Now, let’s talk FOOD, because you absolutely cannot visit Taipei without experiencing the legend that is Din Tai Fung! Seriously, this place is world-renowned for a reason. It actually kicked off right here in Taipei back in 1958 and has since spread its deliciousness across the globe – yep, you’ll find branches everywhere from Australia and Japan to the US, and even right here in Singapore.
But the star of the show, the dish that put them on the map? Their incredible xiao long bao (小笼包). Picture this: delicate, perfectly pleated steamed dumplings filled with flavourful meat and a burst of piping hot, savoury broth inside. Watching the chefs craft these little pockets of heaven through the kitchen window is half the fun! Beyond the XLB, they’ve got a whole menu of goodness – think scrumptious dumplings, satisfying noodle dishes, and perfectly cooked fried rice.
The quality here is top-notch, the service is usually impeccable, and they’ve even earned prestigious awards like a Michelin star. Because it’s so good and loved by everyone (locals and tourists alike), be prepared for a bit of a wait. Lines can definitely get long, especially during meal times. So, my advice? Only plan a meal here if you have some time to spare.
10.30am to 8.30pm Sat-Sun & PHs
How to get to Din Tai Fung Xinyi Restaurant
If you’re taking public transportation, you can take the MRT to Dongmen Station (R07/O06) via the red or orange line. Exit at Exit 5, walk straight, and cross Yongkang Street. Continue a few steps ahead to find Din Tai Fung on your right.
Efficient queue system
When you arrive at the restaurant, go to the entrance counter and get a queue number first. Then download their app to keep track of the wait time (>60 minutes). This way, you can go explore the area and then return when it’s your turn. There’s no need to waste time standing outside the restaurant like others. Instead, we had mango shaved ice at Smoothie House and scallion pancakes at Tian Jin Onion Pancake on Yongkang Street. Yongkang Street is quite lively! There are plenty of food options and things to see, so make the most of your free time.
Communal table arrangement
We were ushered up to the third floor and quickly realised we’d be sharing a big table with two other groups. Honestly, we weren’t thrilled about it—communal dining isn’t really our thing—but it was getting late, and if we’d held out for a private table, we would’ve had to wait even longer (and probably end up rushing through our meal before closing time). Looking around, we noticed most of the other diners had already finished eating and were just lingering, chatting away and occupying tables like it was their living room. So yeah, sharing a table with strangers felt really awkward.
Guide to enjoy xiao long bao
Menu
Their menus are available in a variety of languages. Depending on the menu you select, they will assign a staff member who is fluent in that language to serve you. Very thoughtful. We were attended to by a service staff member who spoke fluent English.
Xiao Long Bao
They weren’t quite as steaming hot as I would have liked. Normal in terms of taste. Every dumpling contained a generous amount of broth. Unfortunately, these were not the best Din Tai Fung xiao long bao I’d ever had.
Steamed Shrimp and Pork Dumplings
Tasty. There were crunchy prawns in the filling.
House Special Spicy Shrimp and Pork Wontons
Before you dig in, toss everything together so that every wonton is coated in the piquant chilli oil.
Delicious! The wontons were juicy and plump. We all agreed that this was the best dish of the evening.
Braised Beef Noodle Soup (Half Tendon Half Meat)
The broth was flavourful, but the noodles were slightly overcooked. I’d like it to be more al dente. The meat wasn’t particularly tender, but it wasn’t overly tough either. However, the tendon was too gelatinous. When I chewed it, it stuck to the roof of my mouth, lol.
Shredded Pork Fried Brown Rice with Egg
We were hesitant to order this at first because we were concerned we wouldn’t be able to finish it, so they suggested serving us a half portion even though it wasn’t specified on the menu. The portion size was perfect, but the fried rice fell short of our expectations due to a lack of wok hei. Also, because I’m used to eating long grain rice (like jasmine rice) for fried rice, this short grain rice version didn’t appeal to me as much because it wasn’t as fluffy.
Taro Xiao Long Bao
It was like eating or nee (yam paste) in a xiao long bao. The filling wasn’t overly sweet, but it didn’t go well with the xiao long bao skin.
Final thoughts
We decided to eat at this particular Din Tai Fung on Xinyi Road because it’s the original one—the very first branch that started it all. That alone made it feel kind of special, like a little piece of culinary history. But… to be completely honest, the food didn’t quite live up to the hype. It felt a bit underwhelming and overpriced, which was a real letdown considering how iconic the brand is.
That said, the service was absolutely top-notch—friendly, attentive, and efficient—which definitely helped soften the blow. Interestingly, one of the fellow diners sharing our table mentioned that the Din Tai Fung inside Taipei 101 is actually way better. After this meal, though, we weren’t in a rush to try another branch in Taiwan. For now, we’re still Team Din Tai Fung in Singapore and Malaysia!