Din Tai Fung Plans to Open in the Former Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse Space in Boston's Back Bay

A few months ago, it was reported that a group of steakhouses had shuttered one of its Boston locations and that a Taiwanese chain known in part for its award-winning soup dumplings could be moving into its space, and we have now confirmed that it is indeed looking to open there.

According to a licensing board hearing page within the city's website, Din Tai Fung is planning to open at the Prudential Center in the Back Bay, taking over the space where Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse has been until closing in July. The notice mentions that the proposed restaurant would have multiple dining areas, a bar with seating for 12, and a takeout area, along with a seasonal patio. Din Tai Fung opened its first restaurant in Taipei in 1974, having transitioned from a cooking oil business that dates back to the 1950s; Forbes once posted an article saying that they had "the world's greatest dumplings."

Currently, a handful of locations of Din Tai Fung can be found in the United States, including one in Midtown Manhattan. The website for all U.S. locations is at https://dtf.com/en-us

[Earlier Article]
Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse in Boston's Back Bay Has Closed

(Follow Marc on Bluesky at @marchurboston.bsky.social)

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[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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Wu Li Xiang - Shanghai Kitchen to Open in Cambridge's Central Square

It looks like a new restaurant featuring Chinese fare is on its way to Cambridge.

According to a Bluesky post from troysch1.bsky.social, Wu Li Xiang - Shanghai Kitchen is planning to open soon on Massachusetts Avenue in Central Square, with a sign out front indicating that it may be featuring soup dumplings. A Cambridge License Commission page mentions that the upcoming dining spot plans to have an inside capacity of 36 and an outside capacity of 24 and with the proposed manager being Yumei Yu, and it looks to be open for lunch and dinner seven days a week. No specific opening date has been given as of yet, nor has a menu been seen, so keep checking back for updates.

The address for the upcoming Wu Li Xiang - Shanghai Kitchen is 411 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02139.

(Follow Marc on Bluesky at @marchurboston.bsky.social)

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[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao to Open in Framingham

A group of Michelin-recommended Shanghainese soup dumpling restaurants is bringing the first location of its original concept to Eastern Massachusetts.

According to posts from Kiat Cormier of the ChewOnThis Facebook page, Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao is planning to open soon in Framingham, with the website for the group of dining spots indicating that it will move into a space on Route 9 within a shopping plaza across from Shoppers World. Once it opens, the new location of Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao--which started out in the Flushing part of Queens in 2006--will join locations of its fast-casual concept Nan Xiang Express in Boston's Chinatown neighborhood and Shrewsbury.

The address for the upcoming Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao in Framingham is 84 Worcester Road (Route 9), Framingham, MA, 01702. The website for all locations is at https://nanxiangxiaolongbao.com/

(Follow Marc on Bluesky at @marchurboston.bsky.social)

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[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

Nan Xiang Express Is Opening in Boston's South End

The fast-casual sibling of a growing group of Michelin-recommended Shanghainese soup dumpling restaurants will be expanding to a second location in Boston.

According to a source (Kyle Meekins), Nan Xiang Express is planning to open in the South End, moving into the space on Washington Street that had been home to Bar Lyon. Once it opens, the new location will join another on Beach Street in Chinatown along with others in New York City and (soon) New Jersey and Pennsylvania, with the concept being a spinoff of the NYC-based Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao, which has locations in New York and New Jersey and which is expanding to Pennsylvania and Connecticut. (Nan Xiang Xiao Long Baowas was named a Michelin-recommended Shanghainese restaurant over the course of nine consecutive years.)

The address for the new location of Nan Xiang Express in the South End is 1750 Washington Street, Boston, MA, 02118. The website for all locations can be found at https://nanxiangexpress.com/

[August 9 update: A message from local food/drinks feature writer and restaurant critic MC Slim JB indicates that Nan Xiang Express is now open in the South End.]

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[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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Please help keep Boston Restaurant Talk and Boston's Hidden Restaurants going by making a one-time contribution or via a monthly subscription. Thanks! (Donations are non-deductible.)

  

Nan Xiang Express Opens in Boston's Chinatown Neighborhood

The fast-casual sibling of a trio of Michelin-recommended Shanghainese soup dumpling restaurants has come to Boston.

According to a press release, Nan Xiang Express has soft-opened in the city's Chinatown neighborhood, moving into a space on Beach Street between Harrison Avenue and Tyler Street and offering takeout and delivery while also having seating for more than 30 inside. The express concept--which has locations in the Forest Hills section of Queens and Brooklyn's Williamsburg neighborhood--is a spinoff of the NYC-based Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao, which has locations in the Flushing part of Queens, Manhattan, and Cherry Hill, NJ, and was named a Michelin-recommended Shanghainese restaurant over the course of nine consecutive years.

The address for the new location of Nan Xiang Express is 52 Beach Street, Boston, MA 02111. The website for all locations can be found at https://nanxiangexpress.com/

NOTE: Leslie Hurwitz, who is the father of Marc (the founder of this site) is dealing with health issues and needs your help. Please donate at https://gofund.me/76d8ba28, thanks!

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[More restaurant openings/closings from the Boston's Hidden Restaurants site): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]

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Dumpling Kitchen Opens in Former Yummy Hut Space in Somerville

by Marc Hurwitz

A new eatery featuring soup dumplings and more has come to Somerville, opening in the space where a Chinese takeout/delivery place had been.

According to an article from Eater Boston, Dumpling Kitchen is now open on Highland Avenue, taking over the former Yummy Hut space by the Lowell Street intersection. The post mentions that the new place offers such items as XLB (soup dumplings) as well as a mix of Chinese-American fare and less common options, with the menu shows such dishes as mala hot pot, poached salted edamame, preserved egg with chilled tofu, golden fried shrimp balls, spicy and sour shredded potatoes, and a dry wok frog dish.

The address for Dumpling Kitchen is 217 Highland Avenue, Somerville, MA, 02143. Its website can be found at http://www.dumplingkitchen.net/

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[Related article from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): Slideshow--Twelve Food Items from Asian Restaurants in the Boston Area]

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