Brace yourselves: Din Tai Fung Cebu is on its way.
Source: Choo Yut Shing, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0, via Flickr
Chinese food in the Philippines has long been beloved. From the hole-in-the-walls of Binondo to restaurants in malls, you can always find at least one spot in your neck of the woods.
Cebu is no exception. Every major city has countless options for diners. Whether you want something fancy or cheap, the options are endless.
As 2025 continues to roll, another player has joined the scene. Din Tai Fung Cebu is finally becoming a reality. For those unaware, let’s take a look at this dining titan and what it offers to Cebuanos.
AN ICON WAS BORN: DIN TAI FUNG’S HISTORY
Before its numerous branches and accolades, Din Tai Fung was once a humble cooking oil retailer in Taipei back in 1958.
Founder Yang Bing-Yi and his wife, Lai Pen-Mei, named it after his previous boss (Heng Tai Fung) and oil supplier (Din Mei).
Yang and Lai spent the next decade building their business. They found success, delivering oil to many restaurants and stores around Taipei and Taoyuan.
They also had a steady clientele in major Shanghai restaurants in the Taiwanese capital. Times were great, to the point that they bought their own physical store in 1963, a one-story red brick space.
Unfortunately, the couple met a huge roadblock in the early 70s. The oil industry suffered a major blow due to a health scare, and the store’s sales were headed for a downturn.
Little did they know that this setback would lead to a major turnaround, shaping Din Tai Fung into what it is today.
The couple’s friends suggested they start selling popular Shanxi dishes like knife-sliced noodles. But restaurant owner Tang Yung-Chang had another idea: Shanghai-style dim sum—particularly, xiao long bao (soup dumplings).
He even brought one of his former dim sum chefs, Lu Chi-Chung, into the fold.
In 1972, Yang put up three tables in half of his store. Lu also started work in the kitchen.
Business was initially slow, but Yang kept going, believing he had nothing to lose. Once sales started growing, the shop became a full-time restaurant.
Fast forward to today, Din Tai Fung has over 160 branches in 13 countries. It has also been awarded a Michelin Star five times in a row–a feat many restaurants dream of having.
The Philippines is a part of their location map. The country currently has eight Din Tai Fung branches, all of which are around Metro Manila.
It first opened its doors on the ground floor of the SM Mall of Asia’s Fashion Hall on December 8, 2015.
SPECIALTIES OF THE HOUSE
Every restaurant has its main draw. There’s always something (or two) that keeps customers coming back for more.
If you don’t know what to order at Din Tai Fung, look no further than their bestseller: the xiao long bao.
This dumpling has minced pork and a rich broth wrapped in a paper-thin dumpling. Their chefs fold each dumpling 18 times (yes, you read that right) in adherence to their Golden Ratio, ensuring consistency.
Their xiao long bao doesn’t stop at their classic fillings. They have various choices, from chicken to green squash and shrimp.
Din Tai Fung also has other dishes worth sampling.
Their stir-fried Chinese broccoli leaves are great for adding greens to your meal, while their salted egg yolk prawns (exclusive to the Philippines) are a crowd favorite.
DIN TAI FUNG CEBU MIGHT BE YOUR NEW FAVORITE RESTAURANT
After years of waiting and anticipation, the famous Taiwanese chain is finally making its way to the Queen City of the South. There’s no need to fly out to faraway Din Tai Fung locations anymore just to get a taste of their famous offerings.
This expansion couldn’t come at a better time.
The Moment Group—the collective responsible for bringing Din Tai Fung to the country—renewed its franchise to represent the brand in the Philippines last year. Another fun fact: 2025 marks 10 years of the restaurant’s presence on local shores, which also coincides with the chain’s 67th global anniversary. (2024)
Din Tai Fung is planning to open first at the SM City Cebu’s Northwing Expansion within the year. It’s also included in Ayala Center Cebu’s new roster, coinciding with its major renovation; the tentative opening date hasn’t been finalized, but it’s also set for 2025.
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Cebuanos won’t have to wait too long for Din Tai Fung Cebu. Savor comforting dim sum flavors, one bite at a time.
REFERENCE:
Arceo-Dumlao, Tina. 2024. “Biz Buzz: Wanted: Cebu Pacific Pilots.” Philippine Daily Inquirer.
https://business.inquirer.net/462688/biz-buzz-wanted-cebu-pacific-pilots.
