Din Tai Fung Restaurant Review, Shanghai

Reviewer: Foodnut.com

Din Tai Fung

2nd floor, Shop 11A, Building 6, Xintiandi South Block

Shanghai, China

21/6385-8378

Din Tai Fung Website

Din Tai Fung is a popular Shanghai dumpling restaurant with locations in Los Angeles, Taipei, Japan, China, Singapore, and several other countries. We dined at the location in Shanghai’s touristy Xintiandi. The Los Angeles location is in Arcadia with Yelp reviews unfortunately indicating it is a step down from the ones abroad.

This restaurant started in Taipei City and has expanded over the years based on the popularity of their Shanghai steamed dumplings. We decided not to visit the USA, Beijing, Tokyo or Hong Kong branch and eat at one in the heart of Xiao Long Bao dumpling territory, Shanghai, China. We were hoping that this would be the star location for dumplings.

Din Tai Fung Shanghai Xintiandi Interior Decor

Decor, Vibe – Din Tai Fung was a clean, modern, open, and airy restaurant with a large open kitchen in the rear, showcasing the making of dumplings. The restaurant was loud and busy, filled with tourists and local office workers.

Menu

Din Tai Fung’s Menu has many different types of Shanghai dumplings, appetizers, buns, and several desserts.

Signature Dishes – Shanghai steamed dumplings – Xiao Long Bao

Website Menu

Din Tai Fung Full image set

Picks:

Din Tai Fung Shanghai special steamed pork dumpling xiao long bao inside

Special steamed pork Xiao Long Bao (¥29 for 5 pieces) contain lots of hot and tasty soup, good meat flavor, and good sized dumplings. They took about 15 minutes to arrive. Far superior to ones in the US.

Din Tai Fung Shanghai steamed pork and hairy crab dumpling xiao long bao inside

Steamed pork and hairy crab meat Xiao Long Bao (¥43 for 5 pieces) contain lots of hot and tasty soup with strong crab flavors. Order these if you love crab.

Din Tai Fung Shanghai steamed pork vegetable bun inside

Steamed pork and green vegetable bun (¥25 for 2 pieces) or good sized freshly steamed buns with not much chewy pork.

Din Tai Fung Shanghai steamed red bean paste dumpling xiao long bao inside_

Steamed red bean paste Xiao Long Bao (¥19 for 5 pieces) were very hot and had a thick interior with funny tasting sweet red paste. An acquired taste. A thin wrapper meant that the flavors were not diluted much.

Din Tai Fung Shanghai mini steamed sesame paste bun inside

Mini steamed sesame paste bun (¥30 for 3 pieces) or better than the red bean paste dumplings because the thicker dough helped balance out the sweet internals.

Din Tai Fung Shanghai chilled coconut milk sago fruit

Chilled coconut milk with Sago and fruit (¥28) was a decent dessert with lots of mango and cantaloupe. A bit too much ice though.

Free Din Tai Fung pendant for kids.

OK:

Din Tai Fung Shanghai steamed chicken dumpling xiao long bao

Steamed chicken Xiao Long Bao (¥29 for 5 pieces) contain lots of hot and tasty soup too, fair meat flavor, but we preferred the pork version.

Din Tai Fung Shanghai mini pork dumpling soup

Steamed mini pork Xiao Long Bao served with soup (¥39 for 10 pieces) had tiny dumplings in a fairly bland soup.

Pans:
None

Service – Din Tai Fung had average service where we have to hail servers. They did do plate changing and clearing without prompting.

Value – Din Tai Fung had pretty low prices in USA terms, making this place an excellent value.

Alternatives – Nearby restaurants include a ton of options including next door Shanghai Spring. Jia Jia Tang Bao is a hole in the wall dumpling only restaurant that is cheaper and better.

Verdict – Din Tai Fung is a safe bet for a meal especially if you visit this touristy location. There are better Shanghai dumpling options elsewhere in Shanghai like Jia Jia Tang Bao. Hong Kong’s Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao also had better Xiaolongbao. Also be sure to eat Pan Fried pork buns at Yang’s Dumplings. Dine at their Southern California location to get a taste of Shanghai.

Din Tai Fung on Urbanspoon

Other Shanghai reviews: 2010 Shanghai mini Restaurant Reviews, Din Tai Fung, Fu 1039, Jia Jia Tang Bao, South Beauty, Yang’s Fry Dumplings, 6Sens Shanghai Expo.

Restaurant Map:


Din Tai Fung Overall Rating: (Very Good 2.5)

Come Back?

Food Rating: (Very Good)
Service Rating: (Good)
Atmosphere Rating: (Excellent)
Value Rating: (Excellent)

Guide: 0 = poor, 1 = Below/Average, 2 = Good, 2.5 = Very Good, 3 = Excellent , 4 = Extraordinary

Alcohol:Beer, Wine
Attire:Casual
Hours:Daily 11am-3pm, 5-10pm
Parking:Street
Reservations:Yes
Prices:¥16 - ¥168

You Might Also Like

6 Comments

  • Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao Restaurant, Hong Kong | Foodnut.com
    August 22, 2010 at 12:01 am

    […] smooth skin and Excellent soup broth. Surprisingly better than probably most versions including Din Tai Fung’s. Far superior to ones in the […]

  • Jia Jia Tang Bao Restaurant, Shanghai | Foodnut.com
    August 23, 2010 at 5:15 pm

    […] Pork Xiaolongbao (¥9 for 12) had a translucent delicate wrapper enveloping top notch very hot soup and pork. These are on the small side but still managed to have lots of soup. Of course these dumplings were hot out of the bamboo steamer. A dozen small dumplings adds up, so don’t order to many. People like to argue on who makes best Xiaolongbao in Shanghai. It reaches of splitting hairs at this high level. This is definitely a contender and far better than anything in the US. We like Jia Jia’s version better than Din Tai Fung. […]

  • Pankoo, Xiao Shao Xing, Nanling Restaurant, Zen - Shanghai Restaurant Reviews | Foodnut.com
    August 24, 2010 at 12:01 am

    […] Other Shanghai reviews: 2010 Shanghai mini Restaurant Reviews, Din Tai Fung, Fu 1039, Jardin de Jade – Jade Garden,  Jia Jia Tang Bao, South Beauty, Yang’s Fry Dumplings, 6Sens Shanghai Expo. […]

  • Using your iPhone in China - China Mobile, China Unicom | Foodnut.com
    October 12, 2010 at 6:07 pm

    […] Din Tai Fung, Shanghai, China […]

  • Din Tai Fung, Hong Kong | Foodnut.com
    May 20, 2011 at 12:01 am

    […] Angeles, Taipei, Japan, China, Singapore, and several other countries. We had previously dined at Din Tai Fung in Shanghai’s touristy Xintiandi. The Los Angeles location is in Arcadia with Yelp reviews unfortunately indicating it is a step […]

  • Din Tai Fung Bellevue, WA - Seattle | Foodnut.com
    July 19, 2013 at 1:47 pm

    […] Taipei, Japan, China, Singapore, and several other countries. We have dined at the location in Din Tai Fung’s Shanghai’s touristy Xintiandi and Din Tai Fung Hong Kong. The Los Angeles location is in Arcadia with Yelp […]

Leave a Reply


By using our site you agree to our: Privacy PolicyTerms of Use.

Subscribe to the Free Foodnut Newsletter