Din Tai Fung at Taipei 101
Taipei 101, one of Taiwan’s most iconic landmarks, is home to a wide range of brands, shops and restaurants. Several dining spots can be found on the building’s basement level.
Among them is Din Tai Fung, the legendary Taiwanese restaurant that can be difficult to get into without a reservation.
The restaurant’s reputation is so immense that reservations are strongly recommended—something worth keeping in mind before you visit.
With an increasing number of Korean tourists visiting, we also noticed that Korean-language guidance was available throughout the restaurant.
The Origins and Deeper Meaning of the Name Din Tai Fung (鼎泰豊)
1. How the Name Came About
Founder Yang Bing-yi originally worked at an oil shop called ‘Heng Tai Fung.’
When he later left to open his own business,
he combined ‘Tai Fung (泰豊)’ from ‘Heng Tai Fung,’ where he had previously worked, with
‘Din (鼎)’ from a company called ‘Din Mei Oil,’ which had supplied him with cooking oil, creating the name ‘Din Tai Fung (鼎泰豊).’
2. The Meaning Behind Each Chinese Character
The name is more than a simple combination of words. Each Chinese character carries an auspicious meaning, expressing hopes for a thriving business.
Din (鼎, an ancient ritual vessel): This refers to a precious three-legged cauldron used in ancient China to symbolize royal authority and in ceremonial rites.
It represents both the vessel at the heart of cooking and the idea of authority. The shape of this cauldron can still be seen in Din Tai Fung’s logo today.
Tai (泰, great): This character conveys the ideas of being ‘great,’ ‘peaceful’ and ‘generous.’
In the I Ching, the phrase ‘peace between heaven and earth’ describes a harmonious state in which heaven and earth are connected and all things exist in balance.
Fung (豊, abundant): This means ‘plentiful’ or ‘filled to overflowing.’
It expresses the hope of serving guests generous portions of food and seeing the business prosper abundantly.
3. The Name’s Overall Meaning
Taken together, Din Tai Fung can be interpreted as ‘great and abundant food prepared in a precious cauldron,’ or as ‘a restaurant filled with harmonious, abundant energy.’
From its beginnings as an oil shop in 1958 to the present day, the name has grown into a brand representing ‘the world’s finest dumplings’ far beyond Taiwan.
You can see what it’s like inside, can’t you?
Despite its enormous size, the restaurant is packed with an equally enormous crowd of diners.
You should expect to wait at least around 30 minutes.
4. Store Overview and Location
Taipei 101 is a symbol of Taiwan, and its Din Tai Fung location is a major destination for tourists from around the world.
It has become a fixture on many visitors’ sightseeing itineraries.
Location : The restaurant is located on level B1 of the Taipei 101 Mall, at store No. 45.
Accessibility : The restaurant is directly connected to Exit 4 of MRT Taipei 101/World Trade Center Station, making it easy to reach regardless of the weather.
Surroundings : It is next to luxury boutiques including Louis Vuitton and Gucci, while the ticket office for the observation deck on the 89th floor is located one level above.
5. How to Plan Your Visit and Manage the Wait
The biggest challenge at this location is the extraordinary wait time. On weekends, a two- to three-hour wait is standard, so a strategic approach is essential.
Numbered tickets: When you arrive at the restaurant, a staff member will ask how many people are in your party and issue a numbered ticket.
Your number will appear on an electronic display, and announcements are also made in Korean.
Use a priority-entry meal voucher : We strongly recommend purchasing a ‘set meal voucher’ in advance through Klook or KKday.
This allows you to use a priority waiting line that moves much faster than the regular queue, potentially saving a considerable amount of time.
Make use of the waiting time: After collecting your ticket, you can take photos by the sculptures on the first floor of Taipei 101, including the LOVE sculpture, or browse the mall while you wait.
You can also check the queue status in real time through the app.
6. Menu Highlights and Recommended Combinations
Din Tai Fung’s menu is famous not only for its flavor but also for its meticulous preparation, including the signature 18 pleats on each dumpling.
Xiaolongbao: This is the soul of Din Tai Fung. The thin wrapper is filled with intensely savory broth and meat juices.
Shrimp and loofah xiaolongbao: Unlike the standard pork-focused xiaolongbao, this version combines the crisp texture of loofah with the delicate bite of shrimp for a clean, refreshing flavor.
Pork chop fried rice: This is particularly well suited to Korean tastes, pairing fragrant fried rice with a thick, tender fried pork chop.
Hong you chao shou (spicy wontons): Shrimp dumplings tossed in a sweet-and-spicy sauce, they add balance to a meal that might otherwise feel rich.
Hot and sour soup: A traditional Taiwanese soup with a tangy, spicy flavor that stimulates the appetite.
7. Additional Information
Shared tables: Because demand is so high, parties of two are very likely to be seated at a large table with another group.
How to order: Orders are placed on a smartphone using a QR code, and the Korean-language menu is fully supported.
Take-out option: If the wait stretches beyond three hours and your accommodation is nearby, choosing take-out may be better for your peace of mind. The take-out queue is considerably shorter.
Service charge: A separate 10% service charge is added to dine-in orders.
8. Combining the Restaurant with the Observation Deck
Most travelers plan to visit the Taipei 101 Observatory and dine at Din Tai Fung as part of the same itinerary.
Recommended route: Collect a Din Tai Fung ticket at around 4 p.m. -> go to the ticket office on the fifth floor and visit the observation deck, ideally at sunset -> after coming back down, head straight to Din Tai Fung on level B1.
Take in the night view: After enjoying Taipei’s nighttime skyline from the 89th floor, coming back down for a plate of dumplings is a perfect way to cap the experience.
Final Thoughts on Din Tai Fung
This is an exceptionally famous restaurant, and the crowds can make the experience feel somewhat exhausting. But once you sit down and taste the food, you may experience the strange magic of watching that fatigue simply disappear.
The dishes here are built around flavors that are very familiar to Chinese diners, so those who strongly prefer typically Korean flavors may find them somewhat subtle.
Older diners in particular may find the food at this restaurant unfamiliar or less immediately appealing.
But if you bring an open mind and a willingness to explore, you will likely discover plenty of fun and memorable elements in the menu.
The dumpling wrappers are remarkably thin, while the broth and meat filling inside are outstanding.
It delivers the same experience often portrayed in old Chinese movies: biting into a dumpling and having the hot broth burst out like a tiny flavor bomb.
Even the fried rice alone is enough to make you realize that this restaurant is operating on another level.
Taiwan can sometimes be a challenging destination to navigate, but take a closer look and you will find plenty of engaging places to explore.
That’s all from Lux.
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