We met up for some tasty dumplings at Bellevue’s Lincoln Square on 4/16/2024 to celbrate the opening of the new and expanded Din Tai Fung Bellevue. Check out a few pics from that day.
In April 2024, Din Tai Fung executed a strategic relocation within Bellevue’s Lincoln Square North, moving from a second-floor space to a prominent ground-floor location previously occupied by Maggiano’s Little Italy. Driven by the overwhelming demand that frequently outstripped the capacity of its original 2010 footprint, this new flagship location more than doubles the restaurant’s operational capacity to more than 18,000 square feet.
Designed by the internationally acclaimed Rockwell Group, the project signals a shift in the brand’s built environment strategy, moving away from standard layouts toward high-concept, culturally specific design narratives. The space merges Din Tai Fung’s Taiwanese heritage with the Pacific Northwest’s natural topography, positioning the restaurant not just as a dining venue, but as an immersive cultural anchor for the Bellevue Collection.
Relocating the existing restaurant within the Lincoln Square shopping center in Bellevue WA, the new Din Tai Fung will be more than 3 times the footprint of the existing store.
- Owner’s Representative: Rothschild Downes
- Architects: Howell Belanger Castelli
- Designer: Rockwell Group
- Food Service Equipment: Trimark
- MEP: Thorson Baker & Associates
- SE: Thorson Baker & Associates
- Lighting: Reveal Lighting
- General Contractor: Abbott Construction
Theatrical “Expo” Kitchen: A hallmark of the brand, the glass-enclosed dumpling kitchen serves as the visual centerpiece, allowing guests to witness the precise 18-fold process of xiao long bao creation from the dining room.
Regional Design Integration: The interior features a dramatic suspended tree installation and rock gardens that mimic Lake Washington and the Pacific Northwest landscape, utilizing a soothing, natural color palette to reduce noise and enhance the guest experience.
Elevated Private Dining: The facility includes two high-finish private dining rooms featuring red wall coverings, mirrored ceilings, and washi paper chandeliers, catering to Bellevue’s high-end corporate and social clientele.
Since opening, the location has set a new standard for the chain’s U.S. expansion, described by the brand’s Vice President as “setting a higher standard” for their guest experience. The successful migration of the tenant allowed the landlord (Kemper Development Company) to backfill the vacated second-floor unit with an emerging hot-pot concept, maximizing the asset’s total occupancy value.
Over the past 4 years, Texel has partnered with Rothschild Downes to support Din Tai Fung’s new restaurant program in the United States.
