Ding Hao Zi Lin Steamed Dumplings is located in the basement (B1) level of the Ding Hao shopping Mall just next to the intersection with Dunhua South Road and Zhongxhiao Xinsheng Road in the popular Eastern Area shopping district of Taipei. There’s so much good food here, but why should you choose Ding Hao Zi Lin Steamed Dumplings over all others?
They’re here for dumplings, but they have so much more to offer. Maybe you’re looking for top-quality pot stickers that aren’t just greasy fried dumplings. Maybe you had an amazing green onion pancake wrapped around thinly cut beef or pork and stuffed with green onions before and have been looking for a great version ever since? Ding Hao Zi Lin Steamed Dumplings have a great beef pancake roll for you. Do you like delicious soups that aren’t just barely-flavoured water?
Ding Hao Zi Lin Steamed Dumplings have you covered on all 3 of those delicious fronts, but the real winner here is their Steamed Dumplings.
Steamed Dumplings are soft pillows of steamed beauty delivered in bamboo baskets. The delicately rolled-thin dough, barely there thanks to the magic of steam, practically begs you to burst that skin and take a peek inside. And what awaits? Savoury fillings, from the comforting warmth of pork and ginger to the bright freshness of vegetables, burst with flavour in each mouthful. Don’t forget the dipping sauce, a tiny pool of joy that adds another layer of magic. Dumplings should be a regular feature on your menu throughout the week.
Table of Contents
Depending on the type of person you are (I am not here to psycho-analyze you but in my perspective…) you may think basement restaurants can be dank and dreary due to the lack of windows, or you may believe they are mysterious and alluring. Hand on heart, I tend to lead more towards the former of those two. I like natural light, I like airiness, and I prefer more openness. However, I can happily overlook that for these Steamed Dumplings.
If you aren’t sure how to order or what to do when you arrive at Ding Hao Zi Lin Steamed Dumplings, then this is the post for you. See below for How to Order in Taipei Restaurants like a definitive pro!
3 Fast Tips on How to Order in Taipei Restaurants like a definitive pro!
The Menu at Ding Hao Zi Lin Steamed Dumplings
The staff are friendly and accommodating here, so be prepared for them to offer you an English menu with some pictures of the top dishes. But, if you're here for a challenge, the paper menu on the table is separated into 6 sections as follows:
- Steamed Dumplings
- 蒸餃類 zhēng jiǎo lèi
- Noodles
- 麵類 miàn lèi
- Pancakes and pot stickers
- 餅類 bǐng lèi
- Soup
- 湯類 tāng lèi
- Everything else
- 其他 qí tā
- Drinks
- 飲料 yǐn liào
The Sauce Station
Once you have placed your order, you should head over to the sauce station. Depending on what you order, here are my recommendations:
- Below are my recommendations of sauce combinations (each line for 1 dish of sauce) :
- If you ordered dumplings
- 4 spoons of soy sauce + a generous glug of white vinegar
- AND
- 3 spoons of that chilli oil + 1 spoon of minced garlic
- If you ordered the green onion pancake
- 3 spoons of that chilli oil + 1 spoon of minced garlic
- AND
- 4 spoons of that thick chilli sauce
- If you order pot stickers
- Fried dumpling sauce
- AND
- 4 spoons of that thick chilli sauce
- AND
- 3 spoons of that chilli oil + 1 spoon of minced garlic
Side Dishes
I tend to always go for the wood ear mushrooms on the left whenever I see them. They are more often than not pickled in a light vinegar with ginger and chilli. They sometimes come with some garlic flecked in there, too. But not this time. The texture is interestingly chewy, with a tartness coming out in the vinegar and ginger, with a little after kick of chilli thrown in there for good measure.
On the right is one of my other favourite side dishes to get from a place such as this one - 豬頭皮 pigs head skin. Nothing about that sounds appetizing in any way. If you're turned off about it already, then I don't think my description will be enough to get you back on board... Chewy, firm, fatty. There's not a whole lot else to it, really, apart from a light smokiness.
Steamed Dumplings
If it says 'Steamed Dumplings' in the restaurant name, then it would be rude to not get involved in the Steamed Dumplings. We ordered one bamboo steamer of the pork Steamed Dumplings.
The translucent dough, kissed by steam, practically begs to be nudged with your chopsticks. For the price, these are incredibly reasonable. You're getting 10 very generous-sized Steamed Dumplings up here.
Inside, each bite bursts with savoury goodness spiked with a mild sweetness from the cooking juices. As you bite down on the dumpling, that delicate soup will ooze out and cover your spoon (or your mouth, if you're not careful). Pork and ginger sing a warm, comforting tune, while juicy green onions offer a refreshingly punchy counterpoint. Don't forget the dipping sauce, a pool of tangy, savoury magic that elevates each dumpling. Trust me, foodies, these little pockets of joy are a must-try. You won't regret indulging in this delightful bite-sized wonder.
Pot Sticker
Pot stickers can sometimes be a little hit and miss, sometimes they will be greasy, and other times they may be soggy. But not here at Ding Hao Zi Lin Steamed Dumplings. You'll get a crunchy skinned dumpling on one side where it has been sizzling in the pan, but it isn't overly greasy.
On the underside, you'll get a chewy-skinned dumpling steamed just right. The filling is cooked nicely, and is, if I am not mistaken, the same filling that you get in the Steamed Dumplings. However, this is not an either-or situation, folks. This is a 'You should get both and thank me later' situation. Get some of their house-special fried dumpling (pot sticker) sauce on there for good measure, and you should leave feeling satisfied.
Beef Pancake Roll
If you're like me, then you live for these green onion pancakes. I will happily search out green onion pancakes at restaurants, and I have even been known to make them from scratch then fry 'em up good and nice at home. The best beef pancake rolls are crunchy and not in the least bit greasy on the outside, and when bit into they should give way to a light smearing of a soy based sauce that then gives way to delicately thin sliced beef wrapped around a good chunk of green onion. The result is a fabulous combination of textures and flavours that works every time.
Top tip - dunk it on in that smoked chilli oil for a further flavour combination that works every time.
Beef Egg Drop Soup
A fluffy egg is dropped into this rich beef soup spiked with a bit of chilli oil to add a delightful flavour, then is dressed with coriander and green onion. If you like soup, this is a great option due to the depth of flavour and the quality of that egg.
If you love steamed dumplings, you might also be interested in this Xiao Long Bao post:
The Ultimate Guide to 15 Amazing Xiao Long Bao Restaurants in Taipei
The Bottom Line
Is it worth it? Ding Hao Zi Lin Steamed Dumplings is a quality spot when you've spent all your money on shopping in the area. You're going to spend way less than $500NTD for a 2 person meal and leave feeling very satisfied.
What is the best dish? The Steamed Dumplings are great, but the beef pancake roll is top notch.
Are there other places like this? I covered steamed soup dumplings in my comprehensive guide, and I have also visited plenty of other excellent dumpling spots throughout the city. Yet, I think that Ding Hao Zi Lin Steamed Dumplings is difficult to beat for quality and price in this area.