Din Tai Fung, San Diego CA

Soup Dumpling Wars: Din Tai Fung San Diego Review

While plotting our San Diego escape, I stumbled across a familiar name that made me do a double take, Din Tai Fung. Cue the happy dance. Jorge and I first fell in love with this dumpling dynasty at their Tokyo location, and let me tell you, those little pockets of joy left a lasting impression. So naturally, when I realized they had a spot at Westfield UTC, it shot to the top of our itinerary faster than you can say “xiaolongbao.”

I was a bit nervous that the U.S. version might not live up to our Tokyo memories. Spoiler: it totally delivered. The soup dumplings were just as steamy, delicate, and slurp-worthy as we remembered. The vibe was definitely more Southern California than sleek Tokyo, and the portion sizes were a little different, but overall? Still the real deal.

Let’s talk food. We kicked things off with a Pear Lychee Martini, because hydration is important. It was so refreshingly good, we ordered another round—because science.

Then came the pork soup dumplings. We ordered one basket. Then immediately ordered another. They’re that good. Juicy, savory, melt-in-your-mouth perfection.

Next up was the pork fried rice. It had great flavor, but I wished the pork had been chopped and mixed into the rice instead of lounging on top like it was on a break. Still tasty.

We also tried the chicken soup with glass noodles, which honestly was a bit of a snooze. If you're looking for something light and simple, it might be your jam. But I’d skip it next time in favor of more dumplings.

Now, let’s get to the important part: the Great Soup Dumpling Debate. Jorge follows the “official” method—dumpling on spoon, poke it open, sip the soup, then bite. Meanwhile, I go rogue. I just pop the whole thing in my mouth like it’s a savory flavor grenade. Sure, it’s a little risky, but so is love. Whose side are you on?

The service was on point: friendly, fast, and just attentive enough without hovering.

Final verdict: Din Tai Fung San Diego nailed it. If you’ve never tried a soup dumpling, this is your moment. And if you have? You already know you're due for another round.