Dumpling Master Din Tai Fung Opening Monday at UTC

The wait is over; Din Tai Fung will launch at Westfield UTC this Monday, October 1. The highly-anticipated eatery joins the mall’s impressive roster of eateries that includes Shake Shack, Sweetfin Poke, True Food Kitchen, and the soon-to-open Tocaya Organica. Founded in Taipei, Taiwan, Din Tai Fung now has locations across Asia and Australia; in the U.S., its outposts are currently limited to California and Washington. The restaurant’s menu includes appetizers, noodles, fried rice, and more, but its most famous dish is unquestionably the pork xiao long bao, or soup dumplings, that also come in pork and shrimp or truffled pork renditions.

This first San Diego branch spans 10,000-square-feet and is located near The Pointe, Westfield UTC’s new restaurant row; it sits above the mall’s concierge offices. On Monday, Din Tai Fung will enter into a reservation-only soft opening phase; reservations are now available online. A rep tells Eater that this format is expected to last for a few months until the official grand opening, after which the eatery will switch to its traditional walk-in only system for seating.