Taipei 2012 - Ding Tai Fung

Ding Tai Fung is a chain of restaurants that originated in Taipei but has now spread its wings all over the world. They even have several outlets in KL now. Having tried the famous Xiao Long Bao at their KL brunch, I was determined to try them at the source.

Ding Tai Fung is very popular both with the locals and tourists, so getting a table is notoriously difficult during rush hour. It is best to go early. I went to the popular Yong Kang Road branch at around 10.30 a.m. and was happy to get a table. There was already a queue at the main entrance, and it started to fill up really fast !

The must-have Xiao Long Baos - they taste exactly the same as the ones in KL. A testament to their consistency and quality.

Lightly pickled cucumbers. Very crunchy and refreshing.

Pan-fried Dumplings - one of my favourites. The presentation here was very interesting - they were served upside down.

While I find the food at Ding Tai Fung quite good, it was the service that really impressed me. The restaurant is run like a very well oiled machine, with nary a hitch serving so many people.

By the time I left, there was an even longer queue at the entrance.