Din Tai Fung Shinjuku — Restaurant in Tokyo

I have avoided this place because I don’t like having to line up. However, we relented and decided to give it a try, largely to see if we would enjoy it as much as Tim Ho Wan - we are big fans of Hong Kong sim sum. We got there about 30 min before it opened (at 11am), and there were 15-20 people ahead of us. They pass out menus and order forms while you wait, so your time is not completely wasted. There is a lot of seating, so we were ushered in as soon as they opened.

The pros: The complimentary jasmine tea is delicious, and the fact that they remove the tea leaves before serving it is nice because you don’t have to worry about it getting too strong/tannic.

The menu is quite extensive.

The service is prompt and attentive.

Because the restaurant is spacious, has a high ceiling, and large glass windows looking out onto the terrace, the atmosphere is quite nice. Once the weather has cooled down a little, I would imagine that eating on the terrace would be nice.

The daikon mochi was delicious, as was the anindofu/mango pudding.

The cons: I would expect some to find the air conditioning too cool.

Our other dishes were lukewarm and/or fairly bland. Unlike the tasty pork buns and chimaki from Hong Kong which contain charshu, these pork buns contain a bland ground meat mix, and the chimaki didn’t hit the mark for us.

In sum, we would probably return the try some of the other menu items and possibly to eat on the terrace, but our initial impression was that the food at Tim Ho Wan is more suited to our tastes - and my wife likes the fact that they...

Din Tai Fung is a renowned restaurant that lives up to its reputation. I had the pleasure of dining at their establishment recently, and it was an unforgettable experience.

The restaurant's ambiance was elegant and welcoming, creating a comfortable and enjoyable atmosphere. The service was impeccable, with attentive staff who were quick to accommodate our needs and provide excellent recommendations.

Now, let's talk about the food. The star of the show was, of course, their famous xiao long bao. The dumplings were perfectly steamed, with thin, delicate wrappers and a flavorful filling that was simply divine. Each bite was a burst of savory goodness, and I couldn't get enough of them.

Apart from the xiao long bao, we also tried their noodles and various other dishes. Everything was expertly prepared, showcasing the skill and dedication of the chefs. The flavors were authentic and mouthwatering, and the presentation was impeccable.

Overall, my experience at Din Tai Fung was outstanding. From the delicious food to the attentive service, it was a dining experience that exceeded all expectations. I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for a taste of exquisite Taiwanese cuisine. It's definitely...

Don't waste your time and money at this branch. I have eaten here twice and both experiences have been extremely disappointing. After visiting the original place in Taiwan, I was excited to find that Tokyo has several restaurants. However, the Shinjuku branch is pretty dismal. Even if you can avoid the long lines, you will be paying premium prices for poorly prepared food. Today the xiaolongbao were overcooked and dry as a bone. I couldn't have wrung a drop of soup out of them if I had tried. The sweet and sour soup was neither sweet nor sour. If "nothing" was a taste, that is exactly how I would describe the flavor of this soup. It was the exact opposite of what Tawainese food should taste like. The wait staff is pretty subpar as well (when you compare them to staff at every other restaurant in Japan). The only redeemable thing about my visit was the ginger, which was pretty much the only flavor I tasted the entire meal. Save yourselves 2,000 yen and go anywhere else in Shinjuku. Or, if you really, really need a Din Tai Fung fix, head a couple of stops north and go to the Ikebukuro branch. You will be moderately less...