Din Tai Fung

"Din Tai Fung doesn’t need a kids’ menu, because its selection of dumpling and noodle dishes is already pretty all-ages friendly. But the chain (with locations in University Village, Pacific Place, and Lincoln Square in Bellevue), goes out of its way to accommodate young children with high chairs and plastic, kid-friendly plates that stick to the table. If you’ve spent all day as a family at one of the malls where DTF operates, chances are you could all use a soup dumpling or three." - Eater Staff, Meg van Huygen, Harry Cheadle

"It’s no secret that Din Tai Fung is hands-down the best dining option at University Village. This means you’ll wait at least 45 minutes for a table as you compete with big families, out-of-towners, and people with delusions of grabbing a "quick lunch" before an Apple Store appointment. Just throw your name on the waitlist before shopping and stick it out. Because once you're in, the famed soup dumplings inside this massive, steamy dining room will be the most exciting meal you'll experience at an outdoor mall. It's an easy process—jot down orders on a paper slip, and sit back as bamboo steamer baskets multiply until your table smells like a saxophone reed. We all know you're here for the juicy xiao long bao, stuffed with soupy ground pork that tastes just as excellent with or without a dose of black vinegar. But don't ignore the rest of the lineup, including wontons in spicy sauce, potstickers underneath a crackly cornstarch sheet, creamy sesame noodles, pork chop-topped fried rice, and garlicky green beans that likely account for a percentage of Altoids sales. Food Rundown Cucumber Salad They’re crunchy, sweet, and absolutely poundable. photo credit: Din Tai Fung Pork Xiao Long Bao An order is not complete without these bundles of broth and pork fat. Go nuts. Sesame Noodles For carbs that aren’t in dumpling form, have at the noodles. There’s a pristine balance between sticky peanut butter, sesame oil, and a chili-backed kick. Chicken & Vegetable Wonton Soup We see you there pretending that the wonton soup doesn’t exist. Don’t do that—it’s one of Din Tai Fung’s greatest contributions. Especially if you’ve got a gnarly upper respiratory infection. Garlic Green Beans Hey, it turns out that green vegetables taste really freaking fantastic if you deep-fry them and rub garlic all over. Pork Chop Fried Rice We’re pretty sure that the thin, peppery meat watched around 18 hours of Bojack Horseman before getting plated—they’re that tender." - Aimee Rizzo

"Fans flock to this well-known chain for baskets of xiao long bao made with Kurobata pork. They’re fantastic, even if they lack the tell-tale droop and hot broth found at DTF’s home in Taiwan. The shrimp and pork shao mai, which carry the combined flavor of land and sea, are another gorgeous choice amidst a wider selection of dumplings, buns, and wontons." - Jay Friedman

"The first Taiwanese restaurant to earn a fancy-pants Michelin star, this steamed dumpling and noodlechain gets rave reviews from Seattleites and reviewers alike. Long a staple of nearby Bellevue, Din Tai Fung has finally crossed Lake Washington to establish a Seattle outpost and and added a second option at Pacific Place shopping center (600 Pine Street). Go for the scrumptious, pillowy xiao long bao (Chinese soup dumplings), of course, but don't neglect the rest of the menu. Standouts include sweet taro buns, vinegar-laced wood ear mushrooms, and sautéed mustard greens with shredded ginger, along with the red bean sticky rice wraps for dessert."

"The arena’s food options include local restaurants that have also made commitments to sustainability, including Din Tai Fung." - Mark Van Streefkerk