🎖️ Din Tai Fung 🎖️
I probably don't need to say much about the reputation of Din Tai Fung.
Being a signature restaurant in Taiwan, it enjoys five-star support!
Yesterday, I saw on Xiaohongshu that the Din Tai Fung in Northern China is about to cease operations. My Beijing junior was so shocked that he insisted I take him there today, fearing he might never have delicious soup dumplings in the occupied area again.
This Din Tai Fung is located next to Shanghai IFC, with the Oriental Pearl Tower visible above. I had visited once before the pandemic lockdown in Shanghai (I came to have Song Fa Bak Kut Teh at that time). During a weekday lunch, the empty Line 2 left a deep impression on me, and then I tested positive for COVID... damn!
🎖️ Spicy Red Oil Dumplings
Unlike other red oil dumplings that can be overly greasy, Din Tai Fung's spicy red oil dumplings are lighter in flavor but surprisingly delicious and a must-order at Din Tai Fung.
🎖️ Crab Meat Soup Dumplings
I actually wanted to try the original flavor, but my junior insisted on the crab meat version (so luxurious~). As everyone knows, Din Tai Fung's soup dumplings have 18 folds, which I don’t need to elaborate on. The skin is thin and filled with a lot of juice, bursting with crab roe flavor—it's really amazing! The only downside is the price, otherwise, it's perfect 😂😂
🎖️ Hot and Sour Soup, which many people recommend online. It was my first time ordering it at Din Tai Fung, and it was loaded with ingredients, also very tasty—adding vinegar made it even better.
🎖️ Pork Rib Fried Rice, I really really love their fried rice. I don't know why, but it doesn't have the greasiness typical of fried rice, nor is it too hard; it has just the right amount of deliciousness. The skin of the pork ribs is very thin. This dish is definitely a must-order at Din Tai Fung!
However, the prices at Din Tai Fung in Mainland China are quite a bit higher than in Taiwan. A classic order of 10 soup dumplings in Taiwan is NT$280, while in Mainland China, it's 5 for ¥46 (approximately NT$207).