Dim Sum Classics at Din Dai Fung, Covent Garden

To all overseas Chinese, the name Din Dai Fung is almost ubiquitous to ‘the taste of home’. Infamous for their xiao long bao, the restaurant which originated in Taiwan has since expanded to numerous locations worldwide.

Din Dai Fung in Covent Garden is almost easy to miss – its somewhat nondescript frontage is just around the corner from the market square. You could quite easily miss it as you walk down Henrietta Street. Once inside though, it is cavernous. Two floors (road level and a lower level) of seating in a range of differing layouts, antique replicas and ornaments decorate the walls. Like most Chinese dim sum restaurants, the noise can get overwhelming. The hard surfaces reflect the sound of laughter and conversation and there’s very little by way of soft furnishings, but that is just the way a dim sum restaurant is meant to be. The food will always come first and foremost above anything and everything else.

Din Dai Fung made its name in Taiwan long before it’s overseas expansions. In the early days, it was known mainly for it’s xiao long bao – translated to ‘little basket bun’ (a homophone that may also mean ‘little dragon bun’. The xiao long bau is a delicate dumpling filled with herby minced pork and a gelatinous cube of stock that upon steaming turns in to a little parcel of meat in soup wrapped in a thin layer of skin. Presentation-wise the xiao long bao is the epitome of detail. Each dumpling measuring around 1.5 inches with a precise 18 folds on its top and vigorously steamed in a cloth-lined bamboo steamer.

Din Dai Fung in Covent Garden, much like all it’s outlets around the world, offers a range of traditional Chinese food, from dim sum to fried rice, pickeld and stir-fried vegetables. (Check out the Din Dai Fung UK menu) They also offer a range of wontons with different fillings (crab and pork xiao long bao anyone?), a whole assortment of steamed soups, and rice and noodle dishes. The drinks menu is an interesting array of original cocktails, mocktails, and tea on top of the typical wine options.

Our Visit

We had spent the day roaming around London and were keen to give our tired legs and feet a rest, and put down our bags. We were shown almost immediately to a table for two. Interestingly, or perhaps for health and safety reasons, a type of laundry basket was brought to the table for us to place our many carrier bags in. The table we were seated at was at the far end of the restaurant on the same level as the entrance. The restaurant was not yet busy even though it was approximately 7pm when we sat down.

Service was efficient and friendly. Our order of tap water and tea arrived before long and it was interesting to note the food that others had ordered on nearby tables.

What We Ordered

xiao long bao
char siew bao
won ton

Food

We visited on Chinese New Year Eve 2024 and while almost every Chinese restaurant in Chinatown appeared to be fully booked, we were fortunate that Din Dai Fung had space for us, even without reservations. During our visit we stuck to the familiar standards of xiao long bao, char siew pau and won tons. We were trying to break a bad habit of over-ordering so decided to take it easy and just order some typical favourites, knowing that we could always order more if needed.

Char Siew Bao

The char siew pau and xiao long baos arrived first. Typically, the char siew bao are slightly larger in size and often serve as ‘fillers’. Made with honey roasted bbq pork filling in a white, soft (almost bread-like) wrapper, char siew bao is a universal dim sum dish. At Din Dai Fung, the taste and delicacy of these could not be faulted at all. However, they were tiny compared to standard ones, at almost half the size of the typical standard.

Xiao Long Bao

The standard xiao long baos came in a set of 10 (options were either 5 or 10). The fancier alternatives with crab or truffle came in 1 or 5 piece options. We had eaten at Din Dai Fung in Singapore and in Malaysia before so had a good idea of what to expect. We were not disappointed. The taste and mouth feel of each xiao long bao is pretty much universal regardless of which country you’re eating it in. So definitely a win for Din Dai Fun here.

Won Ton Soup

The won ton soup eventually arrived and it was a classic dish. The spring onions and the dash of pepper and seasame oil certainly emitted a familiar taste. The wonton wrapper was light and gentle wrapping a delicious bundle of coarsely chopped, finely seasoned prawn and mince mix.

The food as expected was a joy. It was a typical Din Dai Fung expereince in every sense.

Drink

Just to try, we ordered the Golden Honey tea which was served in a cup; effectively a tea bag brewed in a cup. The tea itself was gorgeous. The hint of honey aroma was both comforting and relaxing. It was not sweetened so the fragrance was not overpowered by its taste.

Verdict: Was it any good?

Din Dai Fung, Covent Garden was as to be expected – high quality food, in a fairly welcoming setting. Din Dai Fung as a chain of restaurants has made a name for itself offering great traditional chinese food. Its offerings are almost identical regardless of where in the world the restaurant may be. For that reason alone, it’s quality is to be admired and celebrated.

For what it’s worth though, Din Dai Fung is not somewhere you go for great value. It is relatively pricey considering what you’re paying for and several other places in CHinatown might over better value. Few though would be able to meet its high standards of service, atmosphere and delicacy.

Is it worth a visit? Definitely, if you’re looking for a different experience or out for a celebration, Din Dai Fung is worth trying out. It isn’t your typical weekly dim sum catch up with friends type of place though – for that, most go to Royal China in Baker Street.