Very interesting! Have you ever tried a Georgian khinkali, and if so how do they compare? With the khinkali they have a small knot of dough on top that you use to pick them up and flip upside down, then take a small bite out of the upturned bottom to suck out the soup.
We love khinkali and I can't believe I didn't think to compare them! As to which I like better, it would be...khinkali! I like that they come in a wider variety and something besides pork.
If you happen to go back again, you HAVE to have the green beans. I don't know what they put in them, but they are truly the best green beans I've ever had and I can't go to DTF without ordering them (and the soup dumplings, of course).
Same restaurant in Singapore. It’s good but pricey. I’d rather go to a local dim sum place for similar and cheaper food. I don’t remember the wait being that long there. Oh but here in small town Ohio. Oh how i miss dumplings! Even the so-called Chinese food is horrible. 😢
Oh, no! There's a Chinese restaurant on the Olympic Peninsula that's wonderful. As for Singapore, I think there'd be too many other places for me to want to eat at!
I loved the big twist, lol. Your photos of the chefs and the kitchen are fantastic. You definitely sold me, and now I'm hungry (like everyone else commenting)!
Not me searching for the nearest location and discovering there's one coming to Scottsdale in 2026, but even better, there are a few in Tokyo where we'll be in January. Can't wait to try them!
I've eaten at Din Tai Fung twice in Singapore and once in Seattle, and every time the food was out of this world! Highly recommend to anyone who visits somewhere with one
I spent many years enjoying DTF in Jakarta, where it can be found in various malls around the city. But I can also definitely recommend a visit to the DTF in midtown Manhattan - it opened about 3 years ago. The NY version takes reservations so no need to wait for 2 hours! Yes, it's more expensive than the ones in Asia, but service is excellent, and the decor is fun. So certainly possible to get the experience in the US.
I LOVE soup dumplings, and now I know I need to visit Taiwan. Thanks for a great write-up with wonderful food descriptions. Made my stomach growl!
Also, I was not surprised by the twist: leave it to the US to vacuum as much money as possible out of consumers. We’re the worst on just about all fronts.
Wow! I just came back from Taiwan. I ate at Din Tai Fung yesterday. It was a monday night, and we only had to wait 5 minutes thankfully! However, my boyfriend had gone there before and he too had to wait 90 minutes. I guess it was just a good time to go. We also went to that exact night market the day before and saw that long line, but I had no idea it was also xiaolongbao! A great read on your experience too 😊
The picture of everyone is hazmat suits making dumplings is so cool! I always gravitate towards that when I go to a dumpling spot. I enjoyed your comment at the end too, are they as good? who can say!?
Thankfully, they aren't really hazmat suits! LOL. As for which is better, location and atmosphere have so much to do with an experience. And I loved both kinds of atmosphere!
They opened a DTF in NYC about a year ago and it is fabulous. Same quality as the restaurants in HK and Taipei. While the Asian ones are basic inside the one in NYC is beautiful (and big) and they even take reservations.
Uggghhh this made me so hungry. I never heard of this place my whole time in Taipei! Jealous. I’ll see if there’s a branch in Dublin…
Fingers crossed! If not, maybe see if DoorDash delivers from Taipie? LOL
Thats good to know, a branch in Ireland
There is not lol
OK. Thanks 😥
Very interesting! Have you ever tried a Georgian khinkali, and if so how do they compare? With the khinkali they have a small knot of dough on top that you use to pick them up and flip upside down, then take a small bite out of the upturned bottom to suck out the soup.
Khinkali are next level. World's best dumplings, IMHO. But yeah, very similar.
We love khinkali and I can't believe I didn't think to compare them! As to which I like better, it would be...khinkali! I like that they come in a wider variety and something besides pork.
If you happen to go back again, you HAVE to have the green beans. I don't know what they put in them, but they are truly the best green beans I've ever had and I can't go to DTF without ordering them (and the soup dumplings, of course).
That's interesting to hear. We didn't get them because, well, I have never met a green bean I liked. But the next time I go, I will give them a try!
My husband and I were just talking about this!
I know. We were listening. LOL LOL
Same restaurant in Singapore. It’s good but pricey. I’d rather go to a local dim sum place for similar and cheaper food. I don’t remember the wait being that long there. Oh but here in small town Ohio. Oh how i miss dumplings! Even the so-called Chinese food is horrible. 😢
Oh, no! There's a Chinese restaurant on the Olympic Peninsula that's wonderful. As for Singapore, I think there'd be too many other places for me to want to eat at!
You guys make me hungry! Even though the restaurant to me sounds like a gluten bomb hell.
Yeah, not for you, alas.
But you have so many delicious fried insects to choose from!
I loved the big twist, lol. Your photos of the chefs and the kitchen are fantastic. You definitely sold me, and now I'm hungry (like everyone else commenting)!
Just sent you some soup dumplings in the mail. I'm sure you'll get them soon!
Not me searching for the nearest location and discovering there's one coming to Scottsdale in 2026, but even better, there are a few in Tokyo where we'll be in January. Can't wait to try them!
When in January? We MIGHT still be there but I want to make sure that A) we're either gone by then or B) can convincingly convince you have left.
Maybe you just tell me when YOU'RE going to be there first.
I'm stupid, but I'm not THAT stupid.
Can you please put Brent on the phone. I have a question for him.
I've eaten at Din Tai Fung twice in Singapore and once in Seattle, and every time the food was out of this world! Highly recommend to anyone who visits somewhere with one
Methinks they would taste better in Singapore than Seattle. LOL LOL
The ambiance is definitely better in the former :) Also, you are spot-on about the significant cost differential b/w the US and the rest of the world!
That differential is terrifying these days.
I spent many years enjoying DTF in Jakarta, where it can be found in various malls around the city. But I can also definitely recommend a visit to the DTF in midtown Manhattan - it opened about 3 years ago. The NY version takes reservations so no need to wait for 2 hours! Yes, it's more expensive than the ones in Asia, but service is excellent, and the decor is fun. So certainly possible to get the experience in the US.
I've heard that's a nice restaurant. The next time I'm in NYC, I'll check it out!
I LOVE soup dumplings, and now I know I need to visit Taiwan. Thanks for a great write-up with wonderful food descriptions. Made my stomach growl!
Also, I was not surprised by the twist: leave it to the US to vacuum as much money as possible out of consumers. We’re the worst on just about all fronts.
Or you can just find a DTF near you!
Not sure I'd wait two hours for ANY FOOD, unless I had Taipei 101 to explore in the meantime ;-)
SAME
Well, if our friend hadn't been with us for just that night, we would've come back on a weekday night -- when the wait was only an hour!
Wow! I just came back from Taiwan. I ate at Din Tai Fung yesterday. It was a monday night, and we only had to wait 5 minutes thankfully! However, my boyfriend had gone there before and he too had to wait 90 minutes. I guess it was just a good time to go. We also went to that exact night market the day before and saw that long line, but I had no idea it was also xiaolongbao! A great read on your experience too 😊
Wow, that's some good luck! Glad you got to try it!
We're sold! Thanks for the fantastic tip :)
The picture of everyone is hazmat suits making dumplings is so cool! I always gravitate towards that when I go to a dumpling spot. I enjoyed your comment at the end too, are they as good? who can say!?
Thankfully, they aren't really hazmat suits! LOL. As for which is better, location and atmosphere have so much to do with an experience. And I loved both kinds of atmosphere!
Mmmmmm. Sounds absolutely fab. I’m so hungry now. I’m going to look up where the nearest location is to me to put in my noodle for future travels.
Or maybe you can see if DoorDash delivers from Taipei! LOL LOL
They opened a DTF in NYC about a year ago and it is fabulous. Same quality as the restaurants in HK and Taipei. While the Asian ones are basic inside the one in NYC is beautiful (and big) and they even take reservations.
I've heard about that. Will check it out the next time we are there!
There’s a DTF in Seattle or Bellevue now, in case you want to wait till then! Not sure about the lines. There’s also one in Bangkok and some
other places.
Of course I wrote this comment before getting to the twist ending 😅
LOL LOL LOL
Yup! The one in Seattle is the one we mention at the end of the article!
There’s one in Bellevue, one in Seattle’s U-District, and one in downtown Seattle (at Pacific Place, I think). Wait times at them all, but worth it!