Din Tai Fung. Soup dumplings. I swear there is no other association. It’s always been the place where families go to celebrate special occasions, and order steaming baskets upon steaming baskets full of juicy, soupy signature xiao long baos.
And other stuff. There’s always other stuff.
Silken Tofu with Pork Floss and Century Egg, $8.80
Other stuff, like the Silken Tofu with Pork Floss and Century Egg, $8.80. Century egg is fermented to create that black jelly-like texture, which provides rich notes to the light tofu and sweet pork floss. I only eat century eggs in very specific circumstances, and this is one of them. There’s just something so light and refreshing about it, and yet it whets my appetite for more.
Spicy Shrimp and Pork Wonton with Dry Noodle, $13.80
The Spicy Shrimp and Pork Wonton with Dry Noodle, $13.80,also hit all the right notes, with silky wonton skin, savoury chilli oil, and tender, springy noodles. There’s just something about this that reminds me of wonton noodles of my childhood, except executed with so much more finesse, and biased as I am, that chilli oil just makes it.
Crispy Fried Chicken with Chilli, $16.80
Green Bean with Minced Pork, $15.80
Steamed Pork Dumpling,$10.80
But of course, dumplings. Must have dumplings. The Steamed Pork Dumpling, $10.80, never disappoints, with its paper thin skin filled with a juicy pork filling, bursting with soup the moment you bite into it. And the most impressive thing isn’t that each dumpling portion is weighed and steamed to an exact science. No, it’s really that the experience at Din Tai Fung is the same ALL OVER THE WORLD.
And that’s so hard to do when it’s a global brand.
Black truffle pork dumpling, $4.80 per pc
Speaking of which, I was so glad to see that they also brought their Black Truffle Pork Dumpling, $4.80 each, to Sydney! After stalking it through Instagram for aggeeess, I finally get to try these lightly truffle perfumed mouthfuls that leave a lingering sense of both luxuriousness and poverty.
Signature Drinks
Maybe we could wash it all down with a Yuzu Peach drink? Refreshing, citrusy, and utterly delicious.
Golden Taro Bread, $6.80
Now, on to desserts!
Golden Lava Bun, $7 for 3pc
The Golden Lava Bun, $7 for 3 pcs, is the wet dream of all salted egg yolk fans out there. The rich custard is made from the salted yolks of duck eggs, which give it a slightly grainy texture, oozing out of a sweet fluffy bun. YAAAASSSSSS.
I’m really quite impressed by the consistency across countries, and by their professional looking earpieces. I mean, any service staff walking around looking like the secret service has to know what they’re doing right?
And added to all of that, Din Tai Fung at The Living Mall is located near massive windows, letting in beautiful afternoon light, adding to a beautiful mood while enjoying your meal. Ticks all of my boxes, for sure.
Insatiable Munchies dined as guests of The Living Mall.
Din Tai Fung
2nd Floor, Central Park
28 Broadway, Chippendale NSW
Phone: 02 8072 9427
Website: https://www.dintaifungaustralia.com.au