Ding Tai Fung Shanghai Dim Sum

So, I met up with Katherine at First Markham Place to decide where to go for dinner, and when she heard that I had never been to Ding Tai Fung, she was all, "What?! How is this possible?!" So, there really was no other option. I had to try it.

Steamed pork soup dumplings
Steamed rice cakes stir-fried with shredded pork cabbage, and bamboo shoots
Spicy beef hand-pulled noodle soup
Pan-fried beef rolls
Oh, the deliciousness to be had here! Everyone seems to start with the steamed pork soup dumplings here — and for good reason. They are quite possibly the best ones you can get in the city. Or, at least, in Markham, and that's really saying something as there's quite a lot of competition in the area. These ones seem to be a bit bigger than the standard xiaolongbao, but it's the insides that set these apart. Incredibly plump and impossibly juicy, with the perfect meat-to-fat-to-soup ratio. And the wrappers are thin but substantial enough to hold all the delightful soupy deliciousness inside. Seriously, a must-have. It's not a matter of if you should order them, but how many you need to order. Like, just forget about the rest of the menu until you check off these bad boys on your order sheet.
Next up, noodle dishes. Katherine and I are basically noodle fiends, so we got two kinds. The steamed rice cakes with shredded pork and cabbage is simple but addictive; flavourful but not too salty, and the squishy rice cakes offer a great textural contrast to the tender pork, crunchy cabbage, and crisp bamboo shoots. I could seriously eat bowls of this stuff. Of course, the beef noodle soup is a classic at any Shanghainese restaurant, and the ones here are well-executed; the hand-pulled noodles have just the right amount of firmness and chew, the beef was incredibly tender with just the right amount of fat, and the broth had just enough flavour without being too oily (I find that many places that serve this have broth that pools with oil). Finally, the pan-fried beef rolls: thinly-sliced beef and a touch of hoisin sauce wrapped inside savoury pancakes with a lovely golden, slightly crisp exterior and just the right amount of doughy chew. Perfect as a snack or an appetizer (though they are filling, so prepare to get a take-out box).

I just can't believe I'd never been there before. Seriously. I go to First Markham Place all the time and had never even seen this gem. But you can be damn sure I'll be making up for it now.


Ding Tai Fung Shanghai Dim Sum3255 Highway 7 East, Unit 18BMarkham, ON L3R 3P9(905) 943-9880