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Will 2017 be the year the Chinese dumpling wars hit a crescendo? In one corner, there’s local chainlet and Eater 38 member Dough Zone Dumpling House, which opened its fourth location in November and is planning a Seattle expansion. This year, the fifth Dough Zone restaurant will open in the International District, and the official word is the company is planning a total of ten restaurants in the area over the next three to five years.
In the other corner, there’s international sensation Din Tai Fung, which originated in Taiwan and has expanded its dumpling empire to 11 other countries including the United States. The company already has two locations open in the Seattle area, with two more on the way.
One is under development at Pacific Place, and its opening timeline has been pushed back several times. Unfortunately, there’s been no official update lately on when those doors might be unlocked.
A forthcoming Din Tai Fung at Westfield Southcenter Mall, however, is aiming for to launch this spring, according to mall officials; the restaurant applied for its liquor license recently. There’s no specific date here either, but rest assured Eater will track this vitally important piece of news carefully.
Until then, there are plenty of great options locally for partaking in the wonders that are Asian dumplings, even beyond the area’s major rivalry.
