Though it was a few years ago, memories of our first Din Tai Fung experience remain sharp. It was in Australia and were looking for a good place to eat a late Sunday breakfast. Walking around randomly, we came across a restaurant named "Din Tai Fung" that had a very long line of waiting Chinese patrons. Chinese customers willing to wait on a long line for Chinese food? Very, very good sign. We didn't know what they were serving, but decided to wait on line anyway. When we finally made it to the front, we were welcomed warmly by the host, the waitress and the bus boys. Wait, it gets better. We ordered a few things and they were delicious. So we order some more. And finally, ordered a third time and enjoyed dessert buns to end our meal. We left feeling happy and very lucky, as if we found some kind of hidden gem.
We later learned it was a chain so of course, we've looked for their branches in other travels. We went to the one in LA with our friends and though the food wasn't quite as good as we remembered, being with friends more than made up for that. Now in Seoul, we've found that they have multiple branches and though the reviews online have been mixed, we had to try this place once.
Sadly, it will be just once. The ambiance and service were stellar, but the food. Oh the food. It was utterly disappointing. I thought franchises were supposed to be consistent, but the soup dumplings were the worst I've ever had. They had soup in them, but somehow, they were dry at the same time. It is a weird Catch 22. I would have been disappointed if we didn't try it, but I somehow knew I would be disappointed if we did. On the bright side, we are headed to Hong Kong next month and do dim sum the proper way.
We later learned it was a chain so of course, we've looked for their branches in other travels. We went to the one in LA with our friends and though the food wasn't quite as good as we remembered, being with friends more than made up for that. Now in Seoul, we've found that they have multiple branches and though the reviews online have been mixed, we had to try this place once.
Sadly, it will be just once. The ambiance and service were stellar, but the food. Oh the food. It was utterly disappointing. I thought franchises were supposed to be consistent, but the soup dumplings were the worst I've ever had. They had soup in them, but somehow, they were dry at the same time. It is a weird Catch 22. I would have been disappointed if we didn't try it, but I somehow knew I would be disappointed if we did. On the bright side, we are headed to Hong Kong next month and do dim sum the proper way.