Din Tai Fung

No trip to Taiwan is complete without stopping by Din Tai Fung.  It has attracted so much attention globally, that the NYT rated Din Tai Fung as one of the top ten restaurants in the world - the only Asian restaurant on the list.  In 2010, Din Tai Fung's Hong Kong location was awarded One Michelin Star.  Oh, and that Din Tai Fung in LA?  Doesn't even come close.  There is just something about the ones in Asia that makes it stand out.

There are 5 locations now in Taiwan, 4 in Taipei and one in Hsinchu.  Yesterday we stopped by the closest one to our house, which is located in the Tienmu SOGO department store.  Yes, the department stores here have restaurants, and grocery stores, and just about everything else.

Din Tai Fung is famous for it's xiao long bao - a little pork dumpling that is wrapped in a thin, almost translucent dough, but strong enough to hold the dumpling and the broth in without breaking.  Din Tai Fung is also famous for their impeccable service.  Even though the wait can be over an hour long, once you are seated, service is nonstop and your food comes out right away.  Also, if one of the skins on your dumpling breaks, they will actually steam another one for you!  THAT is service.

 This is a shot of inside the kitchen, where they are making and filling the xiao long bao.

 This is what the finished xiao long bao look like, after they have been steamed.

That is how much broth comes out of one little xiao long bao - it's the best part!  Which is why they will steam you another one if the skin on one of the dumplings break and all the broth spills out.

 Inside of a shrimp dumpling.

Dessert - layered cake

Aside from their xiao long bao, Din Tai Fung is also really well known for their chicken soup and fried rice.  Apparently tourists from Japan go crazy over their fried rice.

This time around, we ordered 3 baskets of xiao long bao, 1 of the shrimp, some vegetables, chicken soup and hot and sour soup.  No need to take up precious stomach real estate with fried rice :)  I left full and happy - and then I promptly sent a picture over to my brother who couldn't make the trip.  I'm so mean.