They’ve just been kicked out of Australia for not paying workers. Scummy behavior for such a large company.
The story says they were fined, and decided to terminate operations. That does not sound like “kicked out” to me.
Agree however that not paying workers is a-hole behavior!
Guy
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It was the franchisee that did that. DTF pulled their franchise from them and the Australian market after this.
The old owners seemed to have reopened a similar restaurant in the same spot.
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“after three branches were found to have intentionally underpaid migrant workers and falsified salary records”
Seems a fail in OZ, went visit one in South Los Angles , it was busy. Surprised to see it fail in OZ with it’s higher numbers of Asians
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It failed because it was fined $4millionAUD by the fairwork commission for deliberately underpaying staff and falsifying salary records
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Seems like the Australian regulators lack an understanding for Taiwanese work culture 
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I used to love DTF before coming to Taiwan. Now I avoid it like the plague when I come across one overseas.
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why?
When I came to Taiwan I realized how overpriced and mediocre DTF’s xaolongbao and other signature dishes are compared to some much cheaper local places.
On top of this, most DTFs outside of Taiwan aren’t even good as the ones in Taiwan. The lines are also longer and the prices are adjusted for local markets, so usually even higher than here. And finally, if I’m vacationing overseas, Taiwanese food is like the last thing I want. I get that year round.
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agree on that entirely.
I don’t agree instead on this. Are there better local places serving DTF dishes? yes. Do they serve all DTF dishes? no. Are they clean and efficient and polite as DTF? no. So it’s all about consistency and cleanliness. And 18 days beer.
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To each their own. I mostly go there for xaolongbao and I’ve found a better local place for that. And it’s clean enough.
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I usually got a dan-dan mian, some veggie dumplings and stuff, pork chop on the side, hot and sour soup. That works for me. Nice atmosphere
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This image from the article kind of surprised me
shuttered dtf on the right. Idk, only been to one in Taipei once many years ago.
DTF xiaolongbao’s fillings are not the best imo but the dumpling skin is unparalleled. Always perfectly soft and q/al dente. I also like their pork chaofan.
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Well its more expensive than other places. You get good service and everything is cooked perfectly though. Mediocre ? Which dishes are mediocre? Which restaurants have better xiao long bao?
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My assumption is that it’s like a McDonald’s thing. We all know it’s not good food, but it passes. Their skill is consistency and lack of food scandals, not great quality ingredients or spectacular culinary excellence. This is the world we live in now, I just don’t want to be hospitalized and if the food doesn’t make me puke, and its salty and sweet enough, I will go back 
Loads of places taste better. But many are just mom and pop. Not a chain, can’t have the same thing everywhere, so they get less attention. Kind of just how it goes with eateries globally.
I’ll go to dtf in a pinch, same as McDonald’s. Or 711. They work, I don’t worry too much about getting sick (though I have been food poisoned multiple times from dtf, twice required hospital, e. Coli). And I still go back a few times a year. Fool me once…hahaha
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7 posts were split to a new topic: Xaolongbao
Links.
Post in taiwanese food thread might be good as well, for reference. I don’t have links because it’s usually random local old people type shops that taste amazing. They don’t normally use social media, force qr codes or have franchises all over. Like burger shops, so many that are better than the fast food chains. I will take note going forward and get pics 
we had a good one in Taipei a few months back, will ask the family if they took pics or remember the name
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