Recently, I have been reading a lot about the dishes one must taste at the Din Tai Fung Restaurant in FaceBook. Because of Covid19 restrictions and my aging years going to restaurants in person is no longer a viable option of my lifestyle. I am just happy to order on line via Doordash. On-line ordering is so convenient but restaurants more than 10 miles from my residence are not included in my delivery contract.
When
I first heard of DTF, I immediately checked on line the nearest branch
near me. It is located in Santa Clara/ San Jose Area WestField Valley
Fair Shopping Mall. The first store located in Arcadia, CA closed last
year due to financial problems caused by the Pandemic. In case you have
not heard of Din Tai Fung.
DTF is known for its internationally acclaimed xiao long bao, or
soup dumplings. Din Tai Fung has been synonymous with Taiwanese cuisine,
becoming the first Taiwanese restaurant to be awarded a Michelin star.
The chain also has branches in Australia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia,
Japan, Macau, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea,
Thailand, the U.K., and the U.S. Here are 12 dishes worthy of tasting if you have the chance.
12 Din Tai Fung Dishes That Are Worthy Contenders for the Xiao Long Bao Throne
It’s tempting to compare these Green Chillies Stuffed with Marinated Meat to its yong tau foo counterpart. But Din Tai Fung proves, a one letter difference between DTF and YTF makes a world of delicious difference.
You’d never have thought minced pork would marry so well with the
humble chilli, and the finishing touch of marinade makes for all the
magic. The best part is that kids can have this too, because it isn’t
even half as spicy as it looks! This is one dish I will first try.
Since I loved Mexican Chille Releno, I have a feeling I will enjoy the
above dish.
2. ‘Xiao Cai’ – Oriental Salad in Special Vinegar Dressing
Hearing the word “salad”, you almost always instinctively think romaine lettuce. But Din Tai Fung’s signature Oriental Salad in Special Vinegar Dressing – finely sliced beancurd strips, vermicelli , bean sprouts, and kelp – hardly counts as rabbit food.
Load yourself up with this healthy delicacy and taste for yourself why they call this the Special
Vinegar Dressing. Balsamic vinaigrette doesn’t even come close to the
sweet-sour twang of this distinctly Asian seasoning, and the sesame oil
makes sure every strand is coated with this tasty dressing. I think I
will also enjoy this dish because of the special dressing above.
3. Noodle with Spicy Sauce
One thing you’ll notice about the menu, is that it doesn’t use flowery words to describe its dishes. It lets the food speak for itself. And with a name as unpretentious as Noodle with Spicy Sauce, you know fiery taste of the “QQ” noodles will do all the talking.
At sweat-inducing levels of spice, the burning sensations on your
tongue will be painfully addictive. Have this noodle as a staple on days
you’re just not craving Fried Rice with Shrimps & Eggs or Fried Rice with Pork Chop,
or even eat it by itself, because this bowl of noodles sure can hold
its own. I have never tasted Noodles with a Spicy Sauce, so this would
be a good first for me.
4. Steamed Chicken Soup
You could say this bowl of Steamed Chicken Soup inspired the “Chicken Soup for the Soul” book series – it melts your heart quite the same way those heartwarming stories do.
Using only premium fresh chicken and simmered for 6 hours, the soup is packed with the goodness of chicken essence. Zooming in for a closer look, you’ll find that all the pieces of ginger are sliced to the same precise dimensions. With such attention to detail, it’s no wonder Din Tai Fung has crept its way into our hearts.
5. Shrimp & Pork Wantons Tossed in Well-seasoned Chicken Broth
Wantons come in all shapes and sizes, but they usually leave more to be desired when they come with more skin than filling. But these Shrimp & Pork Wantons wantonly challenge that. Packed generously with shrimp, and perfectly seasoned in chicken broth, you’ll never look at wantons the same way again.
The skin soaks up a fair bit of chicken broth and the remainder covers the wanton’s surface, so you’re getting a juicy bundle bursting with flavors from both inside and out.
6. Stir-Fried Dou Miao with Shrimps
The one thing we love about Din Tai Fung, is its consistency. And consistency comes in every plate of Dou Miao, whether it’s Stir-fried with Shrimp ($16) or simply tossed with fragrant garlic ($12.80).
They’ve figured out the perfect length to pick the sprouts and it only takes a teaspoon of oil to stir-fry them to bring you this mountain of miao that lacks the chewy fibrousness of others, so you’re not left chewing like a cow on cud.
Fun Fact: Din Tai Fung hydroponically farms and grows their very own dou miao!
7. Steamed Angled Gourd & Shrimp Dumplings
There’s a thrill in opening the cover of the bamboo dim sum steamers – you can never be too sure what’s hidden inside. But concealed within this long, is the real motherload – Steamed Angled Gourd & Shrimp Dumplings.
Trade in minced pork for the sweetness of the prawn and crunch of
angled gourd in these steamed dumplings. It’s perfect for those days you
want a light and refreshing alternative. This looks so yummy, I really getting hungry.
8. Steamed Red Bean Dumplings with Chocolate Lava
The 18 folds are tight!
You usually have your dumplings savoury, but surprise yourself next time round with the sweetness of Din Tai Fung’s dessert dumplings. The usual suspect is yam, but this time expect an appearance of Red Bean and Chocolate Lava!
Instead of soup, watch chocolate lava ooze out as you bite into each mouthful. With the indispensable red bean paste that you’d usually have wedged between a pancake, alongside some smooth velvety chocolate, this is a standout in their diverse dumpling offerings.
To commemorate Din Tai Fung’s 12th anniversary last year, its flagship store in Paragon launched 12 new dishes and has since added another 8 more that are exclusive to the store. Rest assured, these dishes are worth braving the crowds at Orchard for!
Delicious and healthy don’t often come in the sentence, but when they do, it’s to describe Din Tai Fung’s Black Fungus with Ginger Strips & Vinegar Dressing.
The goji berries are packed with antioxidants and the black fungus with vitamin K, deliciously dispelling the belief that the benefits of chinese herbs can only come in menacingly bitter brews.
Make sure to keep a firm grip on this slippery delicacy or they’ll slip out of your chopsticks.
Taste the mild spice of ginger and tang of vinegar with fragrant sesame oil in each bite of black fungus. With the appearance of grass jelly sheets, this fungi’s crunchy yet light texture still bewilders those of us who’ve grown up eating it.
2. Deep-fried Handmade Tofu with Water Chestnuts & Mushrooms
Solid on the outside but soft and tender on the inside – we’re not describing that unemotional friend you have who never lets you onto their feelings – we’re talking about these golden nuggets of Deep-fried Handmade Tofu with Water Chestnuts & Mushrooms fried to a crunchy crisp.
Specially handmade and filled with mushrooms, carrots, water chestnuts and fungus – this is the perfect combination to foodie happiness, essentially. Did we mention this is also vegetarian-friendly?
Don’t forget to dunk these golden babies into Din Tai Fung’s chilli and Chinese coriander dipping sauce!
3. San Bei Claypot Chicken in Special Taiwanese Sauce
This is not Kung Pao Chicken, but ‘San Bei Ji’ or Three Cups Chicken, a true-blue Taiwanese classic. Chicken thigh comes in a sweet and savory reduction, in with the fragrance of sesame oil and sweet basil.
Tuck into these soft and tender chicken pieces decked out in a sweet sauce made true to Taiwanese tradition. Skip the 5 hour plane ride, because with their emphasis on consistency, you don’t have to take to Taiwan and savour the same good taste worldwide.
4. Steamed Custard Buns
Marked with a tiny yellow fu (fortune), it’s anybody’s good fortune to be able to bite into one of these Steamed Custard Buns. Safe to say, the only anticipation that comes close to the excitement of popping these babies open to see the bright yellow custard inside is opening red packets at Chinese New Year.
Ever come across dish with sauce so good, you’d give anything for a private moment to have your way with remaining splotches on the plate? That’s really what the soft fluffy buns are for – mopping up every last bit of this liquid gold – so please, no plate-licking.
The Din Tai Fung Classic
After seeing all this novelty, you must be relieved to find something familiar in the mix – the signature pork xiao long baos. Technicolored xiao long baos with ingredients like cheese and foie gras are filling the market, but nothing comes close to the comforting familiarity of this untouchable Din Tai Fung Classic, made and served in their appetising au naturel hue.
DIY this Steamed Eggplant topped with Fragrant Spicy Sauce at home
Make this stunning eggplant dish at home, with just a tablespoon of Fragrant Chilli Sauce and Taiwan Chilli Oil!
Home-cooking is now a piece of cake, with these two premium sauces that
are vegetarian-friendly and made with natural ingredients. I love any dish with eggplants. This I have to try!! Yummy!!!!
Source: https://thesmartlocal.com/read/din-tai-fung-2016/
After reading the above article, I am listing eating at Din Tai Fung Restaurant to be my #102 in my Bucket List. How about you? Have you been to DTF?
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