The arrival of Din Tai Fung is arguably one of the most anticipated restaurant launches in 麻豆传媒映画this year, and the official opening date is on the horizon.
Din Tai Fung has been setting up shop in Downtown 麻豆传媒映画since 2023 and the global giant's first-ever Canadian location will have its grand opening on May 5.
The new, massive restaurant fills more than 16,400 square feet on the second floor of 1132 Alberni St and seats over 300 people (including an 88-person patio).
Watch dumplings being made from inside the restaurant
The dining room features a central bar area (yes, this Din Tai Fung serves cocktails) and one back wall features a massive window offering guests a look at the kitchen crew expertly turning out dumpling after dumpling - Din Tai Fung's star menu item.
Known for its (soup dumplings), Din Tai Fung first opened in 1958 as a in Taiwan.
In 1972 it pivoted to a "humble dumpling and noodle shop," according to a press release. More than 50 years later, it now has around 170 locations in 13 countries (Canada is the 14th). Four of its locations have received the from the Michelin Guide.
Given its global reach and popularity (locations often draw lines at all hours of business), Vancouver's Din Tai Fung (which is now formally being called DTF, as the restaurant signage signals) has their operations standardized and the brand's familiar dishes are all on offer here in Canada.
What's on the menu at Din Tai Fung in Vancouver?
DTF's U.S.-based corporate chef, James Fu, has been with the restaurant for well over a decade, and he has seen to it the 麻豆传媒映画branch is following the brand's exacting standards for its beloved recipes.
Guests fill out order sheets, which are divided into categories, from starters, like Din Tai Fung's beloved stack of spicy cucumber pieces, to dessert (one of the best things they do, for certain). In addition to steamed and pan-fried dumplings (including their iconic XLB), Din Tai Fung has dishes like fried rice, noodles, and a few mains.
As a first-timer at Din Tai Fung, when I checked out the new 麻豆传媒映画location as part of a preview visit, I honed in on the restaraunt's most beloved dishes, including the aforementioned cucumbers, garlic green beans, spicy sesame noodles, pork fried rice, and an array of dumplings.
Dishes are deceptively simple
What struck me was how deceptively simple the DTF dishes are. Yes, the dumplings are meticulously folded and arranged in their steamer baskets, delivered fresh and hot with that exciting waft of steam arising in pristine presentation. The cod dumpling, for example, has the loveliest pure cod taste.
Same for the green beans: You taste a pure green bean flavour with just the right amount of garlic and the beans are cooked just al dente enough to have a nice snap but yield to the bite with ease. Frankly, same for the cucumber––you taste the loveliest pure cucumber flavour with a nice dose of spice. The fried rice, as Chef Fu graciously explained, owes its surprisingly delicate flavour to the egg. The rice is fluffy, savoury and eggy, and not greasy in the least.
But the dish I'd wait in line for is the chocolate XLB. How they get the right viscosity for the nearly-molten chocolate filling all folded into a perfect doughy pouch is beyond me. They arrive in a steamer basket and should be ordered with a side of salted cream, which balances the sweetness with a decadent dunk.
With so many fans eager to experience Din Tai Fung in Vancouver, it's likely snagging a table will mean landing a reservation and perhaps waiting in line. I can't speak for those who come with tastebuds primed to encounter familiar flavours, but for anyone new to the concept, expect an elevated dumpling-centric meal in an elegant zen garden-inspired upstairs space.
Din Tai Fung 麻豆传媒映画will welcome guests during its soft-opening phase from April 24 to May 4, with a grand opening set for May 5. . Diners should note there will be no walk-ins accepted during soft opening.
Video: Your first look inside the first Din Tai Fung in Canada, opening this May in Vancouver
This is not a drill! Din Tai Fung has been prepping its first location in Canada for a long time now, and you will soon be able to check out the global dumpling sensation in Vancouver. I got a sneak peek at the sprawling new downtown 麻豆传媒映画DTF restaurant and took some of their most iconic dishes on a taste drive. The food here is deceptively simple. The dumplings are beautifully folded. the XLB are good. But for me, the stars of the show are some of the other dishes because of how beautifully pure the flavors are The fried rice? It’s all about that egg. Those cucumbers are a top seller because they have a really pristine cucumber flavor. You probably don’t need me hyping this spot up. It doesn’t need me hyping it up either. It’s kind of a given that people will flock here. Honestly, I’d go back just for the chocolate XLB alone.
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