Din Tai Fung

Din Tai Fung
Xiaolongbao made to order at the restaurant behind glass pane
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese	鼎泰豐
Simplified Chinese	鼎泰丰
Transcriptions Mandarin - Hanyu Pinyin Dǐng Tài Fēng Min - Hokkien POJ Tiáⁿ-thài-hong Cantonese (Yue) - Jyutping ding2 taai3 fung1
Japanese name
Kanji	鼎泰豊
Kana	ディンタイフォン

Din Tai Fung is an award-winning restaurant originating in Taiwan, specialising in xiaolongbao (small steamed buns).^[1] Outside its native Taiwan, Din Tai Fung also has its restaurant chains in Australia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, the United States, Canada, and Thailand.

History

Founder Yang Bingyi^[2] was born in Shanxi, China, but moved to Taiwan in 1948 as a result of the Chinese Civil War. After working 10 years at Heng Tai Fung (恆泰豐), a cooking oil retailer, he found himself unemployed due the store's closing. Thus, he and his wife, Lai Penmei, founded Din Tai Fung (also a cooking oil retailer) in 1958. Around 1980, tinned cooking oil became prevalent, and business diminished drastically. In order to survive, Yang and his wife began making and selling steamed buns (xiaolongbao) on the side. The buns were so popular that the store stopped selling oil altogether and became a full-fledged restaurant in the 1980s. The original restaurant is located on Xinyi Road in Taipei.

In addition to dumplings, Din Tai Fung is also known for their chicken soup, seaweed, bean sprouts, and mung bean noodle xiaochi.

Accolades

Din Tai Fung is known internationally for its xiao long bao (小籠包). In 1993, Din Tai Fung was ranked as one of the world's top 10 restaurants by The New York Times.^[3][4] In November 2009, the restaurant's first Hong Kong branch at Tsim Sha Tsui (尖沙咀), Silvercord Branch (新港店), was awarded one Michelin star by the Hong Kong and Macau 2010 edition of the Michelin Guide. In December 2010, the restaurant's second branch in Hong Kong at Causeway Bay, Yee Wo Branch (怡和店), was also awarded one Michelin star.

Gallery of Images

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  Famous Xiaolongbao at Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong

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  Some Appetizers

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  Taipei Zhongxiao Sogo Location

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  Arcadia California Location

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  Sydney branch

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  Hong Kong branch at Tsim Sha Tsui

References

1. ^ "Din Tai Fung profits plunge 30%". Taipei Times. 2008-12-24. http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/biz/archives/2008/12/24/2003431964. Retrieved 2011-01-19. 
2. ^ "Soft diplomacy targets taste buds in Europe". Taiwan Today. 2007-12-07. http://www.taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=24980&CtNode=428. Retrieved 2011-01-19. 
3. ^ Yeong, Amy (2006-10-04). "Din Tai Fung". AsiaOne. Archived from the original on 2007-05-10. http://web.archive.org/web/20070510225232/http://wineanddine.asiaone.com.sg/reviews/restaurants/chinese/20061004_001.html. Retrieved 2007-05-29. 
4. ^ Seamus (2005-08-03). "Ding Tai Feng: the ultimate xiaolongbao". ShanghaiExpat.com. http://www.shanghaiexpat.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=1103558. Retrieved 2007-05-29. ^{[dead link]}

External links

• Din Tai Fung official website (Global) (Chinese (Taiwan))
• Din Tai Fung official website (Global) (English)
• Din Tai Fung official website (USA) (English)