Din Tai Fung Myeongdong: Dim Sum & Wonton Noodles in Seoul

2018-05-13 · Updated: 2026-08-11 · Original (Korean)

This article was translated from the original Korean post with AI assistance. Read the original Korean post →

Din Tai Fung is the dim sum place everyone says you have to try when you visit Taiwan. Believe it or not, it was named one of the world's top 10 restaurants,

~~and it's always CNN making these lists.~~

Since it's such a famous global chain, you can also taste it right here in Seoul. Come to think of it, it seems like pretty much every major global restaurant makes its way to Seoul. It makes me proud that my hometown is such a world-class metropolis where we can enjoy these kinds of luxuries. Hooray for Seoul!

I haven't been to Taiwan for travel or business yet, so I don't know what the world-famous original location tastes like. I thought about taking a trip there this month, but things came up and I couldn't go, which was a huge bummer. Still, I figured visiting the Myeongdong branch of Din Tai Fung today would be a decent substitute.

When I ate here three years ago, ordering the xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) meant you got something straight out of a food show (

~~food porn~~

), where the broth would gush out of the dim sum like striking oil in Saudi Arabia. But today, the dumpling wrappers were dry like they'd been left in the desert, and only a tiny trickle of broth came out. I'm not sure if it's because I ordered the sampler, but the xiaolongbao was a bit disappointing.

Still, the wonton noodle soup was just as good as I expected. The noodles were a bit thicker compared to the wonton noodles I had in Hong Kong. The broth has a refreshing, clean taste that gently soothes your stomach. It's a wonton soup that pretty much anyone would like. Next time I come, I think I'll skip the noodles, just order the wonton soup, and fill up on fried rice instead.

Sign with Din Tai Fung written in red Chinese characters and English on a gray wall

Din Tai Fung menu displaying photos of various dim sum and dishes along with their prices — The prices are quite high. Even with my small appetite, I could easily polish off an order of xiaolongbao plus a noodle or fried rice dish, and still have room for more. They do have set menus and run a lot of promotions like 1+1 beers, so it's a good idea to check for events before you go. Din Tai Fung Korea Website

Spacious restaurant interior with wooden tables and chairs where customers are dining

Restaurant interior and kitchen with people sitting and dining at multiple tables — There are a lot of Koreans, but also quite a few foreigners.

I don't know how long it will last, but they are currently running a 1+1 Stella Artois promotion.

Wonton soup with noodles in a clear broth topped with green onions in a white bowl — Wonton noodle soup. Compared to what I had in Hong Kong, the broth is less rich and the noodles are thicker. I'd love to go to Taiwan to see if this is just a difference in wonton noodle styles between the two countries. The broth has a really clean finish, so I highly recommend eating these wontons the day after drinking.

Ten thin-skinned dim sum neatly arranged in a bamboo steamer — Xiaolongbao sampler. There are two sets divided by that red dot. The staff will give you a detailed explanation when you place your order.

Dumpling dish topped with red sauce and green onions on a white plate — Spicy wontons. I expected there to be a lot of broth, but there wasn't, which was a little disappointing. It was a bit spicy for me, but my friend who ate with me said it was perfect. I have a pretty low spice tolerance for a typical Korean, so it should be fine for most people.

Holding a dim sum on a spoon over a noodle soup dish — The bottom of this spoon used to be completely filled with broth, but now it only fills up about halfway.

It's such a famous place that it feels weird to even leave a record of it. Even if I don't write this down, I'll probably still be eating here decades from now. However, I did feel like it wasn't quite as tasty today as it used to be. Plus, if two people are eating, the bill easily exceeds 50,000 KRW. Still, if someone sees dim sum on TV and says, "I want to try dim sum," Din Tai Fung is really the only place in Seoul that comes to mind to recommend.

Notes from my visit to the Gangnam branch

Since it's a franchise, the taste is exactly the same. Which means it's equally delicious. The wonton soup and xiaolongbao are still great, and the nurungji (scorched rice soup) I ordered to soothe my stomach was also good. I was worried I might leave some of the nurungji because I was so full, but it tasted so good that I finished the whole thing anyway. I even ate the crab soup that came out first without even taking a picture.

I think this is a prime example of a franchise restaurant that maintains very high quality.

White bowl containing a single dumpling in a clear broth

Wonton soup with bok choy and dumplings in a clear broth served in a white bowl

A single dim sum placed on a white spoon

Eight dim sum neatly arranged in a bamboo steamer

Stir-fried seafood and two square pieces of nurungji (scorched rice) on a black plate

#WontonNoodles #Xiaolongbao #SomewhereBetweenRecommendAndNot