Din Tai Fung Opens First Melbourne Dumpling House

Dumplings are a hot commodity in this city. The ability to encase pure, unbridled joy in an edible cocoon of merriment is an art respected by Melburnians citywide. Select few dumpling palaces are at the top of their game, those you’d happily wait many an agonising minute for. But Sydney has long-hogged one of the best, the formidable Din Tai Fung chain. But start mixing that chilli/soy balance, the dumpling monarchs have opened in Melbourne.

In their biggest and most ambitious restaurant yet, Din Tai Fung have opened their their first venue outside of New South Wales. Sitting on level four of Emporium Melbourne, the epic 235-seat restaurant has been a long time coming for the city. "It’s about time we brought our well-loved dumplings to Melbourne," says Australasian director Dendy Harjanto. "I’ve been a visitor to this city for years but we had to wait until the time was right. We feel Emporium, in the heart of the city, is a great location for our world-famous dumplings."

Each Din Tai Fung space has its own stylin' interior, and the design brief for the Melbourne eatery has be described by the team as 'yin yang' with a mainly monochrome fitout. The Melbourne restaurant even has three private rooms, a Australian-first for the group. But there are some classic DTF elements of that are making the interstate trip; the chain's signature glass-enclosed dumpling kitchen, as well as their weirdly famous handbag holders.

So what of those famous Xiao Long Bao delights? Made to order, each 'soup dumpling' is steamed in exactly three minutes and served moments later. Din Tai Fung pumps out over 6000 dumplings daily, with dumpling training carried out at the World Square HQ in Sydney. It takes two years to become a dumpling master. Two. Years. RESPECT YOUR DUMPLINGS.

Din Tai Fung can be found on level four of Emporium Melbourne, 287 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne. Open Monday to Wednesday 11.30am–2.30pm, 5.30pm–9pm; Thursday and Friday 11.30am–2.30pm, 5–10pm; Saturday 11am–3pm, 5–10pm; Sunday 11am–3pm, 5pm–9pm.

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