#02-01/31 Tampines Mall
4 Tampines Central 5, Singapore
Phew…almost there with the Singaporean posts. This is the second last – I promise.
Din Tai Fung is a Taiwanese restaurant known for the quality of their dumplings – in particular, their xiao long bao (literally known as little basket buns). The business itself got its start back in the 50′s, selling cooking oil to restaurants. Then in the 80′s, business went drastically downhill with the proliferation of tinned cooking oils, and the business started making dumplings.
Back in 1993, Din Tai Fung was actually named one of the worlds 10 best restaurants by The New York Times. Not sure if it competes these days, but their dumplings rock.
This is what everyone comes for – juicy, delicate xiao long bao. I love the way they are steamed on rounds of cloth, which stops them tearing and losing all their soupy juices before you can get them into your mouth. Din Tai Fung XLB’s are also reknowed for the number of folds on top – 18 to be precise – on each and every one of them (I counted).
We also had some greens on the side – snow pea shoots stirfried with garlic. They were wilted just ever so slightly and still maintained a pleasant crunch.
We also tried the steamed green vegetable dumplings with po. I don’t know what po is, but whatever it was, it was tasty!
Another of their specialities is the Taiwanese fried rice, which uses a shorter style grain. This was an egg and spring onion version, which, let me just say, was absolutely amazing.
For those who don’t wish to make the trip overseas to try this restaurant, Sydney now boasts its own! Lucky duckies.
I want those dumplings.
The original branch in Taipei is rather amazing. Take a number and wait on the street while they get through the line of about a hundred people on any given evening. Awesome stuff.
OOOOOOOOOOMG. THIS IS THE BEST dumplings I have EVER tasted in my entire life. I just wish they had a Melbourne one too! Now there’s actually REAL reason for me to go to Sydney.
Hi Pseudo Epicurean – actually, I think there is another reason to venture to Sydney. There is a place call Harry’s Singapore Chilli Crab which I’ve heard many wonderful things about. A must try for a Singaporean!
I still can’t find dumpling as nice as Din Tai Fung in Melbourne!! When they initially started, there’s only 1 Din Tai Fung restaurant in Singapore and located at Paragon, Orchard. The queue was shocking but now should be better since they have branches all over Singapore. *sob sob* I miss Din Tai Fung!!!!
Going to Sydney in June and Din Tai Fung is already in the list of restaurant to go.
Have you try Pacific House Singapore Style Chilli Crab? Reckon it’s delicious.
Hey cityw – have you tried HuTong for XLB’s yet? They’re pretty close to Din Tai Fung. Worth a try.
No…I haven’t tried Pacific House Singapore Chilli Crab. Is that the Pacific House in the CBD? Or the one in Richmond or South Yarra shops? Hmm…I’m intrigued!