I know this is quite the drive but if you have a car or happen to be in the San Gabriel Valley - this is totally worth the drive. While Din Ta Fung is an an Asian based chain - there are only 2 locations in North America - right next to each other in Arcadia!
I know there are other dumpling places - but this place consistently delivers in regards to intact dumplings. While Mei Long's flavors taste better - their dumplings are always broken - which defeats the purpose of soupy dumplings. The wait at DTF can be quite atrocious but I find coming at 10:30am-11am means less of a wait. We can once the day after Christmas - around 6pm and the wait was 2 hours. Timing is critical here if you don't want to wait but there are benches and ledges to sit on if you have to.
To start we always grab an appetizer - yes that is what is called on the menu. This is just a tasty combination of tofu, bean sprouts, and some other veggies! Plus it will hold you over from the long wait till when the dumplings come.
The most popular are the juicy pork dumplings, which I personally love. However, my personal favorite has to be the fish dumplings. They literally have pieces of fish fillets in the dumplings along with the broth. 
There are sides of soy sauce, vinegar, ginger and hot sauce. Everyone has a personal combo - mine is heavier on the soy sauce. You can then dunk and slather the dumpling - I am just a dunker but this photo is from the hubby. In case you are wondering - you use your chopsticks as well as your soup spoon to scoop this nom nom dumpling into your mouth.
In addition, I really like their pork fried rice which is very simple as well as their rice cakes, which are seriously the bomb. Enjoy the photos and if you have other dumplings suggestions - please let me know!
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