I was at The Gardens a couple of weeks ago looking for a place to get a bite. Since it was early and there was not yet a queue at Din Tai Fung restaurant, I decided to give it a shot.
Din Tai Fung is a Taiwanese chain of restaurants that purport to specialise in xiao long bao or steamed shanghai dumplings. I’d heard a bit about its popularity and I’ve noticed the queues in front of the restaurant at meal times, so I figured it couldn’t be all bad.
I ordered the (what else) Xiao Long Bao which costs RM11 for a basket of 5. It took a while for the shanghai dumplings to appear because apparently they make it fresh when you order. That’s good by my book. At least you’ll get hot freshly steamed dumplings direct to your table.
However, after the expectation built up from reading the menu, I was quite underwhelmed by the dumpling. The skin at the top was a bit too thick (possibly from all that folding) although the rest of the skin was thinner. To their credit, the dumpling skin did not burst when picked up, and the stock was tasty and quite a lot for something so small.
Taste-wise, I again found it underwhelming and not memorable. Its been a couple of weeks since I went and I can’t remember it tasting all that good, which isn’t good, if you ask me. However, I can remember the dumplings at Dragon-i tasting good and making me want to return so I guess that’s saying a lot.
The other things I ordered were a Shrimp Pork Wantan La Mian (Noodles with shrimp pork dumpling) at RM15 a bowl. From my experience at various La Mian restaurants, the portions tended towards large so I only ordered 1 bowl.
To my surprise, the portion of the La Mian in Din Tai Fung was quite small. It would be sufficient for one which I found disappointing. The taste too wasn’t spectacular nor memorable.
The final thing I ordered was a Vegetable Pork Bun at RM5 for 2 steamed buns. I thought it was pork with some vegetables in it, but it turned out to be minced kuchai or chinese chives with hardly any minced pork in it. Very very disappointing. The dough too wasn’t tasty and it all tasted quite bland.
My conclusion at the end of it was that I would not return. There was nothing memorable about the food and I found it too expensive for what is pretty mediocre food.
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{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
My sentiments exactly.
My benchmark for this kinda place is Crystal Jade and it’s nowhere near despite being as expensive.
Wyejon: I’m glad you agree! I much prefer Dragon-i to Crystal Jade though.
You have a very nice blog, good post and pictures…keep up the good job
have you tried xiao long bao at nan xiang restaurant ?
PB says: I don’t know if we have that restaurant here
I’ve tried this place in Singapore too where it comes from – definitely not fantastic.
Shanghai 10 still has my favourite xiao long bao, Chef Loong is pretty good too (and has new ‘drunken’ style). Crystal Jade is pretty poor nowdays and Dragon-I has gotten better but still isn’t great.
Went today with my ex-CP gang. Erm.. very expensive lor for stuff that isn’t that tasty. But at least we got to see my friend’s new baby boy!
Crystal Jade one better.
In Din Tai Fung Mid Valley the only things worth tasting are black sesame bun and the mixed vege appetizer.