Din Tai Fung founder passes away at 96
According to a statement released by the franchise, Yang passed away peacefully, and his family has requested privacy during this time of mourning.
By Rey Ilagan
Yang Bing-yi, the founder of Taiwanese restaurant chain Din Tai Fung, has passed away. He was 96.Â
According to a statement released by the franchise, Yang passed away peacefully, and his family has requested privacy during this time of mourning.
Yang was born in China's Shanxi Province in 1927, as mentioned on Din Tai Fung's website. At the age of 20, he immigrated to Taiwan with only $20 in his pocket and began working as a delivery man for a store called Heng Tai Fung, which sold cooking oil.
After the oil store closed down, Yang established his own oil shop and named it Din Tai Fung, in honor of his former employer. When sales were slow, Yang and his wife took the advice of a friend and converted half of their shop to sell xiao long baos (steamed pork dumplings).
Today, Din Tai Fung boasts over 170 locations globally, including in the US, Japan, and the Philippines. The restaurant has received numerous accolades, including the prestigious one Michelin star.
*Photo courtesy of Din Tai Fung*