Mian Sichuan Gourmet Noodles

The food was very authentic. Coming from the Asia region, the food is as close as authentic that you will get! I was surprised by the quality of food and pricing was very good for the quality! I got to say that Mandy our waiter was really accommodating and she even spoke my wife’s language so she can have an easy time speaking and ordering! The other staff also were so attentive I didn’t have to ask for anything they just came and offered. I will come again for sure!!!

Bustling small restaurant with lots of seating. After seated, server asked if this was my first time dining here. I said yes!. They told me about the set menu choices and to order with the QR code. I got the noodle soup, appetizer and drink combo for $25.99. Food came out at a reasonable time and was quite delicious. Tea drink was sweet and refreshing. It’s a good option to dine here especially if you don’t have time to wait in the long line upstairs at Din Tai Fung.

I was on the fence about where I wanted to grab a quick bite when one of the staff members stepped out and described the dishes for me. Everyone was so nice and accommodating. The only issue I had was the amount of pork products that are served and it limited the options for me but I was still happy with the spicy lamb appetizer and the spring rolls. I will be visiting again to try the spicy beef noodles that the staff highly recommended!

I enjoyed my order of tomato beef noodles. If you order the set, you'll get the boba milk tea and chilled cucumber as a side. The cucumbers are crunchy and refreshingly. Very popular with Asian crowds I can see. Scan QR to view menu and order. Staff can speak Mandarin. There are 2 restrooms at the back.

Did you know you can try a $25 combo at a Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant?? Located in South Coast Plaza, Mian is named after its bold, spicy, Sichuan noodles, without any of the usual stuffiness and outrageous price tag that's associated with Michelin star restaurants. They actually have *really* affordable prices, like the Beef wrap for only $10 and $25 combos that'll feed you like a king. The combo was too good of a deal for me to pass up. I chose the spicy wontons as my app, spicy sparerib noodles, and any drink on their menu is included--plum juice forever--and they even got dessert covered with these brown sugar sticky rice cakes that you can add on. Don't pass up on this amazing deal in OC! Thanks for reading! ^-^

I had my dinner at this place last Friday night. It was delicious. After long time I had this delicious Asian food. Wow amazing. Place is so beautiful and clean. People who working this place super help full. Food is coming very fast. You don’t have to wait long time for it. I had a great time here and I enjoyed it. Specially Kevin helped me lot to choose my food and understand their food. Thank you Kevin. I wish you all the best! I’ll come again thank you 🙏🏾 for your service!

Im always skeptical of "mall" food, but we decided to try it out. Everything was pretty good, the only thing I wasnt a fan of was the sticky rice (brown augar). It was a bit too chewy for my liking, so if you like gum like rice, try it. Last thing, the floor is a bit slippery. Cheers!

Mian relies on their Michelin heritage a little too much, the quality of the food is still there but is lacking in flavor compared to the food found in sichuan china. Its a good place if you want a quick bite but nothing really special in terms of flavor profiles or quality. However, I am a big fan of their fried potatoes, the flavor profiles them were just mind blowing, they were light and crispy on the outside and soft and moist on the inside. The service is pretty minimal which i do appreciate but out water glasses were constantly empty and we had to ask many times to have refills. This is similar to service you would see in Europe or china.

Brought my family here for the first time, we were a party of 10 and everything was amazing. The food was so delicious & the service was extraordinary! Our server Leah did an amazing job attending to our party and making sure we had everything ! Would definitely recommend ! 10/10

Leah was an amazing server. Super nice and pre bussing was on point. Food was great and overall great time.

Great food deliciously and wonderfully prepared completely worth the wait! Their accommodating to wheelchairs and while they're always busy, it really doesn't take that much time to get your

Yeah quality has definitely gone down. The garlic green beans were cold. The spicy soup dumplings were mediocre from the past. Overall it felt like a machine just pumping out food. No real ambiance or feel for it. Just felt rushed as they kept dropping items off in bulk for all the tables.

Our experience at Din Tai Fung was full laughs, superb service, and divine cuisine. Overall, the restaurant gave us a true taste of authentic Chinese culture from home. And as always, Mike Hawk Jr. signing off. Chocolate Mochi XLB + Sea Foam- 9.7 Chicken XLB- 9.2 Cucumber Salad- 8.8 Pork XLB- 8.3 Spicy Wontons- 8.1 Matcha Milk Tea- 7.0

Love dining @ Din Tai Fung. By far, the best Dim Sum I've ever had. I make sure I stop by and eat here whenever I'm at South Coast plaza. The line can get really long but it's worth the wait. Every dish we've tried is very tasty and flavorful and the staff is very efficient and welcoming. The Xiao Long Bao never disappoints. Always a wonderful dining experience here.

Got the xiao long bao (pork) these are really good, has soup in them too. We also got steamed dumplings, they were good too. I would be okay with just the long baos though. Also we got the wok fried pork noodles and the chicken fried rice. Definitely make reservations here cause the wait time could be long. The people in front of us was quoted a 2 hour wait.

I've always wanted to try this restaurant due to all the hype. Finally made my way to this location in the South Coast Plaza mall. Loved the ambiance in this restaurant and the service was amazing, everyone was very nice and attentive. I went with a friend who had all of the recommendations so we tried them all. Cucumber Salad: simple yet delicious, loved the dressing it came with. Shrimp fried rice: very good and fresh, the shrimp was cooked perfectly. Crab and Pork Xiao Long Bao: the crab flavor really bursts through which I loved! Just wish there was more soup in them for that burst of juice. Sesame Noodles: loveddd the flavor and it had a little bit of a spicy kick which balanced this dish out really well. Garlic green beans: very good, liked the crunch on them. Chocolate & Mochi Xiao Long Bao: great dessert, I'm just not a huge fan of a lot of chocolate. It paired amazing with the sea salt cream though! Spicy Chicken Wontons: I feel like this dish was over sold to me and the sauce was not as flavorful as I personally felt it could be. The dumpling was just ok. Overall this is a solid option. Also I was expecting to wait hours to be seated but only waited 15min around 4pm on a Friday!

Have not been here for so long and the wait line was still long but all worth it! We waited two hours for our table and left the mall past 10pm and be aware that most of the doors at the mall close past 9pm except for the one going to the parking structures. So make sure to go through the parking structures after the mall closes.

Love this location Very spacious and service was excellent The food was delicious especially the hot and sour soup, pork chop, garlic spinach, and the dumplings The dumplings were so hot and yummy The timing of all the food coming out was perfect I loved it all Made reservations through yelp and they were able to seat us a bit early

Dtf is always a solid spot for your XLB dim sum fix. Everything here is delicious and service is great. Only bad thing is the looong wait

If you've been wanting to go here, I suggest you do. Every single time I've gone, the quality has always been consistent. The only downside is of course, the wait. I'm hoping with the different locations opening, this one will free up a bit more. Must order the green beans, xiao long baos (of course) & my favorite noodles will always be the noodles with sesame sauce! ALSO! The ribs. I'm normally not a fan of these but they're amazing here. If that's enough, grab the wontons and smother your other items in it :) P.s. can't forget about the chocolate baos with the salt cream dip!

I wish I could give them 10 stars. It was a process getting a table (you need to join the wait list about 2 hours early during the day and 4 hours early at night), but we waited it out and got a table on Sunday around 4:00. They have nice ambiance and the servers were all very professional, courteous, and helpful. It was a nice touch being able to see their speciality items getting made by hand behind the glass wall. All of the food was amazing, including: cucumber salad (love the sesame oil), string beans with garlic (highly recommend), hot and sour soup, chicken dumplings, spicy vegan dumplings, noodles with spicy sauce, fried chicken noodles, and chicken bao (so good we ordered a second round). They were sold out of buns or we would've tried those too. I almost never order dessert at restaurants but our server talked up the chocolate bao with whipped cream and everything was so delicious up to that point, we couldn't resist. Absolutely worth it, you'll be slapping the table in delight. Despite eating so much, none of us felt heavy after this meal. We hadn't even left and I was already getting excited to come back again in the near future. One thing that does deserve constructive feedback is the baby changing table in the women's restroom. It was incredibly low (hit mid-thigh on me) so I had to lean over pretty far while changing my infant, causing my back to feel strained. I know mamas come in all heights, but I'm very average at 5'6" so im sure many others have the same issue. Worth considering an adjustment.

Put yourself on the waitlist about 3 hours ahead of time if you can. You'll be waiting a long time. The food was great. It's definitely the best version of this style of food that you can get. The chocolate bao was unbelievable and the salt cream tea with boba was awesome. Everything we ordered was delicious especially the green beans. If you plan way ahead it's worth it but prepare to wait multiple hours if you don't have a reservation.

Best way to start my new year by eating at my favorite restaurant. They are so consistent, food is amazing and delicious. Service is so friendly and on point. Shout out to Alicia, our server. She was funny! Every time I'm in town visiting, I always make time to come and eat here.

My expectations were pretty high since this place never has a single evening reservation available, and since we were on the waitlist for 4 hours. The service was quick once we were in, but the food was just alright. The chicken XLB was very yummy, but the cucumber salad (which was $8 for a single cucumber with a little bit of sesame oil on it) and the sesame noodles were just okay, a little flavorless. Pretty overpriced for the service sizes. Overall nice ambience, though.

Everything was incredible! Loved the food. Everything was delicious. Literally amazing. Great ambiance and great service. Truly enjoyed our experience there. We also got the red bean dumplings which were also delicious but pictured.

Service: I'd like to give a special shoutout to Aaron and Mia, who were our servers. They were so kind and helpful, whenever we had questions and just made our experience at DTF awesome. I've never had a bad experience with service here, and everyone always seems to be cheerful and helpful. Food: if you are looking for a wide variety of dumplings and Taiwanese food, this is the place! It is one of my favorite XLB places, and the other dishes are just as exceptional! The spicy sauce for someone who can't eat very spicy, suddenly doesn't exist and I could not stop eating it! Ambiance: a wait is to be expected and might be very long, but it is sure worth it. However, it is located inside South Coast Plaza so you can just do some shopping while waiting. I would recommend making a reservation to avoid any long wait times. The restaurant interior looks warm and comfortable. You even have a look inside their kitchen, where they prepare the XLB. Overall we had a great experience and I would always come back again!

One of our go to spots when we're on the area. Restaurant is busy but very clean. Service is efficient. Servers are very knowledgeable about the menu and can provide recommendations based on your preferences. Food always come out piping hot. We always order pork XLB, pork chops fried rice, Taiwanese garlic cabbage and sesame mochi XLB for dessert. This time we decided to add the peppered beef tenderloin...so glad we did! It was so delicious and tender. Just make sure to mix it well so the meat is covered with the sauce. That will be in the regular rotation from now on. The Taiwanese cabbage is such an underrated item. Seems so simple but it's really flavorful. My picky husband even enjoyed it. Typically I'm the only one that eats it but not on this occasion. Parking tip - I usually valet which is just downstairs from the restaurant because this mall is massive and this way I can easy get to the restaurant without fighting the crowds.

Never disappoints! My kid's only recommendation is that the dumpling statue is placed outside the restaurant. Pork Baos are elite and each dish is so well prepared! Don't ever skip the chocolate bun options. The cucumber plate was a bit salty this time around, but I'll let it pass. Reserving a table is the best bet for quick service, or dine between 2pm-4pm for low wait times. Enjoy!

Din Tai Fung feels more like a chain restaurant than an authentic dining experience. While the presentation is nice, the flavors lacked the depth and richness you'd expect. The xiao long bao was disappointing - bland and not as flavorful as other places I've tried. The only dishes that stood out were the spicy wontons, cucumber salad, and garlic green beans, which were decent but not enough to redeem the rest of the meal. For the price and hype, I was expecting much more. It's okay for a casual outing, but if you're looking for authentic flavors, there are better options out there.

Din Tai Fung never disappoints, always delivering great food, fast service, and a lively yet comfortable ambiance. Crab & Kurobuta Pork Xiao Long Bao Always a hit, never a miss! The filling is flavorful, juicy, and pairs perfectly with the delicate dumpling skin. Chicken Xiao Long Bao If you're not a fan of pork or seafood, the subtle, light flavor of the chicken filling might be a better match for you. It's milder but still satisfying. Noodles with Sesame Sauce It's literally just sesame and peanut butter, yet somehow, I find myself ordering it every time I'm here. Creamy, nutty, and super comforting. String Beans with Garlic Perfectly cooked and seasoned, not overly garlicky but just enough to make it a staple veggie dish. Kurobuta Pork Sticky Rice Wrap A personal favorite! The sticky rice is chewy, packed with flavor, and incredibly satisfying. Sesame Xiao Long Bao with Sea Salt Cream A must-have dessert! Sweet, nutty, and made even better by the extra creaminess of the sea salt cream.

I was walking by not even thinking going into Din Tai Fung on this Thursday in December. A few people walked in, so I did also. Got a table for myself alone. No waiting what so ever. Ordered spicy wontons and green beans. Excellent as usual. Ordered red bean xia long bao to go. Super good food and friendly service made me happy.

It's sad to see a beloved place change so much. This restaurant has always held special meaning for my family--we would travel all the way to the original location in Los Angeles for the incredible soup dumplings and family-friendly atmosphere. We were thrilled when they opened this location, even as prices increased, because the quality and service made it worthwhile. Unfortunately, our most recent visit was extremely disappointing and left us worried about the direction of this restaurant chain. We ordered 5 sets of soup dumplings (each costing over $17) along with 5 other dishes, yet the amount of ginger provided was shockingly small. When we politely asked for more ginger--an essential accompaniment for dumplings--we were told it would cost an additional $3. Charging extra wouldn't have been such an issue if they had provided a reasonable amount to begin with. For the premium pricing, this policy felt petty, as though the restaurant is nickel-and-diming customers. What truly upset us, however, was how the manager and staff treated us. Rather than feeling like valued customers, we were made to feel unwelcome and almost like we weren't "good enough" to dine there. That kind of treatment, especially at a place we used to associate with warm family memories, was truly disheartening. I don't write 1-star reviews often, but I felt compelled to share this experience. It's disappointing to see a once-great place lose touch with the service and quality that made it special. I hope this feedback encourages the management to reflect on their policies and customer service so others don't have to leave feeling the way we did.

Everytime I'm here, I am running up to the bar line because it's usually really fast to get seated! I don't think I've ever really put my name down bc it's 2 hour wait. You MUST get their Cucumber Salad, Truffle XLB, Green Beans, Pork Chop Fried Rice. Their sweet and sour soup is big for 4-5 ppl if you wish to add another appetizer. If you feel like sipping a good cocktail or boba, their lychee martini or their black seasalt cream with boba is my GOTO! Food is always consistent and I can't wait to come back!

This was my boyfriend & I's first visit to din tai fung together. I had gone last month with a big group who has came several times so they had taken care of ordering and all of that; so It was easier to just tell our hostess/waitress it was both our first time since my first visit I was literally a npc just enjoying the food lol. We had Stephanie help us & she was amazing! Very attentive & suggested some favorites most ppl like & told us how everything is made to order/how to order. super personable & kind. :) We didn't get the xiao long bao as she suggested cos we're bigger fans of wontons over dumplings (sorry!!!) but nonetheless their food is delicious. We got sweet & sour pork baby back ribs, spicy chicken wontons, chicken fried noodles & the chocolate mochi xiao long bao w/ sea salt foam (not pictured) which was just enough to get you stuffed. if you're on the fence on visiting because of the wait - I know that was one of my first thoughts before I had came to visit - I'd say it's worth it. We live close by so we waited at home, but you can always go around the mall as there's plenty to do. Also, as great as it was just us two - I'd suggest coming here with a small /medium group of people so you can get more items & try a little bit of everything which is what my friends & I had done when I had come here my first time. 10/10 as always. & of course there's plenty of Chinese/dumplings restaurants that are hole in the wall that ppl will argue are more authentic which I agree, but it doesn't take away from the food & experience here! :)

I love the consistency of Din Tai Fung. I feel like every time I go to a DTF, the standards are always high in terms of the taste and quality of the food. I'm happy that they're finally opening up a new DTF in the Irvine Spectrum because the wait can be super crazy in SCP. I remember when I had to wait for 3 hours to get a table back in the day. However, I like how they implemented the yelp reservation, but I could only reserve an 8 pm dinner since all other times were just booked. We ordered the pork xlbs and the crab xlbs. They were nice and hot when they arrived and we thoroughly enjoyed them, especially the crab xlbs. They were also filled with a lot of soup. We also ordered the spicy shrimp & pork wontons. I can't imagine going to a DTF without ordering these. They're just the best wontons around. I even had to save the sauce to pour on the fried rice. The pork chop fried rice and the sesame noodles were great as well, but were definitely filler food. They both had the nice taiwanese taste to them. For dessert, we ordered the sesame mochi. These were good, but personally, I love the chocolate ones better. Either way, it was a good ending to a great meal. Aside from food, the service was good. I felt like all the staff were extremely nice. The drawbacks were the issues with wait times. Even with a reservation, we got seated 20 min after. I struggle to come here often because of the amount of preplanning way ahead of time to reserve a table. It's either a late lunch or a late dinner. Also, prices have definitely gone up. It's becoming more of a upper class dining rather than a casual dumpling spot.

All of the location they had, has the same experience for me. We tried to eat something new for a change (at least half of our choices). As expected it was good. No bad apple at all. Service was good, didn't wait for long this time (maybe because it's a Wednesday and rainy). Ambiance is different but still nice.

LMFAOOO i asked for the wait time and the host was messing with me saying it was 6 hours and said just kidding it's 15 mins. he got jokes anyways all the staff were super friendly and attentive . food was delish and sooo savory, bill maybe not so much :') finally tried the chocolate dumplings with sea cream 10000/10. must get if u had a FAT sweet tooth

This place is truly always worth the wait for me!! 'Kurobuta Pork Xiao Long Bao': I've had these several times and it's usually pretty good, I just wish they came out hotter because the broth tends to be warm.. 'Shrimp and Kurobuta Pork Spicy Wontons': These are my favorite and I get them everytime! The sauce is really flavorful and I literally drench it on everything! 'Sticky Rice with Pork and Mushroom Shao Mai': I unexpectedly really liked these dumplings, it had such a unique texture with a mild mushroom flavor. 'Pork Chop Fried Rice': fried rice itself is okay, a bit bland to be honest...but the pork chop is delicious, it's lightly battered and has a nice pepper flavor! 'Chocolate Mochi XLB': nice chewy exterior and melted chocolate interior, these are seriously so good!! If I could, I would eat the whole thing by myself! Food is usually pretty consistent each time I go, and it doesn't take too long to come out after you order. Also, service here is excellent!

These dumplings are nothing like you've had before! The black truffle was amazing, cucumber salad amazing, the best part of the meal was the chocolate xiao long bao! Service was perfect. They leave water pitchers on the table which is a huge plus to whoever drinks a lot of water! Would definitely recommend

Braved the long queue wait and was able to get an accurate wait time with I queued around 4-4:30pm to have our table around 730pm. It sounds insane but it's definitely worth the wait and we were able to dine for dinner :) You're able to queue up via Yelp and you can check your waitlist number change during the wait. I haven't had DTF in a few years but it's definitely one of my favorites since I first had it in Taipei. We ordered one appetizer and 5 entrees and it was filling for 3 people. Cucumber - 10/10 - refreshing and savory! String Beans - 10/10 the server suggested extra garlic and we LOVED it. Spicy Wontons - 10/10 - enjoyed more than the XLB! It's sweet and savory and addictive!! Pork Xiao Long Bao - 8/10 - A staple if you come! Noodles with diced beef and szechuan peppers - 7/10 - our least favorite. It was okay, but nothing impressive. Very convenient location in the mall and the service is excellent and fast. It's very comfortable and even though it busy. Our server was extremely friendly and helpful as well!

My first time trying out a full vegetarian meal at DTF. Now I can say, "Everything is Amazing!"

The food is sooooooooo delicious here. I used to live in LA and would go to China town as a little girl for Dim Sum. Personally, it is very hard to find really amazing Dim Sum in Orange County that compares. Din Tai Fung completely made me reminisce my childhood. I love their food and especially their green beans. Yes, I crave a vegetable dish of all things! I also love that they provide a nonslip silicone toddler dish for little ones. Service is always amazing as well.

I have always been a big fan of DTF but never thought to leave a review. Our server, Michael C., compelled me to leave a review because he really went above and beyond! The food was great as usual but the service really topped the cake! We came on a Monday night at 7PM and waited around 30 minutes. It's inside SCP so you can walk around, making the wait not too bad.

On a Saturday Evening, for a party of 7 we waited a little over 3 hours which was so rough. So i took off a star for that. We were so hungry, I forgot to snap pics of everything! When we were seated the service was great. Everything we ordered we did like as well. Be mindful that for a party of 7 gratuity was included and the bill came out to over 600$. I think i would come back with reservations.

The ambiance is fancy and sophisticated but also a place you can come in jeans. Highly recommend a reservation (2-3 weeks in advance), you can also go on the yelp online waitlist the day of but you have to be flexible. I got the pork soup dumplings (a must), spicy chicken wontons, sesame noodles, spicy noodles, and the chocolate dumplings. The cucumbers were okay but I prefer the green beans. Service is always friendly and fast. When people come visit from out of town this is one of my go-to spots!

Love Din Tai Fung! A very popular restaurant that always has long wait times but their recently added virtual waitlist makes it way easier. Plus, you can shop while you wait! For drinks, we always get their oolong tea- very yummy and settles the tummy with all of the food you end up ordering or if you are in the mood for cocktails, their lychee martini is delicious. I believe we have nailed our order for the perfect amount of food for 2 people with all of my favorites: spicy pork wontons, soup dumplings, chicken rice cakes, and garlicky green beans. Plus still room for their dessert of 5 chocolate filled balls and side of whipped cream (I forget the name). Highly recommend this spot- totally worth the hype!

The food was so delicious and I had a great time with my friends and business partners. Everything was amazing and I enjoyed every compliment from my guests

Great food. Elegant interior. Great service. Soup dumplings are what they're known for so stick with that. Some dishes are simply over priced for what it is and for what you get. Most of the simple veggie dishes are crazy over priced.

This is my daughter's favorite no matter the location; however, we always seem to gravitate to the South Coast location. Everyone knows there is always a wait but you can do some shopping in the meantime. As soon as you get the notification it's like winning the lottery. The food, service, and ambiance is always consistent and to say that about a restaurant is not a short order (pun intended). In all the years it has been a consistent 5 star experience and will continue to be.

AMAZING food and service. Me and my boyfriend went on a Saturday night and waited three hours. But it was worth it! Highly recommend the fried rice, ribs, And pork and shrimp spicy wontons.

Located inside South Coast Plaza, expect a pretty long wait time. We ordered a few things including the crab and pork xiao long bao, hot and sour soup, fried rice cakes, and cucumbers. The food here is always consistent.

Amazing service and food at a top Chinese restaurant! Visiting from Hawaii, we eat a lot of Chinese food and dim sum. Din Tai Fung only takes reservations online and there's a $5 charge per person if you cancel too late. The food was delicious and there's a method to eating the soup dumpling listed on the table. The string beans were intense with garlic, the kids loved the pork chop fried rice, noodles were covered in thick sesame/ peanut sauce, and chocolate buns were filled with gooey chocolate. There's also a second guy who showed up while the first dish or two were being served. Both waiters sounded like they were harmonizing when saying the word, "enjoy!" The highlight was the immaculate service provided by Michael C. He took the time to check off all the top food items on the menu. He recommended adding extra garlic to the string bean dish. He showed us how to make the vinegar dipping sauce and how to eat the soup dumpling properly. My son dropped a fork and, in the blink of an eye, Michael was there giving us a new fork as he smiled through his face mask. Get your reservation in today and maybe you will be lucky enough to have Michael C. serving you!

This food never disappoints. You can tell by the staff and how every movement is done. Service is quick and plenty of hands to help serve, pick up, and for any questions you have. It is. A bit loud but I am sure that is because of everyone talking great things about the food and the place. Reservations is a must and recommended

I LOVE Din Tai Fung! It's my favorite Taiwanese restaurant! I usually order their cucumber salad, pork xiao long bao, spicy shrimp and pork wonton, hot & sour soup, kale with garlic, and a noodle dish. They always have great service (A+) and the restaurant is always clean (even the restroom). Plenty of parking since it's at south coast. The only down side is it's always packed. I usually put my name down on the waitlist and go shop for a few hours. Always down for Din Tai Fung!

Revisited DTF Again After So Many Years. Continuous Friendly Service! The Hot & Sour Soup Didn't Have A Satisfying 'Sour' Kick To It, So I Added A Little Bit Of Vinegar & It Tasted A Lot Better - As In To My Liking. I Tried The Pork Chop Fried Rice For The First Tike & It Was Tasty. The Bok Choy With Scallion-Infused Oil, Had A Good Bite To It & The Shrimp & Kurobuta Pork Shao Mai Was Pretty Decent. The Old Fashioned (1 of 3 Signature Drinks) & An Extra Dirty Martini Wasn't Flavorful.

This is an iconic restaurant. It's an experience you should totally enjoy if you get the chance. It's easily five stars, but it's not convenient to get into. They don't take reservations. You can join the waitlist online, but only if you're within five miles. They geofence their app to ensure you're close by. They are probably paid by the mall to do this, because it pretty much forces you to browse the stores at this ultra high-end shopping mall (South Coast Plaza). Why? Because you're likely to wait 2-3 hours for a table. The interior is fine. Nothing special but adequate. The service is fantastic. And the food is all about their famous XLB - Xiau Lin Bau, Shanghai soup noodle dumplings. Don't come here without ordering these. Get the original, made with kutobuta pork. There's a reason it stands atop the menu. Their dumplings are made completely from scratch. You can watch them being made by three teams of people all at once. It's pretty impressive. Timing is important when eating XLB. Eat them while they're steaming hot, but not too hot for you. If you put them in your mouth right away, you could burn yourself a bit. Either poke a hole on top to let some steam our, or just use your fingers to feel the tempurature, and when it's cooled down just barely enough to eat, pop it in your mouth whole. Steaming hot pork soup inside a dumpling is quite an experience. This isn't the only place to experience that. But it's the most iconic. We spent $50/person, but that included two very nice bottles of sake and all we wanted to eat, including dumplings, sides, shrimp fried rice and dessert. We particularly liked the Gravity Sake from Nova Brewing Company, which they served in wine glasses, while the other sakes were all served more traditionally. It's an experience!

The wait here is always insane. Good thing the restaurant is in the mall, so you can walk around while you wait. The restaurant is beautifully decorated and clean. The servers are all dressed nice and very helpful. I think the quality has decreased a bit. I've been to DTF many times. Even the original one in Taiwan. Each visit was definitely a 5 star. On this recent visit. It seemed like the quality was lacking. The signature 18 folds on the top of the baos looked impressive, but was thick and not soft. The rice cake on this visit was hard. Usually it's soft and chewy, but this time it was hard and chewy. The zongzi was really soft with a lot of meat, but the rice was lacking flavor. The crab xiao long bao is definitely not as good as the original xiao long bao. The crab tastes dry. For such a high priced place, you would expect more HAPPY BAOING!