Ding Tai Fung Shanghai Dim Sum

Steph and I went for dinner at Ding Tai Fung, where there is so much deliciousness to be had:

Steamed sticky rice dumplings
Steamed pork soup dumplings
Pan-fried green onion pancakes
Steamed rice cakes with shredded pork and pickled cabbage in soup
Feeling daring, we decided to order the sticky rice dumplings, since the photo of them in the menu made them look so good. Essentially, it's glutinous rice cooked with Chinese sausage, chopped Chinese mushrooms, and chopped barbecued pork, which is then lovingly stuffed into a dumpling wrapper. When they arrive freshly steamed and piping hot, these are positively amazing; gloriously sticky and magically fluffy. But when they get cold, they get kind of tough and uncomfortably chewy. Also, they're incredibly filling because, um, it's glutinous rice. So, I advise ordering these if you have more than two people at the table. And as I mentioned the first time I came here, the steamed pork soup dumplings are a must-have, and I still think they're some of the best ones you can get in the city. 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. I told Steph we need to become BFFs with the dumpling-making guys there (who you can see behind the glass wall at the back — like a little dumpling-assembling factory). We will be so fat and happy!
Of course, we needed something pan-fried to round out our little feast. The green onion pancakes are classic and totally fit the bill. The ones here are lovely, the perfect thinness with the right amount of onions. And they somehow stay magically crispy, even when they get cold. Finally, we ordered a noodle dish. For some reason, it doesn't seem like dinner at a dim sum restaurant unless there's some noodles in the mix. I was so pleased with the stir-fried rice cakes with pork and cabbage last time I was here that we decided to try the soup version this time. And I might even like this better! It still has that amazing textural contrast between the chewy rice cakes, crunchy cabbage, and crisp bamboo shoots, and the beautiful co-mingling flavours of the salted pork and pickled cabbage, but the soup aspect elevates it to comfort food status. Oh, man, so many delicious noms. Next time, I am determined to try some of the desserts. I saw some deep-fried sugary delights at some of the other tables that were just calling my name.


Ding Tai Fung Shanghai Dim Sum 3255 Highway 7 East, Unit 18B Markham, ON L3R 3P9 (905) 943-9880