Din Tai Fung - Nanxi

The Nanxi branch of Taiwan's most famous dumpling chain sits in the basement of Shinkong Mitsukoshi department store near Zhongshan MRT. The restaurant specializes in xiaolongbao made with handmade dough and wrapped to precise standards — each dumpling arrives with exactly 18 pleats. The pork xiaolongbao remains the signature dish, though the menu includes wontons, noodles, fried rice, and seasonal vegetables like garlicky spinach. Founded in 1958 as a cooking oil shop before pivoting to steamed dumplings, Din Tai Fung now operates locations worldwide but maintains its original techniques in Taiwan. The open kitchen lets diners watch cooks roll and pleat dumplings at speed. Service runs efficiently with attentive staff who refill tea and swap plates between courses.