鼎泰豐 A13店

Location: Xinyi District, Taipei City

A world-renowned chain of soup dumpling shops
In the Xinyi District, which is a cluster of department stores,
I know of several Din Tai Fung locations,
including A4 and the A13 where I dined today.
A friend who came up from the south wanted to eat,
so we planned to go and get a number.

It’s been a long time since I drew a number in Xinyi District.
I looked online to see what others shared
and it was mentioned that A4 is the best, followed by A13, and then 101.
Indeed, coming from the MRT red line, I immediately saw Din Tai Fung at 101 and it said to wait 180 minutes.
Fortunately, other friends came from different directions
and drew A13, which was about a 55-minute wait.
It was a perfect arrangement to wait for another friend to finish work.

🌟 Pork Rib Fried Rice + Red Oil Dumplings (Shrimp)
This is a must-order set from Din Tai Fung.
The pork ribs are absolutely delicious, with the perfect thickness.
The skin doesn't overpower the meat's flavor at all,
and the seasoning is just right.
The shrimp-filled red oil dumplings are my favorite;
the red oil is not overly spicy and not too greasy,
and the skin has a nice texture.
After finishing the dumplings, I added the remaining red oil to the fried rice,
giving it an extra spicy kick, elevating the already flavor-packed fried rice.
I highly recommend this addition to those who haven’t tried it.

🌟 Stir-fried Green Beans & Stir-fried Cabbage
The seasoning of the green beans is very fragrant,
and you can smell the aroma.
The green beans are not overcooked,
preserving a nice crunch without becoming mushy.
The cabbage is lightly seasoned,
but the portion is quite generous, which was surprising.

🌟 Fresh Meat Soup Dumplings & Red Bean Soup Dumplings & Taro Soup Dumplings
The soup dumplings are the most famous dish at Din Tai Fung.
I often find myself counting the pleats on top as they come closer to my mouth—just for fun! 😂😂😂
The fresh meat soup dumplings are filled with savory broth,
and they are served hot right at the table.
Both the desserts and the fresh meat are incredibly delicious,
and each dish meets Din Tai Fung’s standards.

It’s been a while since I ate at Din Tai Fung.
The main reason is that there are usually too many people,
and you can’t make a reservation—you have to draw numbers on-site.
Fortunately, the Xinyi District has quite a few locations to choose from,
but in other areas, there is often only one location to queue for,
which leads to long waits.
However, I believe the quality and standards of the dishes are unquestionable,
and the level of service is also very high.
I really recommend taking foreign friends here to eat if they come to visit.