Dump Day! – Din Tai Fung the gold standard
Okay, I give. I wasn’t going to write this one figuring they really didn’t need any further promotion from me. But, there is no denying that Din Tai Fung is truly deserving of all the hype. After a year of leaving no dumpling house unturned, Sis and I have both decided that when it comes to Xiao Long Bao (aka XLB or Soup Dumplings) nobody can touch them. The thin skin, the meaty filling, the fragrant soup all perfectly assembled in a beautiful symphony of flavor that literally explodes in your mouth. Din Tai Fung’s other offerings also do not disappoint. DTF uses fresh, clean, quality ingredients and you can taste the difference in everything they make. One tip – Go early! This place fills up with eager regulars waiting to get their fix.
The Heavenly Xiao Long Bao
How to Eat XLB’s part 1
Create your dipping sauce with fresh ginger, soy, vinegar and chili sauce as you like.
Dip dumpling in sauce transfer to soup spoon top with ginger.
How to Eat XLB’s part 2
While dumpling is on spoon carefully bite a hole in the top to let hot soup out.
Wait a second to cool and pop that beauty into your mouth.
Excellent Hot and Sour Soup not too starchy with good sour balance
Fresh Crunchy Garlic Green Beans
Chicken Fried Noodles – a little light on seasoning but nothing a bit of soy can’t fix