When celebrating a special occasion, where is the one dining spot you always go back to? I’m not alone when I say that a celebratory dinner at the internationally acclaimed Taiwanese restaurant Din Tai Fung always makes me a happy camper. They’ve always especially hit the mark with their signature xiao long baos!
But what if I told you that Din Tai Fung is no longer just a dinner and lunch haunt? Yes, it’s finally happening. The restaurant is opening an outlet at Novena, but more than that, Din Tai Fung is also introducing an exclusive breakfast menu at their new location, making it a first for the brand! I can already hear my early risers’ cheers, and now you can have Din Tai Fung as a breakfast option!
Oh, but that’s not all. Aside from its exclusivity to its Novena outlet, the breakfast menu features all-new Pan Fried Buns and timeless Steamed Buns! And should you be in a rush and need your morning meal to go, you can grab a special Breakfast Bundle available exclusively for takeaway!
I don’t know how Din Tai Fung has never had a breakfast menu before, but it’s a-bao-t time they did, so to you, I say “bun” appetit, and let’s dig into everything the new breakfast menu has to offer.
Pan Fried Buns
Can you believe you couldn’t find Pan Fried Buns in Din Tai Fung? Well, now you can, and they are the stars of the show in the new breakfast menu. Four pan-fried buns with four distinctive flavours for every palate are what you can expect for the perfect start to your day. While the buns are crispy from searing their bottoms till golden brown, the tops are steamed to maintain a soft, fluffy texture, so both contrasting textures come together to make the perfect pan-fried buns.
The first of the four buns you can pig out on are the Pan Fried Pork Buns (S$8.90 for 3 pieces, S$3.20 for 1 piece)! Generously filled with aromatic and juicy fresh pork, the buns are infused with fragrant sesame oil for a deep richness and flavour.
During cooking, the savoury juices are released to enhance the overall flavour and give the minced pork a perfect balance of tenderness and chewiness that satisfies with every bite!
The East Coast isn’t the only place to taste Singapore’s pride and joy: Chilli Crab! At Din Tai Fung, you can indulge in this local delicacy through their Pan Fried Chilli Crab and Pork Buns (S$10.90 for 3 pieces, S$3.90 for 1 piece).
A harmonious blend of fresh crab and succulent pork, the buns give you both spice and sweetness, which is most definitely a unique flavour to have in the morning!
Another must-try infused with the taste of the sea is the Pan Fried Shrimp and Pork Buns (S$9.90 for 3 pieces, S$3.50 for 1 piece). Juicy shrimp and freshly ground pork in one bun, the combination is a delightful mix of textures and flavours including a subtle umami sweetness.
Can’t get enough of the pork but want some greens to go with it? Incorporate some vegetables into your meal with the Pan Fried Cabbage and Pork Buns (S$8.90 for 3 pieces, S$3.20 for 1 piece). Finely shredded fresh napa cabbage is paired with tender pork, offering a new layer of crunch and slight sweetness that complements the rich and savoury pork!
Steamed Buns
Savoury isn’t the only way to go for breakfast. Enter Din Tai Fung’s latest assortment of sweet buns, each with its own unique flavour! A pivotal component that makes Steamed Buns fluffy like clouds is the lao mian (traditional sourdough) used when the buns are crafted by hand.
The flavour choices are endless for steamed buns, so don’t be too surprised when more modern adaptations blend this traditional Chinese cuisine with unconventional tastes. Din Tai Fung’s Steamed Chocolate Buns (S$7.80 for 3 pieces, S$2.80 for 1 piece) is one such example, a perfect choice for any chocolate lovers out there!
Brimming with molten chocolate, it has the rich, velvety aroma and taste of chocolate as you sink your teeth into its warm and pillowy buns! This steamed bun is the ultimate indulgence to get me out of bed and into the restaurant!
The Steamed Sweet Purple Potato Buns are a little more nutritious but just as sweet (S$6.90 for 3 pieces, S$2.50 for 1 piece). The polar opposite of the Steamed Chocolate Buns, these buns are light and have a rich and earthy sweetness from the sweet potato filling. Indeed, the Steamed Sweet Purple Potato Buns are delightful, soft bites you can opt for if you’re looking for something healthier but with that sweet goodness.
Another bun that’s the yin to the Steamed Sweet Purple Potato’s yang is the more traditional Steamed Butter Buns (S$7.80 for 3 pieces, S$2.80 for 1 piece). Step back in time as every bite is reminiscent of the classic flavours of traditional toast with sugar and butter!
A soft and lustrous golden-hued filling shines on the outside, while a decadent butter aroma and crushed rock sugar await on the inside, enhancing each bite with sensory richness and sweetness!
The creme de la creme of them all, the ultimate boss of the sweet buns, the best I’ve saved for the last. Just when you think Din Tai Fung can’t get any better in their sweet selection, the Steamed Lava Chocolate Cake Xiao Long Bao (S$16.90 for 10 pieces, S$10.90 for 6 pieces) comes in to take the game to the next level!
If you can’t fathom what a traditionally savoury steamed bun combined with dessert tastes like, imagine a soft chocolate cake ganache wrapped in a soft outer layer, which reveals a luscious explosion of molten chocolate filling! So maybe the next time you want to make your first meal of the day a little more bougie, the Steamed Lava Chocolate Cake Xiao Long Bao is a potential candidate to fill that position.
Beverages
After all those buns, you’ll be stuffed, so Din Tai Fung has the right beverages for you to wash it all down. Among the beverage highlights from the breakfast selection is the Fresh Soya Milk, which you can get both hot and cold. Made from 100% non-GMO soybeans, the drink is the best way to fuel your morning as it’s packed with proteins and essential nutrients!
For another health-boosting and soothing drink, the Brewed Barley Drink, available hot or cold, is brewed with pearl barley and the special Din Tai Fung signature concentration ratio. The drink boasts a nutty flavour and is loaded with numerous health benefits! Din Tai Fung’s version of brewed barley drink stands out from the crowd with its unique viscosity, meaning you’re guaranteed a rich and satisfying texture that enhances its nutty barley essence.
Breakfast Bundles
On weekdays, you can indulge in the special breakfast bundles from 8am to 11am and on weekends, enjoy the “bao”-ndtiful bundles from 10am to 11am! Here are the three sets you can choose from:
- Set A (S$8.90): Choice of steamed buns (2pcs) and Choice of hot/cold beverage (fresh soya milk / brewed barley)
- Set B (S$9.90): Choice of pan fried buns (2pcs) and Choice of hot/cold beverage (fresh soya milk / brewed barley)
- Set C (S$9.50): Choice of steamed bun (1pc), pan fried bun (1pc) and Choice of hot/cold beverage (fresh soya milk / brewed barley)
If the sets aren’t filling enough, you can always make room for top-ups such as the Steamed Custard Bun (+S$1), Steamed Chilli Crab and Pork Bun (+S$1), Pan Fried Chilli Crab and Pork Bun (+S$1), and Pan Fried Shrimp and Pork Bun (+S$0.80)!
Din Tai Fung, you’ve won me over with your wide array of delicious-sounding buns. So, if you catch me heading to Din Tai Fung’s Novena spot every day for all 3 meals, blame their new breakfast menu!
The new Novena outlet is already open, so if you want to start your day right, head down to Din Tai Fung today for a new breakfast experience you can’t find in any other Din Tai Fung outlet here in Singapore! For more information, head over to Din Tai Fung’s website.
Din Tai Fung Novena
📍Location: 238 Thomson Rd, #01-05 Novena Square, Singapore 307683
⏰Time:
- Monday to Thursday, 8am to 9pm
- Friday, 8am to 9.30pm
- Saturday to Sunday, 10am to 9.30pm
*Last orders are available 30 minutes before closing time.
Visuals courtesy of Din Tai Fung Singapore.
