Din Tai Fung, Taipei, Taiwan

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A successful restaurant chain worthy of a visit...especially if you are in Taipei where it all started! Din Tai Fung specializes in xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) and they are incredible! They have branches all around the world and the one that started it all, on Xinyi Road in Taipei, is still going strong. So much so that there is often a line up.

Din Tai Fung on Xinyi Road, Taipei

The first time we experienced these little bundles of joy was in Singapore. We were walking by when we saw them hand making all these dumplings. Who wouldn't want to taste these after seeing this army of cooks rolling dough, filling them and bundling them up?!

Making xiaolongbao

Xiaolongbao

When they arrived on our table, I had to take a moment to look at them. So perfect and calling to me. They were also hot, so they needed a second to cool down. I carefully picked one up with my chopsticks being mindful not to break the dumpling. I could not believe what I had just eaten. Popping this little meat filled dumpling in your mouth and biting down on it caused the liquid to burst out and envelope your mouth with goodness. It was magic and I had to make yummy noises. Since then, we have sought out a Din Tai Fung wherever we are.

Pork & shrimp

Drunken Chicken

We found Din Tai Fung in Chengdu when we were there and the experience was just as amazing (along with incredible service). Then we found one in Bangkok, while still very good, it lacked a little something. Then we decided to visit Taipei. Not for the sole reason of visiting the original Din Tai Fung but to experience the city itself (and well, having the mother ship there didn't hurt).

Rice with pork

Brisket soup

Spicy dumplings

There are several branches in Taipei, but we went to the original one twice, once on a weekday and once on a weekend day. Both times we were standing at the entrance by 10:30 am. On the weekday, we were seated immediately,  and on the weekend day, we had to wait 5 min. When we left both times, the line was LONG. Plan accordingly if you do not like to wait, and even if you have to wait, I think it is still worth the experience!

 ~ Christine

NOTE: We did not eat all these dishes at one sitting!