In the mood for some xiao long bao? Taiwan’s Din Tai Fung (DTF), the maker of the beloved steamed dumpling, has opened a 240-seater branch at SM Mall of Asia (MOA), marking its fifth and largest outpost in the Philippines.
Unveiled last Aug. 8, the new store features three private dining rooms for intimate gatherings. Each room can accommodate up to eight guests, with an option to combine two rooms to seat up to 16 guests. Staying consistent with its sister branches at SM Megamall, Rockwell, BGC, and Greenbelt, the MOA branch whips up the brand’s signature dishes, notably the fan-favorite xiao long bao. Diners can see how these dumplings are made from the open-display window, which gives a sneak peek into the shifus’ delicate process of rolling, cutting, weighing, wrapping, and pleating of the xiao long baos with 18 to 20 folds.
“We’ve been so happy and fortunate throughout all these seven years since we opened Din Tai Fung in the Philippines—year after year, there have been constant lines, so we wanted to build something bigger to host all the diners and fans of DTF,” said Abba Napa, The Moment Group co-founder and director for creative development, in a press release. The Moment Group first brought the DTF brand to the Philippine shores in 2015 with its branch at SM Megamall.
Apart from the signature DTF dishes and larger seating capacity, diners can also look forward to DTF MOA’s dining experience oozing with “extras.” A beige and gray palette dominates the interiors, exuding a breezy ambiance that mimics its bayside location.
The Moment Group also commissioned artists Reese Lansangan and Mars Bugaoan to add a creative touch to the space. Diners can see Lansangan’s mixed media collages of historic DTF moments and elements in the main dining area, as well as Bugaoan’s abstract installations in the private dining rooms.
The opening of DTF’s MOA branch coincided with The Moment Group’s 10th anniversary. Moment is the group behind other popular establishments such as Manam, Ooma, Huchi, and 8 Cuts, among others.
Visit Din Tai Fung at Level 1, South Wing, Entertainment Mall, SM Mall of Asia from Mondays through Sundays, 10 AM to 10 PM.
