Updated October 4, 2026. Prices and menu items checked against the current La Jolla menu: Best Dishes at Din Tai Fung
I was hooked the first time I visited Din Tai Fung. I’m not sure if it was the open kitchen behind glass, where you can watch the staff fold dumplings. Or the line of people waiting to get in. There was a line almost all day.
Din Tai Fung began in Taiwan. It became a full restaurant in 1972. The La Jolla location is in Westfield UTC. This is my list of the best dishes at Din Tai Fung, with current prices.
The staff here talk about the ingredients with pride. They make their own soy sauce and vinegar. They serve food at the right temperature. And they’ll tell you what to order if you ask.
Tips Before You Go
Mix your sauce
Each table has house soy sauce and vinegar. Din Tai Fung suggests one part soy sauce to two parts vinegar, with thin slices of ginger and a little chili oil. Go easy on the oil. It’s spicy. You can also buy the sauce online.
Mark your order
You get a paper sheet and a pen. Your server reads the order back to you before it goes in.
Make a reservation
The most common complaint I hear is the long wait. Book ahead at the Din Tai Fung reservations page. Enter your zip code, city, and state.
Try the bar
If you didn’t book and the wait is long, ask for a bar seat. They open up faster. This works well if you’re dining alone.
Best Dishes To Order at Din Tai Fung
Kurobuta Pork Xiao Long Bao
This is the dish Din Tai Fung is known for. The dumplings are folded by hand and steamed to order. They come to the table in a bamboo basket. An order is $17.50.
Chicken Xiao Long Bao
Lifting the lid and watching the steam rise is half the fun. The filling has chicken, carrot, celery, ginger, and green onion. An order is $18.
Cucumber Salad
I wish I could make a cucumber dish this good at home. It’s simple. Chilled Persian cucumbers are sliced and stacked, then covered in chili, garlic, sesame oil, and the house chili oil. It’s $9.
String Beans with Garlic
Green beans and garlic, cooked over high heat. I’ve never left a single bean on the plate. It’s $16.
Spicy Wontons
The label says spicy, but the heat is mild. If you don’t like spicy food, you’ll probably still like the soft wontons. They come in house chili sauce with garlic and green onion.
Braised Beef Noodle Soup
This may be the perfect soup. House-made egg noodles, braised beef, baby bok choy, and a broth that has simmered for hours. It’s mildly spicy. It contains beef tendon. It’s $21.
Noodles with Sesame Sauce
This is the spiciest dish on my list because of the house chili oil. The flavor is worth it. The noodles are thin egg noodles in a nutty sesame sauce with crushed peanuts. It’s $13.
Chocolate Dessert
Save room. The chocolate dumplings arrive hot, with a soft chocolate center. I wish there were more than five pieces. $10.
Other favorites
Locals and visitors all crave the best dishes at Din Tai Fung. Din Tai Fung is located in Westfield UTC. Din Tai Fung is one of the best restaurants at Westfield UTC.
Steamed chicken dumplings ($17), chicken wonton soup ($16), and buns: chicken & mushroom, or Kurobuta pork. The black pepper beef tenderloin is one of the best dishes at Din Tai Fung if you want something heavier than dumplings.
What I'd skip
The spinach with garlic. I wouldn’t order it again.
Address: 4301 La Jolla Village Dr, Ste 2000, San Diego, CA 92122
Phone: (858) 375-5988
Hours: Monday to Thursday, 11 AM to 9:30 PM. Check the site for Friday to Sunday.
FAQ's
What are the best dishes at Din Tai Fung?
Start with the pork or chicken xiao long bao, the cucumber salad, the spicy wontons, and the string beans. Add the braised beef noodle soup if you want a bowl. Finish with the chocolate dessert.
Where is Din Tai Fung in San Diego?
It’s at 4301 La Jolla Village Drive, Suite 2000, in Westfield UTC in La Jolla.
How much does Din Tai Fung cost?
Salads and sides run about $9 to $16. Xiao long bao is about $17.50 to $18 an order. The braised beef noodle soup is $21. Prices change, so check the official menu.
Do I need a reservation?
It’s the best way to avoid a long wait. Book through the Din Tai Fung website. If you walk in, ask for a bar seat.
What should I skip at Din Tai Fung?
I wouldn’t order the spinach with garlic again.
3 Responses
The menu at Din Tai Fung can be quite overwhelming. I love watching them making the dumplings as we wait to be seated, and those are the ones I normally order. Your list is helpful, thanks.
I can understand why you enjoy watching the dumplings being made. It is so fun watching the chefs fold and pleat each one with so much speed and precision.
This is a topic that is close to my heart…Thank you!