Din Tai Fung started its first branch in Taiwan, dating back to 1958. It was originally a cooking oil shop, until 1972 when it became an official restaurant specializing in soup dumplings and noodles. New York Times named it the top 10 best restaurants in the World in 1993 and in 2009, its branch in Hong Kong got rewarded a Michelin Star.
Firstly, what I love about Din Tai Fung is its simplicity. Yes, it’s a world renowned restaurant, and it’s definitely not shabby, but they don’t blow the place up into some fancy elegant dining place. Price is surprisingly very logical, especially considering how delicious their food are. (I spent $40 for 2 people and got even desserts) Secondly, the kitchen is not closed, as there’s a big window from which you can peek in. They actually have a pretty strict standard, as even the weight of every dumpling skin should be measured exactly on a scale.
Service in Din Tai Fung is excellent. They have more than sufficient waiters, who are very friendly and will explain the cuisines to you. Don’t dwell yourself too much looking at the menu, and without any doubt, order the Xiao Long Bao (soup dumplings). I prefer the combination with chicken and shrimp fillings, however you can also opt for chicken only (or pork only in branches outside Indonesia). They even have colourful Xiao Long Bao (in Jakarta, Indonesia.) These colourful Xiao Long Baos are made with natural coloured fillings such as cheese, spinach and more.
There is a unique way to enjoy your Xiao Long Bao, which the waiters could show you gladly. You put the Xiao Long Bao on a soup spoon, and tear open a skin to let the broth inside ooze out. You then slurp the flavourful broth, and enjoy the Xiao Long Bao. Another optional addition is ginger and soy sauce when tasting it.
Another must-try aside from their Xiao Long Bao is the noodles. My favourite is Wantan Noodle Soup. The broth is amazingly tasty and is made without any artificial flavourings. Their noodles are also handmade, and both texture and taste are unbelievably delicious. Top that off with steaming hot Wantan… yum! Don’t like noodles? Then you should order their egg fried rice. Or you could follow my path and order both of them instead!
Some other dishes I would recommend in Din Tai Fung would be their Corn & Chicken soup, Kung Pao Chicken, and Shrimp Rolls. Out of these three, my favourite is Kung Pao Chicken. It’s spicy, stir-fried chicken with peanuts and chili peppers. In Din Tai Fung, the heat of the chili is not overwhelming, though!
No meal is complete without dessert, right? This is my absolute favourite, Mango Pudding. It’s fresh, sweet, and the perfect closing you need for the perfect dining experience.
Summing it up, I love Din Tai Fung. I honestly can’t wait to return and gobble up those delicious dumplings again! Its price is so worth it, the quality of the food is five star rating, and the taste? Absolutely scrumptious. Would totally recommend this place to everyone!
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This looks so good!
It tastes divine!! :)x