SIMILAR to its efforts in making a name in the overseas market as one of the best 10 international restaurants (a credit given by the New York Times in 1993), the Taiwanese dumpling restaurant Din Tai Fung is striving to make a place for its Shenzhen outlets among the city's sleek, stylish modern restaurants.

One of the two new attractions the restaurant boasts at its Zhenhua outlet is the Western-style bar counter.

With years of experience in overseas market, the Din Tai Fung knows how important a wide selection of alcohol is to diners. Though focusing on one of the most traditional Chinese food, dumplings, the restaurant didn't overlook the liquor selection, which is often stressed in most Western-style restaurants.

"This is what we aim at, bringing the East and West together in our restaurant," says Jin Yuanxian, general manager of the restaurant.

The selection at Din Tai Fung ranges from beers to XO brandies.

Another new attraction caters more to the traditional Chinese taste: a new VIP seat area and dinning rooms that can hold four to 20 people on the second floor.

"This provides our patrons another choice for environment, both for those who look for a place for friends' gathering or those who prefer a less crowded dinning area in Ding Tai Fung," says Jin.

New things can also be found in the menu. Besides the brand-name dumplings (xiaolongbao), recommended new dishes are the Taiwan-style hotpot, chicken stew with basil in herbal sauce and mullet roe.

To celebrate the opening of the restaurant's new outlet in Dongmen near the McDonald's this month, free gifts will be given to children at both its Zhenhua and Dongmen outlets. Reservations are available at 8323-6998 (Zhenhua outlet) and 8230-7588 (Dongmen outlet).

Editor: Wings