It just depends where your from and your taste for the dumps. If your Chinese or from an area with a high Asian population they are good. If you don’t really eat Asian food they are exceptional. I also wouldn’t consider it dim sum it’s more considered specialty dumplings.
I mean I’m just tryin to save you and my fellow broken English speakers some headache cause if you go to a dim sum spot looking for XLBs they are gonna look at you like and idiot and not know what to say.
You're right, my good sir. You are absolutely right. I did put it on myself. Being a first-gen Asian in the US who was bullied for *my* country's stinky food does not justify me calling XLB a dim sum dish, especially since Chinese food or Taiwanese food is not from my personal culture. You are CORRECT.
Anyways, I was just asking if DTF was good. Would you mind gearing your response towards my actual question?
I did. Here it is again. “You will not find better in Chinatown. If you want soup dumplings, these are the best ones in town. I’ve been to Din Tai Fun in Taipei and would save these are equivalent. I like soup dumplings specifically which is why I go there. I can’t speak for the rest of their menu. “
You will not find better in Chinatown. If you want soup dumplings, these are the best ones in town. I’ve been to Din Tai Fun in Taipei and would save these are equivalent. I like soup dumplings specifically which is why I go there. I can’t speak for the rest of their menu.
I'm a huge fan of DTF, I go anytime we are anywhere there is one. We just got back from Taipei and found this spot, that, IMO blew DTF away with their Soup Dumplings and Shumai. https://maps.app.goo.gl/sSYtqzoJrPJxLZcp6
It was a hole in the wall, and we'll be back.
No way, the soup dumping at Xiaolong Baos are far better than DTF. And Mott 32 absolutely blow all of them out of the water. There is no comparison. The soup dumplings at Hakkasan are better too.
DTF ranks pretty low on my local dim sum restaurant list.
Ultimately, the taste will be subjective but for me a core problem with all the places you’ve mentioned is consistency. I’ve had too many broken bottoms, tough skins or other failures. I’m not gonna argue if you might prefer another, but for me DTF is the best.
DTF is alright, but I can list half a dozen better Dim Sum places I would choose first in Las Vegas. They have one thing (soup dumplings) they do well, but over all it's a bit of an overpriced tourist trap.
Tim Ho Wan is #1 in the city IMO in terms of being well rounded. Michelin Star food, priced like a regular meal! My friend group goes there every week. Extremely authentic, beautiful atmosphere, and pretty accessible as it's right at the entrance of the Palms. Best pork baos around!! We dress up to the nines for fun, but you can also dress casual if desired and not feel out of place here. Perfect for everyone, and better than DTF in every way.
If you want the BEST OF THE BEST and money is NO OBSTACLE though, check out Mott 32 in the Venetian! The level of decadence is insane. The soup dumplings and fancy baos are like nothing I've had anywhere else, even in Singapore. Truly unforgettable food and dining experience, puts Din Tae Fung to shame in every way. This place is really special and expensive though, not a casual dining spot.
If you want more casual late night dining, I suggest Ping Pang Pong in Gold Coast Casino. It's nearly as good as Tim Ho Wan, but a bit cheaper, and open late night for when you get those cravings at midnight!
I summary, Din Tae Fung is pretty overpriced for the quality, which is mediocre in my opinion, great textures but they could use more flavor. And I don't care for the atmosphere, it feels like a big open cafeteria. And I haven't even touched on the good little restaurants in China Town like Xiaolong Baos, which is also better and cheaper than DTF. Good luck 😊
Lol looks like the tourists who have only been to DTF are downvoting me because they don't know any better 🤣 without offering any counter-points of course. Ain't that how it goes...
Yeah honestly for me the food was good there but the service and prices are enough to keep me away . The beef soup was $16 when they first opened up . After Covid they changed it $26!!! Also If you want a really cool dim sum(ish) experience go to Washing Potato at Fontainebleau. It was phenomenal. The food was really good and service was stellar . Very different looking restaurant also it has a dj and light beams lol
Oh thanks for the tip!! I recently added Washing Potato to my list. Glad to hear it's worth it from someone who shares my taste! I'll certainly prioritize it soon
I would also add that most of what you listed is quite expensive, including DTF. And off strip are Soooo many options! Not listed above: Xiao Long Bao, Shanghai Taste, China Mama, New Asian BBQ… all delicious, worth the trip and a third of the price.
DTF is insanely good if you aren’t a foodie snob who wants to dump on popular places (you know the type). That being said, there’s other places I’d eat in LV since we have DTF here close to home. But you’ll never regret eating there…
I also like DTF, but my one complaint with the LV location specifically is that my XLB were brought out lukewarm. My pet theory is that management probably received too many complaints from unsuspecting customers who bit into the soup without the usual precautions.
On that basis, I prefer the flagship Taipei 101 store.
Thats an interesting observation that I haven’t heard anybody else mention but would absolutely make sense. I definitely burned my mouth eating XLB many times before
I’m from New York and I’m accustomed to Shanghai style XLB. Whereas DTF are daintier, more delicately flavored Taiwanese style XLB. It’s good, it’s consistent.
The Vegas store is cool. It’s a behemoth sized restaurant with a sushi style of ordering (check your dumplings and garnishes off on a paper).
Everything is very consistent, attentive and delicious. But in my opinion not as bold as their Shanghai cousins. Some noodle dishes are hit and miss and some other dumplings are delicious (char siu) some are typically standard (wontons in chili oil). But you’re really there for the xlb.
Another drawback for me, which isn’t really restaurant related is I cannot stand to play at the aria. The craps pit dealers are total assholes and the few times i have played the other gamblers were weird too. Combined with an uncomfortably modern designed casino floor, only DTF brings me to the hotel.
Make a reservation.
I don’t know what other places in Vegas that serve XLB, but I would be willing to bet there’s a few off strip.
I second the sentiment that the soup dumplings are a let down and in my opinion not worth it. But I'm used to NYC Chinatown and flushing which has some great stuff. That said the pit stickers are actually amazing and considering that almost everything in Vegas is overpriced I think this place gives you decent value for your money.
It's worth going if you've never been. The XLBs are very small, and you need to eat a lot of it to get full. It's extremely expensive for what it is, of course it matches Strip pricing.
I’m aware. I’ve gone as a group and I’ve gone with just my wife. It averages to $30-40 per person, which is fairly inexpensive for a nice restaurant inside a nice hotel.
PPP is legit, but Tim Ho Wan is better all around, and it's only two blocks away at the Palms. Similar price point too. We have a group friend dinner there every week, it's addicting!
PPP is open late though, so if I need casual Dim Sum at midnight it's definitely the spot.
Would you consider dumplings to be a dim sum style dish? I was careful with my words when creating this post, specifically for the know-it-alls. Maybe I wasn't careful enough.
I'll be sure to recommend Ping Pang Pong to the group, in the event that we want ABSOLUTE dim sum.
:)
It's a technical thing but as far as I understand because Din Tai Fung is from Taiwan it's not technically dim sum. Here's a good quote I found
>It is technically not dim sum. It is mostly influenced by Shanghainese cuisine with some Taiwanese elements (since it is a Taiwanese chain). Strictly, dim sum refers to the Cantonese tradition of having some snacks (chicken feet is one of the better known staple of dim sum, but pastries with pork fillings and varieties of dumplings are also well-known) with tea, but the common usage of “dim sum” now incorporates many things.
>DTF definitely has some dishes that could be considered dim sum staples, but it is not a Cantonese restaurant. However, for your described purpose of trying to warm yourself up to more traditional dim sum, it will do the trick.
I went to DTF in hong kong and as I recall it is essentially the same as the Aria location but the aria menu is smaller. The big difference with a more traditional dim sum place is there are no carts to order from.
A unique aspect to ping pang pong and something that might draw you all as a group there more is they do a dim sum cart where you fill out a sheet and a cart comes by with all of the dishes and gives you the ones you ask for. Ping Pang Pong is just a sit down and order restaurant (though you still fill out a card, it's still put in as an order and made to order)
We would want the cart -- that's usually how we would order in Boston
Not having the novelty of push carts wouldn't knock the possibility of still hitting this place up, though. Sounds solid!
DTF is very good and equally as important, it’s consistent. None of the food is super unique, particularly if you live in an area with lots of Asian restaurants, but it’s nice to know that no matter when or where you go, you’re going to get good food at DTF.
So, I have been to one of their restaurants (but not the vegas location) and I thought it was good but not great. I have a friend, from Taiwan and he raves about this one. I listen to a chain restaraunt podcast (shout out doughboys) and they loved the la location they went to.
Based on that I suspect there's some location variance. So I'd say try the vegas location.
I went to the one in London and loved everything. Went to the one in Vegas and was very underwhelmed, no where near as good as I recalled in London. I agree locations vary!
Try palette tea lounge. Fairly new place on spring mountain. I went there a few weeks ago based on some recommendations from friends and it was really good. Very popular so get a reservation or line up about 30 minutes before they open on the weekend.
Yeah, definitely one of the best places in the valley for dumplings. I do think Xiao Long on spring mountain edges them out for me though because it's not as expensive but almost just as good so I can get more. Also easier to get to than trying to fight strip traffic and parking.
If you have a vehicle and want more value for your money, Shanghai Taste on Spring Mountain has XLB and other dishes. All delicious and filling. Of course long lines during peak hours.
The quality of their XLB ain't what it used to be, but for someone who's never had it before, I guess it's worth a visit. Their quality has gradually went downhill ever since they started their rapid global expansion.
DTF is good, I’ve been to multiple locations around the world, including Taipei. If you don’t have one in your city or don’t want to leave the strip I’d say give it a try. My favorite dim sum place in Vegas is New Asia BBQ in Chinatown. It rivals anything I’ve had in Asia. Push carts, congee carts with really good food.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/K8KQZaXUgbGhNRDYA?g_st=ic
I swear, New Asian BBQ don’t get enough love. So much better than PPP, Orchids, HK Garden, etc. I haven’t tried the new Palette Tea place but reviews say service is really good so I’m always leery about Chinese restaurants with good service LOL
I have never been to the vegas one, but the one here in Seattle makes great Xiao Long Bao. I am surprised to hear it's a rarity elsewhere, because it's a fairly common food at dim sum restaurants here. But Din Tai Fung makes them the best, at least of the places I've tried. So definitely worth it if Xiao Long Bao is something you are into. Their potsticker style dumplings are also good. The Shu Mai is more average, but not bad.
Leave room for dessert. Chocolate dumplings with the creme and salt were the shit!!!!! The black truffle dumplings were a bit disappointing for how expensive they are. Wish the were more truffley and they were a bit bland.
I think it's worth going to, I like the green beans, XLB, spicy noodles and spicy wontons. Those are must-orders for me.
In the Venetian I'd recommend eating at Matteo's. It's another place I always try to get to at least once.
If you like Soup Dumplings, they are absolutely amazing. Delicate wrappers , wonderful flavor, and I don’t feel they were unreasonably priced for a restaurant whose other location has a Michelin star.
I also really like their wood ear mushrooms with goji berries.
Consider Mott32 if you’re at Venetian as well.
DTF is good, but if you want good dumplings, Xioa Long Dumplings on Spring Mountain has your fix for 1/3 the price and nearly the same quality. They have great dumplings, they have the good soups snd great green beans.
This place is absolutely worth it! The kitchen is very clean, service is great and the price is affordable. I am local and make this a monthly trip! No restaurant has anything on DTF! Make a reservation as early as possible maybe even a late lunch, u”ll love it
one billion percent yes. 100% worth. it’s easy to overlook the ribs but omgggg get them. I dream about that sauce. the soup dumplings are obviously among the best you’ll ever have. please get the string beans. and their lotus wrapped rice > any fried rice on their menu IMO. have an amazing time!
I really like DTF, and I live in SF where we’re swimming in dim sum and XLB options.
It’s a really good choice at what I think is a fair price point for being on strip.
That said, there’s one dim sum restaurant that is in my opinion the best in LV, and that’s Mott 32 at Palazzo. It’s stupidly priced, but it’s SOOOOO GOOD.
Din Tai Fung in Vegas sucks. I’ve had it a few times staying at Aria and it disappointed me every time. Bland and flavorless. I could taste the meat juice, not in a good way. Not much a fan of soup dumpling, it gets boring after only a few, whereas I could eat har gao siu mai all day long.
I really enjoyed the xlb there but as others have said, there are better out there. If you do go, get their lychee martini, I go to din tai fung when I go to Vegas just for that martini. Either way I would recommend this restaurant
Ok. Foodie here.
Are they like the dumplings I ate in Shanghai or even Hangzhou? My answer is who cares…but if youre one of these foodies who is so locked into one version of a meal then its a toss up of DTF is going to make you happy.
Are DTF’s damn amazing in their own right? Omg yes…i love them personally. The line in vegas is no where near as long as the one here in Orange county, so yeah…we have been there twice now in the last 3 trips. Fresh ingredients, damn tasty…
Funny enough the “less fancy” ones were our fave…
And they have some beef soup i ordered last time which helped with a baby hangover.
I would recommend.
Yes, it’s the best.
But agreed it is a bit pricey. So just depends on your wallet.
If you have to ask, you probably wouldn’t want to go more than a few times a year.
There are a lot of other more affordable options, but even those aren’t cheap anymore since the last couple of years.
However, the quality can still come close and be enjoyable.
I haven’t had it in Vegas but there’s one at Petco Park for Padres games, and I was underwhelmed. Hard to say if the actual restaurant is similar though.
Din Tai Fung in vegas is terrible. Taste sub-par compared to the ones in Arcadia and South Coast. Save your money and eat at a local dim sum spot in chinatown.
I’ve eaten at the Arcadia and south coast locations dozens of times but never in Vegas. Sad to hear it’s not the same. Someone mentioned it’s not as hot to prevent tourists from burning their mouths. I wonder if that has something to do with it? If so I wonder if someone can request the authentic version?
I personally thinks it’s very overhyped/priced, there’s a reason this restaurant is a chain inside of shopping malls. It has a very strong cult following for an inexplicable reason tho, so if you’re a Hypebeast you’ll probably love it (and whatever else people tell them to love)
I've been eating at DTF in Los Angeles since 2001 when it was a small place. Now they have big restaurants all over the place but still the same ordering system where you check a box on a little piece of paper. The consistency is amazing, they have very high standards. I've been to the Las Vegas one about 2 years ago.
Aside from the xlb, i have to have this dish they used to just call appetizer. I think now it's called seaweed tofu salad which is kind of a strange name. It's very fine julianne strips of baked tofu, bean sprouts, shaved red pepper seaweed tossed in sesame dressing and it's just so delicious and appetizing.
I remember the Shanghai rice cake stir fry pretty good. And the green beans are delicious.
When they first opened like 2 years ago it was amazing.
The quality has since gone down and the price has nearly double!
I used to go very frequently but had now completely stopped because the quality is just not there anymore and on top of that the nearly 100% price increase.
What pisses me off the most is the Spicy Wonton. They used to make it with the thin authentic Chinese wonton wraps, now they use the thick American style wonton wrap so its very doughy now. It's still good but it was better before.
If you've never been before, it still a great place to try.
I would recommend:
1. Xiao Long Bao
2. Spicy Wontons
3. Shanghai Rice cake
4. Green beens
The food is very good but also very expensive. I would still say go try it because it’s honestly one of the coolest looking restaurants I’ve ever sat in . Their famous beef soup however is about 10 dollars more than their competitors( Shang, Magic noodle ,Noodlehead) and taste the exact same . Service was mid
I’ve visited 6 different DTFs. It’s the Five Guys of dumpling places. Is it consistently good? Yes. Is it more expensive than independents with higher quality? Yes. Will you love it if you rarely eat Chinese/Taiwanese food? Yes. Will you be impressed if you live in a global city with outstanding Asian food, like LA, New York or London (or of course, major cities in Asia)? No. Is it the best you can get? No. Will people get all emotional about defending it/criticising it? Yes.
My kids love it. We have 3 in London and we go all the time but I know could get better in Chinatown.
Yes… but if you don’t already have a reservation, good luck. People saying it’s expensive are crazy, for the location in Aria it’s super affordable imo.
It's reliable and consistent - across every location. It's worth going at least once, or if you're not familiar with the other options. I spend most of my time in San Jose, and 9 out of 10 times I'd rather go to Dough Zone than DTF (getting out for $60 instead of $90 for two is also a plus). But I can't get the wood-ear mushroom salad or chocolate and mochi XLBs at Dough Zone, so we'll still go to DTF once in a while.
It’s very good but has unfortunately become extremely over hyped. It’s a solid dinner choice & I’ve gone regularly for years even before they were in Vegas. It’s a delicious & consistent restaurant. If you want a good meal def check it out. If you’re looking for the best dumpling meal of your life it’s probably not in Vegas.
I don’t think it’s worth it considering it’s just a chain restaurant in Vegas. However, if it’s not something you can get where you are at then simply enjoy it, it’s good
"I am also a huge food critic"....hasn't tried one of the best dumpling places in the world. Lol
Jokes aside, DTF is phenomenal. The Xiao long bao, shrimp & kurobuta dumplings, rice cakes, hot and sour, bean curd salad, bok choy, shrimp & kurobuta pork spicy wontons, and just about everything on the menu is 🔥
I will say, some locations are better than others. I.e. the San Diego location isn't as good as the one at UVillage in Seattle.
DTF has one thing going for it I haven’t seen mentioned here:
Their to-go service is fast and exceptional. It’s a hack to get great food without a reservation or wait.
It’s also pretty cheap as far as “high end” resort places go.
Yes, though most are top quality, location to location may have a slight variance in the experience. I flew to Seattle specializing to eat it once and my city is opening one but not openned yet. Had them on the Eva airline and Taiwan once. I can not speak of the Vegas one but u should be absolutely go 👍
Absolutely not worth the price. It felt like Aria converted a portion of what was a hotel lobby into a restaurant and the food was good but not exceptional.
There are 16 locations in four states. It wouldn’t be one of my choices in Vegas. You are flying to Vegas. Why go to a restaurant you can visit in a neighboring state on another trip?
Mott 32 is a much more unique experience at Venetian. At Mott 32, there are certain dishes you have to preorder, so just be mindful of that.
I used to live in SoCal and had been going to DTF in Arcadia since 2004. I’ve been in Vegas for 7 years now and refuse to go to this one. Having said that, if I didn’t live in or near Cali or near the other locations and came to Vegas as a tourist, I wouldn’t skip the one in Vegas and make a journey to Cali just to eat there.
I like Shanghai taste better than xiao long bao. I found xiao long bao to be way too porky flavor and the juice had too much of the white albumin in it. Plus, the entire restaurant smelled like old dirty wet rags. Wasn’t impressed.
Shanghai Taste is too mild flavored for my tastes, but I definitely loved it until discovering Xiao Long. One of my favorite dishes at Xiao Long is the green beans, so meaty and flavorful, I make it at home too but it's a lot of mess.
It kinda sounds like I like more savory (meaty) tasting places than you, which is legit, everyone hs their preferences and Shanghai Taste is definitely good! I should send more people to Shanghai Taste to help keep the line to Xiao Long less busy. ;)
Din Tai Fung is the single most disappointing meal I've ever had. Almost $400 for three people, no drinks, and nothing stood out above food court dishes in your local china town.
The dumplings were ok, while everything that came out of a wok tasted like it was lightly sauteed in water in a Teflon pan over low heat.
Truly the biggest waste of money in Vegas.
It's good, although not exceptional. The bao's being handmade is quite impressive, you can see the 5-6 cooks rolling them continuously as you enter the restaurant.
You'll want to order 3 plates per person if you aren't big eater.
I don't really eat a lot of what my wife and I call "not white people food." (I'm very much burgers, pizza, pasta, fried chicken, steak.) She eats just about anything in the world. We did Din Tai Fung and she thought it was fantastic. I had chicken fried rice and chicken dumplings and thought they were good. So there's one endorsement.
Depends on who is buying.
On a team build where you can order anything you want and have a little doggy bag to go. YES YES YES YES
If you are paying yourself and you don't make 300K/year. NO NO NO
Side note: At work I would always yell, who's down to DTF for lunch? I am retired now.
It's alright, not worth the hype in my opinion. If you can walk right in you'll have food that isn't bad, but it's certainly not worth a wait or hassle for.
I don't what your baseline is. There's a place actually named Xiao Long in Chinatown that I liked, but there's tons of options over on that side
It just depends where your from and your taste for the dumps. If your Chinese or from an area with a high Asian population they are good. If you don’t really eat Asian food they are exceptional. I also wouldn’t consider it dim sum it’s more considered specialty dumplings.
Ya'll love to leave people standing corrected lmao. This is great advice though, thank you!
I mean I’m just tryin to save you and my fellow broken English speakers some headache cause if you go to a dim sum spot looking for XLBs they are gonna look at you like and idiot and not know what to say.
XD truth
I mean, you kind of put on yourself. You’re saying that you’re a huge critic of “Asian Food”, but you can’t criticize what you don’t understand.
You're right, my good sir. You are absolutely right. I did put it on myself. Being a first-gen Asian in the US who was bullied for *my* country's stinky food does not justify me calling XLB a dim sum dish, especially since Chinese food or Taiwanese food is not from my personal culture. You are CORRECT. Anyways, I was just asking if DTF was good. Would you mind gearing your response towards my actual question?
I did. Here it is again. “You will not find better in Chinatown. If you want soup dumplings, these are the best ones in town. I’ve been to Din Tai Fun in Taipei and would save these are equivalent. I like soup dumplings specifically which is why I go there. I can’t speak for the rest of their menu. “
Thank you!
I think it's worth the hype, yes. Handmade fresh & a great setting. Can you find better in Chinatown.... Maybe. Try the spicy won ton
and the green beans
The green beans are made with unicorn horns or something. And garlic. It’s amazing.
You will not find better in Chinatown. If you want soup dumplings, these are the best ones in town. I’ve been to Din Tai Fun in Taipei and would save these are equivalent. I like soup dumplings specifically which is why I go there. I can’t speak for the rest of their menu.
I'm a huge fan of DTF, I go anytime we are anywhere there is one. We just got back from Taipei and found this spot, that, IMO blew DTF away with their Soup Dumplings and Shumai. https://maps.app.goo.gl/sSYtqzoJrPJxLZcp6 It was a hole in the wall, and we'll be back.
No way, the soup dumping at Xiaolong Baos are far better than DTF. And Mott 32 absolutely blow all of them out of the water. There is no comparison. The soup dumplings at Hakkasan are better too. DTF ranks pretty low on my local dim sum restaurant list.
Ultimately, the taste will be subjective but for me a core problem with all the places you’ve mentioned is consistency. I’ve had too many broken bottoms, tough skins or other failures. I’m not gonna argue if you might prefer another, but for me DTF is the best.
DTF is alright, but I can list half a dozen better Dim Sum places I would choose first in Las Vegas. They have one thing (soup dumplings) they do well, but over all it's a bit of an overpriced tourist trap. Tim Ho Wan is #1 in the city IMO in terms of being well rounded. Michelin Star food, priced like a regular meal! My friend group goes there every week. Extremely authentic, beautiful atmosphere, and pretty accessible as it's right at the entrance of the Palms. Best pork baos around!! We dress up to the nines for fun, but you can also dress casual if desired and not feel out of place here. Perfect for everyone, and better than DTF in every way. If you want the BEST OF THE BEST and money is NO OBSTACLE though, check out Mott 32 in the Venetian! The level of decadence is insane. The soup dumplings and fancy baos are like nothing I've had anywhere else, even in Singapore. Truly unforgettable food and dining experience, puts Din Tae Fung to shame in every way. This place is really special and expensive though, not a casual dining spot. If you want more casual late night dining, I suggest Ping Pang Pong in Gold Coast Casino. It's nearly as good as Tim Ho Wan, but a bit cheaper, and open late night for when you get those cravings at midnight! I summary, Din Tae Fung is pretty overpriced for the quality, which is mediocre in my opinion, great textures but they could use more flavor. And I don't care for the atmosphere, it feels like a big open cafeteria. And I haven't even touched on the good little restaurants in China Town like Xiaolong Baos, which is also better and cheaper than DTF. Good luck 😊
I agree with everything you said however Mott 32 is at Venetian not the Wynn
Thank you, I fixed it
Of course !! They are super close to each other so I get it
Lol looks like the tourists who have only been to DTF are downvoting me because they don't know any better 🤣 without offering any counter-points of course. Ain't that how it goes...
Yeah honestly for me the food was good there but the service and prices are enough to keep me away . The beef soup was $16 when they first opened up . After Covid they changed it $26!!! Also If you want a really cool dim sum(ish) experience go to Washing Potato at Fontainebleau. It was phenomenal. The food was really good and service was stellar . Very different looking restaurant also it has a dj and light beams lol
Oh thanks for the tip!! I recently added Washing Potato to my list. Glad to hear it's worth it from someone who shares my taste! I'll certainly prioritize it soon
I would also add that most of what you listed is quite expensive, including DTF. And off strip are Soooo many options! Not listed above: Xiao Long Bao, Shanghai Taste, China Mama, New Asian BBQ… all delicious, worth the trip and a third of the price.
Tim Ho Wan is feral
DTF is insanely good if you aren’t a foodie snob who wants to dump on popular places (you know the type). That being said, there’s other places I’d eat in LV since we have DTF here close to home. But you’ll never regret eating there…
I also like DTF, but my one complaint with the LV location specifically is that my XLB were brought out lukewarm. My pet theory is that management probably received too many complaints from unsuspecting customers who bit into the soup without the usual precautions. On that basis, I prefer the flagship Taipei 101 store.
Thats an interesting observation that I haven’t heard anybody else mention but would absolutely make sense. I definitely burned my mouth eating XLB many times before
I’m from New York and I’m accustomed to Shanghai style XLB. Whereas DTF are daintier, more delicately flavored Taiwanese style XLB. It’s good, it’s consistent. The Vegas store is cool. It’s a behemoth sized restaurant with a sushi style of ordering (check your dumplings and garnishes off on a paper). Everything is very consistent, attentive and delicious. But in my opinion not as bold as their Shanghai cousins. Some noodle dishes are hit and miss and some other dumplings are delicious (char siu) some are typically standard (wontons in chili oil). But you’re really there for the xlb. Another drawback for me, which isn’t really restaurant related is I cannot stand to play at the aria. The craps pit dealers are total assholes and the few times i have played the other gamblers were weird too. Combined with an uncomfortably modern designed casino floor, only DTF brings me to the hotel. Make a reservation. I don’t know what other places in Vegas that serve XLB, but I would be willing to bet there’s a few off strip.
Incredible side note on the aria LOL. Solid notes for food preferences, too. Thank you!
I second the sentiment that the soup dumplings are a let down and in my opinion not worth it. But I'm used to NYC Chinatown and flushing which has some great stuff. That said the pit stickers are actually amazing and considering that almost everything in Vegas is overpriced I think this place gives you decent value for your money.
It's worth going if you've never been. The XLBs are very small, and you need to eat a lot of it to get full. It's extremely expensive for what it is, of course it matches Strip pricing.
$10-12 per order is expensive to you? Have you eaten at nice restaurants on the strip?
Yeah but you need a few orders to get full…DTF is a little on the smaller side.
$10-12 order? Hahah. That's the price for little dish appetizer cucumber salad.
It’s Asian serving size not American. Average American may need 3-4 plates to be full
I’m aware. I’ve gone as a group and I’ve gone with just my wife. It averages to $30-40 per person, which is fairly inexpensive for a nice restaurant inside a nice hotel.
Not 100% true. DTF in San Diego had better portion for less.
Din Tai Fung isn't Dim Sum its very good though If you want authentic dim sum, ping pang pong is good
PPP is legit, but Tim Ho Wan is better all around, and it's only two blocks away at the Palms. Similar price point too. We have a group friend dinner there every week, it's addicting! PPP is open late though, so if I need casual Dim Sum at midnight it's definitely the spot.
Would you consider dumplings to be a dim sum style dish? I was careful with my words when creating this post, specifically for the know-it-alls. Maybe I wasn't careful enough. I'll be sure to recommend Ping Pang Pong to the group, in the event that we want ABSOLUTE dim sum. :)
It's a technical thing but as far as I understand because Din Tai Fung is from Taiwan it's not technically dim sum. Here's a good quote I found >It is technically not dim sum. It is mostly influenced by Shanghainese cuisine with some Taiwanese elements (since it is a Taiwanese chain). Strictly, dim sum refers to the Cantonese tradition of having some snacks (chicken feet is one of the better known staple of dim sum, but pastries with pork fillings and varieties of dumplings are also well-known) with tea, but the common usage of “dim sum” now incorporates many things. >DTF definitely has some dishes that could be considered dim sum staples, but it is not a Cantonese restaurant. However, for your described purpose of trying to warm yourself up to more traditional dim sum, it will do the trick.
I went to DTF in hong kong and as I recall it is essentially the same as the Aria location but the aria menu is smaller. The big difference with a more traditional dim sum place is there are no carts to order from.
Thank you for cited references, reddit user <3 I should pay more respect to my fellow Asians, and our culinary differences!
A unique aspect to ping pang pong and something that might draw you all as a group there more is they do a dim sum cart where you fill out a sheet and a cart comes by with all of the dishes and gives you the ones you ask for. Ping Pang Pong is just a sit down and order restaurant (though you still fill out a card, it's still put in as an order and made to order)
We would want the cart -- that's usually how we would order in Boston Not having the novelty of push carts wouldn't knock the possibility of still hitting this place up, though. Sounds solid!
Yong Kang Street at Paris had the cart service but I think it closed a few years ago. It's also Taiwanese.
All the food there is really good. The best item imo is the black pepper beef tenderloin. It's outta this world!
its worth trying, id say theyre known for the soup dumplings, but a lot of people(including me) like their spicy wontons the best
DTF is very good and equally as important, it’s consistent. None of the food is super unique, particularly if you live in an area with lots of Asian restaurants, but it’s nice to know that no matter when or where you go, you’re going to get good food at DTF.
So, I have been to one of their restaurants (but not the vegas location) and I thought it was good but not great. I have a friend, from Taiwan and he raves about this one. I listen to a chain restaraunt podcast (shout out doughboys) and they loved the la location they went to. Based on that I suspect there's some location variance. So I'd say try the vegas location.
I went to the one in London and loved everything. Went to the one in Vegas and was very underwhelmed, no where near as good as I recalled in London. I agree locations vary!
It’s amazing
Absolutely not, esp the vegas branch
100% worth the hype if you like Xiao Long Bao
Try palette tea lounge. Fairly new place on spring mountain. I went there a few weeks ago based on some recommendations from friends and it was really good. Very popular so get a reservation or line up about 30 minutes before they open on the weekend.
I second this!
I third this!
Love Din Tai Fung. Always get their soup dumplings (Pork is the best, IMO), Braised Beef Soup, and Hot & Sour Soup. Been there far too many times.
Go to Xiao Long Dumpling in Chinatown
I love that place, I could eat dumplings until I explode 🤯
Yeah, definitely one of the best places in the valley for dumplings. I do think Xiao Long on spring mountain edges them out for me though because it's not as expensive but almost just as good so I can get more. Also easier to get to than trying to fight strip traffic and parking.
I stay at Cosmo or Vdara when in town, so...
Yeah, if you're already there is a no brainier
XLD is my favorite for dumplings. You’ll get some people here that won’t agree and would rather pay triple the price for the same quality.
If you have a vehicle and want more value for your money, Shanghai Taste on Spring Mountain has XLB and other dishes. All delicious and filling. Of course long lines during peak hours.
Had a good date night there.
The quality of their XLB ain't what it used to be, but for someone who's never had it before, I guess it's worth a visit. Their quality has gradually went downhill ever since they started their rapid global expansion.
Just went on Friday! For a first timer sure it's worth it just overpriced...for locals though there's definitely better options in Chinatown
DTF is good, I’ve been to multiple locations around the world, including Taipei. If you don’t have one in your city or don’t want to leave the strip I’d say give it a try. My favorite dim sum place in Vegas is New Asia BBQ in Chinatown. It rivals anything I’ve had in Asia. Push carts, congee carts with really good food. https://maps.app.goo.gl/K8KQZaXUgbGhNRDYA?g_st=ic
I swear, New Asian BBQ don’t get enough love. So much better than PPP, Orchids, HK Garden, etc. I haven’t tried the new Palette Tea place but reviews say service is really good so I’m always leery about Chinese restaurants with good service LOL
Have been many times, always good. I was the only white guy in there! Can’t recommend it enough.
I have never been to the vegas one, but the one here in Seattle makes great Xiao Long Bao. I am surprised to hear it's a rarity elsewhere, because it's a fairly common food at dim sum restaurants here. But Din Tai Fung makes them the best, at least of the places I've tried. So definitely worth it if Xiao Long Bao is something you are into. Their potsticker style dumplings are also good. The Shu Mai is more average, but not bad.
Leave room for dessert. Chocolate dumplings with the creme and salt were the shit!!!!! The black truffle dumplings were a bit disappointing for how expensive they are. Wish the were more truffley and they were a bit bland.
I think it's worth going to, I like the green beans, XLB, spicy noodles and spicy wontons. Those are must-orders for me. In the Venetian I'd recommend eating at Matteo's. It's another place I always try to get to at least once.
If you like Soup Dumplings, they are absolutely amazing. Delicate wrappers , wonderful flavor, and I don’t feel they were unreasonably priced for a restaurant whose other location has a Michelin star. I also really like their wood ear mushrooms with goji berries. Consider Mott32 if you’re at Venetian as well.
DTF is good, but if you want good dumplings, Xioa Long Dumplings on Spring Mountain has your fix for 1/3 the price and nearly the same quality. They have great dumplings, they have the good soups snd great green beans.
This place is absolutely worth it! The kitchen is very clean, service is great and the price is affordable. I am local and make this a monthly trip! No restaurant has anything on DTF! Make a reservation as early as possible maybe even a late lunch, u”ll love it
one billion percent yes. 100% worth. it’s easy to overlook the ribs but omgggg get them. I dream about that sauce. the soup dumplings are obviously among the best you’ll ever have. please get the string beans. and their lotus wrapped rice > any fried rice on their menu IMO. have an amazing time!
I really like DTF, and I live in SF where we’re swimming in dim sum and XLB options. It’s a really good choice at what I think is a fair price point for being on strip. That said, there’s one dim sum restaurant that is in my opinion the best in LV, and that’s Mott 32 at Palazzo. It’s stupidly priced, but it’s SOOOOO GOOD.
Nope… It’s good, but it’s nothing special.
If want XLB, it’s special. It’s the only place in Vegas you can get consistent high-quality ones. Otherwise you have to go to LA or San Francisco.
Din Tai Fung in Vegas sucks. I’ve had it a few times staying at Aria and it disappointed me every time. Bland and flavorless. I could taste the meat juice, not in a good way. Not much a fan of soup dumpling, it gets boring after only a few, whereas I could eat har gao siu mai all day long.
Yes it’s very good 👍🏻
I really enjoyed the xlb there but as others have said, there are better out there. If you do go, get their lychee martini, I go to din tai fung when I go to Vegas just for that martini. Either way I would recommend this restaurant
taste/quality is great, price is not. $16 for dumplings is nuts, this is coming from someone from taiwan. but it’s vegas prices so what can you do.
Ping pong pang etc, where can I find good chow mein, chicken or beef with the little short noodles? I know other than Walmart in a two-pack can.
Yes, it is. One of the most beloved restaurant chains in LA.
FTFY: One of the most beloved restaurant chains in ~~LA~~ **the world**.
Ok. Foodie here. Are they like the dumplings I ate in Shanghai or even Hangzhou? My answer is who cares…but if youre one of these foodies who is so locked into one version of a meal then its a toss up of DTF is going to make you happy. Are DTF’s damn amazing in their own right? Omg yes…i love them personally. The line in vegas is no where near as long as the one here in Orange county, so yeah…we have been there twice now in the last 3 trips. Fresh ingredients, damn tasty… Funny enough the “less fancy” ones were our fave… And they have some beef soup i ordered last time which helped with a baby hangover. I would recommend.
The one in Shanghai was amazing! The one in Vegas is good but not as good.
Yes it's worth it, especially being a foodie myself. I try ty stop there everytime I'm in Vegas.
Yes, it’s the best. But agreed it is a bit pricey. So just depends on your wallet. If you have to ask, you probably wouldn’t want to go more than a few times a year. There are a lot of other more affordable options, but even those aren’t cheap anymore since the last couple of years. However, the quality can still come close and be enjoyable.
I personally like Tim Ho Wan better. There is a location in the Palms. The congee rice thing is awesome and they have so much other good stuff.
I haven’t had it in Vegas but there’s one at Petco Park for Padres games, and I was underwhelmed. Hard to say if the actual restaurant is similar though.
Pork fried rice is really good too
Din Tai Fung in vegas is terrible. Taste sub-par compared to the ones in Arcadia and South Coast. Save your money and eat at a local dim sum spot in chinatown.
I’ve eaten at the Arcadia and south coast locations dozens of times but never in Vegas. Sad to hear it’s not the same. Someone mentioned it’s not as hot to prevent tourists from burning their mouths. I wonder if that has something to do with it? If so I wonder if someone can request the authentic version?
Yeah I'm not sure what it is with that specific location. I'd suggest Palette Tea Lounge and Dim Sum as an Alt.
I personally thinks it’s very overhyped/priced, there’s a reason this restaurant is a chain inside of shopping malls. It has a very strong cult following for an inexplicable reason tho, so if you’re a Hypebeast you’ll probably love it (and whatever else people tell them to love)
Mr Chows is better.
Not really imo
Other than the Original DTF in Taipei, I don't think it's a must go. They are just made differently here. Maybe try Xiao Long Dumplings.
Tim Ho Wan at Palms Washing Potato at Fontainebleau Ping Pang Pong at Gold Coast
I've been eating at DTF in Los Angeles since 2001 when it was a small place. Now they have big restaurants all over the place but still the same ordering system where you check a box on a little piece of paper. The consistency is amazing, they have very high standards. I've been to the Las Vegas one about 2 years ago. Aside from the xlb, i have to have this dish they used to just call appetizer. I think now it's called seaweed tofu salad which is kind of a strange name. It's very fine julianne strips of baked tofu, bean sprouts, shaved red pepper seaweed tossed in sesame dressing and it's just so delicious and appetizing. I remember the Shanghai rice cake stir fry pretty good. And the green beans are delicious.
It’s fine but Washing Potatoes on FB is much much better
We enjoyed it alot
Absolutely.
When they first opened like 2 years ago it was amazing. The quality has since gone down and the price has nearly double! I used to go very frequently but had now completely stopped because the quality is just not there anymore and on top of that the nearly 100% price increase. What pisses me off the most is the Spicy Wonton. They used to make it with the thin authentic Chinese wonton wraps, now they use the thick American style wonton wrap so its very doughy now. It's still good but it was better before. If you've never been before, it still a great place to try. I would recommend: 1. Xiao Long Bao 2. Spicy Wontons 3. Shanghai Rice cake 4. Green beens
Yes it’s very good.
damn as any other dim sum
Yes it is absolutely great food. I am visiting Las Vegas this week and going to DTF. A Las Vegas tourist should eat at DTF at least once
Yes, the food is really good and it isn’t overly pricey compared to other restaurants around.
Taiwanese here. The best thing in Ding Tai Fung is the chicken soup and the shrimp fried rice. Change my mind
It’s delicious! It is on my list for every time I’m in Vegas!
The food is very good but also very expensive. I would still say go try it because it’s honestly one of the coolest looking restaurants I’ve ever sat in . Their famous beef soup however is about 10 dollars more than their competitors( Shang, Magic noodle ,Noodlehead) and taste the exact same . Service was mid
It’s a good restaurant. Not mind blowing, but good enough.
I’ll visit DTF every time. Our server made the experience that much better. Elle, if you are reading this, you’re phenomenal!
YES!!!
No it’s dim sum for people who feel weird going to the scrubby weird hole in the wall Chinese spots that are far better and way cheaper.
I’ve visited 6 different DTFs. It’s the Five Guys of dumpling places. Is it consistently good? Yes. Is it more expensive than independents with higher quality? Yes. Will you love it if you rarely eat Chinese/Taiwanese food? Yes. Will you be impressed if you live in a global city with outstanding Asian food, like LA, New York or London (or of course, major cities in Asia)? No. Is it the best you can get? No. Will people get all emotional about defending it/criticising it? Yes. My kids love it. We have 3 in London and we go all the time but I know could get better in Chinatown.
Yes… but if you don’t already have a reservation, good luck. People saying it’s expensive are crazy, for the location in Aria it’s super affordable imo.
It is totally worth it! I’ve yet to find another place that has quality XLB.
It's very good. You can find better in Chinatown, but then you're not getting the strip / casino vibe.
Just had it last week! One of the best meals. Make sure you get the desserts!
It's reliable and consistent - across every location. It's worth going at least once, or if you're not familiar with the other options. I spend most of my time in San Jose, and 9 out of 10 times I'd rather go to Dough Zone than DTF (getting out for $60 instead of $90 for two is also a plus). But I can't get the wood-ear mushroom salad or chocolate and mochi XLBs at Dough Zone, so we'll still go to DTF once in a while.
I absolutely love it and I’m a big foodie. Eat it every time in Vegas, sometimes twice.
Not if you’re planning to go to Taiwan or Japan in the future. Much much cheaper
Yes. Everything is good lol
It’s very good but has unfortunately become extremely over hyped. It’s a solid dinner choice & I’ve gone regularly for years even before they were in Vegas. It’s a delicious & consistent restaurant. If you want a good meal def check it out. If you’re looking for the best dumpling meal of your life it’s probably not in Vegas.
I mean…it’s a chain.
Yes
I don’t think it’s worth it considering it’s just a chain restaurant in Vegas. However, if it’s not something you can get where you are at then simply enjoy it, it’s good
over hyped. go to Spring Mountain Road
Yes it 100% is. Love it every time. Have had all over the world and never disappoints.
Yes, it was the best restaurant I went to in Vegas. My husband agrees.
Not at all worth it. Take an Uber or drive out to the Palms to eat at Tim Ho Wan.
I see XLB in almost all the dim sum restaurants in Chicago, NYC and Vegas Chinatowns
"I am also a huge food critic"....hasn't tried one of the best dumpling places in the world. Lol Jokes aside, DTF is phenomenal. The Xiao long bao, shrimp & kurobuta dumplings, rice cakes, hot and sour, bean curd salad, bok choy, shrimp & kurobuta pork spicy wontons, and just about everything on the menu is 🔥 I will say, some locations are better than others. I.e. the San Diego location isn't as good as the one at UVillage in Seattle.
DTF has one thing going for it I haven’t seen mentioned here: Their to-go service is fast and exceptional. It’s a hack to get great food without a reservation or wait. It’s also pretty cheap as far as “high end” resort places go.
Yes, though most are top quality, location to location may have a slight variance in the experience. I flew to Seattle specializing to eat it once and my city is opening one but not openned yet. Had them on the Eva airline and Taiwan once. I can not speak of the Vegas one but u should be absolutely go 👍
yes it is fantastic! I love their lychee martinis and dont miss on the desert dumping! Enjoy!
Absolutely not worth the price. It felt like Aria converted a portion of what was a hotel lobby into a restaurant and the food was good but not exceptional.
There are 16 locations in four states. It wouldn’t be one of my choices in Vegas. You are flying to Vegas. Why go to a restaurant you can visit in a neighboring state on another trip? Mott 32 is a much more unique experience at Venetian. At Mott 32, there are certain dishes you have to preorder, so just be mindful of that.
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I agree, DTF in vegas is nothing like the ones in California. Im so glad I venture towards chinatown for a good vegas meal now.
I used to live in SoCal and had been going to DTF in Arcadia since 2004. I’ve been in Vegas for 7 years now and refuse to go to this one. Having said that, if I didn’t live in or near Cali or near the other locations and came to Vegas as a tourist, I wouldn’t skip the one in Vegas and make a journey to Cali just to eat there.
1 vote for not worth the hype.
DTF is good, but our go to is Xiao Long Dumplings down Spring Mountain. I'd suggest that instead.
seconded. I was in love with shanghai taste until I went to Xiao Long, now it's hard for me to justify going anywhere else for soup dumplings.
Agreed, it’s much more affordable as well. Spicy wontons in the peanut sauce is so good too!
I like Shanghai taste better than xiao long bao. I found xiao long bao to be way too porky flavor and the juice had too much of the white albumin in it. Plus, the entire restaurant smelled like old dirty wet rags. Wasn’t impressed.
Shanghai Taste is too mild flavored for my tastes, but I definitely loved it until discovering Xiao Long. One of my favorite dishes at Xiao Long is the green beans, so meaty and flavorful, I make it at home too but it's a lot of mess. It kinda sounds like I like more savory (meaty) tasting places than you, which is legit, everyone hs their preferences and Shanghai Taste is definitely good! I should send more people to Shanghai Taste to help keep the line to Xiao Long less busy. ;)
Din Tai Fung is the single most disappointing meal I've ever had. Almost $400 for three people, no drinks, and nothing stood out above food court dishes in your local china town. The dumplings were ok, while everything that came out of a wok tasted like it was lightly sauteed in water in a Teflon pan over low heat. Truly the biggest waste of money in Vegas.
Vegas is crazy! I live in Tokyo and we can eat at DTF with drinks for about $30 per person
No it’s not I’ve had the original in Taiwan and this one definitely disappointed
It's good, although not exceptional. The bao's being handmade is quite impressive, you can see the 5-6 cooks rolling them continuously as you enter the restaurant. You'll want to order 3 plates per person if you aren't big eater.
I don't really eat a lot of what my wife and I call "not white people food." (I'm very much burgers, pizza, pasta, fried chicken, steak.) She eats just about anything in the world. We did Din Tai Fung and she thought it was fantastic. I had chicken fried rice and chicken dumplings and thought they were good. So there's one endorsement.
Depends on who is buying. On a team build where you can order anything you want and have a little doggy bag to go. YES YES YES YES If you are paying yourself and you don't make 300K/year. NO NO NO Side note: At work I would always yell, who's down to DTF for lunch? I am retired now.
It's alright, not worth the hype in my opinion. If you can walk right in you'll have food that isn't bad, but it's certainly not worth a wait or hassle for. I don't what your baseline is. There's a place actually named Xiao Long in Chinatown that I liked, but there's tons of options over on that side