November 13, 2011
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Dumpling at DTF – Making our way to Din Tai Fung during the weekend is like visiting grandma’s kitchen. We know what to expect and where to settle ourselves, get comfy and wait for the delicious dishes. But this time around, there is a pleasant surprise waiting for us – a new item on the menu, Winter Melon & Shrimp xiao-long-bao. Basically, this is a similar sized steamed dumpling with mix of chopped shrimp and melon bits inside. The flavor of this winter melon and shrimp dumpling is on the light side, without the loaded pork and fatty juices in the signature dumplings. We arrived a little early, around 6:30pm, there’s already a small queue at the reception area. This place is still quite popular with the locals! 
The appetizer – mix of sliced bean curd, bean sprout, seaweed in a moderately spicy sauce…..
Surprisingly, the shrimp fried rice was served well ahead of other main dishes, well, I guess fried rice is easy to prepare…..
Pan-fried bean stalks are always crispy and tasty…..
Meaty Shanghainese dumplings in spicy red oil…..
Yay….the new dish finally showed up, as we can see the green melons and shrimp bits enclosed inside the thinly wrapped dumplings…..
A closer inspection…..
The more filling item – steamed pork and vegetable buns…..
Filled with meat and Chinese cabbage…..
The trusty dish – juicy pork and crab meat siao-long-bao…..
The entire dinner cost approximately US$50, including gratuity. It was quite fulfilling and delicious, indeed a good revisit of an old favourite. We would definitely come back again soon!
Din Tai Fung | 1108 South Baldwin Avenue, Arcadia, CA 91007 | (626) 574-7068 | www.dintaifungusa.com
Comments (35)
You guys always make me hungry… and you always post around my bedtime. I’ve lost track of how many imaginary dinners you owe me.
mmm nom nom nom
Yummmmm…. Going this weekend! Can’t wait!
we have Din Tai Fung in Malaysia too! their siao loong bao’s are awesome.
@ElusiveWords - Now I realized the time zone difference, I hope my entry would not cause your sleeplessness too! LOL
@CaKaLusa - Hungry? Got dumplings?
@ds0905 - Yes, you definitely have to “pre-program” your baby to acquire the Ding Tai Fung taste bud!
@liloloveslilies - Now I have to try out the Ding Tai Fung in Malaysia as well! *nom nom*
Mmmm I want xiaolongbao so badddddddddd. I know there’s another Din Tai Fung really close to that one. Which one is better?
@hilabpartnerxD - They each have a front kitchen showcasing the siao long baos; the food tastes the same. The only difference is the newer one has a better interior decor and is located in a building right behind the original one.
Been a while since I had Chinese food. NOMMMING! xD Well anyway, hopefully this time in Seoul I get to try DTF. (SG and HK were both a fail). haha
omg.. i just had pad thai and this post is making me hungry again!!
@oxyGENE_08 - Very nice to visit three major cities within a short period! Well,the original shop in Taipei is not too far away, just in case you pass up on DTF Seoul! Have a good trip!
@thetropicallife - Thank you, I’m glad the food porn is working! They have quite a few branches near you too. Go and grab some dumplings!
Ning Pang Chao Ling Ming Cha.
@CurryPuffy - Thanks! Yup a friend of mine just came back from Taipei and what a fooooooooooooood adventure he had. I think I asked Andy (yang) aside from the 101 building what else is there to do in TW, he said FOOD. Not surprisingly though. LOL
The San Gabriel Valley has the best Chinese food in Southern California. Because it is closer, I don’t venture to places further east of Rowland, but I will keep this place in mind.
wait what? should appetizer be that healthy?
I want some now @3@
@RulerofMasons - Ning Pang Cha?!
@oxyGENE_08 - Yeah, Andy will be a good source for food places! He likes to eat! LOL
@Ricardo98 - Arcadia is about 15 minutes of driving, northwest of San Gabriel, quite easy to reach too.
@maniacsicko - It’s quite healthy especially with bean curd, bean sprouts and seaweed!
@o3o_JennyBear_o3o - Oh JennyBear, you may have some anytime, I hope you are close to Arcadia. LOL
@CurryPuffy - I don’t think I’m anywhere near Arcadia D:
@o3o_JennyBear_o3o - Bao Mae Dong. Chao Zoe Li. Fu meng Da.
嘩…香港的DTF 都好像沒有做得看上去這麼美味哦…
對啦, 今年年尾你也會如往時一樣 回來香港探親嗎? ^__^
@uyyt - Oh really? I think the dumplings in DTF HK taste much better wor? Yes, I’ll be having the same schedule like last year! Let’s meet up!
南翔小籠包都唔錯, 你回香港時 有機會都可以去試試呢~
yum. that melon&shrimp xiao-long-bao is a must try.
yeah, the last time i was at DTF, fried rice was also served first. i still think it should b served last. once your stomach is full of rice, you won’t be able to enjoy the other stuff as well as if your stomach were still half empty. but i must say, they make chinese fried rice better than most chinese restaurants i’ve been to.
@rudyhou - Yeah Rudy, that’s exactly what I have in mind too about the rice dish! Next time when you are in town, we should all have a big meal at Din Tai Fung!
niceee
@yang1815 - thank you, Andy!
@CurryPuffy - you’re ON!
Hi Gary, thank you for the pictures. The green melon that you talk about, is the honey dew melon I think. Is it? Or is it a green pumpkin?
If it is the honey dew melon then we get plenty of those here and I can make them. Loved all the pictures.