Din Tai Fung in Bonifacio High Street Central Square
Din Tai Fung certainly made a huge buzz when it came to the Philippines, and though I was able to try the Xiao Long Bao shortly after they opened up, it was just now that I had the time to blog about this. Get ready to be Xiao Long Bao-ed!
Modern and spacious interior
The branch of Din Tai Fung here in BGC High Street has this air of sophistication emanating from its modern design and free spaces. This makes the place perfect for some sophisticated dining which includes dates. This, however, does not prevent us from dining there casually.
As you wait for the dishes to be served, you can amuse yourself by observing how the Xiao Long Bao are made. Well, it's for the kids, really, but we all claim to be one, right?
"Luxurious" Taiwanese cuisine
Din Tai Fung has a simple yet specialized menu showcasing traditional Taiwanese delights. Dishes may also be classified as "luxurious", since the prices could go as high as P995 for their main dishes (but to be fair can go as low as P155).
The Xiao Long Bao (P315 for 10 pcs) is truly the star here in Din Tai Fung. You'll enjoy how delicate and soft the exterior is. Afterwards, once you reach the core, you'll be met by the surprising balanced goodness of the meat, including its soup-like essence.
Tip: Consume these right after being serve. Otherwise, it will sharply decrease in quality.
The Braised Beef Noodle Soup (P295) had this richness in its beef broth that tickled all points of our taste buds. It's really great for those who crave for a "clear-soup ramen". On top of all, the noodles were of superior quality and texture bringing this dish to a higher notch.
The Noodles with House Special Spicy Sauce (P130) possessed the same excellent quality as the dish above. The rightly tough texture allowed us to feel each slurp and bite of the noodle. Furthermore, the special spicy sauce tightly embraced the noodles allowing the rich flavor to be constantly present.
The Machang Noodles with Sesame and Peanut Sauce (P155) had this potent peanut taste that I couldn't help but adore.
The Pork Chop Fried Rice (P290) featured a pork chop that was richly seasoned, typical for a Taiwanese dish.
The Sweet and Sour Pork (P480 for large) was an immense upgrade from the usual similar dish. The pork had this enjoyable crispness that absorbed the playful sweetness of the sauce. Two thumbs up!
The Hot Garlic Spareribs (P740 for large) featured a great combination of garlic and soy sauce in its sauce. However, the price seemed to have outweighed the "upgrade" in the dish.
The Salted Egg Yolk Prawns (P995 for large) was definitely not a joke. At P995, one can easily be shookt! I'm still half-hearted with this. Well, I admit, it might be the best dish I tried this 2017 (especially with its smooth and well-defined salted egg tang), but the price really is holding me back. However, if you happen to have extra money to spend, you definitely should try this one!
The Chocolate Lava Xiao Long Bao (P115 for 3 pcs) was somehow a downer. The exterior was too thick that it pulled away attention from the chocolate filling. I'm recommending that of Shi Lin's version more than this.
The Golden Lava Salted Egg Yolk Bun (P85 for 2 pcs) was another wonderful creation. The filling was just full of bliss with its magnificent blend of custard and salted egg taste. Hands down! Go for this one instead of the chocolate Xiao Long Bao.
That's basically our Din Tai Fung experience. The kid is definitely happy!
Din Tai Fung - Overall Ratings and Summary
Note: Unshaded stars are equivalents of half-stars. The ratings reflect my personal experiences on the times I dine here.
Place ★★★★★
Taste ★★★★
Service ★★★★★
Value for Money ★★★☆
Budget: at least P500 each for a moderate to heavy dining experience for a group of at least four (4)
No. of visits for this particular restaurant/branch - 1 || Date of last visit - September 29, 2017
Our Din Tai Fung experience was truly a satisfying one. Prices may be far from friendly, but quality is definitely guaranteed. The attentiveness of the servers makes you feel special as you dine, and not to mention the sophistication in the ambiance. So, I guess that's where some of the premium goes.
Din Tai Fung
Location: G/F Bonifacio High Street Central Square, 7th Avenue. BGC
Service Charge: 10% before VAT
