Wu Wei Din is More Than Just a Copy Cat

Lately, there has been an uptick in TikTok videos of Wu Wei Din, a so-called “dupe” of popular Chinese-Taiwanese restaurant Din Tai Fung, which has zero locations in Texas. Many people love the spot and have been trying to find a similar restaurant, thus the influx of posts.

Luckily, we know quite a bit about Wu Wei Din, as it is in the Dallas Observer's top 100 restaurants list. Regardless, it felt like a perfect time to revisit and try all the dishes that make this restaurant a “dupe.”

I'd previously visited the Din Tai Fung in New York City, which is in a glass house, dimly lit and bougie compared with Wu Wei Din, which is brightly lit but with a sleek modern interior. Similarly, they both have an open kitchen area behind big glass windows, so customers can watch the chefs working their magic.

While Din Tai Fung’s menu is big, Wu Wei Din’s menu is even more extensive, offering appetizers, soups, xiao long bao (soup dumplings), pot stickers, noodle soup, lo mein, fried rice, dried noodles, fried udon noodles, vegetables, tofu and even specific dishes for whatever protein is preferred. We decided to try a few similar dishes that make this a Din Tai Fung “dupe” and a couple of extras.
We started with the popular lychee martini, and the Wu Wei Din version was one of the best we’ve had in a long time. It wasn't too bitter or way too sweet, like the one at Din Tai Fung. It was a flawless balance of flavors.

For appetizers, we obviously had to try the popular cucumber salad that everyone loves, except for me. Trying it at Din Tai Fung was underwhelming, and the Wu Wei Di version was about the same. It was still good; it was just a matter of personal preference; I prefer vegetables hot.
The garlic broccoli was next, which was divine at Din Tai Fung. At Wu Wei Din, it was just as savory, but the garlic flavor was a bit more muted; regardless, the plate was cleared.

Next, the chicken pot stickers were juicy and flavorful, with a sauce that added a sour touch, improving the dish. These definitely surpassed the Din Tai Fung version.
For a spicy touch, we got the spicy pork wontons. The spice level was not unbearable but instead offered a bold, aromatic flavor from the chili sauce. It was our favorite dish of the night; both locations excel in their wontons.

The noodles with spicy sauce were way spicier than the spicy wontons, but still bearable if you can handle heat. The Wu Wei Din version was definitely spicier than Din Tai Fung's.

As an extra plate, we ordered the salt and pepper chicken, which is deep-fried, then sautéed with vegetables and served with white rice. The crispy chicken resembled tiny nuggets, and the sautéed vegetables worked to mesh the flavors. White rice is always a good addition.

Sadly, Wu Wei Din does not carry the famous chocolate dumpling, so there was no dessert to end the meal, but the food itself was enough to satisfy.

Wu Wei Din is certainly not a “dupe," but rather a restaurant holding its own and deserving of its individual spotlight. In fact, I liked it better.


Wu Wei Din, 2505 S Stemmons Freeway, No. 3480, Open Sunday – Thursday from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., 4 p.m. – 9 p.m., Friday – Saturday from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., 4 p.m. – 9:30 p.m., Closed Monday