Dining at Din Tai Fung In Taipei: Everything You Should Know Before You Go (鼎泰豐)

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If you’re planning a trip to Taiwan, Din Tai Fung is probably already on your list.

The restaurant is famous for its delicate Xiao Long Bao (soup dumpling, 小籠包) with thin skin, savory filling, and a burst of hot broth, each pleated with 18 folds.

It has earned international recognition, including praise from the Michelin Guide, and both tourists and locals are willing to wait in line because the food and overall experience live up to the reputation.

Hi, I’m Grace, born and raised in Taiwan and now living in the United States. Every summer when I return to Taipei, Din Tai Fung is where I would dine at least once during my stay. From my experiences over the years, I’ve figured out a few tips to make dining at Din Tai Fung smoother and more enjoyable.

In this article, you’ll find the essentials every first-timer should know, including what the wait time is like, what to order, and how to enjoy their famous xiao long bao.

First-Timer’s Guide To Din Tai Fung In Taiwan

A Brief History of Din Tai Fung

Din Tai Fung began as a small cooking oil shop in Taipei in the 1950s. In the 1970s, it shifted to selling xiao long bao and simple Shanghai-style dishes, which slowly became the focus.

When the founders retired in 1995, their son Warren Yang took over. To improve quality, he worked with the chefs to standardize every step of making the dumplings. This is when the well-known 18-fold pleating method was created.

In 1996, Din Tai Fung opened its first overseas branch in Tokyo, Japan. The xiao long bao was well received, and the brand gradually expanded to other countries, including the United States, Singapore, and the United Kingdom.

Today, the company is still privately owned, and the management places a strong focus on staff training and employee benefits. This helps keep the food quality and service consistent.

Have you tried Din Tai Fung in your home country? Back when I lived and worked in Suzhou, China, I went to the local branch quite often. The food was great, but nothing compares to the quality in Taiwan.

In Taiwan, I feel the flavors are fresher, the dishes taste more balanced, and the prices for xiao long bao are among the lowest compared to Din Tai Fung’s other locations around the world.

In addition, the service is excellent, and the overall experience is always great. So even if you’ve had Din Tai Fung elsewhere, it’s still worth visiting while you’re in Taiwan.

Din Tai Fung Branches in Taipei City

Below are all the Din Tai Fung branches located in Taipei City, along with their Google Maps links. You can pick the one that’s most convenient for your plans.

The branch inside Taipei 101 is the most popular with tourists, mostly because it’s easy to pair with a visit to the observation deck. There are two other locations within walking distance in the Xinyi Shopping District (A4 and A13).

The original shop (Xinyi branch) is right next to Yongkang Street, a popular tourist spot. It now operates as a takeout-only location, but if you are in the area and would like to dine in, the Xinsheng branch is just a few hundred meters away.

My go-to location is the Nanxi branch which is near Zhongshan MRT Station, because my parents’ place is nearby.

All of the Taipei locations are in busy shopping districts, so it is convenient to browse shops or relax at a nearby café while you wait for your number to be called.

Wait Time at Din Tai Fung

No matter which branch you visit or what time you go, you should expect a wait. Here is how the waiting system works:

When you arrive, head straight to the counter by the entrance, tell the staff how many people are in your group, and they will give you a ticket. Your ticket will show your number and a QR code. There is also a screen near the entrance that displays the estimated wait time and the numbers currently being served.

I found a photo of an old ticket saved on my phone from one of our visits (see photo below). We went during lunchtime on a weekday, and the estimated wait time printed at the top was 90–120 minutes!

While you are there waiting, don’t forget to go to the glass window and watch their open kitchen for a little bit.

The chefs work in full view, rolling out the dough, weighing each piece, and folding the xiao long bao with steady hands. It’s interesting to see how much care goes into each dumpling, and it adds a nice touch to the overall experience.

If you plan to step away from the waiting area, you can scan the QR code on your ticket to check the status on your phone. Just keep an eye on your number and return before it’s called.

You can also use the same QR code to browse the menu and place your order in advance, so the food comes out shortly after you’re seated. I really like this feature. Since you’re already waiting around, it makes sense to look at the menu and place the order ahead of time.

If you’re visiting as a group, it’s a good idea to have one person go ahead and pick up the ticket while everyone else takes their time getting ready or rests nearby. This is what I usually do when I go with my parents or older relatives.

Din Tai Fung’s Menu Explained

The best way to eat at Din Tai Fung is to order several dishes and share. This lets everyone taste a little of everything.

Here is the link to the menu on their official website.

The menu is quite extensive; there are over 100 items! But once you understand their categories, choosing becomes much easier.

Below are a few examples in each category.

  • Appetizers-These are small cold dishes. The cucumber salad and the seaweed and bean curd are two of the most recommended.
  • Soup Dumplings (Xiao long bao, 小籠包)-This is the signature item. The classic pork xiao long bao is the most popular. There are also versions with crab, squash, truffle, or chicken.
  • Steamed Dumplings and Buns-You will find shrimp and pork dumplings, vegetable or mushroom dumplings, and steamed pork buns.
  • Wontons and Noodles- They have both dry noodles and noodle soups. Popular choices include noodles with minced pork sauce, chicken noodle soup, and spicy wontons in chili oil (紅油抄手, which is my son’s favorite).
  • Fried Rice-Din Tai Fung’s also famous for their fried rice! The shrimp fried rice is a classic, and the pork chop fried rice is what we order every time.
  • Soups-They offer options like chicken soup, pork rib soup, and hot and sour soup.
  • Desserts– Such as sweet xiao long bao with red bean or taro filling. I also love their steamed layer cake. If you happen to be visiting in the winter, don’t miss out on their sesame tangyuan (湯圓). It’s a hidden gem of a dessert that I also featured in my recent guide on what to eat in Taipei during winter.

What to Order And How Much A Meal Costs

If you’re not sure about their portion and how much to order, I’ll share what we usually get when we visit as a group of 3 -4, and how much it costs to eat a meal like this.

  • 1-2 appetizers – I love their kao fu (烤麩) and wood ear mushroom (木耳), while my mom likes the spicy pickled cucumber.
  • 1 xiaio long bao (10 pieces) – we mostly just get the regular version (pork)
  • 1 steamed dumplings (10 pieces) – either vegetable/ground pork, or vegetarian mushrooms
  • 1 fried rice – pork chop over fried rice is everyone’s favorite!
  • 1 soup noodles – we like the house steamed chicken noodle soup
  • 1 stir-fried leafy vegetable dish
  • 1 spicy shrimp and pork wonton (紅油抄手) – my son loves it, so we order it every time.
  • 1 desert – either the steamed layer cake (千層糕） or the steamed red bean cake （赤豆鬆糕), but I realized, when researching for this article, that there are many others that I have yet to try!

After many meals at Din Tai Fung over the years, these are the dishes our family loves. This combination works well for us and hopefully gives you a better sense of what and how much to order.

Of course, if something else on the menu catches your eye, try it. There are still plenty of dishes I haven’t gotten around to yet.

The typical bill for our order (for the dishes mentioned above) comes to around NTD 1800–2000, which is about 60–70 US dollars. A 10% service charge is added to the total.

The prices have gone up like crazy, especially after the pandemic. I remember when an order of 10-piece xiao long bao was around 200 NTD just a few years ago. As of 2025, it’s 280 NTD!

Taiwan is still one of the cheapest places to enjoy Din Tai Fung. While I haven’t had a chance to visit the New York City location myself yet, my relatives there have been giving me the full ‘price report,’ and let’s say it is at least twice as expensive as in Taiwan (plus the 20% + tips you have to pay). It makes the Taipei prices look like a total steal!

When you’re finished, take the check to the cashier counter to pay. They accept cash, international credit cards, and most mobile payment options.

How to Eat Xiao Long Bao

After you’re seated, the staff will bring each person a small sauce dish with shredded ginger.

On the table, you’ll find a bottle of vinegar and a bottle of soy sauce. Also on the table is a guide to eating xiao long bao, like the photo shown below:

To enjoy xiao long bao, pick it up gently by the top and place it on your spoon. The skin is thin, so lifting it this way helps prevent the soup from spilling.

Next, make a small opening on the side to release the steam and let some of the broth flow into your spoon. Sip a little of the broth first. This keeps you from burning your mouth and lets you taste the flavor before eating the whole dumpling.

Once it cools slightly, eat the entire piece in one bite so you can enjoy the wrapper, filling, and broth together.

If you like dipping sauce, the recommended ratio of soy sauce to vinegar is 1:3. You can also add some shredded ginger for a more intense flavor.

Din Tai Fung’s Pineapple Cakes

When visiting Taiwan, pineapple cakes are probably already on your list for souvenir shopping. There are many well-known brands to choose from, and Din Tai Fung’s pineapple cakes should definitely be one of them.

I first tried Din Tai Fung’s pineapple cakes because my dad brought home a box last summer. I didn’t think much of it at first. Pineapple cakes are everywhere in Taiwan, and I wasn’t sure how different these would be.

I instantly fell in love with it after one bite! The filling is very rich, and the crust is light and flaky.

Din Tai Fung uses a quality Taiwanese pineapple variety, and the ingredient list is simple with no added chemicals. My dad is very particular about food safety and health, so the fact that he approves already tells you something.

Before flying back to the U.S., I picked up a box to bring home, along with the rice cakes from Hoshin at Nanmen Market. These became our “welcome home gifts,” and we enjoyed them slowly over the next month. The only problem was that I continued gaining weight even after my vacation ended!

Takeout and Uber Eats Options

If you really do not want to wait in line or your schedule is tight, another option is to order takeout.

You will miss the restaurant experience, but the food is still delicious and travels well. This is also a good choice if you are staying nearby and want to enjoy the meal in your hotel room.

In addition, Din Tai Fung is available on Uber Eats. I’ve ordered it several times when I was at my parents, and a couple of times when gathering at a friend’s place, we had it delivered there too. It’s an easy way to enjoy the food without dealing with the wait.

Takeout and delivery will never replace the experience of eating hot xiao long bao right at the table, but it is a great backup plan when you can’t wait for a long time for dine-in.

Din Tai Fung Alternatives In Taipei

If you want to enjoy delicious xiao long bao without the Din Tai Fung price tag or long wait, Taipei has many great local spots that offer excellent flavor at a much lower cost.

I’ve compiled a list of popular ones and their links to Google Maps.

Final Thoughts

Din Tai Fung is one of those places I return to year after year, and it still feels worth it.

The food is consistently good, the service is smooth, and the whole experience is reliable no matter which branch you visit. Yes, it’s not cheap, and yes, you will have to wait, but once the xiao long bao arrives hot at the table, it feels justified.

Therefore, I highly recommend adding Din Tai Fung to your itinerary. Even if you’ve tried their overseas branches, eating at Din Tai Fung in Taiwan has its own charm, and it’s worth experiencing at least once.

I hope you find this article helpful!

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