Din Tai Fung - Costa Mesa

I met a friend for lunch, he's not vegan, but interested. So I was super happy to help me navigate the menu and I help him try more of the vegan options. I will just say that the service staff is amazing! they were so through everything to make sure our order is correct before they leave the table and verified everything was vegan. so helpful with suggestions and even my soy sauce, edgy mix poured over the ingwer to show me the conditions they recommend. service was excellent from beginning to end. eat it! we started with a simple cold gurken dish with sesame oil and soy sauce, it was very mild I didn't say spicy at all, it is described as a hauch of spicy, completely exact. this was refreshing and a perfect appetizer. next we served the sawed spinat, which was not the highlight of my life, but was really good and perfectly cooked to make it easy to digest, but still keep the integrity of the leaf. the dumplings came next, and I had never dumped this delicious before. the filling was fillable, tasteful and the fungus combination with jicama and others made it hearty and fill. Last article we enjoyed were the sesame noodles, so good. Next time I save space for desert! funny story as I wrote that called a customer of me and I mentioned how I took the executive lunch yesterday, he asked where I went. he and his wife are great fans of din tai and he makes a reservation for next week.

When I was first asked to go I was a little skeptical because I wasn't sure if they had any vegan options. On their new menu, they have all the vegan options labeled and let me tell you, there are a bunch! From dumplings, to buns even dessert (most of their desserts are vegan! I was not disappointed! The good was fresh, light and delicious! It was a great experience and I can't wait to go back!

Mushroom fried rice is AMAZING! Veggie Dumplings are very good as well. Don't dismiss the greens sides... They might possibly be some of the best greens I've tasted. The green beans are a must, broccoli is perfectly cooked with delicately sliced garlic. The spinach is a substantial portion and can make you teeth a bit squeaky. Remember, these sides are for sharing. If you're a vegan, double check to make sure the items you are getting are vegan. The green leaf on the menu indicates vegetarian, that can include egg. The veggie soup I tried was a little bland, so make sure to use the chili and soy sauces on the table for flavor. They also bring out delicious finely shaved ginger to go with the sauce. Waiters are SUPER FRIENDLY and honest about what is vegan/vegetarian when you ask and let them know it's your first time. Oh, yes... There is usually a 2-3 hour wait to get in during rush hours. You can sneak a seat in the bar area for less time if you're starving. I usually arrive an hour early and shop around at the mall with friends until I receive a text from them. By the way, this is a Taiwanese restaurant, not Chinese.

This restaurant has a green leaf logo to pinpoint the vegetarian (not specifically vegan) options). The dumplings, even the veggie ones, are not vegan, nor are the buns (I called). You are relatively safe with the items in the Greens section of the menu, so you'll basically be ordering a bunch of veggie side dishes in various sauces. Of course, always double check to ensure no animal products are used. Updated from previous review on 2017-07-11

Service was good. the waiters were very attentive. helper, wherever around to clear dirty dishes and fill the water/drinks. many employees work what is good. that was decent, 7 out of 10 of my opinion.