Din Tai Fung (SWFC)

Din Tai Fung's SWFC (Shanghai World Financial Center) branch is perfect for those hungry for delicious and expertly made xiaolongbao, dumplings, noodles, and more. This particular location is situated on the third floor of one of Shanghai's most famous skyscrapers, making it a great destination as well as a fantastic place to enjoy dim sum.

About Din Tai Fung

Whenever people hear the name, Din Tai Fung 鼎泰丰, the first image that usually comes to mind is biting into a tasty xiao long bao with its succulent filling encased in a delicate skin. Each bite offering a new flavor and texture, each bite making you want to savor it forever. 

How did Din Tai Fung earn its famous reputation? Where does the name, Din Tai Fung, come from? How did it go from humble beginnings to worldwide fame? 

This is the story of Din Tai Fung.

Din Tai Fung's founder, Mr. Yang Bing-Yi, was born in 1927 in China's Shanxi province. In the summer of 1948, when the majority of China's mainland was suffering due to the civil war, 21-year old Yang made his decision to leave the mainland and make his way into a new world. He boarded a ship Hualian 花莲号 in Shanghai and voyaged to Taiwan for a reunion with his aunt and uncle. With their help, he got his first job in Taiwan as a deliveryman for a cooking oil retailer Heng Tai Fung.

Two years later, he received acknowledgment from the shop's owner for his honesty and hard work, so, the owner put more trust in him and delegated more duties to Yang.

At the age of 28, Bing-Yi Yang married Lai Pen-Mei, also one of the employees of Heng Tai Fung at the time, and they worked together for another four years at Heng Tai Fung.

Unfortunately, due to one of the owner's failed investments, the store was forced to close due to the tremendous loss. After losing their jobs, Yang Bing-Yi and his wife decided to start their own business. As a way to commemorate the period they spend working at Heng Tai Fung, as well as to express their gratitude to their former employer, they named their own business Din Tai Fung, which is a combination of the names of Heng Tai Fung and Din Mei Oils, the name of their supplier.

The debut of the store in 1958, occurred during a period when even simply obtaining a telephone number was difficult. The number 2321-8927 was still kept in use at the original location in Xinyi City, Taiwan, and was the one Yang Bing-Yi managed to acquire that same year. He also received a fortuitous gift given by a famous calligrapher Yu You-Ren. The letters, which read, "Din Tai Fung Oil Retail", were framed and hung on the wall next to the shop's front entrance.

The signboard hanging on the wall of Din Tai Fung Xinyi Branch

Thanks to Yang Bing-Yi's reputation as a hardworking and honest shop owner, his startup went well at the beginning.

By putting together the small savings he and his wife had put aside, they bought a large storefront, which they hoped over the years their business would grow into. This special location is where the current Din Tai Fung remains to this day.

However, in the early 1970s, the traditional oil industry faced challenges brought on by the trend of tin-held oil, Din Tai Fung's oil business started to decline, hence, Yang Bing-Yi and his wife knew it was time to make a change.

After accepting advice from Mr. Tang, one of Yang's friends and the owner of Fuxing Yuan restaurant, the Yangs expanded their business to food service.

They renovated the storefront and dedicated half of it to serving xiao long bao 小笼包. The Yangs' xiao long bao became instantly popular, as customers appreciated not only the delicious flavors of the xiao long bao brought by its quality ingredients, but also the quality service they received. The first customers were more than willing to help spread the word of the Yangs' shop to their friends, and soon, they would outgrow their first humble shop.

Therefore, Din Tai Fung gradually closed its oil business and formally became a restaurant specializing in xiao long bao and other Chinese dishes.

Xinyi Branch in Taiwan

Today, Din Tai Fung has over 119 branches in 14 countries! The food and service remains outstanding and is a testament to the hard work and dedication the Yangs committed to their business so many years ago.