Din Tai Fung

This branch of Din Tai Fung, the world-famous Taiwanese dimsum eatery, is the second to open in Korea. Din Tai Fung is known for popularizing the shalongbao dimsum worldwide, so its first location in Myeongdong opened with great fanfare. While the Myeongdong branch has since faced criticism for poor service and quality—this new branch in Gangnam has shown marked improvement with service and consistency in taste. Though it can never compare to the Taiwanese flagship store, we happen to think this is the best of the several branches operating in Korea. We love their deep fried prawn rice and rich beef noodles, and, of course, you can't leave without trying the shalongbao. To the uninitiated, eating shalongbao can be a challenge: First place it on your spoon, make a small hole in the skin, and drink up the savory broth. Don't forget to top it with thinly sliced ginger before popping the rest of the dumpling in your mouth.