The busy Yongkang Street is a one-stop destination for all travellers visiting Taipei. You can easily spend half or day—or even more—exploring the bustling street and its adjoining alleyways. Oh and don’t worry if you are travelling in a group with differing palates; Yongkang Street’s vast variety of dining options will definitely cater to the group’s varying preferences.

There are seriously ample options to choose from – think roadside vendors, Melbourne-inspired speciality coffee cafes, dim sum restaurants, French patisseries and more. From the original Din Tai Fung to CNN-recommended dessert store Smoothie House, here is our Guide To Taipei’s Yongkang Street and the cafes, restaurants & shops to visit.

BISCUIT & RABBIT CAFE

Biscuit & Rabbit Cafe is a cutesy independent Taiwanese 2-in-1 concept that hails from Kaohsiung. You can look forward to freshly baked cookies and a collection of handmade accessories.

No. 63, Yongkang Street
Da’an District, Taipei City, Taiwan 106
Tel: +886 2 23584670
Tue to Sat: 10am – 7pm

BOÎTE DE BIJOU

Patisserie Boîte de Bijou serves delectable classic French desserts such as Citron Tarts, Madeleines and Mont Blanc. But you too can expect Asian-inspired sweet treats i.e. Yuzu Mousse.

No. 10, Lane 209, Section 2, Anhe Rd
Da’an District, Taipei City, Taiwan 106
Tel: +886 2 2739 6777
Daily: 10am – 8pm

BU ER TANG

Bu Er Tang serves every tea thinkable in its store. Totally clueless on this subject? Simply approach the staff and they will recommend you flavours based on your preference—and you can even taste them for free!

No. 10-5, Yongkang Street
Da’an District, Taipei City, Taiwan 106
Tel: +886 2 2395 9616
Daily: 11am – 9.30pm

CAFE XIAOMIJO

Cafe Xiaomijo is an artistic cafe tucked away in the same alleyway as For Good Cafe. The cosy and homely interiors make it a good pitstop for you to recharge with some cafe nosh and a cuppa.

No 5 Lane 41 Yongkang Street
Da’an District, Taipei City, Taiwan 106
Tel: +866 2 2395 7617
Closed on Mondays
Tue to Fri: 1pm – 10pm
Sat and Sun: 12pm – 10pm

DIN TAI FUNG

Singaporeans are no stranger to Taiwanese restaurant Din Tai Fung. After all, we have many outlets in our sunny island itself. However, if you want to trace back to Din Tai Fung’s humble beginnings, then you will have to drop by their flagship store located along Xinyi Road, right at the start of Yongkang Street.

No. 194, Section 2, Xinyi Road
Da’an District, Taipei City, Taiwan 106
Tel: +866 2 2321 8928
Mon to Fri: 10am – 9pm
Sat and Sun: 9am – 9pm

DUKE RABBIT CAFE

Duke Rabbit Cafe showcases a splendid selection of freshly baked homemade pastries and they are all affordably priced between the range of NT$75 to NT$130. How about some tiramisu and French strawberry tarts for you?

No. 6, Lane 37, Yongkang Street
Da’an District, Taipei City, Taiwan 106
Tel: +886 2 2396 8110
Daily: 11am – 10pm

EATING TIME

Every hour is eating time at Eating Time. The stylish restaurant’s comprehensive menu features a list of wholesome mains such as burgers (NT$230 – NT$280), grilled steaks and ribs (NT$800 – NT$1,000).

No. 18 Yongkang Street
Da’an District, Taipei City, Taiwan 106
Tel: +886 2 2351 3663
Daily: 8am – 11pm

ECOLE CAFE

Escape the suffocating crowds of Yongkang Street and venture into Qingtian Street, where you will chance upon Ecole Cafe. The quiet cafe is aptly named after the French word for ‘school’—due to its proximity to Shida University.

No. 6, Lane 1, Qingtian Street
Da’an District, Taipei City, Taiwan 106
Tel: +886 2 2322 2725
Sun to Thu: 9am – 9pm
Fri and Sat: 9am – 10pm

ELEPHANT MACHINE COFFEE

Opened in April 2016, Elephant Machine Coffee is a new kid on the block. The cafe takes pride in serving coffee but has a rule whereby every dine-in patron has to purchase at least one beverage. From matcha shots, cold brew coffee to siphon coffee, this is ideal for coffee lovers.

No. 5, Lane 37, Yongkang Street
Da’an District, Taipei City, Taiwan 106
Tel: +886 2 2397 1680
Closed on Tuesdays
Mon, Tue to Sun: 9.30am – 6.30pm

FOR GOOD CAFE

For Good Cafe is always packed with customers. Their savoury food menu is unfortunately limited, therefore we suggest you grab a bite somewhere else first before heading here for their coffee, craft beers and desserts.

No. 12, Lane 41, Yongkang Street
Da’an District, Taipei City, Taiwan 106
Tel: +886 2 3393 8659
Closed on Tuesdays
Mon, Tue to Sun: 12pm – 10pm

HAO GONG DAO

Hao Gong Dao has been around for decades and we love how a lot of stuff is going on at the shopfront i.e. stacks of bamboo steam baskets are piled atop each other, chefs are kneading dough at the open-kitchen and freshly cooked dim sums are displayed at the counter.

28-1, Yongkang Street
Da’an District, Taipei City, Taiwan 106
Tel: +886 2 2341 6980
Closed on Wednesdays
Thu to Tue: 9am – 9pm

KAO CHI

Shanghainese restaurant Kao Chi makes a great alternative to Din Tai Fung and you should try their xiao long baos and other Chinese delicacies. Thanks to media publicity, Kao Chi is now frequented by throngs of tourists—but take a closer look and you will notice that it remains a favourite amongst Taiwanese natives.

No. 5 Yongkang Street
Da’an District, Taipei City, Taiwan 106
Tel: +886 2 2341 9984
Daily: 10am – 10pm

LA DOUCEUR PATISSERIE

Macaron lovers will have to make a special trip to La Douceur Patisserie, because this is where you can find Taipei’s best macarons. Macarons aside, you can also try their other decadent creations such as Matcha Cake, Cherry Mousse and 72% Dark Chocolate Tart.

No. 223, Jinhua Street
Da’an District, Taipei City, Taiwan 116
Tel: +886 2 3322 2833
Sun to Thu: 1pm – 9pm
Fri and Sat: 1pm – 10pm

L’AIR CAFE NEO BISTRO

Are you a fan of French cuisine or know someone that is? Then you certainly have to check out L’Air Cafe Neo Bistro. We suggest you go for their set lunch (NT$2,200) as it allows you to savour the restaurant’s signature dishes at a very reasonable price.

No. 5, Lane 164, Jinhua Sreet
Da’an District, Taipei City, Taiwan 106
Tel: +886 2 3343 3937
Closed on Wednesdays
Thu to Tue: 11.30am – 10pm

LU SANG

On the hunt for authentic Taiwanese dishes? Then look no further. Lu Sang’s affordable and well-curated menu boasts delicacies originating from Yilan (a region located along the east coast of Taiwan) and is arguably one of the best local restaurants at Yongkang Street.

No. 12-5, Yongkang Street
Da’an District, Taipei City, Taiwan 106
Tel: +886 2 2351 3323
Daily: 11.30am – 2pm, 5pm – 9pm

OMA URSEL’S GERMAN BAKERY

Oma Ursel’s German Bakery’s facade resembles a European cottage. Set food inside and you will realise you are not too far from it. The bakery is lined with shelves of freshly baked bread and pastries, but you too can opt for dine-in and indulge in German classics such as Bratwurst Sausages.

No. 8, Lane 10, Yongkang Street
Da’an District, Taipei City, Taiwan 106
Tel: +886 2 2392 2447
Daily: 11.30am – 10.30pm

PETIT POT

Experience a little slice of Paris at Yongkang Street’s Petit Pot. Sink your teeth into zesty Lemon Tarts (NT$50), Hokkaido Strawberry Shortcake (NT$150) and whatnot. Everything here is so beautiful – good luck resisting all these temptations!

No. 8, Lane 12, Yongkang Street
Da’an District, Taipei City, Taiwan 106
Tel: +886 2 27013901
Daily: 11.30am – 8.30pm

ROSE HOUSE

The Victoria-themed restaurant Rose House can be easily spotted afar with its dark-blue curtains and window frames. Catch up with your girlfriends over a Little Prince Afternoon Tea Set (NT$399) which comprises cheesecake, bacon burger, creme brûlée, rose lychee jelly, rose macaron, roll cake, scone, quiche and petite sandwiches.

No. 1, Lane 3, Li Shui Street
Da’an District, Taipei City, Taiwan 106
Tel: +886 2 2394 8202
Sun to Thu: 11am – 10pm
Fri and Sat: 11am – 11pm

SLACK SEASON

Slack Season—otherwise known as Tu Hsiao Yueh—actually originates from Tainan. You can now savour the famous dan dan noodles without having to travel down south. Why not?

No. 9-1, Yongkang Street
Da’an District, Taipei City, Taiwan 106
Tel: +886 2 3393 1325
Daily: 11.30am – 11pm

SMOOTHIE HOUSE

One of Taiwan’s most popular and bestselling shaved ice stores, Smoothie House is renowned for their mango snowflake ice.

No. 15, Yongkang Street
Da’an District, Taipei City, Taiwan 106
Tel: +886 2 2341 8555
Daily: 10am – 11pm

SUN MERRY

Sun Merry is located directly beside Dong Men MRT Station so it is almost impossible to miss it. The local bakery sells an assortment of breads, cakes and other pastries. You can also purchase boxes of Feng Li Shu home as souvenirs.

No. 186, Section 2, Xinyi Road
Da’an District, Taipei City, Taiwan 106
Tel: +886 2 2392 0224
Daily: 7.30am – 10pm

THE GREEN STEPS

Surprise, surprise! The Green Steps is a tranquil cafe – situated away from the main streets of Yongkang – characterised by its surrounding lush greenery. Coffee served at this underrated cafe is however slightly expensive and you can expect to pay NT$180 for a cappuccino.

No. 27, Lane 243, Jinhua Street
Da’an District, Taipei City, Taiwan 106
Tel: +886 2 2392 3719
Daily: 11am – 11pm

TIAN JING CONG ZHUA BING

We spotted the crowd surrounding roadside vendor Tian Jing Cong Zhua Bing from far away. From what we know, the street hawkers have been busy flipping scallion pancakes for many years – yep, they have been around before Yongkang Street got gentrified by third-wave cafes.

No.1, Alley 6, Yongkang Street
Da’an District, Taipei City, Taiwan 106
Tel: +886 2 2322 2765

YONGKANG BEEF NOODLES

Yongkang Beef Noodles is an institution in Taipei – and you can find endless write-ups about in many printed and online travel guides. There is a wide selection of noodles and soup to choose from, but of course you have to try their famous beef noodles (NT$180)!

No. 17, Lane 31, Section 2, Jinshan S Road
Da’an District, Taipei City, Taiwan 106
Tel: +886 2 2351 1051
Daily: 11am – 3.30pm, 4.30pm – 9pm

YI PIN

Yi Pin is a speciality bubba tea store and we fell head over heels for their fragrant concoctions. Stick to milk tea beverages such as Roast Oolong Milk Tea (NT$55) or try their special drinks such as Guava Oolong Tea (NT$65) and Lemon Winter Melon with Bail Seed (NT$55).

No. 150, Jinhua Street
Da’an District, Taipei City, Taiwan 106
Tel: +886 2 2358 3825
Daily: 11am – 10pm

ZANG TIAN KA FEI DOU

There are no English signboard or whatsoever here and it turns out that Zang Tian Ka Fei Dou sells coffee beans. Budding and experienced baristas who would love to make their own coffees should definitely pay a visit.

No. 91, Yongkang Street
Da’an District, Taipei City, Taiwan 106
Tel: +886 2 2392 7770
Daily: 2pm – 9pm

ZENIQUE

Spoil yourselves silly with Zenique’s unique tea-based desserts such as Jardin des Fraises, Kyoto Matcha, Rose Versailles and Tarte Aux Fraises. Prices range from NT$160 to NT$180 per slice. Zenique also sells nine different flavours of macarons (NT$60 each).

No. 8, Lane 4, Yongkang Street
Da’an District, Taipei City, Taiwan 106
Tel: +886 2 2395 1558
Sun to Thu: 11am – 10pm
Fri and Sat: 11am – 10.30pm

ZQG TEA & ICE

You might easily walk past ZQG Tea & Ice without noticing it. The near all-white interiors are brightened up by colourful tins of tea. Walk further in and be greeted by a gelato counter that contains freshly churned tea-based ice cream. Give their UJI Matcha and Oolong Tea ice cream a shot!

No. 30, Yongkang Street
Da’an District, Taipei City, Taiwan 106
Tel: +886 2 2356 9090
Closed on Mondays
Tue to Thu: 1pm – 9pm
Sat: 12pm – 9pm
Sun: 12pm – 8pm

8% ICE CREAM SHOP

As its name suggests, 8% Ice Cream Shop sells smooth gelato, creamy soft serve and icy popsicles; hence a must-visit especially during summertime. Attention-grabbing flavours include pumpkin sesame and pink grapefruit earl grey.

No. 6, Lane 13, Yongkang Street
Da’an District, Taipei City, Taiwan 106
Tel: +886 2 2395 6583
Daily: 12pm – 10pm

Read: 25 Reasons To Love Taipei

As its name implies, BRICK Works Café – located in Taipei Arena – is a Lego-themed café. The interesting concept features a spacious dining area and an onsite Lego toy store. We made a special visit to BRICK Works Café and confirmed that it is indeed an ideal playground for Lego fans.

There are plenty of Lego bricks displayed here. You can either admire the splendid exhibits or give into temptation and purchase some. Done with shopping? Now, you can sink your teeth into instagram-worthy food modelled after your favourite childhood toy whilst watching The Lego Movie.

Sit on Lego-inspired furniture, hug a Lego-figurine cushion, eat Lego-themed dishes and watch The Lego Movie while being surrounded by all things Lego. Yeah, it might sound a little over the top… But Lego lovers will be truly ecstatic with this fun-filled experience! Who said adults can’t have fun?

Maximise your trip here and customise a mini Lego figurine at NT$100 each. This hands-on opportunity allows you to unleash your creative potential and expand your Lego collection. From Disney Pixar Mini Figures to Nano Blocks, you can easily lose yourself in BRICK Work’s sheer number of Lego products.

Wrap up your trip with BRICK Works Cafe’s Lego Waffle (NT$180). The decadent baked treat – crisp on the outside and fluffy on the inside – was served with sugar cereal, whipped cream, colourful rice, chocolate sauce and a scoop of mango ice cream on the side.

Even if you are not a Lego fan, we are certain that your kids will love this place.

BRICK Works Taipei
No. 2, Section 4, Nanjing East Road
Songshan District, Taipei City, Taiwan 105
Tel: 02-25789253
Daily: 12pm – 8pm
Nearest Station: Taipei Arena

For more recommendations, read our guide to 10 Best Themed Cafes & Restaurants in Taipei.

Taipei is renowned for their wide selection of night markets and interestingly themed cafes and restaurants which are pretty damn impressive. We have sieved out some Instagram-worthy destinations that you need to check out when in the popular Taiwanese city.

From Alice In Wonderland, Hello Kitty to Lego, here are 10 Best Themed Cafes and Restaurants In Taipei that you would definitely want to check out. We are not even exaggerating when we say people from all over the world flock to Taipei just to dine at these cafes!

Source: Amandalingg

#1 ALICE IS COMING

Fans of Alice In Wonderland can teleport themselves to this fantasy realm at Alice Is Coming. Enjoy a Mad Hatter Tea Party with your friends and sink your teeth into delectable sweet treat—all presented on gorgeous cake stands.

You do all these whilst sitting in life-size tea cups!

No. 111, Yanping S Rd
Zhongzheng District, Taipei City, Taiwan 100
Tel: +886 2 2311 0210
Daily: 11.30am – 8.30pm
Nearest Station: Ximen

#2 BRICK WORKS

BRICK Works is a cafe-cum-store in Taipei dedicated to everyone’s all-time favourite childhood toy, LEGO. These bricks have fascinated generations and even sparked inspiration.

BRICK Works allows you to play with LEGO while eating LEGO-themed food.

No. 1, Yumen St, Zhongshan District
Taipei City, Taiwan 104
Tel: +886 2 2597 9518
Mon to Thu: 12pm – 9pm
Fri: 12pm – 9.30pm
Sat: 11am – 9.30pm
Sun: 11am – 9pm
Nearest Station: Taipei Arena

#3 GUDETAMA CHEF

As its name suggests, Gudetama Chef is a Gudetama-themed cafe and is a dream come true for all Gudetama fans.From the waitresses’ uniform to dishes and plates, no expenses have been spared to ensure that Gudetama Chef has a Gudetama looking at you from every possible angle.

From the waitresses’ uniform to dishes and plates, no expenses have been spared to ensure that Gudetama Chef has a Gudetama looking at you from every possible angle.

No. 12, Lane 236, Section 1, Dunhua S Rd
Da’an District, Taipei City, Taiwan 106
Tel: +886 2 2752 9520
Daily: 11am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Zhongxiao Dunhua

#4 HELLO KITTY KITCHEN & DINING

Hello Kitty cafes are aplenty across Asia and you can visit one right in Taipei City’s Da’an District.

Hello Kitty Kitchen & Dining is all decked all in pink and the desserts here are not spared from the cat’s face. The only problem? They look so cute that you might not bear to eat them.

No. 90, Section 1 Da’an Rd
Da’an District, Taipei City, Taiwan 106
Tel: +886 2 2711 1132
Daily: 11.30am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Zhongxiao Fuxing

Source: Haruhii

#5 KUMAMON CAFE

Fictional character Kumamon is a Japanese mascot created in 2010 for a tourism campaign, but it has since then gained an insanely huge following. Treat yourselves to a Kumamon-themed Mucha Pancake (NT$360) whilst hugging a gigantic Kumamon toy.

Creepy or cute? You decide.

No. 42, Section 1, Nanjing E Rd
Zhongshan District, Taipei City, Taiwan 104
Tel: +886 2 2541 5837
Mon to Thu: 12pm – 8.30pm
Fri and Sat: 12pm – 9pm
Sun: 12pm – 7pm
Nearest Station: Zhongshan

Source: Rilakkuma

#6 RILAKKUMA CAFE

Japanese cartoon characters have clearly taken the world by storm and Rilakkuma is one of the kawaii creations. A direct translation indicates that Rilakkuma literally means ‘bear in relaxed mood, and it is exactly what it is!

Taipei’s Rilakkuma Cafe is very popular and reservations are necessary to avoid disappointment.

No. 3, Lane 248, Section 4, Zhongxiao E Rd
Da’an District, Taipei City, Taiwan 106
Tel: +886 2 2773 0303
Daily: 11.30am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall

Source: Machi Doggie

#7 MACHI DOGGIE COFFEE

Pooch-friendly Machi Doggie Coffee is owned by Jay Chou’s wife Hannah Quinlivan. The dog-friendly cafe is dedicated to her pup Machi—where you can indulge in food presented in the most adorable presentations. Even the cups and plates are imprinted with Machi’s face.

The famous couple do make a special appearances from time to time!

No. 162, Section 1, Zhonghua Rd
Wanhua District, Taipei City, Taiwan 108
Tel: +886 2 2311 2227
Daily: 10.30am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Ximen

Source: When On Earth

#8 MODERN TOILET RESTAURANT

The Modern Toilet Restaurant will have you sitting on a toilet bowl and eating from a toilet bowl. We are not even kidding.

Must-order dishes include the Modern Toilet Chicken Curry and Chocolate Ice Cream—both are intended to mimic the idea of eating poop. Holy shit.

108, Taiwan, Taipei City
Wanhua District, Lane 50, Xining S Rd
Tel: +886 2 2311 8822
Mon to Thu: 11.30am – 10pm
Fri: 11.30am – 10.30pm
Sat: 11am – 10.30pm
Sun: 11am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Ximen

Source: Oia Cafe

#9 OIA CAFE

Oia Cafe is home to a few free-roaming alpacas and if you have been meaning to play with one, here is your opportunity!

The cafe serves an array of Western-style dishes such as pasta and steaks. You can even feed the alpacas carrots and remember to take a selfie with them.

252, Sanzhi District
New Taipei City, Taiwan
Tel: +886 2 2636 3766
Mon to Fri: 11am – 8pm
Sat & Sun: 11am – 9pm
Nearest Station: Tamsui

Source: Yuki Blog

#10 ZOO COFFEE

Zoo Coffee is a popular South Korean chain and an outlet has finally arrived in the capital of Taiwan. The spacious coffee shop is characterised by its zoo theme; think cushions printed with zebra stripes, wooden shelves shaped after elephants and lingering monkey plush toys.

No. 337, Section 3, Nanjing E Rd
Songshan District, Taipei City, Taiwan 105
Tel: +886 2 2717 7508
Daily: 11am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Taipei Arena

Taipei might as well be known as the city of night markets, deep fried goodies and shopping districts. But throughout the extensive selection of street snacks to feast on, there is definitely a couple that stands out and deemed as what you must try.

If you ever find yourself in Ximending—otherwise known as the hipster area of Taipei—look out for Ah Chung Mian Xian.

Yes, you would probably have heard of it and many of you may have already tried it. But if you haven’t, here’s why you should.

At first glance, the stall appears inconspicuous. It is a small little outlet, with interiors that don’t necessarily scream ‘viral food location’. But you will still see crowds of customers and eager patrons standing around, slurping from disposable bowls and spoons.

Mian xian directly translates to the mee sua that we have here in Singapore—only this one in Taipei is served up with rich, thick gravy, and is accompanied with braised pig intestines. You can even choose to add as much condiments as you wish; parsley, vinegar and chilli oil…

You can choose from a small bowl which costs NT$50 (S$2.15) and a big bowl which costs NT$60 (S$2.58).

These noodles are best eaten piping hot, and they taste exceptionally warm and lovely in winter.

Ah Chung Mian Xian
No. 8-1, Emei Street, Wanhua District, Taipei City
Mon – Fri: 10.30am – 10.30pm
Sat – Sun: 10.30am – 11pm
Tel: +886-2-2388-8808
Nearest station: Ximending

Choose Me Cafe & Meals—located just a stone’s throw away from Zhongshan Junior High School MRT Station—is an independent speciality dessert cafe in Taipei.

The local cafe’s existence remains largely unknown amongst the expat and foreigner community, but Taiwanese girls are known to flock here just to take selfies with the cartoon-themed cakes.

The cakes here are baked in-house daily and no artificial ingredients are used to create these gourmet masterpieces. While Choose Me Cafe & Meals’ menu features several savoury dishes, it is the desserts that we came for.

We fell head over heels for their irresistibly cute Totoro Sesame Cheesecake (NT$160) and their zesty Lemon Tart (NT$120). Highly recommended!

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The Totoro Sesame Cheesecake (NT$160) looked so adorable we almost couldn’t bear to eat it. The sesame cheesecake is baked freshly with Australian cream cheese; white chocolate is used for the chinchilla’s eyes and a thin layer of whipped cream is used for Totoro’s white belly.

There are also Disney-themed cheesecakes available such as Mike Wazowski from Monsters Inc and Chip the chipmunk; the former is a matcha red bean cheesecake whereas the latter is a peanut cheesecake.

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We love how Choose Me Cafe & Meals has successfully incorporated Asian ingredients into its cheesecakes. Fortunately, these sweet treats taste as good they look!

Instagram-worthy cheesecakes aside, the cafe is also known for their signature Lemon Tart (NT$120). Each citrus tart is topped with torched fluffy meringue and filled with smooth lemon curd. Its sweet crumbly pâte sucrée does a great job in offsetting the strong burst of tartness. We certainly wouldn’t mind another portion, please.

Choose Me Cafe & Meals
No. 423-1, Jinzhou Street
Zhongshan District, Taipei City, Taiwan 104
Tel: +886 2 2503 3386
Daily: 9am – 9.30pm
Nearest Station: Zhongshan Junior High School

About the writer:
Hui Jun Ng is a staff writer for ladyironchef. She previously worked in the food and marketing industry. She loves travelling and enjoys exploring underrated destinations. In her free time, you will find her indulging in coffee and her all-time favourite local dish – bak chor mee.

No trip to Taiwan is complete until you have checked out the bustling night markets which boast a plethora of street food and retail options. There are many night markets across Taipei and Shida Night Market is one of the places that you should include in your itinerary.

Located in a university area, Shida Night Market is exceptionally popular amongst the local youth community. But Shida Night Market is not limited to just the natives; it is also a tourist attraction on its own. There are many vendors here – and they do have a tendency to relocate within the compound itself, so keep your eyes peeled as you make your way through the market!

From Arnor Crepe’s cooked-to-order crisp crepes, Hsu Ji’s pan-fried pork buns to Niu Lao Da’s aromatic beef noodles, here is our guide To Taipei’s Shida Night Market.

#1 ARNOR CREPE

A long queue is formed outside Arnor Crepe and you can choose from a wide selection of sweets and savouries. Upon placing your order, the batter is poured onto the griddle and cooked till golden brown. Sauces and toppings are added onto the crispy crepe and viola, these fragrant crepes are good to go.

#2 DENG LONG LU WEI

Deng Long Lu Wei might be pretty difficult to locate for those who do not know traditional Mandarin, but you can easily identify the stall with its hanging red lanterns.

The concept is similar to Yong Tau Foo i.e. pick whatever ingredients you fancy (the variety is amazing!) and place them in a basket. The food will then be chopped up and cooked in a savoury broth.

#3 HSU JI

Established in 1984, Hsu Ji sells only Sheng Jian Baos aka Pan-fried Dumpling stuffed with Minced Pork. The relentless queue formed outside Hsu Ji is a testimony to its popularity—which is unsurprising, given how it has been featured in so many media publications.

#4 LAO TIAN TIAN

Lao Tian Tian specialises in homemade desserts and over here, you can treat yourselves to refreshing grass jelly and shaved ice dessert.

#5 NIU LAO DA

When directly translated, Niu Lao Da literally means Beef Boss. The eatery is best known for its beef noodles, but its other chef-recommended dishes such as handcrafted dumplings and beef roll pancakes are equally well-received too.

#6 SHENG CHAO HUA ZHI

Drop by Sheng Chao Hua Zhi for some wok-fried sliced fresh squid. The succulent and chewy seafood is served in a viscous stock alongside bamboo shoot, carrots, garlic and red pepper etc. The soup is characterised by a distinct sourness.

#7 SHI YUN

Shi Yun has been around for more than three decades and its deep-fried chicken is arguably the most famous dish. But take a closer look at the display and you will see a display of beancurd, mushrooms, vegetables and more.

Place your desired ingredients into the basket, hand it over to the chef and he/she will fry them into a glorious mess.

#8 SINGAPORE CURRY

Venture into one of Shida Night Market’s smaller alleyway and you might chance upon Singapore Curry.

The mini eatery is also known as Ah Li Ma Ma. Already craving for Singaporean cuisine after all that deep-fried chicken cutlets and bubble tea? Well, visit Singapore Curry to satisfy your cravings.

#9 YU BAN BU NENG

Yu Ban Bu Neng piqued our attention with its seemingly dodgy set up and snaking queue formed around it. Initially, we were mistaken that they might have been selling raw boneless chicken—but it turns out that the makeshift stall is selling Salted Water Chicken served in plastic takeout bags. You can choose from a handful of ingredients to complement the chicken.

#10 SHOPPING

The trailing retail stores actually constitute a huge component of Shida Night Market. There are many trendy fashion stores selling accessories and apparels for both men and women. It is also worth mentioning that a significant number of stores are dedicated to mobile gadgets.

Shida Night Market
Lane 39, Shida Road
Da’an District, Taipei City, Taiwan 106
Closed on Mondays
Tue to Sun: 5pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Taipower Building

For more recommendations, read our food & travel guides to Taipei.

Everyone has had their fair share of fancy afternoon teas on a three-tier cake stand, but have you had brunch from a suitcase? This dining concept is complete new to us too and if you are interested – it is available right in the heart of Taipei city centre.

It is a signature dish at TankQ Cafe & Bar, where avid travellers can take their incurable wanderlust to a whole new epic level.

We arrived TankQ Cafe & Bar before its official opening time – and there was already a queue formed outside.

We heard about the local eatery from our Airbnb host and she described it as ‘the place where you could eat from a luggage’. There were no online english reviews and no english menu to refer to – and that was when we knew we had found a locals-only dining gem.

Everything on the menu is prepared freshly upon order, hence TankQ Cafe & Bar has stated that a minimum waiting time of half an hour is required before your food is ready.

Indeed, we waited at least 40 minutes before our food and drinks were served. Due to its overwhelming popularity, there is a maximum allocated dining duration of two hours for each table.

The Hot Latte (NT$150) and Hot Mocha (NT$160) took us by surprise as they were served in the cutest Baymax and Spiderman mugs. Each hot beverage is complemented with a chocolate brownie, gummy bear, aeroplane savoury biscuit and colourful sugar cereals.

We ordered their popular Breakfast Set (NT$320) which was served in a closed rustic wooden suitcase. Open the luggage and unveil its edible contents – buns, chicken sausages, fries, mashed potato, salad, scrambled eggs, smoked bacon and three different sauces. The portion is incredibly filling and the Breakfast Set is recommended for sharing between two diners.

TankQ Cafe & Bar
No. 3-2, Lane 90, Songjiang Road
Zhongshan District, Taipei City, Taiwan 104
Tel: +886 2 2521 9930
Daily: 11.30am – 12am
Nearest Station: Songjiang Nanjing

About the writer:
Hui Jun Ng is a staff writer for ladyironchef. She previously worked in the food and marketing industry. She loves travelling and enjoys exploring underrated destinations. In her free time, you will find her indulging in coffee and her all-time favourite local dish – bak chor mee.

Taipei might just be one of the most underrated cities to visit. It doesn’t matter whether you are a foodie, a shopper, or if you simply enjoy marvelling at the wonders of nature – Taipei will have you covered.

So many street snacks to love, so many night markets to roam at, so many more karaoke sessions that we need, so many cultural centres to visit. Taipei is one destination in Asia you must visit.

Here are 25 Reasons To Love Taipei.

#1 THE CITYSCAPE AND ITS ORGANISED MESS

You’ve longed to see iconic skylines in cities like Paris and New York, but Taiwan’s scenic cityscape also holds its own charm. Signboards are everywhere, mostly with Chinese characters that we can’t read – but this mess is precisely what we appreciate.

#2 TAIWAN MILK TEA

Taiwan is home to many good milk teas. They come in bottles of all sizes and patterns, and can be easily found at all the convenience stores. Just pick one up at random and chances are it won’t disappoint.

#3 STEAMED DUMPLINGS

Taiwan might not be the origin of dumplings, but you will be able to find tons of these all over the streets. A plate of piping hot steamed dumplings are what we yearn for the most when we visit in the cold December.

#4 THE EFFICIENT METRO SYSTEM

Getting around the country is easy, especially when their metro system is clean, organised and very efficient. And inexpensive, of course.

#5 THE SHEER NUMBER OF NIGHT MARKETS

This goes without saying. Taiwan’s sheer number of night markets means every night will be occupied and fulfilling. We love roaming these markets and hunting for the best street hawkers and snack stalls.

#6 DIN TAI FUNG

Taiwan is, after all, the birthplace of the world-famous Din Tai Fung. Take things up a notch by visiting the brand’s very first outlet in Xinyi road.

#7 THE ARRAY OF CONVENIENCE STORES AT THE READY

Sounds silly, but if you’ve stepped in to one at Taiwan, you would realize how much it eases your life! Apart from the usual routines like picking up a snack or a drink, you can pay your utility bills, buy movie tickets, use the ATM, have your blood pressure measured, print documents and so much more – all within one convenience store.

Read more about the 12 Things That Make Taiwanese Convenience Stores So Awesome.

#8 YONG KANG STREET – A DINING DESTINATION IN TAIPEI

Yong Kang Street is a dining destination in Taipei. Whether its cheap and delicious Taiwanese snacks like ‘cong zhua bing’, shaved ice mountain or beef noodles; nice and chic cafes where you can get a cup of good coffee and desserts; or niche boutiques selling lifestyle products – there are plenty of options at Yong Kang Street. You can easily spend a day wandering in the alleys.

#9 TAIPEI 101 TOWER

When in Taipei, the Taipei 101 Tower is a must-see. The magnificent giant houses offices and many retail shops. Going up the tower will allow you to get an aerial view of the entire city too.

#10 CHIA TE’S SUNCAKCES AND PINEAPPLE TARTS

Chia Te makes some of the best Taiwanese pastries, and the queues outside their stores – comprising both locals and tourists – is proof of that statement.

#11 THE BEAUTIFUL STREETS OF JIUFEN

Jiufen retains an old-world charm; think bright red lanterns and cobbled pavement. The narrow, snaking streets are made up of souvenir and snack stalls. Jiufen is also a popular filming spot for Taiwanese TV programmes!

Read about the 7 Must-try Local Food at Taiwan’s Jiufen Old Street.

#12 PETS ARE PART OF BOUTIQUES

It is not every day that you get to play with Toy Poodles while shopping for your clothes in a local boutique. Taiwanese sure love their pets and they bring them along to work!

#13 FUJIN STREET – THE OTHER YONGKANG STREET

This is the other Yongkang Street you never knew about.

Primarily a residential area, Fujin Street is an upcoming area in Taipei that is littered with coffee shops and lifestyle boutiques. It is still pretty untouched by tourism, and the quaintness is exactly what we appreciate.

Read our guide on What To See & What To Eat at Fujin Street.

#14 SMITH & HSU TEA & SCONE SALON

For us, no trip to Taipei s complete without visiting the renown tea salon. They serve some of the best scones we’ve ever tasted, along with a myriad of fragrant tea flavours to choose from.

#15 XIMENDING

Ximending is probably the most bustling area in Taipei. This is where youngsters head to for some shopping fix and food. While the retail aspect is pretty acquired, we love Ximending for its food options.

#16 ALPACAS

Alpaca Cafe is real, and Oia Cafe is where you need to be at.

Oia Cafe is home to a few alpacas and they roam around freely in the cafe. Play with these adorable white creatures and feed them with carrots or food that are approved by the cafe’s owner—this is also the best way to get the alpacas to take a selfie with you.

#17 THE ENDLESS STREET FOOD

Fried squid, fried XXL chicken, sweet potato balls, taro chips, Taiwanese hot dogs, pork buns, milk tea, bittergourd juice… and the list goes on and on. Taipei is not for those who are on slimming diets.

And we say just eat to your heart’s content. The myriad of street food options is simply mind-boggling!

#18 ADDICTION AQUATIC DEVELOPMENT

Addiction Aquatic Development is a massive space that houses fresh seafood and aquamarine products, a large Japanese-style supermarket, and many themed restaurants and food kiosks under one roof.

It stands head and shoulders above other famous seafood markets in the world such as Tokyo’s Tsukiji Fish Market, Seoul’s Noryangjin Fish Market, Sydney’s Fish Market, and Perth’s Fremantle Market.

Watch our video of Addiction Aquatic Development on our Facebook page.

#19 KARAOKE SESSIONS

Because karaoke sessions are the best in Taipei. Holding personal concerts are what we do best, especially when the karaoke systems and rooms in Taipei are so impressive.

The song list is unbeatable too, for after all, Taipei is home to Mando-pop.

#20 AY-CHUNG MEE SUA

Yes, it is touristy. And yes, there are better mee sua in Taipei. But you know what? We still go to Ay-Chung Mee Sua every time we are in Taipei. It always hits the spot.

#21 THE PHOTOGENIC CITY STREETS

Let’s face it—Taipei has clean streets and you like your nice OOTD shots taken against the iconic background of motorcycles and yellow taxis, yes?

#22 DUNHUA SHOPPING AREA

This district in Taipei is home to a huge amount of stores selling new-age clothing. It is where the shoppers should know about.

#23 THE NEVER-ENDING AMOUNT OF SHOE STORES

Taiwanese seem to be really into the sports-luxe trend. Bagging home a pair of sneakers or two is easy peasy with the sheer number of options availabile—New Balance, Nike, Adidas, Ked’s and more.

#24 SUN YAT-SEN MEMORIAL HALL

It is almost like a ritual for all first-timers to Taipei—a visit to Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, who was the National Father to The Republic of China. It is a multi-purpose centre to learn more about Dr Sun’s contribution and his life.

The main entrance to the hall also contains a statue of Dr Sun Yat-sen. The renown guards-changing ceremony takes place hourly at the memorial hall’s entrance too.

#25 TRAIN RIDES ACROSS THE COUNTRY

You can take train rides to get from the city to more rural areas like Hualien. The trains are very comfortable, making the ride so much more painless. The trains will go past forests and mountains and rivers, and we love admiring those scenic landscapes along the way.

FOR MORE RECOMMENDATIONS ON WHERE TO GO, READ OUR TAIPEI’S FOOD AND TRAVEL GUIDES.

The quaint tree-lined Fujin Street is one of Taipei’s best-kept secrets. Spanning across 800 metres, this up-and-coming Taiwanese neighbourhood boasts an eclectic mix of chic boutiques, hipster cafes and furniture stores. It is also one of Taiwan’s most underrated but trendiest lifestyle destinations, and celebrities are often spotted in this vicinity!

Fujin Street is equivalent to Singapore’s hipster neighbourhoods Tiong Bahru and Haji Lane. The shops that line Fujin Street are tastefully designed and exude a mesmerising rustic charm; think brick walls, concrete floors and potted plants. The façade of these retail stores make a perfect backdrop for your OOTD and we felt like we were browsing through Pinterest—but in real life.

From boutique florist Botanica, Fujin Tree 353 Cafe by Simple Kaffa, Restaurant Pinecone to fashion apparel store BEAMS, here is our Guide to Taipei’s Fujin Street and the 15 Cafes and Shops To Check Out.

#1 BEAMS

You might know BEAMS—a fashion apparel store selling both womenswear and menswear—from Japan.

Trendy finds and eclectic designs are part of the norm at BEAMS, and Fashionistas should definitely make a stop here to check out what BEAMS has to offer.

No. 340, Fujin Street
Songshan District, Taipei City, Taiwan 105
Mon to Fri: 12pm – 8.30pm
Sat and Sun: 11.30am – 8.30pm
Nearest Station: Songshan Airport

#2 BEANS AND BEATS

Taiwanese hip-hop music label Kao! Inc shares the same space as Beans and Beats.

The former was created first, but its soaring popularity has since then encouraged its owner to start serving coffee and food to its customers. Today, Beans and Beats is a 2-in-1 concept coffeehouse.

No. 346, Fujin Street
Songshan District, Taipei City, Taiwan 105
Tel: +886 2 2765 5533
Mon to Fri: 11am – 7pm
Sat and Sun: 10am – 7pm
Nearest Station: Songshan Airport

#3 BOTANICA

Botanica is such a beautiful boutique florist that you wouldn’t be able to walk past it without doing a double take. From mini bouquets to stalks of roses, the head-turner sells a variety of flowers that will brighten up any girl’s day.

No. 470, Fujin Street
Songshan District, Taipei City, Taiwan 105
Tel: +886 2 749 1533
Nearest Station: Nanjing Sanmin

#4 CAFE MODE

Cafe Mode was established in 2013 and the spacious cafe has a unique theme: Wooden rocking horse.

The cafe has an open kitchen where you can catch all the preparation in action. Treat yourselves to Mont Blanc Chestnut Tart (NTS$150) or Chocolate Waffle with Fresh Banana (NTS$180).

No. 376, Fujin Street
Songshan District, Taipei City, Taiwan 105
Tel: +886 2 2748 6333
Daily: 10am – 8pm
Nearest Station: Songshan Airport

#5 DE’A

At first glance, de’A resembles a modern furniture store. But set foot inside and you will soon realise that it is in fact a Zakka store which sells bags, watches and more.

For the uninitiated, Zakka is a Japanese terminology which refers to absolutely everything and almost anything that seeks to improve your life and the aesthetics revolving around it.

No. 348, Fujin Street
Songshan District, Taipei City, Taiwan 10588
Tel: +886 2 2747 7276
Daily: 12pm – 8pm
Nearest Station: Songshan Airport

#6 FUJIN TREE 352

Fujin Tree 352 is a furniture shop brought to you by the Fujin Tree Group. Actually, many shops here are operated by the same group and you can pretty much attribute the street’s gradual gentrification movement to Fujin Tree Group.The pretty space is extremely

The pretty space is extremely Instagram-worthy and all design enthusiasts should drop by for some creative inspiration.

No. 352, Fujin Street
Songshan District, Taipei City, Taiwan 10583
Tel: +886 2 2767 5196
Mon to Fri: 12pm – 8.30pm
Sat and Sun: 11.30am – 8.30pm
Nearest Station: Songshan Airport

#7 FUJIN TREE 353 CAFE BY SIMPLE KAFFA

As its name suggests, Fujin Tree 353 Cafe by Simple Kaffa is yet another successful business venture by the Fujin Tree Group. This cafe is definitely the most popular one in the Fujin vicinity.

Coffee is serious business here and you can choose your beans from Brazil, Ethiopia, Kenya or Indonesia. Craft beers and Asian-inspired cafe nosh are available too. And occasional pastries include Swiss rolls and matcha cakes.

353, Fujin Street
Songshan District, Taipei City, Taiwan 105
Tel: +886 2 2749 5225
Daily: 9am – 9pm
Nearest Station: Songshan Airport

#8 FUN FUN TOWN

Turn into one of Fujin Street’s alleyways and you will chance upon Fun Fun Town. The multi-concept venue has a lot of stuff going on; expect a curated collection of mini potted plants, indie-looking postcards, traditional handicrafts and even imported artpieces.

No. 2, Alley 1, Lane 359, Fujin St
Songshan District, Taipei City, Taiwan 105
Tel: +886 2 2766 5916
Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays
Wed to Sun: 1pm – 8pm
Nearest Station: Songshan Airport

#9 HAVE A NICE

If oriental intricate handicrafts excites you, then Have A Nice will be your ultimate paradise. The shop—also a brainchild of the Fujin Tree Group—promotes numerous independent Japanese boutique brands and showcases their very limited stocks. The venue is also a popular space for private events.

The shop—also a brainchild of the Fujin Tree Group—promotes numerous independent Japanese boutique brands and showcases their very limited stocks. The venue is also a popular space for private events.

No. 479, Fujin Street
Songshan District, Taipei City, Taiwan 105
Tel: +886 2 2760 0709
Daily: 12pm – 7pm
Nearest Station: Nanjing Sanmin

#10 KYUSHU PANCAKE CAFE

Kyushu Pancake Cafe’s pancakes sell out like hotcakes. The popular chain originates from Japan and you can sample their original Kyushu Pancake Plain (NTS$180) or opt for something savoury, such as the Kyushu Pancake Egg Benedict (NTS$290).

No. 413, Fujin Street
Songshan District, Taipei City, Taiwan 105
Tel: +886 2 2749 5253
Mon to Fri: 11am – 9pm
Sat and Sun: 9.30am – 9pm
Nearest Station: Songshan Airport / Nanjing Sanmin

#11 PAUSA

Pausa is a minimalistic cafe that specialises in coffee and confectionery. Order a Cappucino (NTS$150) and complete your tea break with a Matcha Red Bean Roll (NTS$150) or Matcha Waffle with Ice Cream (NTS$250).

No. 344, Fujin Street
Songshan District, Taipei City, Taiwan 105
Tel: +886 2 27657996
Daily: 12pm – 8pm
Nearest Station: Songshan Airport

#12 PETIT PROVENCE

Petit Provence resembles a facade of a quaint French country cottage; it is every bit photogenic.

From candles, ceramics, scents to tableware, it is a retail store with a comprehensive variety of home decor items that are imported from Italy and Southern France.

No. 447, Fujin Street
Songshan District, Taipei City, Taiwan 105
Tel: +886 2 27681618
Mon to Sat: 10.30am – 7pm
Closed on Sundays
Nearest Station: Songshan Airport / Nanjing Sanmin

Petit Provence

#13 PERFIT

Find the perfect fit at sporting goods shop Perfit. The tastefully designed store boasts rows of backpacks, running shoes and even a yoga studio.

We totally dig the entire set up and their shelves of sports apparels!

No. 393, Fujin Street
Songshan District, Taipei City, Taiwan 105
Tel: +886 2 2767 1266
Daily: 11am – 8pm
Nearest Station: Songshan Airport

#14 POPOVER

Popover is Fujin Street’s newest addition, and the modern-looking dessert shop’s primary focus is on handcrafted sweet treats. Look forward to lemon curd choux pastries, fork-shaped baked pastries and whatnot.

No. 446, Fujin Street
Songshan District, Taipei City, Taiwan 105
Tel: +886 2 2761 2298
Closed on Mondays
Tue to Sun: 12pm – 7.30pm
Nearest Station: Songshan Airport / Nanjing Sanmin

#15 RESTAURANT PINECONE

Restaurant Pinecone is an Italian restaurant—probably the only one on that street—and props to the trattoria for such a gorgeous and rustic-looking interior and exterior!

The menu features handmade pastas, gourmet risottos and several other classic Italian delicacies.

No. 449, Fujin Street
Songshan District, Taipei City, Taiwan 105
Tel: +886 2 2765 0386
Mon to Fri: 11am – 9pm
Sat and Sun: 10.30am – 9.30pm
Nearest Station: Songshan Airport / Nanjing Sanmin

For more recommendations, read our Taipei food & travel guides here.

Think Taipei is all about Taipei 101 and Shilin Night Market? Not really. Addiction Aquatic Development is the place to visit when in Taipei.

Addiction Aquatic Development is a massive space that houses fresh seafood and aquamarine products, a large Japanese-style supermarket, and many themed restaurants and food kiosks under one roof. It is developed by Mitsui food and beverage enterprise group, who also owns several established Japanese restaurants in Taipei, including Mitsui - our favourite Japanese restaurant in the city.

Sitting near the Songshan Airport, and what used to be the old Taipei Fish Market, it is now an upscale and classy market with Addiction Aquatic Development. It stands head and shoulders above other famous seafood markets in the world such as Tokyo’s Tsukiji Fish Market, Seoul’s Noryangjin Fish Market, Sydney’s Fish Market, and Perth’s Fremantle Market.

LIVE AQUAMARINE PRODUCTS

At the main entrance, you will be received by the Live Aquamarine area.

The idea is to remove the middleman and to deal directly with consumers. With this, Addiction Aquatic Development is able to pass on the savings through providing reasonably priced live seafood from all over the world.

Expect a spread of fresh oysters, king crabs, lobsters, abalone, uni, scallops and more.

SEAFOOD BAR

The Seafood Bar at Addiction Aquatic Development offers an array of fresh seafood. You can eat to your heart’s content here.

MEAT, GROCERIES AND FLOWER MARKET

Apart from seafood, you can also get imported and local fresh fruits, vegetables and meat. The sheer variety is crazy, and if we were living in Taipei, we know we would be doing our grocery shopping here every week!

Pasta, noodles and grains. Beef, pork and chicken. Oranges, berries and melons.

Salt, sugar and pepper. Butter, cheese and cream. Juice, milk and tea. Anything that you might need in the kitchen; anything at all.

It is one trip to the grocer you’d be happy to take. The choice are aplenty, and any culinary fanatic will have a whale of a time with these groceries!

SUSHI BAR

Our first thought upon seeing the tanks of fish was sushi. So you think Tsukiji Market is the only legit place for fresh nigiri sushi? Addiction Aquatic Development is another!

Beautiful sliced fishes in all sorts of colours sit atop vinegared rice, all prepared fresh before your eyes and awaits at the sushi bar. There are sashimi options too.

SUSHI & SASHIMI TO GO

Well, you can have both the sashimi and sushi to go, too. We bought a box and took it outdoors where the morning air was dewy and fresh, and you bet our breakfast was more than wonderful.

COOKED FOOD DELI

You have your bento sets here, alongside several other mains of the day. This counter boasts a wide selection of cooked food for takeaway, and it is so convenient because you just pick whatever you like, then head out to the large outdoor dining area to enjoy your hot food.

Best suggestion: buy something from the cooked food deli, buy a box of sushi and/or sashimi, grab some drinks from the grocer, then have a communal party at the outdoor dining area with your companions. Everyone gets to eat a bit of everything!

HOTPOT DINING AREA

If raw fish ain’t your thing, there is a hotpot option as well. Think huge pots of seafood goodness, with everything coming fresh from the sea. Expect nothing short of a soup so sweet that bears the essence of the freshness from all the seafood.

A seafood pot starts from NT$980.

OUTDOOR CHARCOAL GRILLED SEAFOOD RESTAURANT

This is one fond experience we would always remember of Addiction Aquatic Development. We had such an amazing meal at the outdoor restaurant where we sat under fairy lights and dined with the best company.

It is simple – you just order whatever you want from grill stalls, and your seafood will be grilled to order and served hot. Those big pots you see are actually charcoal-lit, where your seafood will sit and be kept warm.

That sheer simplicity of fresh, flavourful seafood, complete with red wine and a touch of winter breeze. It is one quintessential meal when at Addiction Aquatic Development.

Addiction Aquatic Development
No. 18, Alley 2, Ln 410, Minzu E Rd
Tel: (02) 2508 1268
Daily: 6am – 12midnight
Nearest Station: Zhongshan Jr. High School Station/ XingTian Temple Station

For more recommendations, read our Taipei city guides on the best places to eat, see, and do.

Everyone knows Beauty In The Pot (in Singapore), but do you know that the concept is inspired by Taiwanese brand, Wu Lao Guo? More interestingly known as “elixir health pot”, this is one of the most popular hotpot places in Taipei, and there are three outlets across the city – every one is packed daily and reservations are most definitely required.

And you may wonder why they are so popular. That’s simply because they are more than just a hotpot restaurant. If you’ve been to Beauty In The Pot and you are familiar with the works – ingredients, soup and post-meal palate cleanser – then you must know that Wu Lao Guo was the one who created this trend.

The million dollar question – is Wu Lao Guo worth a visit when in Taipei?

Without a doubt, yes it is. For one, we always need to understand the original product before we can assess and do a fair comparison, right?

But apart from that, Wu Lao Guo won our hearts in many ways.

THE AMBIANCE

Comfortable, spacious and private. Every group has their own booth and space, so there is no need to eat elbow to elbow, nor worry that someone else would be staring at you while you stuff your face with food.

And at every booth, you can help yourself to the wet towels and toothpicks with no additional charge.

THE SERVICE

Taiwanese are known to be friendlier and service-oriented, and though we do not experience this everywhere in Taipei, we sure did here at Wu Lao Guo. The staff are eager to help, and they make sure you are comfortable with everything that you would need for your meal.

Intermittently, they go around from table to table, and generously dunk chunks of pig’s blood (don’t gag yet) into your broth. We know it is not something for everyone, and you really don’t have to eat it (though those who do really truly madly deeply love it) because it is meant to keep your broth sweet and flavourful.

If your soup has “lost its flavour” from the addition of a complicated mix of ingredients, just call for the staff and they will gladly add in the necessary herbs and spices to your broth to recreate the taste.

And yes, they have the signature post-meal palate cleanser that is complementary, too. For the uninitiated, when you are done with your hotpot feast, the staff will bring you a jug of calamansi ice-blended drink. Refreshing to say the least, this palate cleanser is the best way to cleanse your palate so that you won’t leave the restaurant feeling all thirsty and sick from all the savoury food.

THE BROTH

There is the regular broth, and there is the mala (spicy) broth.

We are familiar with the creamy collagen soup in Singapore’s Beauty In The Pot. But the original broth at Wu Lao Guo is actually more herbal than milky. It is still smooth and sweet, except that there is a distinct underlying herbal note that leaves a lingering aftertaste.

But what blew our minds was the “key ingredient” that gave the soup flavour – milky curds that they call ‘tofu ice cream’. Yes, they are made of Japanese milk ice cream, and they are hardened before being added to the soup. It does not melt completely even when stirred, but that is how we were advised to eat it – with it being slightly soggy and airy, like marshmallow.

Totally mind-blown. How does ice cream not melt, and still sweeten the broth?!

Then there is the mala one, which is your usual Sichuan-style soup with lots of peppercorn, dried chilli, star anise, cloves and what-have-you. We always know Sichuan mala soup as, well as its Mandarin name suggests, numbingly spicy. Not too huge a fan of that, but Wu Lao Guo’s rendition didn’t burn and numb our tongues. Instead, it has a slightly thicker consistency and is very drinkable – all these while still boasting a robust flavour that has an addictive primary note of peppercorns.

THE MEATS

The selection is pretty standard – you’ve got your chicken, the different types of beefs and porks.

Then, there is the signature hand-beaten meatballs that we loved so much for its bounciness. Go for the platter of four flavours; we loved the beef ball and shrimp ball the most.

THE OTHERS

Vegetables, mushrooms, dumplings… Pretty much the usual ingredients that people would ask for. And your staples such as rice and noodles are in the menu as well.

Except that we missed our luncheon meat. We were genuinely shocked and disappointed upon flipping the menu for a few times and still not find it at all. All hotpot meals must have luncheon meat; anyone’s with us on this?

Oh, they have quite a range of desserts as well.

THE BEVERAGES

Now, what is hotpot without some beer? We love Wu Lao Guo for their variety.

Dinner wouldn’t have been better without some Taiwan Mango Beer. We paid NT100 per bottle – that is less than S$5! – and it was one of the smoothest and tastier beers we’ve ever had.

Otherwise, there are your regular soft drinks, and a series of teas to pick from – think oolong tea and citron tea.

THE PRICE

Wu Lao Guo may not be the cheapest hotpot restaurant in Taipei, but it sure offers great value for money. The quality is generally more premium, and the individual item cost is reasonable.

One thing to note – a base charge is applicable and it goes by per pax, and it depends on the type of broth you order. But it is not any exorbitant amount; just about NT180 per pax.

Wu Lao Guo Elixir Health Pot
No. 124, Section 1, Xinsheng S Road
Tel: +886 2 3322 5529
Daily: 11.30am – 1am
Nearest Station: Zhongxiao Xinsheng

No. 143, Section 3, Civic Blvd
Tel: +886 2 2731 7928
Daily: 11.30am – 2am
Nearest Station: Zhongxiao Fuxing

The whole world is crazy over the cat without mouth: Hello Kitty, the cat with the highest commercial value. Said to be born in London on November 01 1974, she is as tall as five apples, and weighs as much as three apples. And because she is portrayed as such a bright and kind-hearted girl who is always surrounded by many friends, Hello Kitty is a world phenomenon today.

Anything that has Hello Kitty stamped on it becomes a collectible, anywhere with Hello Kitty attracts great crowds. And this includes the ever popular Hello Kitty Sweets at Taipei – visited by endless crowds everyday from all over the globe.

With its signature pink decor, the cosy little cafe can be spotted from afar. Upon stepping it, we felt like we entered another world – a world so fascinating and unbelievably gorgeous. The cafe was lined with pink and white furniture, the scent of the sweet desserts filled the air, soft piano pieces looping in the background, and all the waitresses were exceptionally cutesy with their frilly French-maid inspired uniforms.

We were ushered to a booth seat, and given a menu full of Hello Kitty-themed desserts. It was surely no mean feat to decide on our orders, because everything looked so pretty and tantalizing! We finally settled on ordering based on what would look best in pictures.

Prior to our visit, we heard from many friends that the desserts were awful. But much to our surprise, they were anything but awful. If any, some were beyond decent!

Our favorite had to be the Chocolate Mousse Cake with Strawberry Choco Balls, and the Layered Fruit Cake. The former was rich, but not overly sweet; the latter was a simple vanilla chiffon cake with fresh fruits generously stuffed in between the layers. The desserts are priced between NT$300-360 (S$12.50-15), and each set comes with a drink.

And with every order, you get a complimentary custard pudding – in the shape of Hello Kitty’s head, of course!

It was lovely to just sit there and chat the afternoon away, and to enjoy the thematic atmosphere together with all the fans who were crazily snapping photos all over the cafe.

Hello Kitty, oh Hello Kitty. How you make every girl go weak in the knees! I promise I will come back to try more desserts the next time I am at Taipei.

Hello Kitty Sweets Cafe
No 90, Section 1 Daan Road
Daan District, Taipei
Tel: +886 2 2711 1132
Daily: 11.30am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Zhongxiao Fuxing

Words by Melody Yap, photographs by ladyironchef

Mitsui Cuisine is famous for being one of the best Japanese restaurants in Taipei, and when we were there last month, we knew our trip would not be complete without an omakase dinner there. Alas! It was such a splendid and memorable experience. Mitsui Cuisine truly lives up to its name.

The menu offers a hierarchy of omakase selections, and we had the most basic Yue Yin Set (NT$1,800 or S$75). All sets comprise 7 to 8 courses, and the main difference in them lies in the dishes and the quality of ingredients.

The introductory course to kick start our dinner was a beautiful plate of seasonal sashimi handpicked by the chef – slices of seabream, sweet ebi, maguro… just to name a few. The freshness of every piece brought out the essence of sashimi and we had never appreciated sashimi so much before. Very good start to our dinner, indeed.

This was succeeded by a small dish of creamy uni and seared hotate with tomato cubes and cucumber.

The salad was equally good. It was a concerto of prawn or abalone, fresh Japanese cucumber, ripe juicy tomato, sweet corn and crisp red apple. Talk about basic ingredients with notes of sweetness in symphony!

Up next was a dish of plain crab legs – a continued encounter with the fundamental sweetness of quality ingredients. We polished off every shred of flesh.

The Grilled Red Snapper was another winner. It was served in the most unassuming manner, but it blew us away when we took the very first bite. The flesh was flaking with freshness, sweet to say the least, and every mouthful brought us closer to heaven. I’d never have imagined snapper to be this good, and this dish redefined the otherwise common and predictable household fish.

For the beef, we were served two renditions – one with an egg white foam, and the other cooked in a delicious miso sauce. The former was a rather safe bet with the egg white foam adding a gentle texture to the grilled medium-rare beef slices. Innovative, but lackluster, if we could say. The latter was a much more exciting one with thinly-sliced beef soaked in a miso sauce, presented atop a slightly-charred daikon. Flavourful and definitely satisfying, and needless to say, this won our hearts.

Finishing our savoury dinner was a bowl of piping hot fish miso soup and a bowl of clam consomme. The fish miso soup was a lot lighter than our usual miso soup, and we thought it brought us to a comforting end, while the clam consomme was really nothing more than an ordinary clear broth.

And we could always use a sweet ending. Concluding our omakase dinner was a delectable serving of Japanese red bean soup, matcha chiffon cake and fresh fruits. Very common Japanese sweets that could hardly go wrong.

Mitsui Cuisine
B1, No.108, Sec. 1, Dun-hua South Road
Taipei City
Tel: 02 2741 3394

Words by Melody Yap, photographs by ladyironchef

For more recommendations, read our guide on Where to eat in Taipei

Taipei is a city that is known for its amazing street food – beef noodles, mee sua, stinky tofu, chicken cutlet, Taiwanese sausages, and more. But at the same time, it also has many good restaurants and trendy cafes that are worth checking out.

Here is a list of places to eat in Taipei.

One of my favourite places in Taipei is Smith & Hsu (No.33, Zhong Xiao E. Road, Sec. 5 Taipei City Tel: +886 02 2747 4857) – an all day afternoon tea place. After going there, I am convinced that someone should open a similar concept in Singapore. You can order a three tier dessert set (NT$1200 or S$50) to share among 2-4 people. Or just get the cream tea set (NT$260 or S$10) which comes with two home-made scones, clotted cream, English farm jam, and a cup of tea. Their scones are easily one of the best that I’ve had.

Kick-ass awesome tonkatsu from Anzu Restaurant. A rosu set is only NT$350 (S$15). They also have tonkatsu sets that are suitable for girls with small appetite. For those of you who love tonkatsu, Anzu is definitely a must-visit when you are in Taiwan.

For a hearty brunch, The Diner (ATT4Fun No. 12 Song Shou Road Tel: 02 7737 5055) near Taipei City Hall is the place to go. Favourites like big breakfast, banana & chocolate pancakes, and steak & eggs are reasonably priced between NT$280 to NT$560 (S$12 to S$24)

I like Solo Pasta Italian Restaurant (No. 29-1, Section 1, Anhé Road, Daan District Taipei City Tel: +886 02 2775 3645)b because the Italian restaurant has good pasta at affordable prices ranging from NT$240 to NT$330 (S$10 to S$14).

One of the places to go for American style breakfast is NY Bagel Cafe (No. 122, Section 5, Xìnyì Road, Xinyi District Taipei City Tel: 02 2723 7977). Besides having a range of bagels, they also have breakfast food like French toast, pancakes and eggs. But the main reason why people like to come here is because the cafe opens till late on weekdays, and twenty-four hours on weekends.

Dazzling Cafe ( No. 11, Alley 7, Lane 205, Section 4, Zhongxiào East Road, Daan District Taipei City Tel: 02 8773 9238) should be a familiar name for those who often visit Taipei. It is the ‘IT‘ place in town, and people queue up for their signature honey toast.

Another trendy cafe that you should also check out is Melange Cafe (1F, 23, Lane 16, Zhongshan N Rd Sec 2, Taipei City Tel: 02 2567 3787). Go there for breakfast, and have a cup of coffee with their signature Belgian-style waffles.

I’ve always made it a point to splurge on at least one good restaurant whenever I travel, and in Taiwan, I dined at Abu Authentic Cuisine (28 Siwei Rd, Taipei City Tel: 02 2707 0699) as my friend Joan highly recommended it.

The meal that I had at Abu Authentic Cuisine – one of those nondescript restaurants that you will walk past without knowing – was indeed very good. While they have a good set lunch, I would suggest coming for dinner as the degustation menu (NT$2,680 or S$110) can give you the full experience. Reservations are required.

Tartine Bakery (#13-1, Lane 49, Sec. 1, Anhe Rd., Taipei City Tel: 02 2778 8831) is a pretty patisserie that serves French desserts like Saint Honoré, mille feuille, eclairs and macarons.

If you love desserts, you must also go to Room for Desserts (No 46, Alley 161, Section 1 Dun Hua South Road, Da An District, Taipei city Tel: 02 2711 2465). The cosy cafe is the perfect place to have a slice of cake and a cup of coffee, while catching up with your friends.

And of course, everyone must eat xiaolongbao from Din Tai Fung (No. 194, Section 2, Xìnyì Road, Daan District Taipei City Tel: 02 2321 8928). Go to the original branch located on Xinyi road at the corner of Yong Kang Street.

While you are at Yong Kang Street – one of the most popular streets that has many good restaurants and eateries – you should also try Kao Chi (5 Yongkang Street, Taipei City Tel: 02 2341 9984), which like Din Tai Fung, is known for their xiaolongbao.

Nobody leaves Taiwan without having shaved ice mountain – a popular dessert with fresh fruit toppings like mango, strawberry, on top of a pile of shaved ice. When you ask locals to name their favourite place, most of them would reply Yong Kang 15 (15 Yong Kang Street., Taipei City; Tel: 02 2321 3367).

Sweet Tea (No. 45 Shifu Rd, 4F Taipei 101 Tel: 02 8101 8177) – a tea salon by the famous Stay Restaurant – is a nice place to have afternoon tea. They have really good desserts, I’d recommend it when you are in Taipei. My only grouse is they have a minimum spending of NT$380/pax (S$16).

Coffee Alley (ATT4FUN, 3 floor No. 12, Song Shou Road Tel: 02 7737 0700) is perhaps, one of the most popular cafes in Taipei. It serves simple food like salad, sandwiches, desserts, and good coffee. Go during off-peak hours, or be prepared to queue for at least half an hour.

When Joan told me that Sumie Nouvelle Cuisine Japanese (4th Floor San Won Hotel, 172 Chung Hsiao East Road, Sec 4 Taipei City Tel: 02 2781 6909) is her favourite Japanese restaurant in Taipei, I knew that I had to make a trip there. A meal at Sumie isn’t cheap, but trust me, it is worth a visit. They have executive set lunch menus – ranging from NT$720 to NT$980 (S$30 to 41) – which are pretty value for money.

When one talks about fine dining restaurants in Taiwan, the name Joël Robuchon would instantly come to mind. If you are like me, a fan of his restaurants, then there’s no way you can miss L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon (5/F Bella Vita, 28 Song Ren Rd, Hsin Yi District Taipei Tel: 028729 2628).

And lastly, before you leave, you should drop by Sadaharu Aoki. Besides Tokyo and Paris, Taipei is the only city that has Sadaharu Aoki ((No.28 Song Ren Road, Xinyi, Bellavita B2F Taipei City Tel: 02 8729 2759) so you must go there for their macarons and pastries.