It’s your last day in the United States. Where do you go for lunch?

If you could go absolutely anywhere for lunch, where would it be?

The decision came with a unanimous 5-0 decision.

[mk_dropcaps style=”simple-style”]A[/mk_dropcaps]s a parent, it’s really, really fun when your kids want to do what you want to do. As a parent, when you’re 10-year old wants to order another plate, it’s usually a question of (1) does he really need it, (2) hasn’t he had enough, (3) is it good for him? The exception comes when he wants to order green beans. The rules changes when it’s Stir Fried Green Beans at Din Tai Fung.

In fact, all of the rules changes when you’re at Din Tai Fung. I don’t exactly frequent too many other eateries that make it anywhere near the Top 100 restaurants in the world. I’m not sure some of the places we go make it to the Top 100 restaurants in the neighborhood.

“These are the best green beans in the history of the world.” — Lu at Din Tai Fung

We had one last day and we said that we could anywhere we wanted for lunch. If they wanted their last big, American burger (International translation: a Double Double at In-N-Out), we would go. If they wanted a large cheese pizza delivered, we would make that call.

But it took no discussion, zero hesitation and a quick unanimous decision: Din Tai Fung in Glendale, California.

The stir friend green beans with garlic are basically candy. You just can’t stop eating them. We didn’t even blink when my 10-year old wanted to order a second plate–because we all wanted it too.

What if your parents let you eat as much as you wanted of something that you loved so much?

It’s a dream come true for all sides of the equation, really.

1. Child is allowed to eat as much as he likes of his favorite food.
2. Parent is thrilled that child is eating something so healthy.
3. Din Tai Fung will happily fry up as many as they can and serve them piping hot.

It’s win-win-win.

The Shanghai dumplings are individually wrapped gifts of pure pleasure. The fried rice is so fresh you wonder when it was plucked out of rice paddy. Stir fried pork noodles have more bang for your buck per square inch than gold. And those green beans? Crunchy sticks of garlic-induced joy.

We arrived and they said the wait was one and a half hours. We didn’t blink. This wasn’t a question of if we would have lunch here, it was just when. It’s in the Americana area of Glendale and walking around is somewhere between Disneyland, Las Vegas and a quint European town. Take a tram ride, window shop, but don’t leave because if you don’t reply to your text that you’re ready, you’re off the list.

We’ll all miss you, Din Tai Fung.