Top 5 Restaurants in Taiwan

Taiwan's Culinary Delights: A Local's Guide to Must-Try Restaurants

Beyond the vibrant street food scene, Taiwan boasts a wealth of renowned restaurants cherished by locals. During my recent visit, I was fortunate enough to experience five such establishments, some requiring reservations months in advance. This list is not a ranking of price, popularity, or taste, but rather a collection of recommendations from Taiwanese locals eager to share their culinary gems.

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1. Chun Shui Tang Spring Water Hall Cultural Tea House
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Chun Shui Tang 春水堂 Cultural Tea House, established in 1983, is renowned for its extensive tea selection and diverse menu. While the tea options are plentiful, the food menu is more limited.

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I arrived during lunchtime, so the restaurant was packed with people waiting in line outside. I had to wait a bit in line before being seated. Once I was seated, the waiter brought me a menu. After I made my selection, I went to the counter to pay and then waited for my food at the table.

1. Pearl Milk Tea (NT$85): A must-try in Taiwan, I ordered a small cup for NT$85. A large cup for NT$160 would be twice the size. The tea was fragrant and not too sweet, typical of Taiwanese tea. The tapioca pearls were a bit bland.

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2. Shrimp Shao Mai (NT$80) - Three pieces of large, juicy shrimp and pork dumplings served with a delicious sauce. No dipping required!

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3. Braised Bean Curd & Rice Gao (NT$155) This dish features both black and white tofu, served with sliced young ginger and basil leaves. The sauce is thick, similar to our panang curry, but with a prominent mala aroma. It's a delightful dish with a hint of spiciness.

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4. Kung-Fu Noodle (NT$85) This dish was recommended by the hotel. It features flat noodles similar to udon, topped with blanched bean sprouts and seasoned minced pork. The flavor is slightly salty with a fragrant sesame oil aroma. The portion size is not small and quite filling.

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5. Soy Sauce Braised Porkchop (NT$159)

This dish features a bed of steamed rice topped with soy-braised porkchop, stir-fried cucumber, fried egg, and bamboo shoots. The presentation resembles cold noodles. Before eating, mix all the ingredients together and enjoy with the crispy porkchop.

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Chun Shui Tang 春水堂 Cultural Tea House has more than 10 branches throughout Taipei. I had mine at the Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Department store on B2. The mall is located near Taipei Main Station, Exit Z4.

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Business Hours: 10:30 AM - 9:30 PM

Website: Chun Shui Tang

Ma La Hotpot (麻辣火锅)

Upon arriving in Taiwan, indulging in a hotpot experience is a must. With countless options available, the establishment I'm about to introduce stands out as exceptional, attracting queues that can stretch for hours. During my visit, a local fan page follower advised me to make a reservation to avoid an extended wait. Following their suggestion, I secured a reservation for 10:00 PM, only to discover a nearby branch just two blocks away on the second floor of the Inn Cube Ximen Hotel. Fortunately, a table was available, allowing me to savor the culinary delights without delay.

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This hotpot restaurant offers 4-5 different soup bases, but the麻辣(málà) soup is a must-try. I also chose the vegetable soup for a lighter option.

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This establishment's key strengths include:

1. A wide variety of menu options, including fresh produce, seafood, and processed foods.

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2. Premium Cuts of Meat

This establishment boasts an impressive selection of premium cuts, including NZ Sirloin, Certified Angus Beef, USDA Choice, and the crown jewel, USDA Prime. The latter is a favorite among renowned steakhouses worldwide, renowned for its exceptional tenderness. Each cut guarantees an unparalleled dining experience.

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3. The beverage selection is extensive, offering over 15 options, including 3 fruit juices, 4 carbonated drinks, tea, coffee, 4 sweet drinks, as well as Taiwanese beer and wine.

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The ice cream selection features 8 flavors from Mövenpick and 16 flavors from Häagen-Dazs.

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*** Terms and Conditions ***

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1. The price will be divided according to the time period.

- Lunch NT$498, served from 11:30 AM to 4:00 PM.

- Dinner NT$598, served from 4:00 PM to 5:00 AM.

• Weekend NT$598 11:30 AM – 5:00 PM

2. Duration of consumption: 2 hours.

3. 10% Service Charge

4. Outside beverages are allowed without an additional charge.

5. A NT$100 surcharge applies for single diners.

Website: Mala 1

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3. InParadise 饗饗 [Breeze Xinyi Building, Taipei, Taiwan]

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The International Buffet restaurant, which just opened on June 20, 2017, has become very popular. The highlight of this restaurant is that it is the highest dining room in Taiwan, offering panoramic views of Taipei City. The 101 building is clearly visible from the dining room, and the entire building can be seen without any obstructions. (Imagine the view from this dining room on New Year's Day when the 101 building sets off fireworks, it must be amazing!) Overall, it is considered one of the best restaurants with a view in Taiwan.

It is highly recommended to make a reservation by phone or through the website before visiting this restaurant, as walk-ins may be disappointed due to limited availability.

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Line Food

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Upon arrival, I took a preliminary tour of the food line, noticing several unique dishes that were not commonly found in upscale international buffets in Thailand. This was quite intriguing.

1. Soup & Porridge Station: This station offers a variety of unfamiliar dishes, including crab soup, clam soup, and the station's signature dish, abalone porridge.

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2. The Japanese Station offers high-quality seafood, thanks to its proximity to a large fish market. This ensures the freshness of ingredients, including salmon, salmon belly, hamachi, tuna akami, and a wide variety of sushi.

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3. Seafood Station is a popular station in every location, including here. This station offers two types of crab: 3-spot crab and brown crab. It also has shrimp, mussels, conch, and squid.

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4. Appetizer Station: A selection of canapés, salads, and freshly grated cheese will be available.

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5. Yaki Tori Station is a unique dining experience unlike anything found in Thailand. Reminiscent of an Izakaya, this station offers a wide variety of grilled dishes cooked over charcoal, including meat, whole fish, fish belly, grilled chicken, grilled pork, grilled mushrooms, and five types of tempura. Additionally, they offer chawanmushi (steamed egg custard), unagi donburi (rice bowl topped with grilled eel), soup curry, and oysters baked with cheese.

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6. Chinese Station: This station primarily features hot dishes, including Peking duck. Notably, the Peking duck here is served with sliced meat and can also be incorporated into sushi.

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7. European Station

This station is a personal favorite, offering a variety of meat options including ribs and sirloin, as well as a teppanyaki section featuring Hokkaido scallops, shrimp, pork steak, beef steak, and lamb chops.

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The dessert station offers a wide variety of options, including visually appealing cakes, chocolates, fresh honeycomb, and the highlight, Häagen-Dazs ice cream.

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9. Beverage Station: This station offers a wide variety of beverages, including beers, fresh fruit juices, soft drinks, over 10 types of tea served hot and cold, and various types of coffee. (When will Thai hotel buffets include all-inclusive beverages like this in the buffet price? I think it would be better to include it in the price rather than having to pay extra.)

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Let's take a look at the food.

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InParadise饗饗 is located on the 46th floor of the Breeze Center building. If you are taking the MRT, get off at Taipei City Hall EXIT 3 and you will find the entrance to the building.

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Price: NT$ 1,190 on weekdays (11:30 AM - 2:00 PM) / NT$ 1,590 on weekends

14:30 – 16:00 Weekdays NT$ 890 / Weekends NT$ 1,190

Weekdays 17:30 – 21:30 NT$ 1,590 / Weekends NT$ 1,590

Tel: +882-8780-9988

Website: http://inparadise.com.tw/

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4. KaiFun Sichuan Cuisine Restaurant
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This Sichuan restaurant in Taiwan specializes in spicy dishes and is highly popular. It currently has three branches. The restaurant's decor features chili peppers, even the chopstick rests are shaped like chili peppers.

Following the restaurant's recommendation, I opted for their signature dish, a must-try according to the staff. Before the meal commenced, we were presented with a refreshing Berries Vinegar to stimulate our appetites.

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Spicy Beef Tender Jelly 🌶 NT$300

This cold dish, priced at NT$300, serves as an appetizer before the main meal. It features a refreshing, chilled beef jelly with a spicy kick, offering a delightful textural contrast with its crunchy bite.

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2. Stir-fried Stinky Tofu with Century Egg 🌶 NT$260. This dish features two strong-smelling ingredients: stinky tofu and century egg. If you're not a fan of either, it's best to avoid this dish. However, if you enjoy both, it's worth trying.

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3. Pork Jowl stir-fried with White Water Snowflake and Golden Mushroom (NT$260)

At first glance, I thought it was string beans or something, but it wasn't. In fact, I had never eaten it before. It's a local vegetable here, and even after being left out for a while, it's still crunchy and delicious.

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4. Stir-fried Pork and Seafood with Chili Paste 🌶 🌶 NT$420 This dish is typically made with offal, but I requested shrimp and squid instead. It was stir-fried with a salty and spicy sauce, and the aroma of dried chili was prominent.

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5. Sliced Grouper with Dried Chilli, Bean Paste, White Pepper, Chilli Oil and Ma la 🌶 🌶 NT$680

This dish features sliced grouper topped with a generous amount of dried chillies, bean paste, white pepper, chilli oil, and Ma la spices. The presentation is striking, with the fish almost completely obscured by the vibrant red spices.

The flavor profile is bold and fiery, with a significant level of spiciness. While described as a "level 2" on the restaurant's scale, it still packs a punch and leaves a lingering numbing sensation on the tongue.

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6. Free refills of steamed rice are available at no additional cost.

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Coordinates of KaiFun 開飯川食堂

I am located on the 7th floor of Uni-Ustyle Department Stores. You can take the MRT to Taipei City Hall Station, Exit 2, and take the elevator to the 7th floor.

Website: www.kaifun.com.tw

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KAIFUNTOGETHER/

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5. Fruitful Food Vegetarian Buffet
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A Taste of Health: Exploring Taiwan's Vegetarian Buffet Scene

While Taiwan boasts a vibrant culinary scene, health-conscious options are increasingly gaining traction. This trend aligns with the growing global focus on wellness, with over 12% of Taiwanese individuals embracing vegetarianism. Catering to this demand, a wave of vegetarian restaurants has emerged, offering diverse and delicious options.

Among these, buffet-style establishments stand out, providing a convenient and cost-effective way to sample a variety of dishes. These restaurants cater to a wide range of dietary preferences, ensuring that everyone can enjoy a satisfying and healthy meal.

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The vegetarian buffet restaurant Fruitful food, also known as 果然匯 in Chinese, is extremely popular among Taiwanese people. Even during a weekday lunch, every seat was fully booked.

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The food selection here is quite impressive, resembling a hotel buffet. The restaurant thoughtfully organizes dishes by country, making it easy for diners to choose their favorites.

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Let's take a look at the delicious vegetarian food.

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The restaurant provides bag covers, which are ideal for buffet-style dining where customers frequently get up to get food.

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Coordinates of Fruitful food vegetarian buffet果然匯

The shop is located on the 12th floor of the MING YAO Department Store. You can take the MRT to Zhongxiao Dunhua Station and exit from Exit 3.

Price: Weekdays 11:30–15:00 NT$538 / 17:30–21:30 NT$638

Saturday & Sunday

• 11:30 AM - 2:00 PM: NT$538
• 2:30 PM - 4:30 PM: NT$438
• 5:30 PM - 9:30 PM: NT$638

Tel: +886-2771-8832

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/www.fruitfulfood.com.tw/

Follow our reviews on two other channels for more information.

1. On Facebook http://www.facebook.com/LetsEatThailand and

2. Also on the blog http://www.LetsEatThailand.com.

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