#hungrylist/news: 10 BEST NEW RESTAURANTS TO TRY IN TAIPEI + HSINCHU, MAY 2022

I'm always getting asked if I have any recent finds and I finally had time to put together a short list of places I've either really enjoyed and look forward to going back to (and haven't mentioned yet on IG), or places that are on my list to try! Will try to do this monthly because Taipei is always changing and opening new things, even during a pandemic! Congrats to all the new restaurant openings, I already have a few to mention for next month's list! 

10 BEST NEW-ISH RESTAURANTS TO TRY IN TAIPEI, MAY 2022 #HUNGRYLIST

1. ZEA

2. AT EASE

3. ANTIPODEAN FUJIN

4. POKEWORKS

5. FONDA MEXICO

6. ACME CAFE

7. CHEF MARKET 

8. BE GOOD

9. LILLA (HSINCHU)

10. HSINCHUKU (HSINCHU)

1. Zea

TAIPEI's NEWEST RESTAURANT IS A MODERN LATIN AMERICAN TASTING MENU WITH HEART, OPENED THIS MONTH BY HUSBAND AND WIFE TEAM- ARGENTINIAN CHEF ELIZONDO JOAQUIN & DI HARN, @zea.tpe @elizondo_joaquin

106台北市大安區仁愛路四段300巷20弄5號 

No. 5, Alley 20, Lane 300, RenAi Rd, Sec. 4, DaAn District

2. At Ease

OPENED LAST FALL, IT'S IF IMPROMPTU  WAS A SPORTS BAR. CHEF PAUL LEE DREAMS OF STUFFED FRIED CHICKEN WINGS, BONE MARROW RICE, GOOSE FAT FRIES, BEER AND BASEBALL GAMES. @at_ease_tw

中山區中山北路一段49號 / No. 49號, Section 1, Zhongshan N Rd, Zhongshan District

3. Antipodean Fujin

BRINGING AUSSIE BRUNCH + AVOCADO TOAST TO FUJIN ST IN BIGGER AND BRIGHTER DIGS. NOW WE DON'T HAVE TO DRIVE ALL THE WAY TO NEIHU FOR QUEEN's BREAKFAST. @theantipodean

松山區民生東路五段27巷10號 / No. 10, Lane 27, Section 5, Minsheng E Rd, Songshan District

photo from @theantipodean

4.  Pokeworks

BUILD YOUR OWN POKE BOWL, FIRST BRANCH OUTSIDE OF THE MAINLAND. FINALLY REAL CALI-STYLE POKE BOWLS IN TAIPEI. THREE SCOOPS FOR ME PLUS AVOCADO AND LOTUS CHIPS. Read my review + more photos, click here!  @pokeworks.tw  

大安區復興南路一段107巷45號 / No. 45, Lane 107, Section 1, Fuxing S Rd, Da’an District

5. Fonda Mexico

FLAUTAS, TACOS, GRINGAS AND ENCHILADAS, OH MY. I'VE BEEN GOING BACK ON REPEAT SINCE LAST YEAR, BUT NOW IT'S TIME TO SHARE MY LATEST FAVORITE MEXICAN IN TAIPEI. DON'T FORGET TO ORDER GUACAMOLE AND FIND OUT THEIR SPECIAL OF THE DAY. @fondamexico

台北市中正區羅斯福路一段123號 / No. 123, Section 1, Roosevelt Rd, Zhongzheng District (02) 2351-5181

6. Acme Cafe 

AIRY GORGEOUS BRUNCH WITH A SHILIN VIEW. SO THAT'S WHAT's INSIDE THAT BUILDING. @acme.taipei

士林區劍潭路1號7樓 / No. 1 Jiantan Rd 7F, Shilin District, 

photo from @acme.taipei

7. Chef Market at Chun Place

TAKE YOUR PICK AT DAZHI's NEWEST + FANCIEST FOOD HALL - FROM WOOLOMOOLOO TO WAGYU LAB, SUSHI BAR TO SAKE BAR, IT'S LIKE SOMEONE PUT ALL THEIR GOURMET FAVORITES IN ONE PLACE. NOW YOU KNOW WHERE TO GET BANANA CREAM PIE AND CHIRASHI BOWLS FOR LUNCH. @chefmarket_tw

台北市中山區樂群三路303號/ No. 303 Lewinsky 3rd Rd, Zhongshan District 

8. Be Good

NEWLY OPENED HUMBLE HOUSE NANJING's CAFE, MENU BY CHEF KIN MING LAM. CHICKEN AND EGG WAFFLES ANYONE? @begood.tpe

10491台北市中山區松江路116號2樓 / No. 116 Songjiang Rd, 2F Zhongshan District

9. Lilla

LA VIBES IN HSINCHU, BAKERY AND MENU BY TEAMS FROM GEN CREATIVE, BOTTLESS + SALT & STONE. @lillaeats

新竹縣竹北市莊敬南路29號 / No. 29, Zhuangjing S Rd, Zhubei City, Hsinchu 

10. Hsinchuku

OOH CHA CHA"s SISTER CAFE, ASIAN FUSION VEGAN IN TRADITIONAL JAPANESE BUILDING IN HSINCHU. SOUTHEAST ASIAN FLAVORS SPICE UP THE PLANT FORWARD MENU, WHILE THE COCKTAILS REFRESH THE PALATE. @hsinchuku

No. 166, 南大路東區新竹市300 / No. 166, Nanda Rd, East District, Hsinchu 

my kitchen: EASY BEST CHOCOLATE CAKE

Easy Best Chocolate Cake

Makes 2x round 9 inch cake pans

I’m finishing the last of this cake and realized that I didn’t post the recipe here yet. (Amazingly, it’s still moist and delish even a few weeks later.) After posting on IG, I realized that the version I used from addapinch blog is a very close variation of Ina Garten and Hershey’s chocolate cake recipes. The hot coffee is definitely the secret ingredient that you cannot miss and I made a sour cream cream cheese frosting instead of chocolate. Will definitely make again. Enjoy! 

Easy Best Chocolate cake 

FOR THE CHOCOLATE CAKE:

Ingredients  
2 cups all-purpose flour 

2 cups sugar

3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda 

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup milk or buttermilk, almond, or coconut milk

1/2 cup oil 

2 large eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 cup boiling water + 1 teaspoon instant coffee 

• Preheat oven to 176 C / 350º F 
• Prepare two 9-inch cake pans by lining bottom with oven paper or buttering and lightly flouring.
• Add 2 cup flour, 2 cup sugar, 3/4 cup cocoa, 2 teaspoons baking powder, 1.5 tsp baking soda and 1 tsp salt  to a large bowl. Mix dry ingredients. 
• Add 1 cup milk (I added a little lemon for buttermilk substitute), 1/2 cup vegetable oil, 2 eggs, and 2 teaspoons vanilla to dry ingredients and mix together on medium speed until well combined.  
• Slowly add 1 cup boiling water+ coffee on low speed until well combined. It will be runny/on the thin side, and that’s ok. 
• Split cake batter evenly between the two lined round cake pans, or one large pan for sheet cake. Bake for 30-35 minutes, until a toothpick or chopstick inserted in the center of the chocolate cake comes out clean. If you make cupcakes, check cupcakes around 20-25 min and scoop with ice cream scooper. 

FOR THE SOUR CREAM FROSTING:

• 1 1/2 cups sour cream
• 1 cup cream cheese 
• 3 tablespoons powdered sugar 
• 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Stir until creamy and combined. Will be less firm than cream cheese frosting at room temperature.