Houston’s Galleria could soon be home to Din Tai Fung, the popular Taiwanese restaurant chain known for its handmade soup dumplings, chocolate-filled dessert dumplings and long lines of devoted fans.
The internationally renowned chain could open its first Texas location at the state’s largest mall next year, according to a filing submitted Friday with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.
The project calls for a $1 million renovation of a 16,790-square-foot space at 5115 Westheimer Road. Construction is expected to begin Feb. 1 and wrap up June. 15.
The renovation would combine six existing spaces into one larger restaurant, including the space currently occupied by Nobu, an upscale Japanese restaurant that opened at the Galleria in 2018. Nobu has not announced plans to close.
An official opening date for Din Tai Fung has not been announced. The construction dates listed in state filings are preliminary and subject to change.
Din Tai Fung traces its roots to 1958, when Bing-Yi Yang and his wife, Pen-Mei Lai, opened a cooking oil shop in Taipei. In 1972, the couple began selling xiao long bao, or soup dumplings, which became so popular that they eventually transformed the shop into a full-fledged restaurant.
Today, the family-owned chain has grown to more than 165 locations across 13 countries, including restaurants in California, Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Arizona and New York.
The chain has earned international recognition for its food, including five Michelin stars awarded to its Hong Kong location.
Dining and Cooking