Comments on: Where to eat in Taipei City

By: Goo

Goo — Sun, 06 Sep 2015 10:44:44 +0000

Dazzling cafe honey toast is not worth travelling there to eat at all. It’s only photo worthy. And they have stupid policy of minimally ordering one drink per person. I ordered hazelnut chocolate. It’s only small bits of unnoticeable hazelnut chocolate bits within the hard and dry toast serve with almost melting ice cream and lots of whipped cream.

By: Zeslyn

Zeslyn — Sun, 26 Apr 2015 15:35:20 +0000

I like all the places you mentioned with the exception of Dazzling Cafe ( toast is too heavy and sweet). It’s nice to have a variety of local and international food in a city. ( Anzu pork cutlets are as good as the ones in Japan and cheaper)

By: Joan @ Hungryintaipei

Joan @ Hungryintaipei — Fri, 23 Jan 2015 18:07:36 +0000

Glad you enjoyed so many of my recs!! Realized I never commented on this.. Sadly, Abu is closed

By: Bill

Bill — Wed, 29 Oct 2014 08:41:20 +0000

The fact of the matter is this: Taiwan was an extremely poor, remote agricultural backwater just a couple of generations ago. Taiwanese cuisine is not, and probably never will be, one of the world’s leading cuisines. Unlike Beijing, Italian or French cuisine, Taiwanese food is plain and unsophisticated; the type of fare you’d expect from a people who lined up for free bags of rice from the US troops stationed here just 50 years ago.

There is a reason that the only Michelin-starred restaurant on the island (L’Atelier du Robuchon) does not serve Taiwanese cuisine. The dumplings at Dingtaifeng, widely considered the best Taiwanese restaurant on the island, are only a tad better than what you can get at any night market here. There is only so much you can do with a dumpling, and Dingtaifeng doesn’t even go that far; it serves bland, uninspiring food adored only by those with bland palettes. What’s a trademark of bland, boring cuisine? It’s boiled, like most Taiwanese food (and English food, which doesn’t have Taiwan’s excuse as a historically impoverished nation to pardon its largely mediocre food).

Expatriates here like myself will always largely prefer non-local cuisine. I love the island and its people, but not the food.

As this blog is written in English, it is not principally written for locals. So please, Ladyironchef, continue primarily reviewing restaurants serving non-Taiwanese cuisine.

By: Eric from SF

Eric from SF — Fri, 03 Oct 2014 01:43:04 +0000

What’s up with all these restaurant recommendations. People come to Taipei for Chinese food, not pseudo western, fusion crap…I’m not looking for French pastries or Japanese inspired Italian food…geez. Give me a break. Seems like all of these food bloggers feel they must showcase the western ‘foodie’ scene. I’m from San Francisco and am looking for the real deal! I have better luck just wondering the streets of Taipei then looking online….

By: chen ping

chen ping — Sun, 29 Jun 2014 17:32:32 +0000

Why would anyone go to Taipeh for “fake” western food? Lady Iron Chef, get real.

By: Alisha K

Alisha K — Sat, 12 Apr 2014 11:13:00 +0000

Hi, the ABU’s brasserie has ceased operations for a while now it seems. It’s been replaced by a steak house/Teppanyaki place.

By: Zel

Zel — Mon, 10 Feb 2014 08:28:04 +0000

Hi LadyIron,

My family and I planned to have dinner around Taipei, is there any nice Taiwanese/Chinese restaurants to recommend? I’ve search for a few but all was fully booked.

By: Vincent Tang

Vincent Tang — Sun, 13 Oct 2013 03:06:39 +0000

Hi LadyIron

Thank you very much for this. Our family trips have always revolved on great dining places and we are looking forward to your recommendations! You are the best!

By: Gaby

Gaby — Thu, 05 Sep 2013 05:00:16 +0000

Hi Brad, just googled; people had mentioned that YongKang 15 had close and Ice-monster had reopen. Just to check with you if you saw YK15 when you were?
At the same time thank you for the post. Thank you.

By: sidewalkmoments

sidewalkmoments — Wed, 31 Jul 2013 03:15:02 +0000

Hi Brad! You must give Taipei’s Shun Cheng Bakery a try. They have the best bread ever!

By: ladyironchef

ladyironchef — Sat, 20 Jul 2013 12:15:43 +0000

@TIN: ZhongShan is not too bad as it is in a pretty convenient area, and only one stop away from Taipei Main Station. Yeah they have some good cafes there.

By: tin

tin — Wed, 17 Jul 2013 16:49:56 +0000

hi Ladyiron,
is Zhongshan a good location to stay in? any good food?

By: ASG

ASG — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 07:08:42 +0000

I hope more reviews are coming on the Taiwan trip )

By: Food Fanatic

Food Fanatic — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 10:22:46 +0000

I’m a bit disappointed, not ONE local taiwanese restaurant or snack joint besides Din Tai Fung…agree with MEOW…

By: thechieuzonthecake

thechieuzonthecake — Sat, 20 Oct 2012 16:22:15 +0000

I defintely have to try the Tartine Bakery!!

By: ladyironchef

ladyironchef — Mon, 03 Sep 2012 13:52:51 +0000

@Chris not sure if they take reservation, but you can try. I think it depends on the time (go slightly earlier or later) and location.

By: Chris

Chris — Mon, 03 Sep 2012 12:34:51 +0000

for Dazzling Cafe, do we need to make reservations? Heard from a few friends that it was so full they had to give it a miss!

By: meow

meow — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 05:48:02 +0000

seriously?

i am a Taiwanese, and i never go back to have non-Taiwanese food.

it is a shame to go to these restaurants than eating the local/authentic food.

By: Naomi B

Naomi B — Sat, 25 Aug 2012 10:54:02 +0000

Thank you! Got that noted down in my itinerary