Din Tai Fung

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Din Tai Fung
DinTaiFungLogo.svg
Taiwan 2009 Taipei DinTaiFung Dumpling House at Pacific Sogo ZhongXiao Store FRD 9000.jpg
Xiaolongbao made to order at the restaurant behind glass pane
Traditional Chinese鼎泰豐
Simplified Chinese鼎泰丰

Din Tai Fung is an upscale "Chinese restaurant originating in Taiwan" franchise that specializes in Chinese Huaiyang cuisine.[1] Outside Taiwan, Din Tai Fung also has branches in Australia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Macau, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, and the United States.[2]

History[]

Truffle-infused Xiaolongbao at Din Tai Fung, Taipei
A Din Tai Fung restaurant in Beijing

Founder Yang Bingyi[3] initially worked ten years at Heng Tai Fung (恆泰豐), a cooking oil retailer in Taiwan. He then wanted to branch out on his own to support his family. With his Hakka wife, Lai Penmei, he founded a cooking oil retailer in 1958. They named it Din Tai Fung by combining the names of Yang's previous employer, "Heng Tai Fung", and their new supplier, "DinMei Oils".[4][5]

Around 1970, tinned cooking oil became prevalent, and business diminished drastically. Heng Tai Fung's owner suggested that to survive, Yang and Lai convert half the shop to making and selling steamed buns (xiaolongbao). The buns grew so popular that the store stopped selling oil altogether and became a full-fledged restaurant in 1972. The original restaurant is on Xinyi Road in Taipei.[6][5]

In 1996, the first international location opened in Tokyo,[5] and the first North American store opened in Arcadia, California in 2000.[7] The first European branch was opened in London in December 2018.[8] Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the restaurant industry in the United States, the first North American restaurant closed permanently on June 11, 2020.[9]

Reputation[]

Din Tai Fung is known internationally for its paper-thin wrapped xiaolongbao with 18 folds. The New York Times named it one of the top ten restaurants in the world in 1993.[10][11][12] In November 2009, the Hong Kong and Macau 2010 edition of the Michelin Guide awarded the restaurant's first Hong Kong branch at Tsim Sha Tsui, Silvercord Branch (新港店), a Michelin star.[13] The Michelin Guide recommended the restaurant's second branch in Hong Kong at Causeway Bay, Yee Wo Branch (怡和店), in December 2010, as well as Hong Kong's Silvercord Branch in 2013.[14]

In January 2019, Din Tai Fung voluntarily closed their Westfield Sydney location after discovering rats, which nearby construction had displaced.[15] The city council also required the restaurant pass health inspections before re-opening.[16]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Din Tai Fung profits plunge 30%". Taipei Times. 24 Dec 2008. p. 11.
  2. ^ "About us::Our chronology(P1)". Archived from the original on 2014-09-05. Retrieved 2014-11-07.
  3. ^ Hsu, Allen (7 Dec 2007). "Soft diplomacy targets taste buds in Europe". Taiwan Today.
  4. ^ "Din Tai Fung Dumpling House :: North America – About Us". Archived from the original on 2014-09-05. Retrieved 2014-11-07.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Steaming to Shanghai". Free China Journal. 1 December 1997. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  6. ^ "About us::Our history". Archived from the original on 2014-09-05. Retrieved 2014-11-07.
  7. ^ "Chronology – Din Tai Fung USA". dintaifungusa.com (in Chinese). Retrieved 2018-06-18.
  8. ^ "World-Famous Taiwan Dumpling Chain Din Tai Fung Announces London Opening Date". Eater London. Retrieved 2019-05-24.
  9. ^ Cheng, Ching-Tse (June 11, 2020). "Taiwan's Din Tai Fung closing first US location due to financial pressures". Taiwan News. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  10. ^ "Photo". i1159.photobucket.com. Retrieved 2020-01-04.
  11. ^ Hom, Ken (17 January 1993). "Top-Notch Tables; Teipei, Taiwan". The New York Times.
  12. ^ "Taiwanese Restaurant - Din Tai Fung". www.dintaifungusa.com.
  13. ^ "Taipei major shopping zone sets sights on Cambodia". Focus Taiwan News Channel. 8 July 2017. Retrieved 15 September 2017.
  14. ^ "Affordable Dining in Hong Kong – Din Tai Fung". shescookin. Retrieved 15 September 2017.
  15. ^ Zhou, Naaman (31 January 2019). "Vermin invasion: Sydney construction boom sends rats into restaurants". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  16. ^ "Footage of large rat at Din Tai Fung in Westfield Sydney". news.com.au. 31 January 2019.

External links[]

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