Taiwan’s picturesque scenery produces equally alluring flavors. Innovative chefs combine classic dishes with cutting-edge gourmet techniques to form what has come to be known as ‘Locally-Global Cuisine.
Lu rou fan (braised pork rice) is an irresistibly comforting dish beloved by many locals. One of the best places to experience it can be found on Yong Kang Street; here you’ll find one of many such establishments serving it up.
Raw
Andre Chang established Raw as one of Taipei’s premier dining establishments to showcase Taiwanese cooking techniques. Their menu changes according to season and includes delicacies like porridge with scallops, cauliflower couscous and oyster bearnaise. Don’t miss trying their wagyu beef tartar and mahi-mahi crepe as well! Additionally, Raw offers an impressive selection of both national and artisanal beers!
Moon Beer Loves Dancing offers casual dining in a more laid-back environment. They boast an assortment of colorful burger buns as well as offering an impressive variety of artisanal beers and sourdough pizza.
Yong Kang Beef Noodles, an iconic local dish in Taipei since 1963, can also provide you with delicious local fare. Situated at the center of Yong Kang Street and offering dishes such as stewed pork knuckle and sesame oil chicken; as well as bowls of rice to accompany this hearty meal.
Restaurant Ephernite provides an unparalleled dining experience. As one of the first farm-to-table restaurants in Taiwan, their daily changing menu reflects whatever ingredients can be obtained from nearby farmers – truly exceptional food worth every cent spent here!
Mountain and Sea House, set within a 1905 mansion, provides guests with an exquisite fine-dining experience. Their menu showcases modern takes on classic Chinese dishes in an atmosphere filled with luxurious wooden furniture and bronze mirrors – guests can enjoy these meals within this luxurious environment with its nine main elements including salt, texture, memory purity south terroir artisanship. Within eight months after opening they were awarded one Michelin star!
Jin Feng
Taiwan is well known for their fusion cuisine, reinventing dishes from around their neighboring nations to make it uniquely their own. One such unique example is dessert meals – you’ll find rolled ice cream and tapiocas all across Taiwan’s cities; speciality porridge can also be found at Minder (Ming De Su Shi Yuan) or Three To (San Lai Su Shi Guan).
Space Bao is an excellent vegan restaurant in Taipei that specializes in pan-fried buns filled with veggie pork or Thai lemongrass – plus they accept credit cards! You’ll be hard pressed to find another comparable spot! Located conveniently in Songshan district and open from breakfast through late night.
Lin Dong Fang Beef Noodle is another fantastic spot in Taipei to eat at, having relocated from its street food stall in 2019. This restaurant provides both an a la carte menu as well as seasonal sets that change monthly to feature locally available ingredients.
Restaurant Ephernite was the first vegetarian restaurant in Taiwan to feature farm-to-table dining and serves a daily tasting menu made up of locally seasonal ingredients. Their offerings can change frequently throughout the month so be sure to come back more than once to experience all their dishes!
Din Tai Fung is an iconic Taiwanese chain restaurant, famous for their world-renowned xiaolongbao (steamed buns with meat inside). You can also find other Taiwanese dishes here and make sure to finish off your meal by enjoying some bubble tea!
Mume
MUME is one of Taiwan’s premier restaurants and should not be missed if you want an exceptional dining experience. Their unique menus combine modern European techniques with seasonal local ingredients for an unforgettable dining experience, featuring favorites like mahi mahi with salted kombu and creme fraiche; cuttlefish with nduja sausage and bell pepper; and prawn with lemon balm and kumquat as main courses.
MUME restaurant is small with dim lighting and cozy ambience; ideal for romantic dinners with its food served on high-quality ceramic plates. Staff members are knowledgeable and friendly, and it features an outstanding wine list. Additionally, this establishment boasts one of Asia’s most sustainable practices with their commitment to working closely with farmers while treating them fairly.
Established in 2014 by chef trio Richie Lin, Long Xiong and Kai Ward, MUME was named after Taiwan’s national flower of plum blossom which also shares Chinese characters with Lin’s mother’s name – hence its moniker “Mume”. Its cuisine boasts strong Modern Nordic influence due to the global experience of these chefs as they had worked at world renowned establishments such as Noma in Copenhagen, Quay in Sydney and Per Se in New York City before opening MUME.
MUME offers a menu divided into different sections, such as snacks, small plates and larger plates. Food at MUME is prepared using bistronomy principles for its preparation; this style fuses European and Asian ingredients with modern techniques in their food preparation. Among its outstanding dishes was its tender meat with coffee rub, along with its delicious grilled octopus dish and its sweet combination of warm custard with cold ice cream for dessert!
Kaiseki
Kaiseki cuisine hailing from Japan offers exquisite haute cuisine using rare Taiwanese ingredients. Their menu changes seasonally to complement seasonal ingredients. Their three principles of preparation are: (1) use only top ingredients (2) minimal seasoning (3) present elegantly (wabi-sabi). Due to limited seating at this restaurant, reservations must be made ahead of time in order to experience this exquisite dining experience – some popular dishes include wagyu beef tartar and mahi-mahi with green apple crepe crepe as some popular examples!
For an informal lunch experience in Taipei, visit one of the quick fry restaurants known as kuai chao or re chao. These large and noisy establishments feature short stools surrounding a round table where patrons sit on short stools to share many small plates of fried foods – perfect for sampling local seafood and fragrant herbs as well as Taiwanese versions of fusion cuisine such as mud crab taco and chocolate parfait peach coulis snowman!
Fuhang Soy Milk is one of Taipei’s premier vegetarian restaurants and should be on everyone’s to-visit list, especially vegans and vegetarians. Although often packed, its long lines make the experience worthwhile, as Fuhang serves some of Taiwan’s finest vegetarian buffet items including tianbula (fish cakes with spicy sauce), shaobing (flaky pastry filled with egg and youtiao) and warm salty soy milk – to name but a few!
Le Palais, one of Taipei’s premier French and Chinese restaurants, provides high-quality ingredients at an affordable set menu cost of US$90 per person. In addition to classics such as lobster risotto or chicken feet with garlic and chili, Le Palais also features some distinctive dishes, like lobster and prawn risotto or chicken feet with garlic and chili!
Danny’s Steakhouse
Danny’s Steakhouse near the National Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall is one of Taipei’s premier steak restaurants, serving delicious wagyu beef and ribeye, seafood dishes as well as cocktails and draft beer – not forgetting delicious desserts too. Perfect for romantic date nights or group outings alike!
Its intimate setting makes this restaurant extremely popular among locals; expect a wait of more than an hour on weekends, but the wait will surely be worth your while thanks to their delicious Taiwanese and Japanese-influenced dishes; their menu changes regularly according to seasonal produce – try sea urchin or tuna nigris as top items!
Fuhang Soy Milk, a popular breakfast spot, also serves sliced noodles. They offer traditional dishes like shaobing (unleavened flatbread) and youtiao as well as soy milk drinks and soups at reasonable prices – worth experiencing for themselves! Although slightly pricey, Fuhang Soy Milk should definitely not be missed out.
Hot pot is an increasingly popular dining tradition in Taiwan, often popular among large groups of friends or family, particularly during winter. Most hot pots provide all-you-can-eat service with unlimited beverages, ice cream, and draft Taiwan beer included – it’s an ideal way to sample new flavors while drinking lots of beer!
Din Tai Fung and Impromptu by Paul Lee are among the premier destinations for hot pot in Taipei, each boasting Michelin stars.
