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Din Tai Fung

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Din Tai Fung
Native name
鼎泰豐
Company typeChinese cuisine
IndustryRestaurant
Founded1958
FounderYang Bingyi
Headquarters
Taipei
,
Taiwan
Area served
Australia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Mainland China, Macau, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, UAE, UK, USA
ProductsXiaolongbao
Websitewww.dintaifung.com.tw
Din Tai Fung
Traditional Chinese鼎泰豐
Simplified Chinese鼎泰丰
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinDǐng Tài Fēng
Gwoyeu RomatzyhDiing Tay Feng
Hakka
RomanizationDinˋ Tai Fungˊ
Pha̍k-fa-sṳTín-thai-fûng
Southern Min
Hokkien POJTéng-thài-hong
Tâi-lôTíng-thài-hong

Din Tai Fung is a Taiwanese restaurant chain specializing in Chinese cuisine, particularly famous for its xiaolongbao. Based in Taipei, Taiwan, Din Tai Fung also has branches in Australia, Mainland China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Macau, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States.[1][2][3]

History

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Truffle-infused Xiaolongbao at Din Tai Fung, Taipei
Din Tai Fung in Taipei 101.

Founder Yang Bing-yi, an immigrant from Shanxi,[4][5] initially worked ten years at Heng Tai Fung, a cooking oil retailer in Taiwan.[6] Yang later wanted to branch out on his own to support his family. With his Hakka wife, Lai Penmei, he founded a cooking oil retailer in 1958. They named it Din Tai Fung by combining the names of Yang's previous employer, "Heng Tai Fung", and their new supplier, "DinMei Oils".[7][non-primary source needed][4][5][8]

Around 1970, tinned cooking oil became prevalent, and business diminished drastically. Tang Yongchang, the immigrant owner of a Shanghainese restaurant and friend of Yang suggested that in order to survive, Yang should convert half the shop to making and selling xiaolongbao. The xiaolongbao were a common dish in Tang's native Shanghai, but rare in Taiwan. The xiaolongbao eventually grew so popular that Din Tai Fung stopped selling oil altogether and became a full-fledged restaurant in 1972. The original restaurant is on Xinyi Road in Taipei[9][non-primary source needed][4][8] and the shop sign was a calligraphic work of the then Control Yuan president Yu Youren.[10]

In 1996, the first international location opened in Tokyo,[4] and the first North American store opened in Arcadia, California, in 2000.[11][non-primary source needed] Their first branch in Indonesia opened at the upmarket shopping mall Plaza Senayan in Jakarta, Indonesia, on April 24, 2005[12][non-primary source needed] - as of 2022, having as many as 13 branches spread across the Greater Jakarta area with three outlet formats (regular Din Tai Fung, Noodle Bar, and Chef's Table) and halal or non-halal selections available. The first European branch was opened in London in December 2018.[13] In January 2019, Din Tai Fung voluntarily closed their Westfield Sydney location after discovering rats, which nearby construction had displaced.[14] The city council also required the restaurant to pass health inspections before re-opening.[15]

COVID-19 pandemic and after

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Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the restaurant industry in the United States, the first North American restaurant closed permanently on June 11, 2020.[16] There are still multiple Din Tai Fung restaurants operating in the United States, located in California, Washington, Oregon, and Nevada.[17][non-primary source needed]

In March 2023, a Din Tai Fung Australia franchise was prosecuted by the Federal Court of Australia for underpaying staff, pressuring employees to sign an Australian workplace agreement, and failing to pay approximately A$175,000 in owed wages.[18][non-primary source needed] Din Tai Fung and two of its managers have been hit with $4 million in fines for deliberately underpaying workers and attempting to cover it up. The Taiwanese restaurant chain has been ordered by the Federal Court of Australia to pay $3.89 million, while its general manager Hannah Handoko was fined $92,232 and human relations manager Sinthiana Parmenas $105,084.[19]

Reputation

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Din Tai Fung in Hong Kong

Din Tai Fung is known internationally for its paper-thin wrapped xiaolongbao with 18 folds. In November 2009, the Hong Kong and Macau 2010 edition of the Michelin Guide awarded the restaurant's first Hong Kong branch at Tsim Sha Tsui, Silvercord Branch, a Michelin star.[20] The Michelin Guide recommended the restaurant's second branch in Hong Kong at Causeway Bay, Yee Wo Branch, in December 2010, as well as Hong Kong's Silvercord Branch in 2013.[21]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "About us::Our chronology(P1)". Archived from the original on 5 September 2014. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
  2. ^ Shapiro, Don (15 January 2015). "Din Tai Fung: Taiwan's Culinary Icon".
  3. ^ "Inside Din Tai Fung, the World's Most Famous Taiwanese Restaurant". The Manual. 25 February 2021. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  4. ^ a b c d "Steaming to Shanghai". Free China Journal. 1 December 1997. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  5. ^ a b Yu, Hsiao-han; Lin, Sean (25 March 2023). "Din Tai Fung founder dies at 96". Central News Agency. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  6. ^ Wang, Mei 王梅 (1 January 2001). "楊秉彝開創「鼎泰豐」傳奇" [Yang Bingyi created the "Din Tai Fung" legend]. Global Views Monthly [zh] (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 18 May 2023. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  7. ^ "Din Tai Fung Dumpling House :: North America – About Us". Archived from the original on 5 September 2014. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
  8. ^ a b Yip, Wai Yee (26 March 2023). "Din Tai Fung founder Yang Bing-yi dies, aged 96". Straits Times. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  9. ^ "About us::Our history". Archived from the original on 5 September 2014. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
  10. ^ "草書招牌「鼎泰豐」 于右任親題墨寶│TVBS新聞網". TVBS (in Chinese (Taiwan)). 20 April 2012. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  11. ^ "Chronology – Din Tai Fung USA". dintaifungusa.com (in Traditional Chinese). Archived from the original on 19 June 2018. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  12. ^ "About Us – Din Tai Fung Indonesia". dintaifung.co.id. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
  13. ^ "World-Famous Taiwan Dumpling Chain Din Tai Fung Announces London Opening Date". Eater London. Retrieved 24 May 2019.
  14. ^ Zhou, Naaman (31 January 2019). "Vermin invasion: Sydney construction boom sends rats into restaurants". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  15. ^ "Footage of large rat at Din Tai Fung in Westfield Sydney". news.com.au. 31 January 2019.
  16. ^ Cheng, Ching-Tse (11 June 2020). "Taiwan's Din Tai Fung closing first US location due to financial pressures". Taiwan News. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  17. ^ "Locations - Din Tai Fung". www.dintaifungusa.com. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
  18. ^ Federal Court of Australia (16 March 2023). "Fair Work Ombudsman v DTF World Square Pty Ltd (in liq) (No 3) [2023] FCA 201 (15 March 2023)".
  19. ^ Ton, William (10 April 2024). "Popular dumpling chain fined $4 million for 'calculated' plan to rob staff". MSN. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  20. ^ "Taipei major shopping zone sets sights on Cambodia". Focus Taiwan News Channel. 8 July 2017. Retrieved 15 September 2017.
  21. ^ "Affordable Dining in Hong Kong – Din Tai Fung". shescookin. 19 April 2013. Retrieved 15 September 2017.
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