Din Tai Fung Opens at Santa Monica Place — With Ocean Views
Din Tai Fung — the Taiwan-born dumpling chain that has been drawing lines at its Arcadia and Century City locations for years — has finally come to the beach. The Santa Monica outpost opened at Santa Monica Place, the mall at the south end of the 3rd Street Promenade, and it comes with something no other Din Tai Fung in the US can offer: a patio with a view of the Pacific Ocean.
Din Tai Fung was founded in Taipei in 1958 as a cooking oil shop that pivoted to noodles and dumplings. It now has locations across 13 countries and has earned Michelin stars at several of its locations in Asia. The LA locations are not Michelin-starred, but the XLB (xiaolongbao — soup dumplings) are made to exacting standards and are consistently some of the best in the city.
"Din Tai Fung's XLB have a standardized skin thickness measured in grams. The pleating is counted to exactly 18 folds. Every dumpling is identical. At scale, this is kind of extraordinary."
What to Order
The menu at Din Tai Fung is consistent across all locations. There is no reason to overthink it. Here is what to order:
Pork Xiaolongbao (XLB): This is the reason Din Tai Fung exists. A thin, delicate wrapper, a precisely seasoned pork filling, and a pocket of hot, rich broth that releases when you bite in. The standard technique is to place the dumpling on your spoon, bite a small hole in the side to release the steam, let it cool for 10 seconds, and eat it in one bite with a bit of the ginger-vinegar dipping sauce. Do not squeeze it. Do not rush it.
Truffle & Pork XLB: A seasonal/premium offering when available. Worth the upcharge if it's on the menu.
Shrimp & Pork Shaomai: Open-topped dumplings with a different texture and a clean shrimp flavor. Good as a second order alongside the XLB.
Fried Rice: Often overlooked, consistently excellent. The egg fried rice in particular is a benchmark version of the dish.
Red Bean Xiaolongbao: Dessert. Sweet red bean paste filling in the same dumpling wrapper. Order one basket at the end.
The Ocean View Patio
The Santa Monica location occupies a position in Santa Monica Place that faces toward the Pier and the ocean. The patio is the right place to sit if you can get it — eating soup dumplings with a view of the Pacific is genuinely unusual and worth requesting specifically when you check in. Ask for patio seating when you add your name to the list.
Getting There
Santa Monica Place is at the south end of the 3rd Street Promenade, at 395 Santa Monica Place. Parking is available in the mall structure (validated with purchase). The Downtown Santa Monica Metro E Line station is one block north. The Pier is a 5-minute walk west.
