Diva

Din Tai Fung -
a little taste of the Orient

It's not the quietest place for a leisurely chit-chat with your girl pals, but the xiao long bao treats there is reason enough for an occasional visit. Plus, the prices are friendly enough on the pocket too.

From June 2009, this Taiwanese-inspired eatery is offering Xiao Long Tang Baos ($10.80 for 5 pcs) - a smaller version of the regular xiao long baos at their outlet in Paragon. It comes with a bowl of chicken soup for you to savour the bite-sized pieces with. The chef suggests eating each piece together with the soup provided in one mouthful.

Noted for their xiao long baos, they are a must try at this taiwan-based restaurant. Soak them in vinegar and eat them with the generous amounts of shredded ginger provided.

Besides the obligatory chinese tea to help counter the oiliness from the fried dishes, try their Sour Plum Juice which is heavenly.

Contact details
Paragon Shopping Centre
290 Orchard Road
#B1-03/06 Paragon Shopping Centre
Singapore 238859
Phone: 6836 8336

Opening hours
Mon-Fri: 11am - 10pm
Sat-Sun, PH: 10am - 10pm (last order 9.30pm)

Cuisine
Taiwanese fare with the menu mostly being made-up of dim sum dishes..

Portions
Small bite-sized portions that can be ordered in sets of 5 or more for sharing.

Setting
Dark wood furniture with a strong oriental theme. If you love to watch your food being made in front of you, sit closer to the kitchen area which is seperated from the diners by a sheet of glass. Or if you're looking for a quiet meal, ask for a table in one of the corners away from the noise.

Must-tries (also available on the ala-carte menu)
1) Try their sour plum juice ($2.80 for a glass) , both refreshing and not too taxing on your stomach.

2) Shrimp and pork Shao Mai($9.30 for 5 pcs): A cross between siew-mai and xiao long bao, this dumpling has a good-sized prawn sitting on top of a xiao long bao.

3) Noodle with minced pork in bean sauce ($7): A regular favourite with familiar patrons, these hand-made noodles come with a meaty sauce. The noodles are light enough to prevent you from feeling too full while the salty bean sauce adds nice flavour to the dish.

Price factor
$20-$35 per person will suffice for a lunch trip. As long as you share each portion the prices are reasonable.

Things you didn't know
While most restaurant-goers don't bother, do try some of the cold dishes like the Crunchy Mini Cucumber in Spicy Sauce ($3.80). The vinegary sauce compliments the refreshing cucumbers. Or the Drunken Chicken ($6.80), which is steamed chicken swimming in alcohol-laced sauce, which gives quite a kick.

Verdict A familiar favourite with most Singaporeans, but with surprises on its menu still.

- Amanda Jayne Lee