Michael Y.
Yelp
Din Tai Fung has made a name for itself across the world. And known for their soup dumplings, there is no better place in the world to give them a try than their various locations across Taipei. Looking to compare the different Din Tai Fung locations in the city, I found myself at one spot just adjacent to Daan Park around 5PM on a Thursday evening. Upon arriving to the restaurant, there was fortunately only a short wait of about 10-15 minutes. But a mere 5-10 minutes later, the wait had jumped to 45-60 minutes. Get here before peak meal times to ensure you have a seat!
One of the more special features about this location of Din Tai Fung is that its kitchen and dining rooms are spread out among three floors in an infill building. Because of this, the dining room felt more intimate and similar to the original location just a block down the street. I found this to be very unique. But although this location had a different experience, the service and food were just as good as the rest! Looking at the menu, I decided to try a 10 piece order of the Steamed Lamb Dumplings which were NT$350 at the time of this review. Food was prompt and was served in courses which allowed my party time to socialize and eat our appetizers.
When the Lamb Dumplings arrived at the table, their first impression exceeded my expectations. For one, each dumpling looked exactly like the pictures on the menu. Each dumpling had a vibrant gold color which indicated how fresh they were. In addition, each dumpling was large and filled with a generous amount of lamb. Because of this, the price to portion was very good and definitely one of the more quantity-focused items on the menu.
Taste-wise, these dumplings are definitely one of the more underrated items to try. The exterior was thin and had a great mixture of moisture and thickness. For the lamb on the inside, the meat was soft, had substance, and tasted of a light savory flavor. But of anything to say, each dumpling had a small amount of juice from the meat that made it taste similar to the Soup Dumplings made famous here. Pair the dumplings with a mixture of soy sauce and vinegar and you have a meal arguably just as good as their best-sellers if not better.
Because the Daan location is farther away from the main MRT stations and other popular attractions in Taipei, this Din Tai Fung location luckily does not have as much of a line. But nonetheless, it can get crowded quickly so be sure to come by before the the big rush during peak meal times. Consistency is just as good at this location than with the others in the city which makes this particular location a hidden gem. And while you're at this particular restaurant, be sure to visit the original location just a block east. Although it's only open for takeout orders, it is similar to this location and stands as a piece of Din Tai Fung history. Five stars for the Daan location of Din Tai Fung. What an underrated gem.