Din Tai Fung Sydney Review - World Square

Food	★★★★★
Setting	★★★★
Service	★★★★
Total	13/15

Must try: Pork Dumplings (Xiao Long Bao) - The Pork Dumplings are little pockets of happiness with nectarine like broth that bursts in your mouth. I can eat nothing but these dumplings for weeks and still not get sick of it.

Din Tai Fung Pork Dumplings (Xiao Long Bao)

Golden Lava (dessert) - These bite sized buns are the Salted Caramel Macarons of the East. It is the perfect combination of sweet and saltiness.

Golden Lava 

On a cold autumn night M and I decided to take our good friends Ed and Amy to the world famous Taiwanese restaurant - Din Tai Fung. They have branches from New York to Hong Kong. Two of the Restaurants in Hong Kong are awarded with the prestigious One Michelin Star.

Due to Din Tai Fung's popularity, they do not accept bookings, we waited about 40min in the cold sitting outside the restaurant with a pager in our hand. There are a few outdoor heaters but not enough for the 30 people waiting. However, a plus is that you can order drinks while you wait.

This photo only shows 1/3 of the patrons waiting outside, come on a weekday to avoid the queue

Din Tai Fung has a signature point of difference - every dumpling pastry is delicately hand made to measure between precisely 4.8 and 5.2 grams at conception, with an exact 6cm diameter, before being stuffed to weigh between 20.6 and 21.4 grams. All this and the promise that the food can be made fresh in front of your eyes, steamed in exactly three minutes and on your table in seconds. Such scientific precision and quality control is what makes Din Tai Fung stand out from the rest. (http://www.dintaifungaustralia.com.au/)

Precision trained chefs

String Bean with Garlic

Vegetable and Pork Wonton with Spicy Sauce 

Golden Taro Bread and Golden Red Bean Bread

The Good: At 8 dumplings for $12.80, Din Tai Fung is not cheap compared to other dumpling restaurants in Sydney. However, They are of the highest quality by far. In other restaurants you are likely to see popped dumplings that's leaking broth, or ones with pastries that are way too thick. The pastry of Din Tai Fung's dumplings are famous for it's thinness and it's broth holding ability. You will not see one popped dumpling served here.

Din Tai Fung's service is up there with the best of Asian restaurant in Sydney. They provide covers for your coat and handbag on fold out tables, the waitstaff greet you with a smile, and everyone is dressed in professional upscale uniforms. However, when compared to other Din Tai Fungs around the world it somehow seemed to lack just a tiny bit of efficiency and consistency.

Room for improvement: Din Tai Fung World Square could benefit from providing a few more outdoor heaters for people waiting outside during cold nights. I can't imaging waiting outside on a wintery night.

For more information visit www.dintaifung.com.au