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Din Tai Fung Dumpling House Opens In San Jose To Long Lines

SAN JOSE (KPIX 5) -- A popular Taiwanese restaurant opening its first Bay Area spot is creating a frenzy in the South Bay.

"It's crazy but I mean there's pent up demand because we've waiting so long for there to be a Din Tai Fung here in the bay area," customer May Lee said.

Lee made sure to be one of the first to eat at the first Northern California Din Tai Fung, waiting in line at the Valley Fair Mall since 10 a.m. to get in.

Some foodies showed up as early as 6 a.m. to wait in line.

Mostly known for its dim sum, soup dumplings called Xiao Long Bao, customers waited in that line just to get on the list to get in.

If you think the craze over the San Jose Din Tai Fung will eventually fade, think again.  Customers are known to wait hours for other Din Tai Fung locations that've been open for a while.

"It brings you closer to God with each bite," customer Arturo Zapico said.

People's strategies for eating the dumplings are a little bit different.

"Typically it's taken in one bite," customer Justyn Li said.

Arturo says, "Bite a little tiny hole into the dumpling and drink the soup, and then afterwards you stick a piece of ginger on top."

May says to, "Dip it in the sauce, and you need the spoon to catch all of the soup, and then you bite into it very carefully, and the soup in there that comes out, and then you slurp it up."

The restaurant doesn't take reservations.

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