Din Tai Fung Eight Thonglor
88/1 Thong Lo, Khlong Tan Nuea, Watthana, Bangkok 10110
Din Tai Fung's Thonglor branch brings the brand's precise, open-kitchen dumpling craft to upper Sukhumvit. The xiao long bao originate in a recipe refined since 1972 in Taipei, and the chain operates in 13 countries with 165-plus locations. Order the Steamed Crab Meat and Pork XLB or the Fried Rice with Black-Pepper Pork Chop for a reliable cross-section of what earned this kitchen its global reputation.
Din Tai Fung Eight Thonglor occupies the ground floor of the Eight Thonglor shopping complex at 88/1 Thong Lo, Khlong Tan Nuea, Watthana, positioned right at the main entrance. The branch sits approximately 14 minutes on foot from BTS Thonglor station, and motorbike taxis and local buses service the distance comfortably.
The restaurant is the Bangkok outpost of the Taiwanese dim sum institution founded by Bing-Yi Yang and his wife Pen-Mei Lai. The story of Din Tai Fung begins in 1958 in Taipei, where Mr. Yang opened a cooking oil retail shop he named Din Tai Fung. By 1972, as oil sales declined, the couple dedicated half the shop to handmade xiao long bao; demand was so strong that Mr. Yang phased out the oil business entirely. From that single Taipei shop, the brand has grown to more than 165 locations across 13 countries including the United States, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Australia, the United Kingdom, and Thailand. The New York Times has named Din Tai Fung one of the top ten gourmet restaurants in the world, and the Hong Kong branch has been awarded the Michelin Star five times.
The Eight Thonglor kitchen operates in the brand's signature open format, allowing diners to watch cooks pleat and steam xiao long bao to order. The Steamed Pork Xiao Long Bao (249 THB for 8 pieces) is the standard-bearer. The Steamed Crab Meat and Pork XLB (260 THB) and Steamed Truffle and Pork XLB (270 THB) are elevated variations. Beyond dumplings, the Fried Rice with Pork Chop and Eggs (299 THB) features a black-pepper-seasoned pork chop over well-made fried rice and is one of the most-ordered dishes at the Thailand branches. Steamed Custard Buns (55 THB), with a salted-egg yolk and vanilla custard filling, are the dessert of choice. Budget for a typical two-dish-and-one-drink meal runs approximately 400 to 600 THB per person.
Opening hours at Eight Thonglor are 11:00 to 22:00 on weekdays and 10:30 to 22:00 on weekends. The contact number for the Eight Thonglor branch is +66 2 391 9765.