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TAIWAN’S CONQUERING DUMPLINGS
Taiwanese soup dumpling chain Din Tai Fung now ranks as the most profitable US restaurant chain by average restaurant sales, according to Restaurant Business Onldine.
With just 16 locations in the US, the upscale-casual brand posted an average of NTD$800 million (US$27.4 million) per store last year—nearly double that of Mastro’s Steakhouse, the next closest competitor.
Founded in 1958 in Taiwan and best known for its “xiao long bao” (pork soup dumplings), Din Tai Fung operates 180 locations across 13 countries and remains family-owned.
The chain has built a devoted West Coast fan base and has just expanded to New York City with a new 7,620 m² (25,000 ft²) flagship in Manhattan.
Din Tai Fung earned NTD$12.348 billion (US$411.6 million) in total US sales in 2023, up nearly 20% year over the previous year.
Several factors contribute to the brand’s strong performance. Locations are large, often exceeding 465 m² (5,000 ft²). The average check is about NTD$1350 (US$45), and dining rooms stay consistently busy. A full menu of shareable small plates and a profitable bar service also help drive up receipts.
Din Tai Fung is part of a broader wave of full-service Asian restaurant brands gaining traction in the US, including Kura Sushi and Kyuramen.
While the casual dining segment overall grew slowly in 2023, sales at Asian full-service chains rose 7.6%.
Still, Din Tai Fung’s numbers are unmatched. Nobu, the next-highest Asian chain, reported US$10.12 million per location, while Benihana followed with US$6.46 million. But, both lag far behind Din Tai Fung’s remarkable profitablity.
The company recently appointed brothers Aaron and Albert Yang—grandsons of founder Yang Bing-yi (楊秉彝)—as co-CEOs of its North American operations.
New stores are in the pipeline, with recent openings in Vancouver, Canada, and upcoming launches in Scottsdale, Arizona.
SOURCE: https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/
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