Din Tai Fung (鼎泰豐) @ Punggol Coast Mall - New Outlet, 3 Exciting New Dished and Exclusive Merchandise

The iconic Taiwanese restaurant Din Tai Fung (鼎泰豐), beloved for its artfully handmade Xiao Long Bao, has opened a brand-new outlet at Punggol Coast Mall. To mark this occasion, Din Tai Fung has unveiled three brand-new dishes, now available at all outlets across Singapore. Available for dine-in, takeaway and delivery via Deliveroo, Foodpanda and GrabFood.

Adding an extra touch of excitement, the Punggol Coast branch is the first in Singapore to carry Din Tai Fung's exclusive retail merchandise, specially imported from Taiwan. Fans can now bring home charming collectables like the Din Tai Fung Chopsticks 平安筷, Mascot Plush Toys 包仔娃娃, Enamel Pins 微章 and more, perfect for gifting or as a souvenir for loyal diners.

Noodle with Crispy Wanton in Spicy Sauce 3/5

The new Noodle with Crispy Wanton in Spicy Sauce ($15.30) is tossed in a bold, spicy sauce and topped with crispy wantons. The noodles are springy and cooked to the ideal bite. However, we found the sauce to be a bit milder than expected, lacking the robust, aromatic heat that we had hoped for. The wantons add a textural crunch, but their petite size leaves more to be desired. It's a decent dish, but it could be more impactful in terms of flavour.

Black Sesame Mochi Xiao Long Bao 2.8/5

We were especially eager to try this dessert twist on Din Tai Fung's famous Xiao Long Bao. The Black Sesame Mochi Xiao Long Bao ($25.60 for 6 pc) is filled with fragrant, nutty black sesame and mochi. While the filling is aromatic and indulgent, the thick skin makes it rather challenging to chew. We recommend eating it immediately while piping hot, which helps slightly with texture, but be cautious as the filling can be scalding. It's a fun concept, but the execution didn't quite meet our expectations.

Steamed Chinese Style Layered Cake with Chocolate Dipping Sauce 3/5

This East-meets-West dessert combines a classic Chinese Steamed Layered Cake ($5.80/2pcs) with a side of Chocolate Dipping Sauce ($3, currently $2 from 1 May to 30 June). The cake itself has a unique texture, falling somewhere between a Chinese sponge cake and fluffy bread, with a subtle sweetness. When paired with the not-too-sweet chocolate sauce, it creates a comforting and unexpected fusion of flavours. It's a fun dessert to share, especially for those curious to try something different.

Oriental Salad 4/5

Pork Xiao Long Bao 3.8/5

Two staples we can't skip at Din Tai Fung are the Oriental Salad ($6) and Pork Xiao Long Bao ($12.80 for 10 pieces). The Oriental Salad is refreshing and crunchy, lightly tossed in a tangy sesame dressing that awakens the palate, always the perfect starter. As for the Pork Xiao Long Bao, it's what Din Tai Fung is famous for, with each dumpling meticulously pleated, filled with a juicy pork filling and a burst of flavourful broth. While the skin was slightly thicker than usual on our visit, it remains a comforting classic that satisfies every time.

Prawn Pancake 4/5

If you haven't tried the Prawn Pancake ($11.80), you're missing out. This crispy, golden delight is packed with chunky prawn paste and pan-fried to perfection. It's crunchy on the outside, succulent inside and incredibly addictive.

Shrimp Fried Rice 4/5

Pork Chop Fried Rice 4/5

Din Tai Fung's fried rice consistently meets your expectations, whether it's the Shrimp Fried Rice ($15) or the Pork Chop Fried Rice ($14.30); it never disappoints. Both versions feature fluffy, fragrant egg fried rice. The Shrimp Fried Rice is generously topped with fresh, bouncy shrimp, while the Pork Chop Fried Rice comes with a well-seasoned pork chop that's juicy and tender. Either option delivers on flavour and comfort, making them our top picks for a hearty main.

Located in the brand-new Punggol Coast Mall, this Din Tai Fung outlet offers a bright and spacious dining environment that’s perfect for a relaxing meal. Drop by whether you’re here to check out their newest dishes or stock up on adorable Din Tai Fung merch.

Photos and words by Jaslyn. An avid cook who lives to eat and travel for food. Note: This is an invited tasting.


Din Tai Fung (鼎泰豐)
Punggol Coast Mall
88 Punggol Way
#01-126/127
Singapore 829913
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Nearest MRT: Punggol Coast (NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Thu: 11am - 9pm
Fri-Sun: 11am - 915pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Punggol Coast MRT station. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Cartoon Network Cafe by The Soup Spoon @ Punggol Waterway Point - Character Theme Pop-Up Café Featuring Powerpuff Girls, We Bare Bears, Ben 10 And Adventure Time Land

Following a collaboration between The Soup Spoon Union and Cartoon Network Asia-Pacific, a cartoon-themed cafe, Cartoon Network Cafe by The Soup Spoon Union opened its doors just last month at the Waterway Point Mall in Punggol. A setup thoughtfully decorated with statues, cutouts and toys of loved characters such as the Powerpuff Girls, We Bare Bears, Ben 10 and Adventure Time Land, it renders every spot in this fun-filled 93-seater café an IG-worthy haven that will have all the kids (and even adults) screaming internally in delight. Its appeal is further amplified with a wide variety of dish offerings inspired by the animated shows and its characters that will instantly transport you back to the good ol' days. We stepped in and dove right into their extensive menu featuring a slew of pretty themed dishes ranging from appetisers, mains, desserts, drinks and milkshakes. Big on visuals but how do they fare in taste?

Finn & Jake’s Chicken with Red Velvet Waffles 3.5/5

The Finn & Jake’s Chicken with Red Velvet Waffles ($15.90) features crispy pops of chicken karaage with red velvet waffles. A different take on the classic chicken waffles dish, the red velvet waffles is a sweeter rendition with a cakey brownie-like texture and a strong hint of cocoa flavour. The waffles may be a tad too dry but it is made better with a liberal drizzle of the accompanying honey served alongside, as well as the crispy and juicy chicken karrage pieces that were well-executed. A sweet and savoury marriage of flavours which surprisingly worked out for me.

Pan-Pan Calzone 3.5/5

The Pan-Pan Calzone ($10.90) is essentially a folded in version of pizza in a huge pie-like shape. Biting into the crisp crusted exterior reveals savoury insides, with tomato sauce, cheese and meats. Decently executed, this dish is a hit among the kids.

We Bare Bears Angus Ribeye Steak 3/5

The We Bare Bears Angus Ribeye Steak ($23.80) comes with a beef ribeye steak and a side of fries and salad. Done medium rare, the steak is grilled to a slightly tougher texture and a tad dry lacking the succulence and seasonings for that burst of flavours.

Grizzly Beef Burger 3/5

The Grizzly Beef Burger ($18.80) features generous ingredients including the beef patty, onion rings, sunny side up egg, mushrooms and cheese centred between soft brioche toasted buns that has We Bare Bear’s big brother Grizz’s face with two small sausages that made up its ears. The beef patty boasts a softer texture though the overall quality was below satisfactory due to the tasteless meat which lacked seasonings. The only flavours that came through were perhaps the cheese and thin pieces of onion rings sandwiched in between.

Blossom Strawberry Soda 3.8/5

For the drinks, we had the Blossom Strawberry Soda ($10.90) which comes in a flask of strawberry flavoured soda and a fluffy cloud of cotton candy perched on top of a beaker of strawberry and lemon slices. Pouring the strawberry drink in melts the cotton candy in the process, which adds a sufficient sweetness to the strawberry soda, giving it a non-cloying and refreshing taste to the drink with a slight tangy tinge of lemon.

Bubbles Cheesecake 3.8/5

From the desserts menu, we had the Bubbles Cheesecake ($14.90) which features a gorgeously plated dish of creamy cheesecake slice, sweet berries, whipped cream, biscuit crumbles and cotton candy on the side. The cheesecake boasts a soft texture with a rich cheese flavour to it, while the crumbles added a crunch to the soft cheesecake, as well as a mild saltiness to the sweetness of the cheesecake for a more balanced flavour of the dessert.

The Cartoon Network Café has done well with the decorations of the place and design of its themed dishes, yet there are still much room for improvement in terms of the food quality. Although it does curate a fun-filled and memorable dining experience for the kids, the prices may be a bit too steep as like the other character cafes in Singapore, which might make visits a one-time experience for most. However, as the characters featured will be rotated every 3 to 6 months, we wait in anticipation as it brings back opportunities to excite taste buds and have crowds of people showing up for another unique dining experience at CN Café again.

Words and photos by Crystal. A girl who likes to eat, photograph, and write about food, and dreams about travelling around the world one day. Note: This is an invited tasting.


Cartoon Network Café by The Soup Spoon
Waterway Point Mall
83 Punggol Central
#B1-12
Singapore 828761
Tel: +65 63859254
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Nearest MRT: Punggol (NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 10pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Punggol MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]