Din Tai Fung Fried Rice - CJ Eats Recipes (2024)

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By Chris Joe

5 from 25 votes

Jan 25, 2023, Updated Nov 20, 2023

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Whenever I go to Din Tai Fung, I always gravitate to their fried rice (in addition to their soup dumplings, of course!). Din Tai Fung Fried Rice is unique because it has the lighter color compared to your normal run of the mill Chinese takeout fried rice, which usually seasons the rice with soy sauce.

After making this dish a couple times now, I really enjoy how fluffy and flavorful the fried rice is when seasoned very simply. The color is absolutely beautiful and the succulent shrimp are a perfect compliment to the dish! On top of that, it comes together in about 20 minutes, so it’s perfect for a weeknight meal!

Watch the Din Tai Fung Fried Rice Recipe Video Below!

Din Tai Fung Fried Rice - CJ Eats Recipes (2)

Ingredients for Din Tai Fung Fried Rice

Making Din Tai Fung Fried Rice is extremely easy and doesn’t require a lot of ingredients, but it brings a ton of flavor! Here is what you’ll need:

  • Shrimp – I used larger U10-15 shrimp here, but any size will work
  • White Rice – I prefer long grain white rice that has been dried out uncovered in the fridge for this recipe (such as jasmine) due to the lower moisture content of the rice compared to short grain rice. On home stoves, this will result in fried rice that isn’t mushy!
  • Scallions
  • Eggs
  • Kosher Salt
  • White Pepper
  • Baking Soda
  • Sugar
  • Chicken Bouillon powder
  • MSG (optional)
  • Neutral Oil
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INGREDIENTS TIPS

USE DAY OLD LONG GRAIN WHITE RICE
I’ve made fried rice many times (some amazing, some very mushy), but drying out the rice uncovered in the fridge for a least a day will help reduce the moisture content in the rice. Using long grain rice helps even more, as long grain rice has less moisture content than short grain rice.

MSG
As always, this is optional 🙂

NEUTRAL OIL
My favorite neutral oil is avocado oil, but you can also use canola or vegetable oil! I don’t use olive oil when cooking Chinese food for two reasons: 1. It has a low burning point and 2. I find that the flavor profile does not usually go with the dish.

CHICKEN BOUILLON POWDER
Din Tai Fung Fried Rice is a much lighter color due to not using soy sauce as a seasoning ingredient. Chicken Bouillon Powder helps bring the flavor while keeping the lighter color in the overall dish.

Din Tai Fung Fried Rice - CJ Eats Recipes (4)

Cooking Din Tai Fung Fried Rice: Recipe Instructions

This Din Tai Fung Fried Rice is incredibly easy to make and comes together in about 20 minutes! It doesn’t require a lot of ingredients and I love how simple but delicious the end result is.

Din Tai Fung Fried Rice - CJ Eats Recipes (5)

Cook Your Shrimp

The first step in this recipe is to marinate your shrimp. For this fried rice, we’re using a very simple marinade consisting of kosher salt, white pepper, baking soda, and neutral oil. The baking soda will help firm up the shrimp and keep them crisp.

After marinating the shrimp, cook them in a pan over medium high heat with 1 tbsp of neutral oil for 2-3 minutes or until just cooked through. You don’t want too much color on them if you’re going for that signature Din Tai Fung Fried Rice look!

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Sauté Scallion Whites and Cook Eggs

After the shrimp are removed, heat another 3 tbsp of oil to the pan and saute the scallion whites for a few seconds until fragrant. Then immediately add 4 large eggs and use your ladle or spatula to break them up and scramble them. Continue cooking for 1-2 minutes until the eggs are about 70-80% cooked through and still slightly soft.

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Add the White Rice

Immediately add the day old white rice and mix thoroughly until the egg and scallion is mixed in with the rice. Continue cooking over high heat until the rice is relatively dry and you are able to see the rice grains separating in the pan. This can take anywhere from 3-4 minutes depending on the heat of your stove. Add the seasonings and give it another good mix.

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Add back Shrimp and Scallion Greens

Once the fried rice is nicely seasoned and dry (always taste and season according to your preference), add back your cooked shrimp and scallion greens. Give it another good mix to incorporate and your fried rice is done!

Serve immediately with and enjoy!

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RECIPE TIPS

SUCCESS IS IN THE PREP!
For a recipe that comes together extremely quickly, the key to pulling this recipe off successfully is having your ingredients prepped and in bowls right next to your wok or pan! Have your rice, shrimp, seasonings, and aromatics ready and easily accessible during the cooking process.

ADJUST THE PROTEIN TO YOUR LIKING!
While this dish traditionally uses shrimp, you can also do this with sliced chicken or steak!

If you liked this recipe, check out some of the most popular Chinese Take-Out recipes on the blog!

  • Chicken Lo Mein
  • Shrimp Fried Rice
  • Beef and Broccoli
  • Sesame Chicken
  • String Bean Chicken

Din Tai Fung Fried Rice

By: Chris Joe

Servings: 4

Prep: 15 minutes mins

Cook: 10 minutes mins

Save

Din Tai Fung Fried Rice - CJ Eats Recipes (10)

This Din Tai Fung style fried rice is easy to make at home but just as good as the restaurant! It's a simple egg fried rice with shrimp, scallions, and flavorful seasonings that are perfect for a weeknight meal.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups white rice, day old dried out in fridge uncovered; uncooked measurement, recommend long grain rice
  • 4 scallions, chopped, whites and greens separated
  • 4 eggs, large
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 1/2 tsp white pepper
  • 1/4 tsp msg, optional
  • 1 tsp chicken bouillon powder
  • 4 tbsp neutral oil, avocado or canola

Shrimp Marinade

  • 1/2 lb shrimp, I used large U10-15
  • 1 tsp neutral oil
  • 1/2 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/4 tsp white pepper
  • 1/8 tsp baking soda

Instructions

  • Clean and devein shrimp and marinate with kosher salt, white pepper, baking soda, and neutral oil for 15 minutes.

  • In a wok or pan over high heat, add 1 tbsp of neutral oil and cook the shrimp for 2 minutes or until just cooked through and remove.

  • In the same pan over medium high heat, heat 3 tbsp of neutral oil and fry scallion whites for 15 seconds.

  • Immediately add 4 large eggs and scramble, combining with the scallion whites. Cook for 45 seconds or until the eggs are about 75% cooked through (soft and slightly runny).

  • Turn the heat to high and add the day old white rice. Mix to incorporate the eggs, scallion and rice and continue cooking until the rice is dry and separated, about 2-3 minutes.

  • Add salt, sugar, white pepper, msg, and chicken bouillon powder, then mix thoroughly into the rice until incorporated. Taste and adjust for seasoning.

  • Add back the cooked shrimp and scallion greens, toss and cook for another minute and enjoy!

Additional Info

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Chinese

Tried this recipe?Mention @cj.eats_ or tag #cjeatsrecipes!

Din Tai Fung Fried Rice - CJ Eats Recipes (11)

About CJ

I’m a third generation Chinese-American home cook who has always loved cooking & eating! Welcome to my food blog, where you can find trusted, tested, easy & approachable recipes for the everyday home cook that taste delicious! I am so glad you're here!

Read more about me

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Din Tai Fung Fried Rice - CJ Eats Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Is din tai fung fried rice good? ›

Din Tai Fung serves Tawainese fried rice that's beautifully golden with perfectly seasoned, crisp rice and tender and juicy shrimp. This Taiwanese favorite is fast, easy, and super delicious—it's ready in just 20 minutes with minimal prep. Follow my tips to achieve a rich color and the best texture.

What is the secret ingredient in fried rice? ›

Though you might not be able to pinpoint the sweet inclusion while digging into a take-out box and piling spoonsful of fluffy rice into your mouth, the addition of sugar is a common culinary technique practiced by restaurants.

Which DIN Tai Fung has Michelin star? ›

Din Tai Fung is known internationally for its paper-thin wrapped xiaolongbao with 18 folds. In November 2009, the Hong Kong and Macau 2010 edition of the Michelin Guide awarded the restaurant's first Hong Kong branch at Tsim Sha Tsui, Silvercord Branch, a Michelin star.

Why is my egg fried rice mushy? ›

The rice should be at least one day old to avoid having too much moisture; too much moisture in the rice will make your fried rice soggy and mushy.

Is Chinese restaurant fried rice unhealthy? ›

Typical side dishes like fried rice, lo mein noodles, crab rangoon, and egg rolls are high in calories — and fat. Healthier choices include steamed brown rice, sautéed or steamed vegetables, spring rolls, or soups like egg drop soup or hot and sour soup.

Why does Thai fried rice taste so good? ›

Thai Fried Rice gets its unique flavor from the fish sauce, soy sauce, and chili peppers, and the jasmine rice is a must. They also added tomatoes to their rice which gives it a subtle hint of sweetness.

What gives Chinese fried rice its taste? ›

To give your dish that signature fried rice taste, you'll need to drizzle in sesame oil and soy sauce, but feel free to use as much or as little as you wish. You can even mix in things like garlic powder, ginger root, or Sriracha sauce and chili pepper for a bit of a kick.

What is fried rice syndrome? ›

Fried rice syndrome is caused by a bacterium called Bacillus cereus, which is present in these types of starchy foods prior to cooking. Bacillus cereus is a heat-resistant bacteria, so even recooking foods that have not been appropriately refrigerated can result in food poisoning.

What is the black thing in fried rice? ›

No, there ISN'T supposed to be “black stuff” in your fried rice. It's okay, though, because nobody would put anything black in your fried rice that isn't intended to be there. It's more than a little strange to be examining your food so very closely. Either you trust the cook, or you should cook for yourself.

Why is Din Tai Fung so popular? ›

Origins of Din Tai Fung

On the advice of a family friend, they turned half their storefront into a restaurant and Din Tai Fung quickly earned a reputation for using natural ingredients, handmade dough, and top-quality fillings. The restaurant's menu offerings are deeply rooted in Shanghai-style cuisine.

Is Din Tai Fung considered expensive? ›

It is somewhat worth the price, but it is not a place that someone can go to on a regular basis. In addition, the portions are not enough for what it's worth. Understanding the current state of the world and inflation, the price is not extremely high, but it is still more expensive than other places.

What does Din Tai Fung mean in English? ›

鼎 (Din) translates to Wok. We use woks to cook many of our dishes, including our fried rice, fried noodles, and greens. 泰 (Tai) translates to Peace. Our restaurant is a peaceful setting for our guests to enjoy an authentic dining experience. 豐 (Fung) translates to Abundance.

Should I add sugar to fried rice? ›

Sugar will also offer a nice contrast to the saltiness in your homemade fried rice, which helps replicate the flavor of takeout. This is why sugar should be considered one of the underrated ingredients to amp up your fried rice game.

How do you keep fried rice fluffy? ›

Rinse Your Rice Before Cooking

Giving your rice a quick rinse before cooking allows it to shed some starch and leads to less clumpy cooked grains. All the good egg bits and other tasty seasonings will then mingle well with the rice, evenly distributing flavor throughout the dish.

What is the best rice for fried rice? ›

Long grain rice has less starch which makes it the perfect choice for fried rice. Using a long grain rice like jasmine rice will result is soft and fluffy rice every time! Other rice varieties like short grain sushi rice would not work for fried rice.

Which fried rice is the best? ›

Jasmine rice cooks up stickier, in clumps, whereas basmati rice tends to cook up as dry, individual grains that do not stick together. When used to make fried rice, jasmine rice may beat out basmati rice because of its ability to crisp up without breakage.

Why is Din Tai Fung so good? ›

The secret behind Din Tai Fung's iconic dumplings lies in the use of Kurobuta pork and the expertise of the highly skilled chefs who meticulously prepare each xiaolongbao. They craft thin dough wrappers holding a delightful mix of hot, sizzling broth, and savory pork fillings.

Which is better fried rice or lo mein? ›

So what's the healthier order, fried rice or lo mein? Short answer: lo mein. Yes, both dishes usually come slathered in sauce, but the rice offers the unfortunate double-whammy of being fried in oil first.

Why does Chinese restaurant fried rice taste better? ›

The answer: high heat, expert tosses, and something known as 'wok hei. ' As J. Kenji López-Alt writes for Serious Eats, expert cooking with a wok (and the gas range it requires) is one of the main reasons that fried rice from a Chinese restaurant tastes so much better than what you can make at home.

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