Harden's says
The long-awaited Centre Point branch has now been surpassed by two new openings from this Taiwanese import famed for its immaculate xiao long bao soup dumplings; this one is on the re-vamped fourth floor of Selfridges.
Harden's survey result
Summary
An international Taiwanese-based chain with a trio of UK outlets in Covent Garden, Selfridges and most recently Centre Point (“with a great view”). To well-travelled connoisseurs of the original, they are “more upmarket here and more expensive too” (“I lived in Asia for several years and ate at a DTF at least weekly, but here they’ve jacked the prices up to a level that is taking the p***”). But to the uninitiated, they can seem like “the best ever dumplings”, and – Top Menu Tip – even their sternest critics say “don’t ignore the Xian Long Bao” (soup dumplings).
Summary
The London offshoots of a famous Taiwanese dumpling brand (in Covent Garden, Selfridges and, scheduled for late 2022 opening, a big 13,500 sq ft debut in Centre Point) are by most accounts “great fun”, although “it’s quite a different proposition to the Asian formula” – “more upmarket”. There’s plenty of enthusiasm for the “soup dumpling heaven” provided by the signature pleated dumplings (xiao long bao) – although be warned: they are “more expensive” than in Asia and “the bill can add up pretty fast”.
Summary
“Makes me feel as if I’m back in Asia” – this “busy and large” Covent Garden “canteen” is the first London outlet of an “international chain specialising in dumplings”, founded in Taiwan 50 years ago. “In Bangkok, in Manila, in Singapore, this is mall food” – and after the launch here newbies were “not sure the PR hype was warranted” with “better in Chinatown”. Still, for “top soup dumplings” (xiao long bao) and “consistent dim sum” it does win lots of votes – “and if children get bored they can watch the chefs making the dumplings in the kitchens”.
Summary
“Crazily long queues marked the inaugural week” of the UK’s first 250-seat branch in Covent Garden of this legendary Asian soup, dumpling and noodle chain: established in 1972 in Taipei, and now also set to open a second branch near Centrepoint. “For anyone who’s been to DTF in the Far East, the first London one may come across as a slightly unnecessarily puffed-up version of what is at heart a fantastically efficient and good-value, shopping-mall brand”. “Dumplings, of many and various forms, are uniformly good (quality-control at this cult brand is notoriously anal)” and aficionados of the chain mostly feel “it lives up to the standards of branches in well-established locations in Asia”. But, they also warn that: “as per my experience in Singapore etc, they’re not about to change your concept of what a good xiao long bao, etc, can be”.
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