Din Tai Fung: Xiao Long Bao and More

Since the Mega Fashion Hall opened its doors a few years back, it has already flourished into one of the malls that house restaurants of a wide array of cuisines. It has also been the first branch for some of our favorite restaurants, including Din Tai Fung. Din Tai Fung is a Taiwanese restaurant specializing in soup dumplings (xiao long bao), and has since expanded into more than ten countries worldwide.

As we welcomed 2019, my mom and I decided to go beyond our usual lunch places, since traffic wasn’t that bad on the first day of the year (most people are still on vacation). We went to Megamall, and decided to eat at Din Tai Fung, one of my favorite xiao long bao places. It’s mom’s first time here, so I took the liberty of ordering our food, taking into account what she likes:

PORK XIAO LONG BAO (Php 320 – 10 pcs) – ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I decided to get a basket of 10 pcs, just so we have enough xiao long baos to go around. I have always been amazed at how they can envelope the juicy ground pork and flavorful broth in a small bao, without it breaking before you pop it in your mouth. DTF’s version has relatively thicker wrappers, but it would be a pleasure for those who wanted the baos to have a certain bite before the broth explodes in their mouth. As always, this was a winner!

STIR FRIED BOKCHOY (Php 185) – ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
As we start a new year, it is not a surprise that most of us are trying to eat healthily. As for me, I have decided to eat more greens and fruits, so I insisted that we have to get a vegetable dish. And I was glad we got this, because it was really good! Each bite of the bokchoy screamed freshness, and it actually felt like I would automatically become prettier if I eat the whole serving! HAHA. The leaves were super green and crisp, and I love how it was just mildly seasoned.

HOT PRAWN SALAD WITH MANGO AND PINEAPPLE (Php 395 – Solo) – ⭐⭐⭐⭐
My mom is a fan of this sweet-savory dish, so I decided to get this. However, I personally found this to be too sweet for my liking! I appreciated how they serve it with a generous helping of pineapples and mangoes, it is like a viand and dessert in one. I initially thought the solo serving size might not be enough, but I was thrilled that there were about 10 pcs of fresh and crisp prawns, just enough for the two of us. My mom LOVED it!

DRY NOODLES WITH SPICY SHRIMP AND PORK WONTONS (Php 245) – ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
While xiao long bao is usually the top of mind dish when in DTF, this is a must-try dish, too! Firm noodles coated with a generous amount of sweet spicy sauce, topped with 5 pieces of their shrimp and pork wontons, with super fresh and delicious fillings. The shrimps had a fresh crispness to them, and the pork was well-seasoned. Don’t worry — while the dish looks really spicy, I can assure you that the spiciness is well balanced by the sweetness of the sauce! Recommended!

Aside from their good food, I am a fan of their queuing system, and how it gives a fair chance for everyone to get seated right away. Normally, people have a hard time when they queue for a long period of time and the seats on the table that frees up is not enough for the number of people in their group. Frustrating, right? Din Tai Fung addresses this by having separate queues for 1-2 pax, 3-4 pax, 5-6 pax, and 7 pax and above. This way, the queuing and seating system is more efficient, and while it may seem daunting that the restaurant always has a lot of people queuing outside it, it wouldn’t take long before you get seated.

I also appreciate how well-trained their staff are, each of them exudes excellent service that would make you want to come back again and again! Their bag compartments provide a nice touch of personalized service as well, and you can enjoy your meal in peace without worrying where to put your things.

As you finish your meal, you wouldn’t even have to wait for a long time before you get your bill, as you can just walk up to the counter and settle your payment whenever you wish. Truly, Din Tai Fung is the epitome of efficient service, something that is unique to this Taiwanese restaurant. I would definitely visit them again for more of their awesome food and service!

This branch of Din Tai Fung is located at G/F Mega Fashion Hall, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City. All meals are paid for by Eat Drink Splurge and her family during this visit. 

To know more about Din Tai Fung and their food offerings, click on the link below to read what other foodies have to say: