together nicely.

A cocktail with an orange twist in a glass sits on a black Din Tai Fung napkin on a marble table; a bamboo steamer and water glass are set stylishly in the background.

The Asian whiskeys are usually very well done and this was amazing. Just a tiny hint of smokiness to let you know it was there, but overall this was very drinkable, very light, and refreshing as far as old-fashioneds go. We could continue to drink this throughout the meal.

Rating out of 7: 7

Pork Xiao Long Bun – $18.50

A bamboo steamer containing nine neatly arranged steamed dumplings, reminiscent of Din Tai Fung's delicacies, sits on a table set with white plates and glasses.

These were beyond amazing. The bao is perfectly steamed and super light. You can absolutely tell these were freshly made minutes ago.

A bamboo steamer with ten soup dumplings on parchment paper, placed on a black marble table at Din Tai Fung, accompanied by a menu and a glass of water.

The filling explodes in your mouth for an amazing umami flavor. The pork is perfectly seasoned and cooked with a hint of ginger. We followed the directions for the dipping sauce, which set it over the top. There’s a bit of liquid inside along with the pork.

A bamboo steamer basket, reminiscent of Din Tai Fung, contains ten neatly arranged soup dumplings lined with parchment paper.

We would stop at Din Tai Fung during every Downtown Disney District visit just to eat these.

Rating out of 7: 7

Steamed Soup with Beef Short Ribs – $21

A bowl of beef noodle soup with bok choy on a black marble table. A plate with a dumpling and a glass of water are in the background.

Of all of the dishes, this was probably our least favorite. Still, we’re giving it a 6/7. The soup was light and the broth had a nice deep flavor. The short rib was absolute perfection. It was tender and melted in your mouth.

A bowl of beef noodle soup with slices of beef, bok choy, and noodles in broth, served with a spoon and partially visible menu on a dark marble table.

The bok choy was perfectly cooked. The noodles were a little bit challenging to get out of the giant bowl and into your smaller bowl. But they were also cooked perfectly. You could tell they were fresh and the broth had this nice beef flavor. This was a nice way to start the meal.

Rating out of 7: 6

Wok Fried Noodles with Shrimp – $19.50

A plate of stir-fried noodles with shrimp and vegetables, served on a dark marble table.

This was a favorite. The shrimp was perfect. It wasn’t chewy at all.

A plate of stir-fried noodles with shrimp, vegetables, and greens served in a restaurant setting.

Again, you could tell the noodles were freshly made. The cabbage was light and crispy, adding some texture. There was a ton of spinach throughout that we enjoyed. It wasn’t slimy and helped keep the dish from being too greasy.

A dish comprising stir-fried noodles with shrimp, bok choy, and green leafy vegetables in a brown sauce on a white plate.

The soy sauce had a nice light flavor. The green onion-infused oil wasn’t overpowering. This was a nice, light shrimp noodle dish.

Rating out of 7: 6

Noodles with Diced Beef and Szechuan Peppers – $15.50

A plated dish of Chinese noodles topped with minced meat, diced vegetables, green onion, and a generous garnish of fresh cilantro.

This dish is beautifully presented but it is recommended you thoroughly mix it before eating.

A white bowl filled with noodles, topped with diced vegetables, ground meat, tofu, chili paste, and fresh cilantro.

This was another favorite. It’s thin egg noodles topped with a spicy and herbaceous mixture of diced beef. It has a ton of flavors from the different ingredients. There was a heavy cilantro flavor, so skip this if you don’t like cilantro.

A plate of noodles topped with minced meat, diced vegetables, and fresh cilantro.

There’s not a ton of beef but what’s there is super tender and well done. We were concerned this would be super spicy but it’s not overly spicy at all. There’s just enough heat for you to know it’s there.

A white bowl holds a serving of pasta mixed with vegetables and garnished with fresh cilantro.

This is definitely worth a try.

Rating out of 7: 6

Steamed Buns with Kurobuta Pork – $10

A bamboo steamer basket containing two large steamed buns placed on parchment paper, with some side items and a drink visible in the background.

Disney needs to take note of how to make bao. This comes with two giant steamed buns. Just like the Xiao Long Bao, these are super light and perfectly steamed. You could tell it was made fresh just a few minutes earlier.

Close-up of two steamed buns on parchment paper inside a bamboo steamer. The buns are slightly glossy with pleated tops.

We prefer the Xiao Long Bao but these were still great. There was an overall pork flavor with a hint of ginger. If you’re looking for something hardier, this might be the way to go.

Close-up of a hand holding a partially eaten steamed bun with a meat filling. The background shows a table with various dishes, a glass of water, and another bun in a bamboo steamer.

This has set our expectations high for any future bao offerings at Disney.

Rating out of 7: 7

Chocolate & Mochi Xiao Long Bao – $11.50

A bamboo steamer with five soup dumplings on white parchment paper.

This is probably in the top five best things we’ve ever eaten It’s phenomenal. We can barely find the words.

Five steamed dumplings in a bamboo steamer basket lined with parchment paper.

One serving of this dessert comes with five bite-sized buns. The bao itself is just like those of the pork dishes — super soft and freshly made. This was served very hot. It was like a molten chocolate lava cake exploding in your mouth.

A single gray dumpling with a pleated top sits on a white plate.

Chocolate was the dominant flavor. Chocolate fans will absolutely love this. It’s not overly sweet but sweet enough to be a dessert.

A hand holds a round, partially eaten dessert with a dark filling. In the background, there are glasses, plates, and a napkin on a dark surface.

It’s life-changing. Run, do not walk, and get this immediately. We can’t even stick to our usual 7/7 scale.

Rating out of 7: 10

Red Bean Steamed Buns – $9

Two steamed buns placed on parchment paper inside a bamboo steamer on a dark marble surface. Chopsticks and a glass are visible in the background.

Unfortunately, this was served directly after the chocolate mochi, which was a tough act to follow. But this was still a solid dessert offering. Similar to the giant pork, there are two buns. They’re filled with giant servings of red bean paste.

Two round, steamed buns sit in a bamboo steamer lined with parchment paper.

Fans of red bean paste will really enjoy this. It is more adventurous if it’s not your typical dessert. There’s no sweetness at all. It reminds us of refried beans but in a dessert way.

A person holds a partially eaten bun with a dark filling inside, in a restaurant setting with people seated at tables in the background.

Definitely give it a try if you want to have something other than the chocolate mochi.

Rating out of 7: 6

Overall

A busy Din Tai Fung dining area with several people sitting at tables, eating and conversing. The room features warm lighting, modern decor, and large windows. A server is attending to a table.

Din Tai Fung was crowded during our visit and we can see why. The food was phenomenal and so was the service.

A person holds a detailed Din Tai Fung restaurant menu featuring sections for appetizers, dumplings, buns, wontons, greens, and specialties in a well-lit dining area with patterned flooring and visible patrons.

Our server, Andrew, went above and beyond to ensure we had a fantastic time and that we were constantly taken care of. He answered all of our questions about the menu and made lots of recommendations. We also want to compliment them for being allergy-conscious. One in our group is allergic to mushrooms and they were very accommodating.

There are other Din Tai Fung locations across Los Angeles and Orange County so you don’t necessarily need to come to Downtown Disney District to enjoy this food. But it is a great addition to Disneyland Resort. Because it’s so crowded and bound to continue being popular, we definitely recommend reservations.

Two chefs in white uniforms and hats work behind a glass panel, preparing food with precision reminiscent of Din Tai Fung, in a well-lit kitchen. Refrigerated display cases with various ingredients are visible in the background.

We love that you can watch them making the dumplings. We can only imagine that the rest of the food and drinks were also great. They have a good selection of Asian sake and whiskeys. The food is served family-style, which we love because you can start small and build from there. We’re still dreaming about the pork and chocolate Xiao Long Baos.

If we had to pick one negative, it was loud in the restaurant. But that’s it. Din Tai Fung is a 7/7.

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