snapshot/chinese: it's HAIRY CRAB season! i recommend CHAO PING JI

CHAO PING JI 潮品集  

at San Want Hotel, 2 FL
No. 172, Zhong Xiao East Rd., Sec. 4 
台北市忠孝東路四段172號

(02) 2772-2121

MRT: ZhongXiao/DunHua or SYS Memorial Hall


Visit reviewed: 11/5/2015
Previous review: 12/2008

It's hairy crab season!! 

You would think that I would have had enough crab after feasting on Alaskan crab legs and Dungeness crab for three days in a row when I went to Alaska this past summer (yay Disney cruise), but when my friends reminded me that it was time to eat hairy crab, I couldn't say no. Although if you think about it, hairy crab is mostly for those that enjoy crab roe since its body and legs are tiny and thus yield less crab meat. San Want's Chao Ping Ji has different crabs from Shanghai, the ones we ate that day were from the infamous Yangchen Lake. We also had swimmer crabs, which had a fair amount of sweet crab roe and much more meat, and cost less. To be honest, you could skip the hype and just get swimmer crabs, or you could order and eat one of each.  

Don't forget to order some dim sum on the side. My favorites at Chao Ping Ji are the XO fried radish cake, Chiu Chow noodles (pan fried into a flat pancake and cut into slices then served with vinegar and sugar) and the stir-fried green beans with olive leaves. 

Hairy crab season is Sept - Dec, with the peak season now. It's best to reserve in advance since they get shipped in from Shanghai. 

These are swimmer crabs, as you can see from their legs. 

Half a swimmer crab compared to a hairy crab. Yum!! You can see the black fuzz on the claw of the hairy crab, aka mitten crab, named because of their unique claws. Next time I'll take some pictures of how to eat a hairy crab and use the scissors to cut the legs and squeeze the meat out. Served with black vinegar to dip in and ginger tea to offset the "cold" energy you get from eating the crabs.

Where else have you guys found hairy crab in Taipei? 

japanese/sashimi: SUNFLOWER KAISEKI (SHAN HUA)

SUNFLOWER KAISEKI (SHAN HUA) 三花日式料理

No.9-2, Jianguo N. Rd., Sec. 2, 

台北市中山區建國北路二段9-2號

(02) 8978-5000

MRT: Nanjing East Road

website: Shan Hua's FB page

hours: 11:30AM- 2:30PM; dinner 5:30PM-9:30PM

kid friendliness:

The moment you step into Sunflower Kaiseki, there is a warm, golden glow. in the large dining space which uses mostly natural wood and golden accents in its interior. The restaurant used to be home to the shuttered Canoviano and has impressively high ceilings in the main dining area and open kitchen, with some private rooms on the second floor. Don't confuse this Shan Hua (opened in fall of 2013) with another Shan Hua Japanese restaurant in town, the other a sushi bar. 

Diners can sit at the sushi bar to observe the action or sit in one of the partitioned sections. 

Kaiseki style dining is almost like a ritual- with elaborate multi course meal that traditionally includes components of appetizer, sashimi, a simmered dish, a grilled dish and a steamed dish. It's a popular style of dining in Taipei as customers feel getting the "set course" is the best value. Sunflower Kaiseki is definitely on the pricier side- sets start from NT$1200 and go up to NT$3500- and portions are on the refined side. Unfortunately the menu was only in Chinese, so my hosts did the ordering, but the seven course menu changes seasonally to use the freshest ingredients.

Complimentary pickled cucumbers and radish

The first course was like a garden of delicate amuse bouches, almost too pretty to eat. 

Loved the sweet fresh crab meat with jellyfish underneath

This was sea cucumber, which I was reluctant to try since I don't usually like the soft jelly-like texture, but these surprised me with a crunchy snap that I enjoyed.

Sashimi course

Fried burdock gobo root chips

Fish bone crackers- I actually ate quite a few of these hone senbei waiting for our next course. Supposedly very good for you as they are high in calcium, and very crunchy and salty and addictive.

Tableside shabu shabu 

You know me, I wanted more than a few slices! But the slices I got were ultra tender, served a bit pink in the middle.

Sesame ice cream so nutty it almost tasted like peanut butter. Yum.

This kind of restaurant is great for people who are not creatures of habit. The menu and courses are varied and changing- even when you look at the various Chinese food blogs that have posted about Sunflower Kaiseki already, no two meals look exactly the same. You could experience and taste something new each visit. 

japanese: i recommend CUISINE M

CUISINE M 信義三井

No.1, Songzhi Road Xinyi District Taipei City

台北市松智路1號1樓

(02) 2345-1101

MRT: Taipei City Hall

website: mitsuitaipei.com.tw

hours: 11:30AM- 3PM; 5:30PM- 10PM

$$$ (about NT$1500-2000/person)

Kid friendliness: high chairs available.

Visit reviewed: 4/11/2013

Cuisine M is the Xinyi branch of Taipei's popular Japanese restaurant Mitsui, which is known for their high end, posh decor and elegant, fresh food. Mitsui is also the group that revamped Taipei's Fish Market into a gourmet market, sushi bar and destination- Acquatic Addiction Development (a post to come that I have way too many photos for!). 

Cuisine M is actually a bit hard to find, as its entrance is not on the main streets and not a part of one of the many malls near 101. Instead it sits right in the middle of them, the first floor of a bank high rise. Inside is a cavernous space with high ceilings and a shiny sushi bar in the back with a wall of alcohol above that would be at home in Vegas or LA. Cuisine M feels bigger than the Mitsui location in Neihu and more modern and glittery.

At Cuisine M, Mitsui, Sumie and other restaurants like them in Taipei, I usually go with the cheapest set menu (which varies at the different price points) since you get sashimi and a few cooked dishes that would end up costing more if you ordered ala carte. Of course if there is specific sashimi or dishes that you like, you're better off ordering off the menu or asking if the set can accommodate you. Having been to the other Mitsui, I know they can swap out certain grilled items and also do vegetarian sets. 

Everything is fresh and portioned for a multi course meal and quite filling. Service is relatively attentive and everyone usually gets their food at the same time, which doesn't always happen in Taipei.

Set solo salad is the perfect size and comes with a huge piece of king crab leg.

The flavors are relatively light so you can taste the natural flavors of the abalone, fish or beef.

I was pretty full by the time we got the nigiris.. so save room!

While I know Mitsui is a favorite for many and that Cuisine M is a branch of it, I actually have enjoyed my meals at Cuisine M more than my experiences at the original Mitsui. For those looking for Japanese in town (and there are a lot of amazing options in Taipei), it is a solid choice for a family or business meal, especially if you are looking for ambiance to impress and Cuisine M's Xinyi location makes it convenient for those working or visiting in the area.

japanese/hotpot: i still recommend BEN SHABU SHABU

BEN SHABU SHABU 犇極鍋物

No. 4, AnHe Rd, Sec. 1
安和路一段102巷4號
(02) 2784-8299

MRT:  DaAn 

website: Ben Shabu's FB page

hours: 11:30AM- 10PM

$$-$$$$

Kid friendliness: no high chairs spotted 

Visit reviewed: 12/30/2012

Previous visit reviewed : 11/2011

My favorite part about Ben Shabu Shabu that night was surprisingly the sushi- seared salmon, fatty tuna over crispy rice- I wanted to order more, but we already had a full pot of veggies and plates of swirled red meat.

Service was quite slow that night, especially since we were in a room downstairs, the waiter had to run trays up and down the stairs and we'd have to go upstairs to find someone if we needed them. So don't know if the appetizers, like this truffle steamed egg, was supposed to be hot or cold, but this would have tasted better hot.

Yum, I wonder if I could come back just for the nigiri sushis. SO GOOD.

Can't go wrong with wagyu if you can splurge on it-

I also noticed that the pots in the downstairs room were not the copper pots upstairs because the table downstairs had the electric "fire" rather than the regular hotpot fire (if that sort of thing matters to you). Once we got the meats, we were happy to take our time to cook, until it was time for porridge. It was a fun gathering with friends to end last year before New Year's Eve.