american/brunch: I strongly recommend BOTTLESS brunch

BOTTLESS 非瓶

No. 26-1, Qingcheng Street, Songshan District, Taipei 

(02) 2514-0089

MRT: Nanjing/Fuxing (Brown line) (3 minute walk)

website:  drinkbottless.com

hours: 11AM- 3PM; 5:30PM- 11PM

$$ 

Kid friendliness: many kid friendly dishes on the menu

Visit reviewed: April 2021/ December 2020

iceberg wedge salad 

Pork belly chilaquiles, iceberg wedge salads and giant cinnamon rolls- these are some of my must orders on the brunch menu at Bottless, the sister restaurant of Gen Creative. 

Opened over a year ago by the chefs at Gen Creative, Bottless offers two completely different menus for brunch or dinner, and most importantly to diners today, at sizable American portions at affordable prices. You won't find avocado toast or omelettes here- instead it's Korean American Chef Han Cho's heartier versions of American classics. 

Dinner is a completely different menu with appetizers, mains and desserts to share. I've only been to dinner here once when they first opened, I need to go back for dinner again! The name Bottless comes from their wine on tap concept and wanting customers to enjoy a glass of wine with their meal without the fuss. 

Broccoli and iceberg wedge salad

There are few salad options on the brunch menu. I'm a fan of their broccoli salad (NT$320) and like to get the tart dressing on the side. I love the toasted quinoa and pickled onions for the added crunch. The new iceberg wedge salad (NT$300) is a new favorite. I love how the dressing wasn't too heavy despite being creamy and I just just found myself going back for more. 

Pork belly chilaquiles 

The pork belly chilaquiles(NT$390) are My MUST ORDER dish here! it's like having nachos for brunch but fancier. the dragon corn is SUPER sweet and all the flavors just go together for the perfect bite. This was everyone's favorite at my recent visit which was everyone else's first visit. 

Grilled cheese and tomato soup

The grilled cheese and tomato soup (NT$350) was hard to share so not sure I got an accurate taste of this dish. I had 1/8 of the grilled cheese and dipped it in the tomato soup. But I LOVE tomato soup. I miss the version at Woollomoolooo, they stopped making it a few years ago. Sad face. 

Coconut curry chicken

And I was too full to enjoy this Coconut curry dish. (NT$420) With chicken, rice and slaw, this is a very complete dish for one person. 

Fried chicken and biscuits

Can't go wrong with fried chicken and biscuits (NT$380). The biscuits here are bit more dense and less fluffy and they are slightly sweet. 

Kaya French toast

Kaya French toast (NT$340)! The server gave us a heads up that we probably didn't need the additional syrup and he was right. The spongy French toast is new to the Bottless menu.

Other things to order- giant cinnamon roll, ice cream sandwiches 

I would also recommend ordering/saving room for their giant cinnamon roll (NT$260), but we didn't have room for it on this visit because it was my friend's birthday and there were a few birthday cakes already. But the cinnamon roll IS worth the calories. Other things I recommend trying from the brunch menu at Bottless are the ice cream sandwiches, the burger and the breakfast sandwich if it ever returns to the menu!

Advanced reservations recommended. 

 

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BOTTLESS SPRING 2021 MENU

roundup /taipei : best things i ate last week jan 2020

The Best Things Hungry in Taipei Ate Last Week, January 1, 2020

I'm always getting asked about what I've eaten lately that's good and so I'm going to try to revive the weekly round up! Enjoy and let me know if there's anything I should be eating in Taipei!

Fried chicken thighs and legs at FAT DADDY'S CHICKEN

If one of your new year's resolution is to eat healthier this year, then do not watch this video. It was the first time I tried Fat Daddy's Chicken, fried chicken cravings spurred on by a friend's post of the viral KFC rice trend that has been circulating. The chicken is crispy, juicy and ASMR ready, as evidenced by this video of two people crunching and slurping their way through a bucket. (Who knew there was a channel dedicated to ASMR'ing and whisprering about Taiwanese food?) Get the fries and onion rings if you must, but avoid the sweet potato balls. 

Cranberry pineapple cake at CHIA TE

I ended up visiting the Chia Te shop for the very first time last week when my friends from LA wanted to buy boxes to take back home. I tagged along because I had heard about it over the years, but I had never actually eaten one. My friend proclaimed that the cranberry pineapple cake was her favorite and after trying a few of them, she was right. The touch of tartness of cranberry gives this traditional pastry that extra touch I never knew it needed. Be prepared to wait, there was a 50 person or so line looping around the store when we went. Pick up a box of nougat cracker sandwiches too. 

Harvest salad at AVENUE 

Still in love with the beet, apple, green bean, haloumi cheese and candied pecans combo over fresh greens. And right on trend according to the New York Times. If you're really hungry, also order the truffle orzo with egg and mini corn dogs. 

Xiao long baos at WU HU DOUJIANG 五湖豆漿 (Five Lakes Doujiang)

I have been trying to find new (to me) places to grab Taiwanese breakfast because good ones actually do exist outside of Fu Hang and Yonghe Dou Jiang. Met up with Eric Sze from 886 over soy milk, dan bing and xiao long baos which had a thicker skin and a punch of ginger. I like eating outside since it's shaded and the scattered tables are enough to seat the rotating short line in front of the busy kitchen. 

breakfast/western: i strongly recommend ANTIPODEAN

THE ANTIPODEAN
No. 4, Lane 26, Gangqian Rd, Neihu District, Taipei City, 114
(02) 8751-0027

MRT: Gangqian

hours: 9AM - 6PM

price: $$

visits reviewed: 9/19/2016, 12/15/2016

My must orders: acai bowl, avocado breakfast plate, raspberry tart

Down a typical residential Taipei alley in Neihu is a small bright blue sign with a kangaroo logo. Turn left and when you're greeted by an even bigger pop of color with cerulean blue benches and a huge sign you'll have discovered Antipodean. It's a great place to grab a quiet breakfast since it opens at 9AM, or a group of friends for lunch to share salmon avocado toast, big breakfast plates and my favorite acai bowl (of the moment) in Taipei.  Dare I say an avocado toast and acai bowl wave has been rolling through Taipei the past year? Add this cute cafe in Neihu to the list, @theantipodean does it quite well.

The brunch menu is short and sweet, but avocado lovers will be happy to find that you can either have it mashed on toast (with smoked salmon and arugula), sliced on a breakfast plate (with baked beans, eggs, hash browns, mushrooms and a baked half tomato), or baked with spicy chorizo. 

Someone asked me the other day to recommend good coffee shops #☕️ to be able to work in, with free wifi and an outlet for a laptop. I recommended a few, including @theantipodean. Do you guys have any favorite coffeeshop offices? 

Water, cups and utensils are self serve. 

Lots of pretty corners to choose from for those with the patience to pose for selfies or pose their food. 

Having been to the Antipodean several times, my go to order now is the Avocado big breakfast (NT$320) since it has a little bit of everything, and you can DIY your avocado toast with the slices of sourdough they give you. The scrambled eggs are fluffy and creamy, baked bean slightly sweet, roasted mushrooms and tomato to feel healthy.

If you're looking for meat in your morning, then the Antipodean Big Breakfast (NT$320) swaps out avocado for bacon and sausage.

I'll always remember the Antipodean as the first place I ever tried an acai bowl (only a few months ago. I know totally behind the times), and though I've only tried a couple afterwards, I still like Antipodean's the best. The consistency and iciness of the acai smoothie is just right and their house made granola gives a nice sweet crunchiness. Even though I had a little bit of sticker shock the first time as their bowl is NT$380, the size is larger than the other places I've had it and they do not skimp on the fruit. Deflect the cost by sharing with friends. 

Loved the thin slivers of almonds, the caramelized granola and the fat slices of bananas, strawberries and blackberries (Yay!! Loveeee blackberries). Can you believe this was my first acai bowl EVER? Underneath the layer of crunch and fruit are creamy, icy spoonfuls of acai berry smoothie. 

I think I was always a bit intimidated by not knowing what it would taste like (and how do you pronounce acai anyway?!) but if you like yogurt bowls, you should enjoy this. 

Avocado toast hiding under the smoked salmon. I do love it with the arugula. (NT$320 for 2)

Founded in April 2016, the name of the Antipodean is a nod to its founder's Australian roots, and calls itself a third wave Australian inspired coffee shop. It does remind me a bit of Woollooomoolo in the early days with their breakfast plates before they raised prices and made portions smaller, and made certain menu items exclusive to weekends. The owner is quite friendly and you might catch him behind the counter to strike up a conversation. I've been wanting to keep Antipodean to myself since their space is limited, but I've already seen a flurry of instagram posts with their bright blue table and carefully placed dishes since I first posted it, so I might as well post my write up for my friends who have been asking me "what's good there?" 

taiwanese/breakfast: RUI AN SOY MILK KING

RUI AN SOY MILK KING 瑞安豆漿大王
No. 69 RuiAn St.
台北市大安區瑞安街69號
(02)  2705-3377

MRT: Daan or Technology Building Station (about 5-10 minute walk)

Hours: 24 hours

$ (NT$60)

kid friendliness: Room for kids to sit and strollers.

Visit reviewed: 3/15/2017

[TAIPEI] Good morning! Tried this Taiwanese breakfast spot a few months ago, a block away from my usual spot on Fuxing, which has become a bit of tourist spot somehow with longer lines than I've ever seen in the years I've been going. 😂 So I've been slowly trying different locations to broaden my dou jiang horizons because we don't always have an hour to wait at Fu Hang. 

Rui An Dou Jiang Da Wang, or Rui An Soy Milk King, is a lot roomier and open than the usual Taiwanese breakfast restaurants, kind of like a large stall. It's easy to spot with it's bright red sign and corner location. There's a bit more elbow room and space to have conversations, and fairly clean.There's also a ton more variety than just soy milk and shao bing you tiao. Rui An also has pan fried buns, chive boxes, curry pastries and noodle soups. You can point and order since there are some ready to go on the counter. Decisions, decisions.. an array of choices for breakfast. What's your favorite Taiwanese breakfast order?

The positive of having all the goods laid out is that it makes it easy to grab and go when you are in a rush, and this spot is rarely crowded so you don't have to wait in line. The negative is that some things taste better hot, and they didn't reheat any of the pastries that we ordered when I took friends on later visits. I wonder if this place is happening after hours, since it's open 24 hours. 

I ended up getting a youtiao #油條 (fried dough stick) wrapped with an inside out danbing #蛋餅 (egg crepe) and a cup of soymilk #豆漿. Grand total - 55NT or about US$2.  I'll have to come back to try the bacon danbing and noodle soup next time! 

snapshot/revisited: i still strongly recommend THE DINER

THE DINER

(XinYi 信義) at ATT4Fun
No. 12, Songshou Rd
台北市信義區松壽路12號
(02)7737-5055

website: http://www.thediner.com.tw

MRT: Taipei 101

Previous review: 11/2011 and 12/2006

My must orders: pancakes and omelettes, fried mushrooms, chicken wings, quesadilla, burger

[TAIPEI- XINYI] New brunch spots may come and go in Taipei, but the Diner is the granddaddy of them all. Plus it's open before 10AM and sometimes you need to squeeze in some banana pancakes and be done by the time the cafes are even open. Portions and tastes are American style and delicious, consistently so even after all these years, (unlike some spots that reach peak success and then lose customers when the food quality starts to slide, or the portions start to shrink (i.e. Bakery 49, 1Bite2Go, California Pizza Kitchen). And even though I hadn't been to The Diner in awhile, I was pleasantly surprised to see that they keep adding to their menu to compete with the newer trends and places while keeping their signature favorites. 

The latest menu for The Diner - they even have a page for their healthy options and acai bowl (though it wasn't available when we went).

Vegetarian options at the Diner-- wow, they upped their game and even have zucchini spaghetti and sweet potato quinoa salad. 

Greek omelette with potatoes o'brien. Subbed avocados for the feta, and had the feta on the side (for my friend with the dairy allergy) (NT$280). So good, I think I inhaled my half.

Banana chocolate pancakes- dessert for breakfast, American style (NT$180 a la carte). A short stack and covered in banana slices. Perfect for sharing along with an egg dish.

DINER's other locations

(NanGang 南港)
No. 166A Jingmao 2nd Rd
台北市南港區經貿二路166號A棟2F(中國信託金融園區)
(02) 2788-3330

(DaAn 瑞安)
No. 145 RuiAn St.
台北市大安區瑞安街145號
(02) 2700-1680

(Hsinchu 新竹)
No. 73, GuanXin Road
新竹市東區關新路73號 
(03) 579-8188