An international dining behemoth has built an impressive portfolio in California in the past few decades by betting big on classic shopping malls.
Din Tai Fung, the semi-upscale Taiwan-headquartered chain known for steaming baskets of perfectly folded soup dumplings, is no stranger to growth, even in spaces as volatile as restaurants and retail. In 2025, the company boasted the highest average volume per restaurant of any chain in the United States, and it has routinely selected malls as its preferred destination when seeking to expand. That’s a rarity, considering the ongoing closure and redevelopment of many underperforming malls across America.
For its newest opening, Din Tai Fung selected the Brea Mall, bringing classics like cucumber salad and spicy wontons to northern Orange County. The restaurant, its fourth in Orange County, opened on Aug. 7…