The Din Tai Fung Taiwanese restaurant brand is synonymous with consistent elegance. 

One example is its xiao long bao (soup dumplings), which feature exactly 18 hand-folded pleats and a delicate skin that holds rich, flavorful broth, each weighing exactly 21 grams. The texture, flavor and presentation are consistent across its many locations worldwide; Din Tai Fung calls it the “golden ratio.” This commitment to quality, which has earned some of its locations Michelin stars, is also evident in the restaurant’s building itself: the glass-walled kitchens, the dining rooms evoking traditional Taiwanese courtyards, the dishes served with minimalist sophistication.

A restaurant as refined as Din Tai Fung requires construction that mirrors its elegance and precision. This means the choice of contractor for the first ground-up Din Tai Fung built in the United States, located in Anaheim at the Downtown Disney District, was critical: the brand needed a builder who shared the same commitment to quality and detail to faithfully translate its ethos into physical space.

That synergy between the world-renowned restaurant and the builder, PCL Construction, makes Din Tai Fung’s new location a milestone for both parties. This two-story, 13,672-square-foot, one-of-a-kind facility pushed the limits of coordination, craftsmanship and scheduling, achieving feats rarely seen in restaurant construction. The partnership earned the restaurant Engineering News-Record’s Best Specialty Construction Project in the West Region for 2025.

However, an accomplishment this rare doesn’t come easily. With more than 50% of the contract value tied to high-end specialty finishes, the PCL team faced a unique set of challenges: tight tolerances, intricate detailing, and complex trade sequencing — all within Disneyland Resort’s live guest-facing entertainment district.

“What sets this project apart is its precision-crafted interior infused with design elements that pay homage to the company’s Taiwanese heritage,” says Jeyre Lewis, area manager for PCL’s operations in Orange County. “The specialty finishes demanded advanced sequencing, tight tolerances, and trade integration uncommon in restaurant construction. Our team approached every challenge with a solution-provider mindset, anticipating issues before they arose and collaborating closely to maintain design integrity. That attention to detail, combined with proactive planning, is what allowed us to deliver a one-of-a-kind space without compromising schedule or quality.”

To achieve its objectives, PCL Construction deployed Nialli digital pull planning, a collaborative scheduling software that became the backbone of the build. This "pull" approach involves all key project stakeholders identifying and sequencing tasks based on what is needed, rather than a traditional "push" method where tasks are dictated by a fixed timeline. The software, in conjunction with PCL’s commitment to operational excellence, ended up embodying the same high level of precision and close attention to detail that made Din Tai Fung and the contractor a natural fit for each other.  

Unexpected permit delays, evolving design details and off-hour delivery requirements tested the team’s ability to stay on track. Early in the project, new City of Anaheim requirements for a line and grade survey threatened to delay critical path work. The team responded quickly, coordinating live video inspections with the structural engineer in Cleveland, completing both requirements within 48 hours and pouring 367 cubic yards of concrete in a single day — saving cost, time, and a second pump mobilization.

As construction progressed, millimeter-level precision became standard. Nearly every interior surface tied into custom millwork and stonework, curved architectural finishes or integrated lighting. One example: the gold-framed dumpling kitchen viewing window required a perfectly sequenced dance between casework fabricators, glaziers and finish carpenters.

Meanwhile, logistical constraints added another layer of difficulty. All materials had to arrive between 1:30 a.m. and 5:30 a.m., often manually transported to comply with Disney’s operational protocols.

“Every trade had to install their systems to millimeter accuracy,” says Josh Horton, PCL superintendent. “With all the finishes overlapping — lighting, millwork, stone, glass — it only worked because we modeled it early, planned for it weekly and enforced that sequence in the field.”

Nialli’s digital pull planning was central to the project’s success. With multiple PCL projects running nearby, the team used Nialli to visually manage workflows across crews and sites. Interactive touchscreen boards in the jobsite trailer helped the team track labor, manage delivery windows and plan handoffs down to the hour.

The technology enabled a range of efficiencies and refinements throughout the project, including live updates to installation sequences and shared logistics with adjacent PCL projects. It also supported just-in-time delivery and finish protection, while allowing for early clash detection and sequencing adjustments during permitting delays. The result was a finish-rich restaurant delivered on time, on budget and with minimal “punch items,” or minor corrections or tasks. This would be an achievement in any environment; in one with the visibility and complexity of Downtown Disney, it’s a triumph.

Din Tai Fung at Downtown Disney was a test of process, discipline and coordination under pressure. The PCL team didn’t wait for ideal conditions; they relied on systems that had been proven to deliver value for clients. Nialli digital pull planning helped structure the work, but it was the consistent alignment between trades, the measured decision-making during permitting delays and the clear communication on-site that delivered this project on time, on budget and to an exceptionally high standard. In an environment where small missteps can ripple into major delays, the team’s ability to maintain control without losing momentum sets this project apart as a replicable model for excellence across the industry.

When the new Din Tai Fung location opened its doors at Downtown Disney in the summer of 2024, guests were welcomed into a space that felt as intentional and refined as the cuisine itself. That seamless experience was enabled by a construction process defined by precision, discipline and collaboration — a reflection of the same values that make Din Tai Fung a global icon.

Din Tai Fung uses the term “golden ratio” to describe its standards for soup dumplings. However, the golden ratio is also a mathematical term that describes a proportion — approximately 1.618 to 1 — often found in nature, art and architecture, where balance and beauty intersect. Like that equation, the partnership between Din Tai Fung and PCL Construction reflects a rare harmony of precision and creativity in the pursuit of a stunning experience.