It’s not often that I go to the Westfield Sydney building other than to simply short-cut through it. To me it has virtually no appeal. It’s clean-cut, it’s geared to high fashion, it lacks soul, and it resembles just about every other Westfield I’ve set foot in. There is one consolation, though, a redeeming feature that’s more about the food rather than the fashion. Yes it’s decked out in that typical Westfield outfit but the choice of eateries is a little off the path of your average food hall.
Din Tai Fung has been going strong down at World Square for quite some time now so it’s great to see an express version open in the next phase of Westfield Sydney. The same drill applies with filling out your order before taking a seat and awaiting the dumpling action, except here you take your buzzer and find your own table in the sprawling communal eating area.
Being an express set-up, the tick-your-box menu is an easy layout of 5 appetisers, 6 dumplings, 3 wok, 3 soup, 8 noodle and 6 rice/combo dishes. Let’s not forget about the 5 dessert options. It’s been a few years since I had a Din Tai Fung xiao long bao so it was a no brainer that I try them here. The skins are not as delicate as some and the burst of salty sweet broth is light, flavoursome and very fulfilling.
The next steamer load reveals some fairly ordinary shrimp & pork jiao ze but my eyes were set on the vibrant colour of the vegetable wontons wading in spicy sauce. These slippery little suckers are delicious and the sauce is nowhere near as spicy as it appears. A perfect bowl of goodness for a cool autumn day.
Sadly no noodle dishes were available on this visit but there’s enough on the menu to make up for their absence. Progressing on with the dumpling theme I grabbed a serve of shrimp & pork shao mai and as I sunk my teeth into the first one I not only burnt the roof of my mouth but the hot broth escaped from a fissure and burst down my chin. Needless to say I was a little more gentle with the next one as I took it easy and drank its soupy nectar before demolishing the meaty innards and crowning prawn.
The black pepper beef was a hasty choice when I was told there were no noodles available and sadly it was the runt out of everything ordered. Paying this much for such a measly serving was one thing but the crap-load of tenderiser used on the beef made its texture a little off-putting. Add in a gloopy and slimy sauce and I’m regretting putting money on something like this when I could have had more dumplings.
Our final steamer of goodies was a mini buns trio – one each of a black sesame, red bean and taro. They’re small enough to pop into the mouth and savour the sweet paste within. A cigar-shaped golden red bean roll finished the lunch off nicely and here’s hoping my next visit has me trying a few of the noodle dishes.
Update: I have returned to DTF several times since writing this post and tried the cha jiang noodles. This is one of my all-time favourites and the one they dish up here is pretty good, despite the hefty price tag. Containing minced pork, soya beans and dried bean curd it’s well-worth queueing up for.
Din Tai Fung Shop 504/505k, level 5 Westfied Sydney 188 Pitt Street Sydney 2000
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Scary thought: the vacuous and materialistic crossing paths with the punk-ethic anti-establishment types as they navigate their way up and down the escalators. I hope they’ve got extra security
I hate to say it, but I liked Justin’s burgers, love the idea of a 140-seat Chat Thai (sans the reduced opening hours), and would happily wade through hordes of trendy types for the spicy wontons. It’s only a few steps and a bunch of humidity points away from turning into Orchard Rd. Is that such a bad thing though?
I have to agree with you about Westfield. I find these department stores extremely boring and soulless! But having said that, these dumplings look divine! I’ve only been to Din Tai Fung once and didn’t really know what I was eating, but it was all very tasty nevertheless
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Tenderiser in Chinese meat dishes always tend to be overused and I am used to the weird texture by now. Good to see DTF expand smack bang in the middle of the city.
Much more conveniently located to the part of town I’m normally near and a good spot for the office crowd for lunch. Glad the express menu features a good bunch of dumplings – we’ve learnt our lesson to pretty much only order dumplings before. Though I do recall the chilli santons to be hot and I like spice… Maybe they’ve gone more mainstream with the sauce too?
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I loathe the texture of tenderised meat – gag! The dumplings look great though – I’d happy trudge through the fashionistas at Westfield to give them a try.
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you are so clever with your camera…i have said it before but i feel like i am there eating the dumplings. but no i am at my computer on my 3rd earl grey! love the first spicy bowl shot! happy easter. dayle
one of the very few things i’ve enjoyed at din tai fung have been the wontons in spicy sauce. glad to see they’re on the menu at Westfield.
I envy your wide choice of eateries, one more interesting than the other! I have this sudden desire to learn more about Asian cuisine and this meal would be such a good introduction!
tasteofbeirut recently posted..Kataif mini-nests with cheese and egg
A shame on the beef and lack of noodles but at least the dumplings were good.
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i am so out of touch with Sydney. Haven;t been to the new Westfield building yet (what’s for?).
So is Ding tai fung still have a location in Word Swquare?
Hi Anh, yes Din Tai Fung is still alive and well at World Square
Thanks so much for sharing your experience, John. Your photos are stunning and I am salivating.
I will be sure to visit Din Tai Fung when I’m next in Sydney.
H
Still haven’t been to the original din tai fung. Keep forgetting about it every time I am in Sydney
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I am craving for something spicy and the bowl of wontons swimming in the spicy sauce is tempting!
I went to the Din Tai Fung dumpling bar in Westfield shopping centre, Sydney. It’s the worst restaurant service i have ever received. The Thai waitress did not have any change to give and suggested i should just used all my money so she does not have to give me a change. It’s a cash only store and i expected the store should always have change instead of rudely harassing customers. This dumpling bar, the service nor the food was nothing compared to the Din Tai Fung in world square. A major disappointment!