Din Tai Fung -- What has been your experience?

Question

Yes, Virginia, Din Tai Fung is a chain, with 25 branches in 8 countries. Besides, it comes up on multiple boards, so I don't know where else to post this.

Where have you been to a Din Tai Fung and was the xiaolong bao worth the shouting? What else was good? Have you noticed variations in quality between branches? (There have been some reports of the Arcadia and Singapore locations not being up to the standards of the Taipei branches.) How do they compare with other xiaolong bao venues in the same localities? Were they greatly overpriced for their area?

I've only been to the Shanghai (Xintiandi) branch of DTF, and the XLB there were excellent; of course, one would expect DTF to put their best foot forward on XLB's home turf. They also were grossly overpriced for Shanghai, and at least one local xiaolong bao purveyor (Jia Jia Tang Bao) trumps the XLB at Din Tai Fung, IMHO, at a fraction of the price.

Answer

The Taipei location is good for XLB, better than the Arcadia (CA, USA) location. 

Only thing worth getting at the Arcadia DTF is the chicken soup. Everything else is subpar.

Answer

I've only been to the DTF in Arcadia, and only once. I like the XLB better at Mei Long Village, and prefer the pork-only version to the crab+pork version there. I used to like the XLB (crab+pork) best at New Green Bo in NY but on our last visit to NY (October 2006) the wrappers were mushy and the filling was ground more finely than in our past (mutiple) visits and the amount of soup inside and its richness seemed diminished. These are the only 3 places I've ever had XLB. We're thinking of going to Hong Kong for my *big* b-day in Nov. 2008. Are there any DTF's there?

p.s. my picture is our XLB at New Green Bo last October.

Answer

Well, like most Angelenos (actually I'm from OC), I make a pilgrimage to the Arcadia branch and am already so used to the waiting ritual that awaits that I know how much time I will have to do some banking at the Wells Fargo next door.

I love DTF, but also Mei Long Village...both good, but different.

Here are a few pictures and a video I took of DTF:
http://elmomonster.blogspot.com/2007/01/dtf.html

Answer

I've got to believe there are differences between locations in different countries due to ingredients and preparation. When DTF opened in Arcadia the main issue was the health department wouldn't let them use bamboo steamers and they had to use stainless steel. Basic ingredients such as flour and meats are going to be different depending where they come from and maybe something as simple as the water for steaming and as an ingredient is going to make a difference. Geographically and genetically people's tastes are different. 

There is no one standard recipe or standard for XLB. Boils down to different strokes for different folks. I like the XLB at DTF-USA, Mei Long Village and J&J, doesn't mean I can't tell the difference, they're all good in their own way its all about personal taste. Like the poster above thinks the DTF chicken soup is the best thing to get and I thought it was the most marginal Chinese chicken soup I've ever had and wouldn't order it again.

Answer

I believe there are 2 DTF locations in Taipei. The main/original one, and another one by a shopping district near Zhongxiao Dunhua. I've only been to the main one, and have been very pleased (though I've only ordered XLB and the chicken soup).

At Arcadia I've sampled the XLB, crab XLB, chicken soup, and beef noodle soup (definitely not representative of the Taiwanese street food bowl).

In Hong Kong, I can't remember exactly what else I had, but for sure did try the xiao long tang bao. BIG mistake. Imagine a soupless juiceless XLB with a bowl of boring brown broth on the side for you to dip in. The place was very busy when I did go during lunch.

These 3 visits were within 2002 to 2003. I can honestly say that the quality did not vary and certain the XLB alone between Taipei main and Arcadia were very consistent with each other, though I think Taipei's chicken soup is the best (given the better flavor of local free range chicken).

In Taipei DTF is also pricier than XLB you can get from a neighborhood restaurant/stall (you can even order this for breakfast at some places along with your soy milk, yoh tieou and starch coma goodness, but they're not very good) but you do get what you pay for.

Answer

The XLB at the Arcadia, California branch was underwhelming, however, it was a great experience, and I have returned since for those juicy pork dumplings.

Detailed report here: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/50446



http://bfdblog.net

Answer

Jakarta's no-pork DTF is a travesty!

Answer

I ate at the Shanghai Xintandi DTF and the Seoul DTF recently. Apart from the price issue, which is a big factor, I thought both places were wonderful. In Shanghai I only had the XLB. (I arrived on the dot of 3pm, closing time, so had little time to order and eat..) In Seoul we had pork xlb and pork and crab xlb, vegetable-stuffed fried dumplings,hot and sour soup, and the beef noodle soup which was wondrous. The braised beef itself was worth a visit to Seoul. The DTF is Seoul is very slick, done in red lacquer with lots of "art objects' scattered around. Honestly I thought the food at both of these was excellent and I could not discern any difference between the xlb at both places. But then I am a total novice...with much to learn on the subject.

Answer

Well I have been to the on in Arcadia and the one in Yokohama Japan (this is the one I have been to most often) and I like the XLB at the DTF in Yokohama better... =)
A Japanese friend once told me that he had been to the DTF in Arcadia, Tokyo and Taipei and he said that Tokyo was the best

The reason why there are TONS of Japanese tourists outside the DTF in Taiwan is because it is on MOST of the "day tour" routes - people know of it from the stores in Japan and want to go to the "original"

Answer

Din Tai Fung is a chain? Would you believe, I didn't know! The one I've been to is in Meongdong, Seoul Korea. I just love the place. Shrimp noodle soup and crab meat dimsims were just perfect.

Answer

Not to be a naysayer, but after a lot of people hyping it to me I recently went to one of their Singapore restaurants and was pretty disappointed in the XLBs. Great thin skins, nice meat to soup ratio, but tasteless. I'm shocked at the standards, considering this is an Asian restaurant in Asia; I find Crystal Jade's XLBs far more tasty.

Answer

Reviving an old thread!

Best DTF XLB I've had:

1. Taipei (Yong Kang location)
2. Kyoto
3. Tokyo
4. Shanghai
5. Arcadia
6. Glendale (bleah)

Although, around the corner from the Taipei Yong Kang location is Kaochi which is where the locals go and has arguably better XLB than DTF, plus no lines. I have been convinced of this on more than one occasion. Kaochi also offers other Shanghainese snacks, like sheng jian bao and xie ke huang.

Answer

I've had Din Tai Fung in Taipei and in Hong Kong. I liked the Taipei one better, though the HK one wasn't bad at all. I really didn't expect the Taipei one to have such crazy long lines, but maybe they were all tourists there too.

The XLB were good at both. Probably more indicative of my love of cucumber salads, but I really like their cold cucumber in the soy spicy dressing. So simple, but so delicious. I remember having the hot and sour soup in HK, and thought it was terrible.

There are probably equally as good (if not better) XLB places in HK and Din Tai Fung seems to carry a premium there, but it certainly wasn't a bad meal.

Answer

The early report on the newest DTF in Santa Clara, CA.
http://www.chowhound.com/post/chowdown-report-din-tai-fung-valley-fair-santa-clara-1036408

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