The capital’s central business district has no shortage of upmarket eateries, but this East London neighbourhood is constantly welcoming new additions – including this unique pick
If you’re looking for your new favourite restaurant in Canary Wharf, look no further.
The capital’s central business district has no shortage of upmarket eateries, but even though visitors and workers already have a plethora of dining options to choose from, this East London neighbourhood is constantly welcoming new additions to its roster of restaurants.
Taiwanese chain Din Tai Fung is the latest addition, having opened on February 26.
Located at Crossrail Place – a stone’s throw from the Elizabeth Line – Din Tai Fung’s fourth location is a 112-seat restaurant and bar where diners can slurp on soup dumplings, tuck into hot or cold starters and, of course, enjoy a drink or two.
This branch has several exclusive dishes on its menu unavailable anywhere else, but the chain is still best-known for its ‘world-famous’ Xiao Long Bao, a steamed dumpling featuring a delicate wrapper filled with a flavourful broth and filling, often pork.
I love dumplings, so naturally, I had to pay a visit. My dinner companion and I started off with drinks – a sake for them, a coke for me – and then spent a good 15 minutes poring over the extensive menu.
My friend opted for one of the exclusive dishes – Beef Tenderloin with Broccoli – while I went for a medley of vegan dumplings – the Vegetable Jiao Zi and the Mushroom & Truffle Xiao Long Bao, which I ended up sharing.
We also shared two starters – the Wood Ear Mushrooms with Ginger Strips and Vinegar Dressing and the Broccoli with Garlic.
The highlight of our meal was the Xiao Long Bao, which my friend described as “one of the best things they’ve eaten” and “a 10/10.”
It has a unique texture and flavour that won’t have you missing meat and certainly justifies the price tag (10 dumplings will set you back £18). The rest of the meal also surpassed expectations – I particularly enjoyed the Wood Ear Mushrooms, which are light and chewy, making them the perfect warm-up act to your main meal.
My friend was very happy with their beef tenderloin, which is sourced from local butcher Butcher & Edmonds and tossed in a garlic oyster sauce.
We were concerned we wouldn’t have enough food, but these dumplings’ small size is deceptive. We left very satisfied – if anything, uncomfortably full – and raving about our new favourite dishes.
It’s worth mentioning that the service was excellent, too. The staff were incredibly friendly and helpful when we had questions, and our food came quickly.
Prices at Din Tai Fung vary hugely depending on what you order, and some items are more budget-friendly than others.
While some dumpling portions cost as little as £7-8, these alone probably wouldn’t leave you satisfied. The beef tenderloin, on the other hand, costs £25. If the purse strings are tight, however, there are meals that will take less of a toll on your bank balance.
The other exclusive menu item – the Mouthwatering Chicken in Spicy Sauce – costs just £11.50, for example.
