Having spent quite a bit of time in Covent Garden recently, I made a delightful discovery: Din Tai Fung. For those unfamiliar with the name, it’s an exceptional restaurant specializing in Taiwanese dumplings. As a big fan of Asian cuisine, I can say the dishes I’ve tried here rank among the best in London.

Today, DOYOUSPEAKLONDON invites you to explore Din Tai Fung, an authentic and exquisite Taiwanese dining experience in the heart of London.

Din Tai Fung: Covent Garden’s dumpling spot

The international chain Din Tai Fung opened its UK flagship in Covent Garden in 2018 and has since earned Michelin praise and rave reviews from customers.

The brand’s core philosophy to serve up quality cuisine and excellent service at reasonable prices seems to have proven successful.

I arrived at Din Tai Fung with my family on a Sunday morning, just after it opened at 11 a.m.

Knowing that reservations weren’t possible, we got there early, enjoying a brisk walk through Covent Garden and its festive Christmas decorations.

It took us a while to choose a few dishes to share, the menu is so varied!

Not being dumpling experts (just enthusiastic amateurs), we relied on the mouthwatering photos, and our choices did not disappoint.

Authentic Taiwanese flavours

The menu features several signature dishes, including the world-famous Xiao Long Bao (steamed pork dumplings).

Each dumpling is filled with savoury pork, wrapped in delicate dough, carefully pleated and twisted at the top, then steamed to perfection.

I learned that each Xiao Long Bao passes through six stations and undergoes a 40-minute hand-preparation process before being served!

My chili crab and pork dumpling had a wonderfully delicate texture, with the filling and thin dough melting in the steaming-hot sauce. The flavours were intense, and each dumpling was generous enough to leave a lasting impression!

After enjoying a fresh and delicious salad, we continued our Taiwanese culinary journey with another Din Tai Fung classic: the prawn and pork Shao Mai.

Served in bamboo baskets that open before you, releasing fragrant steam, these prawn and pork Shao Mai are truly spectacular. Inside, the juicy filling mirrors that of the Xiao Long Bao, topped with a whole prawn, resembling a beautiful little bouquet.

We enjoyed those immensely, perhaps even our favorite dish! But we didn’t stop there. My kids ordered noodles: one with braised beef (absolutely delicious) and another with mushrooms and edamame (equally scrumptious).

I didn’t get any photos! The moment the bowls arrived, they were gone! Not that they were starving, but everything looked simply irresistible.

Afterwards, we tried Jiao Zi. Perhaps less surprising than the other signature dishes, but every bit as delicious.

Finally, we moved on to desserts, starting with the buns.

The buns came with either sesame or red bean fillings. I was especially impressed by the sesame, with its unique flavour and texture.

That said, I’ve long loved red bean desserts ever since discovering Minamoto Kitchoan, a Japanese confectionery I now visit regularly. If you’ve never tried red bean desserts, this is a must!

The perfect finale to our incredible lunch was the chocolate Xiao Long Bao.

These dessert dumplings are amazing, especially if you love chocolate! Each one has a decadent molten chocolate center that flows the moment you pierce the dumpling.

And the chocolate inside? Hot, rich, and creamy, absolutely delicious! These dessert dumplings are just as addictive as their savoury counterparts.

Din Tai Fung: Taiwanese delights

Din Tai Fung is the world’s largest dumpling restaurant chain, with over 160 locations.

Its branches in Macau and Hong Kong have even earned Michelin stars, making them some of the most affordable Michelin-starred restaurants in the world!

Din Tai Fung’s London flagship in Covent Garden seats around 250 guests across two levels.

I love the skylight at the back of the upper level. The decor is simple, dominated by warm ochre tones and natural wood, nothing extravagant, but the real star is always what’s on the plate!

As the waiter leads you to your table, you’ll pass a glass-fronted workspace where dumpling experts craft Xiao Long Bao, Shao Mai, Jiaozi, and all of Din Tai Fung’s signature dishes.

Our time at Din Tai Fung was fantastic! Being among mostly local diners and discovering new dishes and flavors almost made us forget we were in London.

I highly recommend it for delicate, flavourful food, excellent service (the staff were attentive and dishes arrived without delay), reasonable prices, and a prime central location.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this post and found inspiration here. If you are planning to go to Din Tai Fung, please share your experience and opinion on DOYOUSPEAKLONDON’s blog!

Craving more culinary adventures? Check out my other restaurants recommendations here!

To go further:
Din Tai Fung: 5-6 Henrietta Street, London WC2
Website