Din Tai Fung Santa Monica

Opened in 2025 on the top floor of Santa Monica Place, the newest Din Tai Fung location brings the celebrated Taiwanese restaurant’s artistry to the California coast with an architectural flourish. The space combines impressive interior and exterior design, from soaring ceilings and all-glass walls to circular booths reminiscent of handcrafted wooden steam baskets. The airy dining room offers guests front-row views of three open kitchen stations, where chefs meticulously crimp dumplings by hand—a theatrical centerpiece that blends culinary precision with visual storytelling.

At the core of this project are custom architectural solutions that elevate the guest experience while reflecting Din Tai Fung’s iconic brand:

• Custom LINE:Form Partitions create natural flow, subtly dividing larger dining areas into more intimate settings.
  Custom Wood Circular Ceiling above the main dining area evokes bao steamer textures, adding tactile richness while nodding to the brand’s culinary heritage.
• Custom Exterior Railing Feature frames the dining terrace with understated elegance.
• LINE:Form Exterior Wall Fins at the main entrance provide a dramatic floor-to-ceiling frame for sweeping ocean views, creating a seamless connection between the interior and Santa Monica’s serene coastline.
• Custom LINE:Form Exterior Wall Fins Circular Screen defines a dumpling-inspired patio space, extending the design narrative outdoors.
• LINE:Form Wave Baffles above the bar area integrates pot lighting and suspended fixtures, adding movement and ambiance to the space.

The result is an elevated dining destination where precision and warmth converge—a harmonious blend of tradition, innovation, and place. Every element, from the dumpling crimp to the ceiling curve, tells a story of craftsmanship and cultural pride, inviting guests to savor both the flavors and the design.