Din Tai Fung in Nagoya
I visited Din Tai Fung at JR Nagoya Takashimaya on a weekday around 3:00 PM. Din Tai Fung is a world-famous Taiwanese restaurant known especially for its xiao long bao (soup dumplings), and this Nagoya location is no exception when it comes to popularity.
According to staff and local reviews, the restaurant can get very busy during lunch hours, often with long lines. Fortunately, by visiting around 3 PM, I was able to enter without waiting at all. If you want to avoid crowds, this time slot is highly recommended.

The restaurant interior is spacious, modern, and very clean, creating a comfortable dining atmosphere. Soon after being seated, I was served complimentary hot jasmine tea. It was a cold day in Nagoya, so the warm tea was a welcome and thoughtful touch.
After looking through the menu, I ordered the Seafood Xiao Long Bao Set, which included pork, scallop, and crab miso dumplings, along with a wonton soup and crispy pan-fried gyoza with wings.

Din Tai Fung provides clear instructions on how to eat their xiao long bao properly, so I followed them carefully. The seafood xiao long bao set was interesting, but to be honest, the crab miso flavor wasn’t quite to my taste. It had a uni-like richness, but I personally don’t think crab miso needs to be inside a soup dumpling. The standout was definitely the classic pork xiao long bao, which was the most balanced and delicious of the three.

The wonton soup was light and comforting, with a gentle flavor and very little oiliness. It felt clean and satisfying, making it a perfect side dish.

Finally, I tried the pan-fried gyoza with crispy wings. I used to think that fried gyoza wasn’t very common in traditional Chinese or Taiwanese cuisine, so this might be a Japan-inspired or original menu item. That said, it was excellent — the skin was crispy, and the filling was juicy and flavorful.
Since this was more of a late afternoon meal rather than a full dinner, the total cost came to around 4,000 yen, which felt reasonable considering the quality, location, and comfort of the restaurant.
Overall, Din Tai Fung at JR Nagoya Takashimaya is a great place to enjoy famous Taiwanese xiao long bao, especially if you visit outside peak hours. It’s a reliable choice for travelers looking for a comfortable, high-quality dining experience in Nagoya.
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I’ve compiled a list of Nagoya’s places that I’ve personally visited. Is Nagoya boring? Not at all! While it has developed as an industrial city, it also hides interesting places full of history and culture. Use this guide to explore Nagoya and discover its hidden gems.

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