Din Tai Fung Taipei 101 Review 2026: Menu & Wait Times
Is Din Tai Fung at Taipei 101 worth the hype? Get the inside scoop on the 2026 menu, pricing, and a genius hack to skip the notorious wait times.
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Is Din Tai Fung at Taipei 101 worth the hype? Get the inside scoop on the 2026 menu, pricing, and a genius hack to skip the notorious wait times.
Taiwan
Hey fellow explorers, Lisa here!
If you're traveling to Taiwan, visiting the birthplace of the world-famous
Din Tai Fung for authentic xiaolongbao
is an absolute must for your itinerary.
I recently visited the Taipei 101 branch, and
because it's incredibly popular with notoriously long wait times,
I booked my meal in advance to skip the worst of the line.
Today, I'm sharing my secret waitlist hacks,
along with menu recommendations and pricing!
In this post, we'll cover:
✔️ Din Tai Fung Taipei Reservations & Wait Times |
✔️ Location & How to Get There |
✔️ Menu Recommendations & Prices |
✔️ Honest Taipei 101 Branch Review |
Let's dive right in!
Din Tai Fung is undeniably Taipei's most famous culinary export.
While it's a massive global chain now,
there is a very specific reason you need to eat here in Taiwan.
This is where the magic originally started!
I've had Din Tai Fung in the US, Hong Kong, and Singapore, but
the soup dumplings in Taiwan are noticeably juicier and more flavorful.
However, there is one major catch:
The wait times are legendary... and not in a good way!!
When I arrived,
there was a massive crowd of people clutching their queue tickets
just standing around waiting.
I specifically went at an awkward 4:00 PM slot to avoid the rush,
but I was still shocked by how packed it was.
Thankfully, because I booked a priority voucher in advance,
I only waited about 5 minutes before being seated.
If you buy a set meal voucher ahead of time,
you just select your date and show up whenever you want.
They will put you in a priority queue that moves way faster than the walk-in line.
If you use this hack,
you'll bypass the massive standard queue.
I got in after 5 minutes at 4 PM, but
if you visit during peak dinner hours (6 PM - 8 PM),
even with a voucher, expect to wait about 20 minutes.
Definitely keep that in mind when planning your itinerary.
If you show up as a walk-in without a reservation,
you are looking at a minimum 30 to 90-minute wait.
Consider yourself warned!!
So, how do you get this priority booking?
You can grab it directly from the site below.
On the booking page, you'll see options for Course A, Course B, etc.
I booked Course A for 2 people.
It's the perfect amount of food to leave you comfortably full,
but if you have a big appetite, you can always
order extra items a la carte once you're seated.
While you don't get to choose every single dish,
the set menus are fantastic for couples because you get to
sample a wide variety of their best-sellers without over-ordering.
The voucher is valid at most Din Tai Fung branches in Taiwan.
Just a heads-up that the Xinyi branch is takeout only!
There are about 6 Din Tai Fung locations
scattered throughout downtown Taipei.
While the original founding store is near Yongkang Street,
I chose to visit the Taipei 101 branch.
It's incredibly convenient because you can pair it
with a trip to the Taipei 101 Observatory right after lunch.
📍 Din Tai Fung Taipei 101 Branch
B1, No. 45, City Hall Rd, Xinyi District, Taipei City, Taiwan 110
Get off at Taipei 101/World Trade Center MRT Station,
and walk straight into the connected shopping mall.
The restaurant is located on the B1 (Basement 1) floor.
You'll spot it almost immediately after exiting the station—
you really can't miss the crowds!
I didn't realize this when visiting branches in other countries,
but the menu in Taiwan is on a whole different level.
The variety is staggering.
Menu Item | Price (USD) |
Xiaolongbao (10pc) | ~$11 |
Vegetable & Pork Dumplings (10pc) | ~$12 |
Shrimp & Pork Shao Mai (10pc) | ~$15 |
Mini Red Bean Buns (2pc) | ~$3 |
Stir-fried Morning Glory | ~$8 |
Beef Noodle Soup | ~$12 |
Taiwanese Glass Noodles | ~$4 |
Hot and Sour Soup | ~$4+ |
✅ The pre-booked set menu is roughly ~$38 per person
✔️ 6 types of dumplings
✔️ 2 side dishes
✔️ 1 fried rice
✔️ 1 hot and sour soup
I went with Set A from the booking site,
and it was the perfect feast for two.
We were comfortably full, so
we only added some beers to our order.
For reference, a bottle of beer is about ~$8.
(Taxes included)
When you arrive with your voucher,
head straight to the ticket counter.
Show them your booking confirmation, and they'll hand you
a priority number with a much shorter wait time.
We were seated in just 5 minutes.
Even at 4:00 PM, the dining room
was absolutely bustling.
Unlike some gritty local spots, the interior is spotless and airy.
It's a fantastic environment if you're
traveling with parents or young kids.
They start you off with hot tea and wet towels,
and the staff are incredibly attentive with tea refills.
First up: stir-fried morning glory and Taiwanese glass noodles!
The seasoning was spot on—not too salty.
We couldn't stop eating them before the mains even arrived.
It was my first time trying Taiwanese-style glass noodles,
and they had a uniquely addictive flavor profile.
Then came the star of the show: the Xiaolongbao!
The set gives you 4 pieces per person, which is a great portion.
The amount of rich, savory broth inside is unreal...
Let them cool slightly, pop the whole thing in your mouth, and experience pure bliss.
Next, they brought out a parade of dumplings:
shrimp and pork, vegetable and pork, fish dumplings, and shao mai.
The beauty of the set menu is getting to taste
all these variations without committing to full steamer baskets of each.
Even the non-soup dumplings
were incredibly juicy and packed with flavor.
The hot and sour soup (Suan La Tang) was a revelation.
It has this perfect tangy, peppery kick that cuts through the richness of the pork.
It's not overwhelmingly spicy, so even if you have a mild palate,
you'll absolutely love it.
The pork and egg fried rice
was wonderfully aromatic and paired beautifully with the dumplings.
Finally, out came the mini red bean buns.
This was the plot twist of the meal! Haha.
The staff presented them as our dessert.
A dumpling wrapper stuffed with sweet, smooth red bean paste...
It was visually adorable and incredibly tasty.
Such a unique way to end the feast.
✅ Looking for the juiciest soup dumplings of your life?
✅ Want a clean, comfortable, English-friendly dining experience?
✅ Want to eat at the source of the Din Tai Fung empire?
This Taipei hotspot earns my highest recommendation.
It is 100% worth the hype.
Just remember: book in advance
if you want to try the diverse set menu
like we did.
It's the ultimate stress-free way to skip the massive queues.
You must book at least 2 days prior to your visit,
but they offer free cancellation up to 24 hours beforehand!
Treat yourself to some world-class dumplings,
then head straight up to the Taipei 101 Observatory
for the perfect afternoon itinerary. :)
Happy travels! - 🥟
If you visit without a reservation, you can expect to wait at least 30 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes. If you visit with a reservation, you can usually enter after waiting about 5 minutes. However, during evening peak hours, some reviews suggest waiting around 20 minutes even with a reservation.
Din Tai Fung set menus can be booked on the Klook website. Course A (approximately ~$33 per person) includes 6 types of dumplings, 2 side dishes, 1 fried rice, and 1 hot and sour soup.
The Din Tai Fung 101 branch is located on B1 of the shopping center connected to the Taipei 101 World Trade Center Station. It operates from 10:45 AM to 8:30 PM, open year-round.
10pc Xiaolongbao is ~$9, Morning Glory is ~$7, and Beef Noodle Soup is ~$10. Beer is approximately ~$7 per bottle (tax included).
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