The Bottom Line
For several years now I've been in search of the perfect dumpling in Shanghai. It's been a fun mission that I'm not sure I want to end...but Din Tai Fung may just serve up the pinnacle in my dumpling quest. Renowned for their paper-thin wrappers and savory fillings, Din Tai Fung's numerous choices in dumplings may just be unbeatable. But I will continue to search, just to make sure.
Pros
- Eat very well for a moderate price: expect to pay about $15 per adult
- Lively atmosphere, bright, clean and spacious
- Great place to bring children, staff are very friendly and love kids
- Location is superb, Xin Tian Di has a lot to offer before or after your meal
- Take away dumplings! You can get some to take home with you for later.
Cons
- It's busy! If you show up at noon or 7pm, expect to wait - best to reserve before or eat early
- Highchairs don't have straps so be warned with wiggly or very small kids
- No non-smoking section
Description
- Din Tai Fung at Xin Tian Di (pronounced "shin tyan dee")
- Unit 11A, House 6, 2F, Lane 123, Xin Ye Road
- Inside Xintiandi entertainment area
- Tel: 021-6385-8378 (Staff will be able to take your reservation in English)
- Hours: daily for lunch 11am-3pm, dinner 5pm-10pm
- 2nd Shanghai outlet: Unit 109, Peace Square No. 18, Shui Cheng Road, Hong Qiao, tel 021-6208-4188
Guide Review - Din Tai Fung Restaurant: In Search of the Perfect Dumpling
Din Tai Fung is a great family place for lunch or an early dinner. We chose to eat an early lunch there on a Saturday, a good way to keep our toddler entertained and well fed, as well as fuel our search for the best dumplings in Shanghai.
A grinning waitress led us to a large table and quickly got our squirmy toddler settled with a highchair and plastic dishes. We set to ordering our favorite dishes.
To start, we had
Both of these dishes are served cold. The cucumbers are spicy, becoming spicer as they sit in the chili oil. The tofu salad is mild and savory, something our toddler loves.
For our main course, we decided to do 2 different types of dumplings as well as an assortment of other dishes.
We drank Long Jin (Chinese green) tea with our meal and polished off every last dumpling. When our son got bored, the waitresses took him to the kitchen window where diners can watch expert wrappers stack bamboo steamers full of delicious dumplings. For 260rmb (US$32), with food to take home and a happy kid at the end, Din Tai Fung is a great stop for delectable dumplings.
