Din Tai Fung

I have first encountered Din Tai Fung when I was in Singapore back in 2011. This restaurant is a one Michelin Star awardee in Hong Kong. To be awarded a Michelin Star, a restaurant must be very good in its category. DTF is well known for its xiao long bao, a kind of bun or dumpling with soup inside.

I fell in love with xiao long bao and I have wished ever since for the restaurant to come to Manila. After 4 years of waiting, it finally opened its first branch in Manila at SM Megamall. It was an instant hit when it opened. There were long queues and people were really interested on how this steamed bun really taste.

I waited for 3 months before I finally get to experience this restaurant.Still there was long queue. Although we arrived at the area 30 minutes before its opening, we were number 20. While waiting for our number to be called, we already checked the order list on the food we like to eat.

We enjoyed watching people watching how the dumpling are made. There's a glass panel and step ladder for children to view the cooks.

As soon as our number was called, we handed out our order list and in 15 minutes our orders were being served.

Xiao long bao was first to arrive. We ordered the 5 pc instead of the 10 pc so we could try other dimsum.

 The soup inside XLB was so tasty. The dimsum is best eaten hot with vinegar and shredded ginger.

Chocolate Lava XLB

Shrimp dumpling

We also ordered shrimp dumpling, pork rice topping, shredded jellyfish, fried squid, and chocolate lava xiao long bao for dessert.

pork rice topping

shredded jellyfish

fried squid

Overall, we had a very nice dining experience. We will surely go back for more XLB!

Tim Ho Wan

Finally tried the most talked about michelin star dim sum. Unlike others who have waited for 2 hours just to be seated, we were lucky to be in the first 20 customers coz we arrived 30 minutes before opening time on a weekday.


The baked pork bun was indeed delicious. It's crisp and soft and the filling wasnt overpowering with anise flavor.

We also tried their siomai Php150, prawn dumpling Php160, spinach dumpling Php120 , spring roll with egg white Php120, and glutinous rice with lotus leaf Php190. They are all yummy.

For dessert, we got the tonic medlar & osmanthus cake (Php90) which i did not have an idea what it was. It turned out to be a jelly cake with some seeds and flowerettes and it was delicious. According to wikipedia,  sweet osmanthus (gin-mokusei) is a favorite garden shrub in Japan. Its small white flowers appear in short-stalked clusters in late autumn. It has an intense sweet fragrance. A variant with deep golden flowers

Food items were reasonably priced . It's a light but filling lunch and you will leave the place with a happy tummy. Will definitely go back

 go check it out at SM Megamall. another branch will soon open in Glorietta