📝 The Full Story

This is more than a review: it is a love letter to one of my favorite restaurants in the world. I probably first tried Din Tai Fung in Hong Kong. In Kowloon I remember visiting one with the Michelin star award. It was one of those Michelin-starred restaurants that you had to try because it was affordable. But I never knew that my relationship with that chain, and with Taiwan, was going to become such a fun tradition in my life. Din Tai Fung, or DTF: Down to Foodie. Or just Din Tai Fung. For me, it has become one of the flavors of Taiwan. Everybody who has visited the Formosa island (Taiwan) will learn that locals really promote this place. Several friends in Taipei have invited me to the restaurant, and I usually let my friends order and learn what they love. If you want the fancy location, there are a few in Xinyi. The Taipei 101 mall and the observatory are mandatory, and that branch is busy. There is also another one close at A4. But I would dare you to try the original Xinyi Road location in Taipei. The original storefront is now a different experience from a full-service branch. Or, if you are elsewhere in the world and have access, just go to one of the big ones. Yes, the Las Vegas branch is one of my favorites. It is inside the ARIA Resort & Casino, on the casino floor. The restaurant's windows look toward Vdara and Nancy Rubins' Big Edge installation, the large cactus-like structure. That is part of what makes the Las Vegas location fun. The Westfield Valley Fair branch is where I occasionally end up for brunch. That is the mall branch for the Bay Area. There are other branches that I really respect. Los Angeles has many. Century City is a new one in a big mall, and it is always close after landing in LAX. Fortunately, there is still no San Francisco branch, so it remains something I look forward to when I travel. Because I really like this place, in Taiwan I would always go to Din Tai Fung. Find some xiaolongbao, get the chilled cucumber salad with chili oil, and really enjoy their soups. The hot-and-sour soup is amazing, and the chicken soup is really well done. Pot stickers are a must. If you are far away from Taiwan, their boba tea is also good. In Taiwan, I would recommend trying other boba shops. It is worth it to have it at the restaurant, the specialties, the xiaolongbao, including the dessert versions. They experiment with flavors and local stuff in many branches. It is always worth it. Din Tai Fung is Taiwan. We should all try the flavors of this country. It has become a huge American business, but it still earns the loyalty. It is really worth it, and affordable for groups.

🌍 Branches I Keep Going Back To

This is a chain, so the original Taipei shop is only part of the story. These are the locations from this review.

🍴 What to Order

❓ Common Questions

📰 What Critics Say

🔗 You Might Also Like