Din Tai Fung is considered one of the best gourmet restaurants in the world.
Din Tai Fung has finally arrived in Cebu!
Have you visited this iconic Taiwanese restaurant yet?
Since opening on June 30, Cebuanos have flocked to SM City Cebu’s North Wing for this Michelin-awarded restaurant. Hailed as among the best gourmet restaurants worldwide, many were excited when its arrival was announced.
We got to experience the hype, and we’re here to share what it’s like when one of the best Michelin Star restaurants in the Philippines comes to Cebu.
Let’s break down the dining experience at Din Tai Fung.
HOW TO GET THERE
The restaurant is located in the North Wing, alongside several new restaurants in SM City Cebu.
Exact Location:
GF, North Wing, SM City Cebu, North Reclamation Area, Cebu City
Open During Mall Hours
Commuting tip: When using a ride-hailing app, pin your location to Entrance 7 along Kaohsiung Street, which is directly outside the North Wing. This entrance is only for private vehicles, so you can easily be dropped off here.
WAIT TIME
Service is done on a first-come, first-served basis, where customers are given designated numbers to be served. These are categorized into four groups, depending on how big the group is.
In our experience, smaller groups of one to two people will have to wait around an hour or so, while bigger groups of four to five may wait for two.
Long queues are a pretty common thing in Din Tai Fung branches, even the ones in Taiwan. An article from Taipei Travel Geek confirms that wait time often exceeds 60 minutes, with weekends going beyond an hour and a half. (2019)
The blog recommends that you refer to their Branch Wait Time Lookup page on their website or app, which shows each branch’s approximate wait time. Unfortunately, this only shows Taipei branches.
Here’s to hoping that the feature will be available in the Philippines soon. Until then, customers must simply wait their turn.
Upon receiving your number, you can order ahead so that you will be served as soon as you are seated.
While waiting to be seated, you can walk around the mall, which is undergoing some major upgrades. There are a ton of new retail stores, especially along the North Wing, where Din Tai Fung is located.
Once your number is up, the staff will lead you directly to your table. Each one has special seats for your belongings. You can then look forward to being served their world-class Taiwanese cuisine.
DIN TAI FUNG BESTSELLERS
Now, what is the most popular dish at Din Tai Fung? It’s none other than xiaolongbao, so you know we had to try it out. All savory variants are served in either five or ten pieces.
Cooks can be seen folding the dumplings right in the middle of the restaurant, giving an energetic atmosphere that you can’t help but see for yourself.
The dumplings are flavorful, soft, and juicy, with so much soup inside. It’s a rule of thumb that you first poke a small hole and sip the soup before eating the whole dumpling.
Din Tai Fung is mostly known for their scrumptious xiaolongbao recipes.
Don’t forget to use the traditional dipping sauce, with other condiments that can be found at your table.
Din Tai Fung is also popular for their chocolate xiaolongbao, which you can buy for Php 125 for three pieces. These are served with a bowl of melted cream cheese that adds a tangy flavor to the sweet chocolate filling.
They have a selection of fried rice meals as well, which they say is good for two to three people. We ordered two plates—shrimp and chicken.
For sides, we ordered the Dry Noodles with Spicy Shrimp and Pork Wontons and the Crispy Shrimp and Pork Wontons. Although arguably our least favorite among the meals, it paired well with the rice and dumplings.
OUR VERDICT
We highly recommend this fan-favorite Michelin Star restaurant in the Philippines.
We’re getting the hype now. It’s definitely one of the many new restaurants in SM City Cebu worth trying out.
Each dish is delectable, particularly their world-class intricately-made xiaolongbao. We highly recommend you order ten pieces, because you are going to want more.
The service is also top-notch, with servers providing everything you need and reminding you about the proper way to enjoy their dishes. Plus, seeing the chefs do their work is an interesting addition to the restaurant’s atmosphere.
Speaking of atmosphere, it didn’t feel crowded despite constantly packing a full house. The added compartments offer comfort and convenience for shoppers bringing their valuables.
Although it’s known to have long wait times, many customers will agree that it’s worth it in the end.
***
There’s a reason Forbes called their xiaolongbaos the world’s best dumplings, as each one is cooked to absolute perfection.
So next time you’re wondering where to eat in SM City Cebu, be sure to add this to your list of must-try restaurants!
REFERENCE:
Taipei Travel Geek. 2019. “How to Avoid the Queues at Din Tai Fung.” Taipei Travel Geek.
https://www.taipeitravelgeek.com/din-tai-fung.
