Din Tai Fung - SM North EDSA — Restaurant in Quezon City

We ordered the beef strips, sweet and sour chicken strips, pork xiao long bao (XLB), shrimp wontons, chocolate XLB, and shrimp fried rice. While we were excited to try their food, the overall experience was quite disappointing. The beef strips and sweet and sour chicken strips were especially underwhelming. Both were sliced so thinly that they lacked substance, and it felt like we were mostly eating flour rather than actual meat. The texture and flavor didn't justify the price at all. The xiao long bao (XLB) and shrimp wontons were decent, but nothing extraordinary. l've had better versions of both at other Taiwanese restaurants in the Philippines, and those were more affordable too. The chocolate XLB was an interesting dessert option, but it didn't make up for the mediocrity of the rest of the meal. As for the shrimp fried rice, it was serviceable but didn't stand out in any way. For the price, we were expecting a richer flavor or something more unique, but it turned out to be quite basic.

That said, the service was excellent and top-notch. The staff was attentive, polite, and efficient, which made the dining experience pleasant despite the disappointing food. I've tried giving Din Tai Fung several chances, visiting their other branches at BGC and Megamall to see if the lackluster quality might be specific to one location. However, my experience has been consistent across all branches-the food is just average at best and doesn't live up to the hype or the premium pricing. Overall, while Din Tai Fung is known for its reputation as a Taiwanese dining chain, I personally find their food overrated and not worth the cost. For the same price or less, there are other Taiwanese restaurants in the Philippines that offer better...

From the moment you step into Din Tai Fung at SM North, you're greeted not just with the comforting aroma of freshly steamed dumplings, but also with the warmth of their well-trained and genuinely courteous staff. Service here is consistently excellent—attentive without being overbearing, and always with a smile.

Now the food? Absolutely satisfying. Their famous Xiao Long Bao is delicately crafted, with a perfect soup-to-meat ratio and silky thin wrapper. The Shrimp and Pork Wontons in Spicy Sauce are flavorful and addicting, and even simple dishes like the fried rice and green beans with minced pork are done with finesse.

A special mention goes to the Hot & Sour Soup—rich, bold, and perfectly balanced in heat and tang. It’s hands-down more flavorful than what you’d get at, say, Panda Express. It hits that comfort spot and is a must-try especially on a rainy day.

The ambiance is clean and modern, perfect for anything from casual lunch to family dinner. Only downside? The tables feel a bit small, especially if you’re sharing a spread—which you most likely will.

And after leaving with full, satisfied stomachs, we couldn’t help but crave a good cup of coffee and something sweet—because when a savory meal hits all the right spots, dessert naturally calls!

In the end, with the quality of food, thoughtful service, and overall experience, the price is absolutely worth it. Din Tai Fung at SM North delivers a dining experience that’s satisfying, memorable, and well worth...

28 Feb 2024, around 1:15pm, 2 pax. It being a weekday, we got seated immediately. Procedures for ordering and paying were explained to us. Our orders were served in about 10 minutes; a kitchen crew member came with the trays, and a table crew member puts it on the table--a bit exaggerated in terms of contamination, in my opinion. We noticed that the food was not piping hot, though, but that could be a strategy to have customers enjoy the food sooner. While it is nice to see the dumpling crew at work, I would much rather see the entire kitchen crew at work. Our orders were 10-pc CHILI CRAB & SHRIMP XIAO LONG BAO (785 PhP), large HOT GARLIC SPARERIBS (850), STIR FRIED CHINESE BOK CHOY (230), MUSHROOM FRIED RICE (240), for share DTF HOT & SOUR SOUP (420), and 2 CLASSIC ICED TEA. With VAT and Service Charge, the total is just above 3,000 PhP. Payment options are cash, gcash, and credit/debit card. The servings were more than enough for us, but it might not be so for hearty eaters. The dishes tasted like they lacked salt or other seasoning, but there are bottles of soy sauce, rice vinegar, and chili oil on the table so diners can tweak according to their preference. It was a good dining experience overall, and while I don't see myself becoming a regular customer, I am not against going back to try their other dishes, as long as there's no wait time in...