Cuisine: Chinese
English menu? Yes
Kids’ menu? No
General kid friendliness of menu: The various bite-sized dumplings and buns are great for sharing. A basket of soupy xiaolongbao comes in portions of five or ten.
Staff: The staff is polite and attentive, but speaks moderate English.
Bathroom: The bathroom is located outside the restaurant, just next to the elevators. There’s also a nursing room with baby supplies and changing tables on the fifth floor of Shin Kong Place.
Best dishes for kids: Kids will love the steamed mini pork soup xiaolongbao (RMB 65 for a basket of 20) or steamed shrimp and pork dumplings (RMB 45 for 10). Watch out for the piping hot soup inside the xiaolongbao. For dessert, try Din Tai Fung’s famous “snow ice” (冰沙) with red beans and condensed milk (RMB 25). The dessert is huge and can be easily split between two people.
Kids’ play area? No, but kids can watch chefs at work through the kitchen’s glass windows. There’s also a children’s play area on the fifth floor of Shin Kong Place.
Seating: The indoor seating includes chairs and booths. Highchairs are available.
Price: RMB 350-400
Accepts credit cards? Yes
Must-order item: Don’t miss out on the chain’s delicious crab roe xiaolongbao (RMB 78 for 10) with authentic hairy crab roe from Yangcheng Lake.
In a nutshell: Din Tai Fung is an upscale Taiwanese dim sum chain with an international reputation. Though they specialize in dumplings and buns, the restaurant also offers fried rice, appetizers, hot dishes, specialty soups, and noodles.
Mon-Fri 11.30am-9.30pm, Sat-Sun 11am-10pm. 6/F, Rm D6001, Shin Kong Place, 87 Jianguo Lu, Chaoyang District (6533 1536)
鼎泰丰，朝阳区建国路87号新光天地6楼 D6001
See Directory for more locations.
This article is excerpted from the beijingkids Jan/Feb 2012 issue. View it in PDF form here or contact distribution@beijing-kids.com to find out where you can pick up your free copy.
