The Xiao Long Bao
Alexis Yap
Lex in the City
LATE last year, I was super excited for my Bangkok trip especially because I would finally get to try the world-famous Din Tai Fung Xiao Long Bao. Unfortunately, we did not get the chance to eat there on that trip since my travel companions were not as enthusiastic as I was to find out what the fuss was all about.
I did not worry as much since I had already planned a trip to Hong Kong in March (that was a week ago) and promised to eat at the one Michelin Star rated restaurant located just a stone’s-throw away from our hostel in Causeway Bay.
Our first Hong Kong lunch just had to be at Din Tai Fung. As we entered the building on Yee Woo St., we joined a hungry crowd of patrons loitering by the lobby, examining the menu and ticking off their order on a sheet of paper.
We wanted to order almost everything on the menu! The pictures were as tempting as their names and descriptions but we had to limit our orders and stick to their best sellers. After choosing a few more dishes alongside the famous soup dumplings, we waited for just about 15mins for our number to be called and for us to be seated.
The dining area was huge. As soon as we sat down, the food server confirmed our order and our food came in one-by-one within minutes after we have placed them.
Everything we ordered we really, really enjoyed. The Xiao Long Bao was delicious, but nothing really extraordinary. If I must compare it the one I have tried at Fung’s in Lahug, the only considerable difference is the thickness of the dumpling. Din Tai Fung’s dumpling was so much thinner and smoother while its soup is just delightful!
One dish that really stood out, though, was the Sweet and Sour Chili Chicken. Each piece of perfectly glazed, deboned chicken was so succulent you couldn’t wait until your next bite. But before you do, pick up a pinch of steamed white rice, then repeat the process.
The sweet and sour chicken created a lasting impression on us that on our last lunch in Hong Kong we had to go back to Din Tai Fung and order two plates of it. Can’t wait to try the other delicious food on their menu in June!
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