'Heartbreaking decision': Din Tai Fung closes original US restaurant after 20 years in business

The Taiwanese dumpling chain said the closure was 'a result of the current economic climate'

Din Tai Fung's original US store in Arcadia, California, closed for good this week. Instagram / Din Tai Fung

Hungry diners in Arcadia, California, will have to find somewhere new for distinctly-Taiwanese rich soup dumplings and spicy chilli noodles.

Din Tai Fung, the popular Taiwanese restaurant with more than 150 branches around the world, has announced the closure of its original eatery in the US.

The restaurant in Arcadia, which is in the Los Angeles County, shut shop on Thursday, June 11, after 20 years in business.

"As a result of the current economic climate, we have made the difficult decision to permanently close our first US location," a statement on Din Tai Fung's US Instagram page said.

"We first opened this location to introduce Taiwanese cuisine, culture, and our signature xiao long bao to our guests here in the United States.

"This year marks the 20th anniversary of this location, making this decision all the more heartbreaking."

Fans flocked to the restaurant on its last day, to snap up the famous signature dishes before doors closed for the very last time.

"It's the original. I'm really emotional today," one diner told Focus Taiwan. "In terms of having that honest Taiwanese taste and cuisine, there's no better place. So I've been so grateful for it over the years."

The restaurant also has branches in Washington, Nevada and Oregon along the country's West Coast, as well as in Dubai.

The first Din Tai Fung in the UAE opened in Mall of Emirates in 2015, with branches now in The Dubai Mall, Nakheel Mall on the Palm Jumeirah and in Deira's Al Ghurair Centre.

Before the pandemic hit, the branch at Mall of the Emirates often had wait times of an hour, it was that popular. The brand recently appeared on delivery platform Deliveroo in Dubai.

Din Tai Fung was founded in Taipei in 1958 and opened its first international branch, in Tokyo, in 1996. Its most famous dish is its xiao long bao, steamed dumplings filled with meat, as well as a small amount of hot broth.

The chain is also known for its noodle and soup dishes, with all noodles and dumplings made fresh to order.

The Arcadia restaurant: