During my layover in California checking out IMATS in Pasadena, both Christine and I agreed we had to take a trip to Din Tai Fung. I think recently I’ve been on the search for a great soup dumping (aka xiaolongbao) and I have to say, out of the places I’ve gone so far in the United States, this place has been the best. The most perfect display of elegance per the ballet of light flavorful soup and the thin thin skin. I have not yet met its equal and is why each time we’re back in Los Angeles, it’s a must that we make the hour+ drive from the airport to Din Tai Fung.
Having had been here more than once before, I decided I would check to see if this place was on the app ‘Chefs Feed’ so I could add it to the foods I’ve ate. Come to my surprise there was actually another dish they recommended! The spicy shrimp and pork wontons…. oh wow. This thing was packed with flavor! Make sure you try this dish out.
For those of you going for the first time, I would highly recommend going with someone who has had this food before, because there is definitely a consumer’s manual for this cuisine. It comes out SUPER hot on the steel steamers so you can kind of guess the soup in the dumplings will be the same. Yes, soup.. in a dumpling!
So just in case you decide to brave the soup dumpling solo, despite your inexperience, there are steps that most typically follow but it’s probably fair to say, you will probably get burnt tongue before the meal is over. It happens to everybody. Call it a right of passage. But oh man, it’s so worth it. The steps I recommend are:
It’s definitely an experience and so well worth it. Oh! Some tips:
Din Tai Fung (information below gathered 07.2012)
1108 S Baldwin Ave
Arcadia, CA 91007
(626) 574-7068
Hours
Mon-Fri 11am–10pm
Sat-Sun 10am–10pm
Parking
A really good soup dumpling place in a small parking lot in Chinatown? Yeah, get there early, you’ll be waiting for a parking spot before you wait for your table. But trust me, it’s SO worth it.
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References:Din Tai Fung http://www.dintaifungusa.com Chefs Feed http://www.chefsfeed.com/ Xteeener https://www.facebook.com/pages/Xteeener/57086274728 |