Din Tai Fung - Shanghai Restaurant Review

"Patiently" Awaiting My Feast

If you are visiting Shanghai and looking to taste some of the local delicacies, xiaolong bao (a type of dumpling) should definitely be on your checklist of things to eat.  This delectable dish has long been a favorite of locals and expats alike, and most people agree that the best in the city can be found at Din Tai Fung.

There are 7 branches scattered throughout Shanghai, and this review is for the Xin Tian Di location.  The restaurant is located on the second story of a high end shopping mall in the famous Xin Tian Di area. Xin Tian Di is a very high end district and has long been a popular place for expats and some of the more affluent locals.  There are plenty of high end boutiques and shops to visit in the area surrounding the restaurant so it makes for a nice way to spend an afternoon.

As far as Chinese restaurants are concerned this is definitely up-scale.  The decorations, booths, and the staff attire all help create a warm and pleasant atmosphere.  The walls are all covered with murals of famous Chinese actors and musicians with their autographs (not sure if they are real).  The main part of the restaurant has a very open feel and the kitchen wall that separates the dining area and the kitchen is a giant window. Feel free to spend a few minutes watching the chefs prepare your meal after you’ve ordered.

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Beautiful Presentation

The menu is pretty large and the prices high (I can imagine rent in this area is off the charts), but the scrumptiousness of the food certainly makes up for it.  There are loads of different dumplings (all of which are steamed) to choose from all filled with various toppings.  You can also get soups, fried rice, and dessert. 

We chose the standard pork xiaolong bao, the mini xiaolong bao, the truffle xiaolong bao, a bowl of wonton soup, Pork and glutinous rice shao-mai, cooked sugar pea shoots, and chilled coconut milk with assorted fresh fruit for dessert. It wasn’t a long wait before the first dishes started to arrive, presented in the bamboo steamers they were cooked in. I couldn’t wait to try the dish that the restaurant became famous for, the pork xiaolong bao.

They were simply amazing! The beauty of the xiaolong bao is that it’s shape, and the fact that it is sealed, doesn’t allow any of the juices to escape, thus retaining the flavor of the meat.  Each dumpling explodes in your mouth giving your tongue a bath in delicious pork juices. I personally felt the flavor of the dumpling by itself was enough, but if you wish you can dip them in soy sauce, black vinegar, spicy chili-paste, or any combination you can cook up.

Pork Xiaolong Bao

The only bad part of this dish is that it only came with 5 (you can order the larger portion which comes with 10), which of course I had to share. This is why I’m glad I ordered the mini xiao long bao.  They taste just as amazing as their larger counterparts and go perfect in the wonton soup.  The soup is a clean chicken broth and the delicious pork wontons perfectly absorb the broth. 

Then came the glutinous rice and pork shao-mai, the cooked sugar pea shoots, and the truffle and pork xiao long bao.  The vegetables were pretty good but a bit oily so if you are looking for something a bit lighter you might be better off trying something else. The truffle and pork xiaolong bao were very good but extremely rich.  My wife doesn’t like truffle so I had to tackle the whole dish. Normally I wouldn’t complain about this but they were too rich, even for my tastes.  If you absolutely love truffle you will probably have no problem downing the entire order, but I was only able to eat a couple of them.

We Got Dumplings for Days!

The glutinous rice and pork shao-mai was the only dish I didn’t care for on this particular visit.  They were bland and dry, which is a stark contrast to the juicy flavorful xiaolong bao.  Maybe they weren’t cooked properly, as I’ve never had shao-mai before, but I know I will not be ordering them again at this restaurant.

For dessert we shared a bowl of chilled coconut milk with a variety of fresh fruit. This was a splendid way to finish the meal.  The sweet creamy coconut milk was a nice refreshing treat, and can be an excellent way to cool down in the extreme heat that Shanghai has during the summer.

Overall I was extremely satisfied with the meal, even though it commanded a much higher price than your average Chinese food restaurant in Shanghai.  If you’ve never had xiaolong bao before and are looking to give it a try, why not go for the best.  The staff was extremely friendly and the service was superb! I highly recommend Din Tai Fung! Check Din Tai Fung’s website for locations and hours of operation.

Rating:

Price: $$$

Value: 3/5

Taste: 4.5/5

Service: 4/5

Selection: 3/5

Big Bamboo - Shanghai Restaurant Review

Located on Hong Feng Road in Pudong, Big Bamboo is a favorite hangout for locals and expats alike.  Founded over 7 years ago, Big Bambo's friendly atmosphere and familiar design will offer the many expats who live and work in the area a brief glimpse of what life back home was like.

The menu offers a wide variety of foods from burgers and sandwiches to Tex-Mex favorites like chimichangas and enchiladas. For those looking for a nice place to hangout with friends or family, Big Bamboo offers 2 pool tables as well.

The food is pretty expensive when compared to local Chinese cuisine, but is pretty comparable to other Western restaurants.  Prices range from 50 RMB for Appetizers to over 130 RMB for entrees.  Drinks range from 30 RMB (for a glass of soda) to 50RMB for cocktails and other mixed drinks.

On this particular visit we tried the chimichangas with shredded chicken, the New England clam chowder, and chicken tenders.  The chimichangas included a side of re fried beans, mexican rice, and sour cream.  The chimichanga was absolutely delicious. The chicken was succulent and spicy, and the flaky tortilla crust added a welcome crunch.  The sides however left much to be desired.  The beans were sour (a first for me) and the rice was pretty bland. 

The clam chowder was pretty tasty too, although if you're looking for the taste of the authentic New England variety you will be disappointed.  The soup was hearty with plenty of clams and potatoes, but not worth the 50 RMB price tag.

Our last dish, the chicken tenders (more like small strips of chicken that have been breaded and fried) was the least impressive of the dishes.  The chicken strips, which were more like fries, were tough and dry.  The "honey mustard" dipping sauce was nothing more than honey didn't save the dish and at 45 RMB, was a total waste of money.

The service was slightly above what you would find in a typical Chinese restaurant but well below what Westerners are accustomed to back home.  The waitresses only came by to take our order and bring the food.

I have had other dishes from this restaurant and have really enjoyed them (particularly the burgers) but it seems that consistency might be an issue here.  If you really want a taste of home, you might be better off at Blue Frog.

Price: $$$
Service: 1.5/5
Selection: 3.5/5
Taste: 3/5
Value: 3.5/5

Address (Chinese): 红枫路 381号
Address (English): 381 hongfeng lu