CLOSED! american/pizza: i strongly recommend CALIFORNIA PIZZA KITCHEN

CALIFORNIA PIZZA KITCHEN 
at Xinyi Vieshow, 2F 台北信義威秀影城
No. 20, Song Shou Rd. 台北市松壽路20號2樓
(02) 2722-8383

CLOSED a/o 2015

MRT: Taipei City Hall

website: CPK Taipei's FB page

hours: 11AM - 12 midnight

$$

Kid friendliness: high chairs available and room for strollers.

Visit reviewed: 11/23/2011 & 11/30/2011 & 3/3/2012



It's kind of a strange, but happy sight to see the bright California Pizza Kitchen sign in Taipei. Tucked in the back of the Xinyi Vieshow food court, CPK Taipei just opened a few months ago in December to immediate packed tables. With most of its signature menu items transported from the states, California Pizza Kitchen serves up Cali style salads, pizzas and pastas that will surely draw from the Chili's and Gordon Biersch crowd in the area, as well as the Vieshow movie goers, and those who have been missing CPK (and a good salad!) from back home.

The inside is bright and familiar, with a semi open kitchen and seating good for large groups or couples.

For those not familiar with California Pizza Kitchen, their food is a California twist on Italian pizzas and pastas. In Taipei, it seems to even more fusion with certain dishes like a dessert pizza with tapioca boba on it, or more recently spotted a fried oyster pizza. Luckily, most of their signature dishes escape local tweaking.

There are two types of pizza on the menu- their regular crust, which is slightly more doughy and sweet, and the thin crust, which has a nice crunch without being too delicate or dry. The pizzas are gourmet sized, meaning that they can be finished by one or two hungry people, or shared family style so everyone can try different slices.

I've been there at least once a month (sometimes twice) since it first opened and I'm happy to say that both the food and service have improved with each visit. During the soft opening, I complained noted that the salads were too small and my favorite thin crust Sicilian pizza (NT$480) was too salty (and on my second visit, too bare) and that we had to ask for water to our thirsty table five times. They've been figuring out where to source certain ingredients like the ham locally and how to work the tables and kitchen when they are slammed during prime dining hours, and on my most recent visit last week, it seems like they've found the sweet spot.

Too salty during the first visit

The Sicilian pizza has a mix of spicy ham, Italian sausage and salami and sometimes I add mushrooms to it.

Too bare during the second visit

Just Right

The BBQ chopped salad (NT$320) is one of my favorites from LA, and CPK Taipei's version is definitely one of the smaller salads for the price compared to the big plates you'd get at other Western Chain Restaurants. The main problem I have had with the salad on the past few visits is that the black beans were quite hard, maybe they weren't boiled long enough? And that it's missing jicama and corn. I complained to them about the sizes on my first few visits and I spotted it last week at another table and it seems to have gotten bigger, which it needs to be for the price.

My favorite pizza these days has been the Pear and Gorgonzola pizza which is the best value for your dollar with a nice size serving of greens on top of a thin crust pizza with a sweetness from the baked pears. Or you could try the California Club pizza which is another salad on top of a pizza. Liked the Carmelized peach salad more than when I tried it in LA, which also has dried cranberries, goat cheese and walnuts.

Wasn't a fan of the CPK Taipei version of the Cobb salad- as much as I love beets, it doesn't really belong in a Cobb and there should be chopped avocado.

I also didn't care for the appetizers that I tried in December and haven't ordered them since then, so not sure if they've gotten better. The spinach and artichoke dip (NT$250) seemed to be lacking spinach and something seemed very creamy but not cheesy. I wouldn't order any of the appetizers again.

Pork Rib Quesadillas (NT$320)

Tortilla Spring Rolls (NT$230)

If you have to order one pasta from the menu, get the tequila lime chicken fettucine. It's got a nice kick and twang to it and my favorite pasta at CPK. I remember when I first ordered it at a work lunch when I used to work in Manhattan Beach and I was addicted. Most of my friends had it for the first time at this lunch and it was their favorite pasta as well.

The other pastas won't have as much unique flavor in contrast, but the bolognese penne or fettucine alfredo with chicken could be a good option for kids.

CPK is known for quite a few of their fusion pizzas. While Tandoori chicken didn't make its way back to Taipei, many of the Chinese themed ones did. Our table was not a fan of the Peking duck pizza (NT$380) with the gooey sauce and strange combination of toppings, and left it mostly uneaten.

The Smoked Salmon pizza (NT$420) fared much better with my friends- it almost seemed like a flatbread topped with smoked salmon and veggies. Other unique pizzas include Thai Chicken, Roasted Garlic Chicken, Greek Pizza, Banana and Chocolate...

I recommend sticking to the CPK classics, like the Original BBQ chicken pizza (NT$350) which has a slight sweetness with bbq sauce replacing the tomato sauce underneath the cheese...

or even good old pepperoni pizza.

I was so happy to hear that CPK was going to be in Taipei, and happy that the result is similar to what you'd find in the states. A lot of good memories for me eating there over the years with friends in Manhattan Beach, Tustin, Redondo Beach and West LA, and now Taipei. When the weather gets warmer, I can imagine the first floor patio seating will also get popular. Who would have thought when I first started this blog that there'd be a CPK here? Not me! What's next? Cheesecake Factory? Krispy Kreme?

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4th annual HungryinTaipei.com 2011 Readers' Choice Award Winners

It's a leap year! So what better day than to finally post these results?

THANK YOU everyone who voted- I really hope more and more of you will vote each year! There are a ton of repeat favorites and some new winners. It's always interesting to see the votes and what's new and what categories are close races. Some categories were unable to get votes or a consensus so I haven't named any winners, like surprisingly in the Favorite Beef Noodle Soup.

So here are the results! If you like the list or use it, leave me some love in the comments section! Or what was left off that should have been voted as Best of Taipei?

4th ANNUAL HUNGRYINTAIPEI.com's BEST OF TAIPEI 2011
READERS' CHOICE RESTAURANT POLL WINNERS

Favorite Restaurant Discovered from HungryInTaipei.com, Favorite New Restaurant Opened in 2011, and Favorite Mexican Restaurant- MACHO TACOS 瑪丘墨西哥小館
Last year was, strangely, there was a wave of Mexican food in Taipei. Lots of new players in town, some older ones changed or closed down, but one favorite emerged from the voters. With quesadillas, burritos, tacos, horchata and nachos served at affordable prices, Macho Tacos opened two locations within a year.
No. 3, Lane 126, Yanji St., (02) 2731-4489
No. 15 Pucheng St, (02) 2363-7518, machotacos.com

Favorite Restaurant You Will Miss- BURGER STOP
The 2010 winner as "favorite restaurant discovered from HungryInTaipei.com" sadly closed its doors in November 2011. Burger Stop had a short but sweet run serving burgers and milkshakes tucked in an alley off of Yanji Street, but its owners moved back to the states, so the search is back on for another In-N-Out replacement.
No. 26, Ln. 137, Yanji St., (02)2711-7079

Favorite Special Occasion Restaurant- FLAVORS 瑞典餐館
Flavors' cozy and intimate setting and service makes it a continued favorite for many. Featuring Swedish dishes by Chef Ola, be sure to order my favorites, the meatballs and apple cake if you make a reservation.
No.13 Alley 26 Lane 300 Ren Ai Rd. Sec.4, (02)2709-6525, flavors.com.tw

Favorite Restaurant to take Tourist Friends, Favorite Chinese Restaurant, Best Xiao Long Bao- DIN TAI FUNG 鼎泰豐
Winner for the fourth year in a row. There might be cheaper options or places you don't have to wait in line for, but world famous Din Tai Fung is inevitably where we'll take our friends to eat for the ultra thin skinned xiao long bao. Hands down, those of you that voted love the original bite sized XLB and wouldn't consider a trip to Taipei complete without a visit there, even if you have to line up for an hour or more. This past summer, DTF opened its largest branch in the world at Taipei 101.
No. 218, Zhong Xiao East Rd., Sec 4,(02) 2721-7890;
No. 194, Xinyi Road, Sec.2 (entrance of Yong Kang Street) (02) 2321-8928;
Fuxing Sogo, No.300, Zhong Xiao E. Rd., Sec. 3, (02) 8772-0528;
Tienmu Sogo, No.77, Sec.6, Zhongshan N. Rd., B1, Shihlin, (02) 2833-8900;
Taipei 101, No.45 Shifu Rd, B1, (02) 8101-7799
www.dintaifung.com.tw

Favorite Kid Friendly/Family Restaurant, and Favorite Unexpected Find in Taipei (tie) MAYAN GRILL
Mayan Grill offers sit down, Mexican meals in a two story restaurant with open space and balcony seats. With room to seat large groups and an extensive menu with something for everyone, this is an unexpected spot in Taipei for flautas, enchiladas or pan seared steak.
No. 6, Lane 65, Zhongshan N. Rd, Sec. 2, (02) 2511-6292 mayangrill.com

Favorite Unexpected Find in Taipei COFFEE ALLEY 咖啡弄 (tie)
The more I've been to Coffee Alley, the more I've grown to like it, and not just for their unique cotton candy & espresso with ice cream dessert. The presentation of the drinks and desserts, the decor and the quality of the coffee and teas make it a popular place for a latte or afternoon tea.
ATT 4 FUN, 3 FL, No. 12, SongShou Rd., (02) 7737-0700;
No. 45, Lane 101, ZhongXiao E. Rd, Sec. 4, (02) 2711-1912;
No. 42, Lane 187, DunHua S. Rd, Sec. 1, (02) 2711-1910;
No. 253, ZhongZheng Rd, 2 FL, Shih Lin District, (02) 2888-3322;
No. 18 GuanChian Rd, 2 FL, MRT: Taipei Main Station, (02) 2388-3000;
coffee-alley.com.tw

Favorite Late Night RestaurantNY Bagel
Before the Diner and all the western brunch places around Taipei, there was NY Bagel, serving up pancakes, burgers and bagels from morning until night. While only the RenAi location is 24 hours, it was voted your favorite restaurant to hang out late night.
No. 147 RenAi Rd., Sec. 4, (02)2752-1669;
No. 122, Xinyi Rd, Sec. 5, (02)2723-7977;
No. 306, NeiHu Rd, Sec. 1, (02)2627-2886;
Qsquare, No. 1, ChengDe Rd, Sec. 1, (02)2552-6880;
Banqiao, No. 7, XianMinDaDao, Sec. 2, 2FL, (02)8969-1669;
Hankyu Dept Store, No. 8, ZhongXiao E. Rd, Sec. 5, 2FL, (02)2723-2767;
nybagelscafe.com

Favorite Buffet/All you can eat Restaurant- CAFE AT GRAND HYATT HOTEL 台北君悅大飯店
Winner of Best Buffet in 2008, Cafe offers both Western and Eastern cuisines in its huge buffet spread- you might even miss a part of it if you're not thorough. Be sure to make a reservation during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays for their special holiday menus.
No.2, Sung Shou Road, (02) 2720-1234

Favorite Night Market- SHIDA NIGHT MARKET 師大路夜市
Beating out the previous long time winner Shihlin, the new favorite Shida Night Market is a winding collection of lanes and alleys of shops and street eats including traditional favorites like baos and fried chicken and new offerings like Yofroyo and slider burgers. It's one night market that I've been meaning to explore and write about.
Shida Road, near Taipower MRT

Favorite Place to Meet for Drinks- WOOBAR
The stylish and trendy Woobar at the one year old W Taipei Hotel transforms from an afternoon tea spot to a late night hotspot with its decked out bar, lounge seats and view of the pool and Taipei city. Not to mention the cocktails and luxe snack menu of fries with truffle sauce or the million dollar burger.
No. 10, Zhongxiao East Road, Sec. 5,(02)7703-8888 www.wtaipei.com

Favorite Delivery & Best Pizza- CHICAGO PIZZA FACTORY 芝加哥比薩 (tied)
Chicago Pizza Factory edged out last year's winner Pizza Hut for top spot of Favorite Delivery. Freshly made and loaded with toppings, Chicago Pizza Factory fills a craving for those missing Papa Johns or US style pizza (ask for extra sauce). Delivery locations are limited, but fairly quick for those in the area. It's quite close to AIT, so you can pop over for in-store specials before or after an appointment.
No. 1, Lane 11, Jianguo S. Sec. 2, (02) 2707-2121

Favorite Food Court- 101 Mall
Winner for the fourth year in a row despite the growing competition of food courts in every new mall. Grab a quick lunch while sightseeing at 101 Mall or stop by the gourmet supermarket JASONs. Offering almost every type of cuisine as well as teppanyaki, desserts and lots of familiar chains (KFC, McD's and Subway), 2011 saw the addition of the world's largest Din Tai Fung as well as the French bakery Lalos.
45 Shifu Road, Xinyi District, www.taipei-101.com.tw

Favorite Fast Food- MOS BURGER 摩斯漢堡
Another four time winner in a row, Mos Burger offers up Asian flavors at a fast food setting with rice burgers or regular burgers with a kick. Don't be afraid to eat your rice burger to go, it comes in an indestructable styrofoam pouch to catch all the sauce.
over 100 stores across Taiwan, mos.co.jp

Favorite Taiwanese Restaurant- SHIN YEH 欣葉台菜
Winner for the fourth year in a row. When even the locals line up for this Taiwanese restaurant, then you know that it's good. Shin Yeh offers Taiwanese classics like gua bao, run bing, sweet potato porridge, pan seared pork liver, or oyster omelette in an elegant, family friendly setting. For the fancied up version, make a reservation at the 101 location, which offers a bird's eye view of Taipei from the 85th floor.
No. 112 ZhongXiao E Road, Sec 4, 2FL, (02) 2752-9299;
No. 34-1, ShuangCheng St, (02) 2596-3255;
No. 12, NanJing West Road, 8F, (02) 2523-6757;
Shinyeh 101 at No. 45, Shifu Road, 85 FL (02) 8101-0185;
shinyeh.com.tw

Favorite Japanese Restaurant-MITSUI 三井
With its swanky digs and presentation, Mitsui (or San Jin in Chinese) is a favorite of many of my friends (though I have others as my own). The Dazhi location also offers bentos to go and each location has its own feel.
No.602, Mingshui Road, Dazhi, (02) 2533-8802
No. 604, Min-Shui Rd., Dazhi, (02) 25338801
No. 30, Nong-an St., 1F, (02) 2594-3394
No.45-2, Nong-an St., 1F, Taipei City
No.108, Dun-Hua S. Road Section 1, B1-1, (02) 2741-3394
mitsuitaipei.com.tw

Best Sushi/Sashimi- SUSHI EXPRESS 爭鮮迴轉壽司
Winner third year in a row. I still have yet to go, but I can see the appeal. Sushi Express's low prices and multiple locations makes it easy to find and grab a seat at the giant sushi bar. Customers can choose from a parade of sushi plates drifting by on a conveyor belt or order from the chef.
About 30 locations all over Taipei, addresses at sushi-express.com.tw

Favorite American/Western, Favorite Western Breakfast/Brunch- THE DINER 樂子
The Diner beat out last year's favorite American/Western winner Chili's, with its prices and all day breakfast menu and is the winner for the third year in a row for favorite western breakfast/brunch. By now, everyone craving pancakes and omelettes knows about the Diner, which has inspired a bevy of knock off diners and all day brunch joints. But the original still holds the top spot with its tasty pancakes, eggs benedicts, omelettes or even a breakfast burrito and added a new location in the Xinyi district this year.
No. 145 Ruian St, Taipei, (02) 2700-1680;
No. 6, Ln 103, Dunhua S Rd Sec 2, (02) 2754-1680,
No. 2, Lane 147, Alley 5, Keelung Road, Section 2, (02) 2754-1680;
at ATT4Fun, No. 12 Song Shou Rd., (02）7737-5055;
www.thediner.com.tw

Best French- SAVEURS 歐洲風味餐坊
Saveurs shows that you don't have to empty your wallet to have an amazing French meal. Tucked in the lanes off of ZhongXiao, it's one of those restaurants you'd pass by and never notice, but it's worth looking for. Advance reservations strongly recommended for lunch.
No. 14, Lane 219, Fuxing S. Rd, Sec 1, (02) 2751-0185

Best Italian- (tie) LA GIARA 義大利餐廳 & SOLO PASTA

Opened since 2002, I've heard for awhile that La Giara as the place to go for fine dining Italian. With an Italian chef in the kitchen, it tied as one of your favorite Italian restaurants in Taipei, so I'll definitely have to check it out soon.
No. 352, Fuxing S. Rd, Sec. 1, 2F, (02)2705-0345, www.lagiara.com.tw/

Solo Pasta captured my heart with my first bite of its balsamic duck pasta and I hear has become a favorite of many readers of this blog as well. A lot of flavor for a really affordable price, Solo Pasta works both as a place for a large party or just a party of one. Stick to my recommended pastas and you shouldn't be disappointed.
No. 29-1, Anhe Road, Sec. 1, (02) 2775-3645 Solo's Pasta's Facebook page

Best Indian- SAFFRON 番紅花
Winner third year in a row. Once you try Saffron, you'll realize that not all Indian curries are made the same. Offering a a wide variety of Indian fare in an upscale setting, Saffron's fragrant dishes are rich without being greasy and you can watch the chef making the naan to order in the front window. I've been told they'll also deliver via taxi for the cost of the taxi- definitely worth trying out when you can't trek to Tianmu.
No. 38-6, TianMu E Rd, (02) 2871-4842, Saffron's Facebook page

Favorite Thai Restaurant- VERY THAI 非常泰
New winner beating out Thai Town. Very Thai offers a signature menu and bar in a modern space, making it a trendy place to try some new Thai dishes, beside the usual satay and curry.
at Neo 19, No. 22 SongRen Rd, 2F, (02) 8789-6200;
No. 319 Fuxing N. Rd, (02) 2546-6745;
at Tianmu Sogo, No. 77, ZhongShan N Rd, Sec 6, 8F, (02) 2831-0188;
at Megacity, No. 28, XinZhan Rd, 9F, Banqiao (02) 6637-0038;
verythai.com.tw

Favorite Vietnamese Restaurant- SAVOY (or YUE YUAN PHO) 越苑
Winner third year in a row and opened a third location late last year. If you've never had a Vietnamese sandwich, you need to run to Savoy, which created the perfect combination of toasted french baguette, grilled chicken, pickled carrots and radishes and special sauce. Waiters wearing bright purple shirts that state "Good Pho You" bring big bowls of the Vietnamese noodle to the table that lives up to their slogan.
No. 12, Lane 155, Dun Hua N. Road, (02)2718-0660;
No. 8, Ln 103, Dunhua S Rd, Sec 2,(02) 2701-2523;
No. 10, Alley 32, Lane 216, ZhongXiao E. Road, Sec. 4, (02) 2731-9597,
www.phosavoy.com

Favorite Korean Restaurant-ARI TOFU HOUSE
Winner for the second year in a row, Ari Tofu House offers a menu full of soondubu jjigae, or as-spicy-as-you-want soft tofu stews, for those looking for some Korean comfort food. Each set menu includes stone pot rice and an array of complimentary little dishes of cold appetizers, but I recommend adding some beef or kalbi beef ribs to your set.
No. 31, Lane 280, GuangFu S. Road, 02-2721-3033, Ari's Facebook page

Favorite Dessert Cafe/Restaurant- DAZZLING CAFE 蜜糖土司專賣店
Last year, Dazzling opened a third location of its honey toast cafe, Dazzling Champagne Bar and Dazzling Shabu Shabu. It all started with the lines for the honey toast- a huge loaf of toasted bread with the insides scooped out, toasted cubes, put back in and topped with drizzled honey and ice cream- sort of like french toast on steroids if it wasn't so girly girl.
Reservation number: 02-87739229;
SUNSHINE: at Xinyi Mitsukoshi A11, No. 11, Song Shou Rd, 2F, 02-2723-0767;
PINK: No. 11, Lane 205, Alley 7, ZhongXiao E Road, Sec 4, (02 )8773-9238;
MINT: No. 3, Lane 248, ZhongXiao E. Road, Sec 3, (02) 2731-5199;
Dazzling Cafe's facebook page

Favorite Chinese Breakfast- YONG HE DOU JIANG
Everyone in Taiwan should be familiar with the Chinese breakfast- a bowl or cup of soy milk with chinese pancake, fried cruller or sticky rice ball. The most famous is in Yong He, which inspired a myriad of shops with the name Yong He Dou Jiang. While they are not all the same, here are a few to start off with.
No. 1, Lane 240, Guang Fu S. Road, (02) 2772-0642;
No. 102 Fuxing S. Road, Sec. 2, (02)2703- 5051

Favorite Ramen-RAKUMENYA 樂麵屋
Thick or thin, hard or soft, salty or spicy, rich or not? These are the questions diners have to answer when ordering ramen at Rakumenya. After options are checked off on an order form list, hot bowls of soupy ramen come to the table and the slurping begins.
No. 7, Ln 10, Yongkang St, (02) 2395-1787;
No. 10, Lane 83, DaAn Rd, Sec. 1 (02) 8772-8159

Favorite Beef Noodle Soup- No clear winner this year!

Favorite Dim Sum- CHAO PING JI 潮品集 at SAN WANT HOTEL
Winner third year in a row. Chao Ping Ji makes traditional dim sum fried and steamed to perfection, as well as offering a few unique spins on dim sum like the Sauteed Rice Roll with XO Chili Sauce and a full menu with Chao Chow specialties.
No. 172, ZhongXiao E Rd, Sec 4, 2F, (02) 2772-2687, www.sanwant.com

Favorite Hamburger- KGB (KIWI GOURMET BURGERS)
KGB has been around for awhile, but it's the first time making its mark as your favorite burger. A neighborhood nook for burgers and fries opened by two New Zealanders who have brought NZ style burgers and NZ beers to Taipei. KGB offers unique burger combinations and even lots of vegetarian options with its veggie burgers, salads and gouda fries.
No. 5, Lane 114, Shida Rd., (02) 2363-6015 www.kgbburgers.com

Favorite Hot Pot- ORANGE SHABU SHABU 橘色刷刷锅
Gourmet hotpot Orange Shabu Shabu returns as your favorite, booting out mala Tripod King. is one of the most popular. Offering luxe meats and seafood like prime rib beef or emperor crab for the customized copper hotpots, Orange also offers sashimi and cooked seafood dishes in a romantic ambiance. Be sure save room for a bowl of congee, made tableside with your hotpot's broth.
No. 135, Da An Road, Sec 1, B1, (02) 2776-1658;
No. 29, RenAi Rd, Sec 4, 2 FL, (02) 2771-0181,
orangeshabu.com.tw

Favorite Steak- No. 168 PRIME STEAKHOUSE
No. 168 Prime Steakhouse is also one of my favorite places to get steak in town and a delicious meal from start (the warm complimentary bread) to finish. With a sleek dining space and open kitchen with beech ovens or six stylish private rooms, No. 168 Prime is a splurge, but worthwhile.
at the Grand Victoria Hotel, No. 168, Jingye 4th Rd., 4F, Dazhi, (02) 6602-5678; No. 168 Prime Steakhouse's Facebook page

Best Vegetarian- MINDER VEGETARIAN 明德素食園 and JENDOW VEGETARIAN BUFFET 人道素菜百匯餐廳
At the food courts here, instead of salad bars, we have Minder Vegetarian which is a pay-by-weight vegetarian buffet of sorts. With an array of mushroom, soy, greens and vegetables to choose from, you can add a bowl of rice and soup for a little extra and feel a little healthier than your average food court meal.
Dun Hua Eslite Food Court, No. 245, Dun Hua S Road, B2
XinYi Eslite, No. 11, Song Gao Road, B2, (02) 2729-8969
Breeze Taipei Main Station, No. 3, BeiPing W. Road, 2 FL, (02) 2361-3566
XinDian shop (all you can eat on second floor), No. 137, Minchuang Road , (02) 8218-7858
No. 47, Lane 63, Dun Hua S Road, Sec 2, (02) 2325-5695
No. 3, Alley 17, Lane 300, Ren Ai Road, (02) 2707-6753
No. 30, Lane 151, Jianguo South Road, (02) 2703-3703
National Taiwan University Hospital Shop, No.7, Zhongshan S. Rd, B1, (02) 2396-3088
Taipei Veterans General Hospital, No. 201, Shih-Pai Road, 1 FL, (02) 2873-9465
XinDian Tzu Chi Hospital, No. 289, Jianguo Road, B1, (02) 2793-5202
Tri Service General Hospital, No. 325 Chenggong Road B1, Neihu, (02) 8219-2232
www.minder.com.tw

Jendow Vegetarian Buffet offers an huge buffet that rivals any other Taipei buffet in size and variety- even offering rows and rows of vegetarian sashimi, dim sum and stir fried, steamed, fried and souped up greens, mushrooms, noodles and tofus. Even meat eaters should be able to find enough to satisfy and leave full.
B1, 353 Changchun Rd, (02) 2547-4788, www.jendow.com.tw

Favorite Afternoon Tea- SMITH & HSU
Winner second year in a row. As someone who thought scones were always rock hard and dry, the warm-out-of-the-oven buttery scones from Smith & Hsu were a revelation. You can't go wrong with a bit of clotted cream, lemon curd or jam on top, and the inviting space to chat with a friend for afternoon tea. For serious tea drinkers, there are over 50 teas to select from, as they give each table a tray of bottled tea leaves to browse and there is a shop area to buy teas and tea sets.
No.33, Section 5, ZhongXiao E. Road, (02) 2747-4857;
No.103, Section 3, Minsheng E. Road, (02) 2546-6088;
Tianmu Sogo, No.177, Zhongshan N. Road, Sec. 6, (02) 2838-1828;
No. 8, ZhongXiao E. Road, Sec. 5, 6FL, (02) 8786-2877;
No. 21, Nanjing E. Road, Sec. 1, (02) 2457-6842;
smithandhsu.com

Best Frozen Yogurt- YOFROYO 友個優
Winner third year in a row. Since opening its first location at the Shida night market, Yofroyo has established itself as the frozen yogurt favorite and added three more locations. A rainbow of flavors to choose from, with fresh fruit, freshly made mochi and sweet toppings served up in a satisfying size, all for under NT$70. Open late, so you can go for a late night snack at the shop or to-go.
at Shida Night Market, No.9, Ln.59, Shida Rd., (02))2365-0188;
No. 39, Lane 187, Dunhua S. Rd. Sec. 1, (02) 2752-0767;
Ximen Eslite branch, No. 116 Hanzhong St., (02) 2370-1938;
QSquare branch, No. 1, Chengde Rd, Sec. 1, B2, (02)2558-7919;
yofroyo.com

Best Shaved Ice-TAI YI MILK KING 臺一牛奶大王
Located across from National Taiwan University, old school shaved ice doesn't get better than Tai Yi Milk King with student friendly prices for huge portions. Shaved ice options include the popular mangos or strawberries, ba bao bing, or my favorite red bean and fresh xiao tang yuan, while there are hot tang yuan or wontons for the colder days.
No. 82, Xin Sheng S. Road, Sec. 3, (02) 2362-3712

Favorite Milk Tea/Boba Shop- 50 LAN 五十嵐
Winner second year in a row. There's nothing like boba milk tea in Taipei- it's cheap, it's quick, it's customizable and comes in flavors you never knew tasted so good. At 50 Lan, I like the milk tea with small boba, less ice, less sweet and with fresh milk. With a huge menu of icy and fruity drinks, you might find yourself there often during a heatwave, or even when it's rainy and cold out. Just look for the bright blue and yellow signs.
Find locations at www.50lan.com.tw though addresses are only in Chinese

Best Bakery-breads and cakes (tie) WENDEL's GERMAN BAKERY & BISTRO
There are so many good bakeries in town, it's hard to choose one, but this year Wendel's German Bakery & Bistro got the most votes for its German style breads, bretzels, desserts and cakes. Mini versions come in a bread basket with brunch, but you can browse the counter over the drool worthy selections. Wendel's expanded from its main Tianmu bistro to new branches in DaAn and Neihu last year.
No. 28, Lane 260, GuangFu S. Rd., (02) 2711-8919;
No.5, Dexing West Rd., Tienmu, Taipei, (02) 2831-4415;
at Takashimaya branch, B1, No. 55, Sec. 2, Zhong Cheng Rd., Shilin, (02) 2834-5447;
No. 11, Alley 22, Lane 513, RuiGuang Road, (02) 8751-3708;
www.wendels-bakery.com/

Best Bakery-cakes BLACK AS CHOCOLATE (tie)
Even though their shops doesn't display their cakes, Black as Chocolate has gained a loyal following with its chocolicious cakes, ice cream and stylish packaging. I recommend trying the classic chocolate cake or the chocolate cheese cake.
No. 23, Lane 240, GuangFu S. Rd;
No. 247, LinSheng N. Road;
Eslite XinYi shop, No. 11, Song Gao Road, B2;
Tienmu shop, No. 15, Lane 38, Tian Yu St.;
No. 50, Fuxing S. Road, Sec 1,
Neihu shop, No. 282 Rui Guang Road
at Caesar Park Hotel, No. 38, ZhongXiao E. Rd, Sec. 1;
at Sogo Tianmu, B1, No. 77, ZhongShan N. Rd, Sec. 6;
at Hankyu Mall, B2, No. 8, ZhongXiao E. Rd, Sec. 5;
Service telephone number- (02) 2796-5133,
blackaschocolate.com

Another year, another round of repeat winners (adding new locations last year!) and a few new favorites. Hope you enjoy the list and leave a comment on what your favorites are or if you find this list useful. We'll do this again near the end of 2012. Happy year of the dragon and happy leap year!

my kitchen: super moist red velvet mayo cake

Have you ever bought the tub of mayonnaise from Costco? It's HUGE- 64 ounces and there's no way that I could eat enough tuna sandwiches or egg salad for all the mayo. So I was trying to figure out how to use it up and ended up finding a recipe for it in cake. YES, cake!

guess the secret ingredient!

It makes sense, after all, mayo is made from eggs, oil and vinegar. I remember spotting vinegar in the recipe for Auntie Em's red velvet cupcakes (my favorite red velvet in LA) a long time ago, which I thought was curious at the time, but made me think this would work even more since their cupcakes are also very moist. And google showed quite a few people vouching for it, saying that it was their grandma's recipe from WWII when mayo was creatively subbed for eggs or butter. I checked the label for the Kirkland brand which also had a touch of salt, lemon and paprika, which I thought would be fine. I used box mix, though you can also make it from scratch.

It was fun to frost the cake and faster than frosting 24 cupcakes, though the cake was so heavy at the end. I definitely recommend buying a springform pan too so you can just get a perfectly round cake without too much hassle. I did have to cut off the top of the cake to get a smooth surface, and ended up using those using those pieces to taste test.

The end result- I was super happy with. Don't know if you can see how moist the cake is. For red velvet, it would also be good dusted with some powdered sugar too or fresh cream cheese frosting.

Speaking of cakes, does anyone know where to get cute cake stands in Taipei?

SUPER-MOIST RED VELVET MAYO CAKE
(adapted from Hellmann's recipe)

1 box (18 oz.) cake mix
1 cup American style Mayonnaise
1 cup water
3 eggs
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon (optional)

Preheat oven to 350°F or 180°C.
Beat cake mix, mayonnaise, water, eggs and cinnamon in large bowl with electric mixer or by hand. Pour batter into prepared pan(s), springform pan recommended.
Bake 30-40 minutes or until toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes on wire rack; remove from pans and cool completely. Sprinkle, if desired, with confectioners sugar or fill and frost.

western/french: BUTTER CAFE & CREPERIE

BUTTER CAFE & CREPERIE 法式輕食餐廳
No. 122-1, ZhongXiao E. Rd, Sec. 4, 2F
台北市忠孝東路四段122-1號2樓
(02) 8772-3832

MRT: Zhongxiao/DunHua

website: Butter Cafe's FB page

hours: 11 AM - 10 PM

$-$$ (about $350/person)

Kid friendliness: roomy, lots of options on menu

Visit reviewed: 1/5/2012

I had high hopes for Butter Cafe & Creperie. I spotted the sign when riding a taxi near the Zhongxiao/Dunhua intersection and made a mental bookmark.

So imagine my surprise when the crepes are not really the main thing on the menu- there's pasta, risotto and way in the back of the menu, crepes. I suppose it's easier for a cafe to survive if it's diversified in its menu offerings, but somehow it makes the cafe seem like its catering more towards local customers, and maybe local tastes. No one during lunch around us seemed to be eating crepes until we were leaving, I spotted one table with a dessert crepe.

The space is fairly large and not too crowded. The entrance is not directly on Zhongxiao, but at an angle spotted easily from the main street. The upstairs takes to the Hi Sushi as well as Butter Cafe, like a fork in the road.

We order a few savory crepes and sweet crepes and one pasta to share in case it's not enough for the four of us. One slice of dry garlic bread comes for the solo pasta dish.

And then we wait. Hungry. At least half hour passes before anything else comes to our table and the lunch hour is counting down. One of my friends has to leave for another meeting and ends up having to leave before the dessert crepes come out.

Finally, we cheer when the first hot crepe comes and I have a mini flashback to the galettes from the now closed Mamm Goz. The La Complete crepe with ham, cheese, egg, mushroom (NT$220) ends up being my favorite for the savory choices, with lots of cheese and diced fillings (though the egg atop is a tad bit undercooked for me, so let them know if you like your egg more well done).

The bright bluish purple dressing on the salad is a sweet yogurt type dressing to the salad- kind of an alarming sight, but harmless.

Also note that the mushrooms are shiitake mushrooms and not regular white mushrooms.

Order the sweet potato fries if you like sweet potato fries, they are fried to a perfect crisp and addictive! The portion is small, but satisfying.

My friend's La Piano- smoked salmon, sour cream crepe with salad (NT$240) wasn't my thing, but that's probably because I'm not a fan of sour cream. The kitchen sends out one dish at a time, with gaps of time in between. Not a problem during a brunch, but a problem if you only have an hour for lunch.

The Seafood spaghetti in tomato basil sauce was decent and a good size.

The hard apple cider (NT$60) here is served chilled and in a champagne glass, not warm and in a mug as my friend expected.

The vegetarian Ar Men crepe with tomato sauce, sauteed mushrooms and cheese (NT$180).

The Banana, strawberry, nutella crepe  (NT$120) is an impressive sight, but at the first bite, I'm not in love. Why? The crepe is not hot... not even warm. I don't know if it's because they premake the crepe and assemble to order, or if they take a long time to decorate it and it cools? But it just doesn't give my tastebuds that same gooey nutella justice that I was hoping for. Those not picky about temperature could still be satisfied as an afternoon tea snack.

The stewed apple, salted butter caramel crepe with sesame ice cream (NT$140) is even more confusing. I appreciate that they might have tried to be creative by pairing sesame ice cream with apple, but the flavors work against each other instead of together. Why mess with the classics of apple, caramel and vanilla ice cream? This crepe is also cool to the touch.

Bittersweet flashback again to the yummier dessert crepes at Mamm Goz and the search for dessert crepes continues. I have another contender I'm going to try soon that should be promising! I'll keep you posted!

ramen/japanese: i recommend RAMEN SANJI

RAMEN SANJI 麵家三士
at ATT4FUN
No. 12, Song Shou Road, 5FL 
台北市信義區松壽路 12號 5樓
(02) 7737-5188

MRT: Taipei City Hall

website: ramensanji.com.tw 

$ (about NT$200/person)

Kid friendliness: lots of kids spotted, lots kid friendly menu options

Visit reviewed: 2/3/2012

When I saw that Ramen Sanji had lines out the door when I was window shopping for a place to eat, it definitely piqued my curiosity. Was it worth waiting in line for, or was it just another Taiwanese "we love to line up no matter what" place?

It looked promising, but I ended up at its neighbor San Yuan that night instead. So when I needed a place to eat after the Taipei Book Fair, I wandered over to ATT4Fun. It was a late lunch so there was no line- we just waited a few minutes for them to bus the table.

We ended up getting a nice corner seat with a window view of 101.

table spices and sauces

The menu unfortunately is only in Chinese and Japanese, but there are lot of bright looking pictures (that look all like the same bowl of ramen). I interrogated our server and the gist is basically- the first page is a shoyu pork bone broth that has varying pieces of grilled fatty pork, with options of 1 piece, 2 pieces, 4 pieces (the NO. 1 bowl at NT$250), or chopped up pieces; the second page has the more unique black sesame flavor, bonito flavor or spicy flavor pork bone broth; the third page (not pictured) has the noodles separate from the broth which is served in a smaller bowl for dipping and includes a garlic miso broth;

and the last page has the appetizers and additional topping choices. There's also sets available with Kirin Ichiban beer.

I end up getting the original broth with ramen 2 pieces of char siu (NT $190) and not too long later a steaming bowl comes to me. Being pork bone broth, it's slightly oilier and heavier than the miso broth I usually order (with the post meal thirstiness that you get sometimes). The ramen is nice and al dente and the portion is just right. The elements set it apart from the other chains I've eaten at before- I love the egg has the soft boiled, custardy yolk and the char siu pork is served hot with a nice chargrilled flavor. Even though it's a tad fatty, I end up eating it all anyways.

My friend's screaming red bowl of spicy ramen looks good too. One small spoonful of her broth into mine gives my bowl a nice punch, but there's no way I could drink her whole bowl.

The fried chicken (NT$120) here is also heavily seasoned. Good, but the batter is a bit thick and I preferred the version I had other ramen places.

Even at 1:30PM, Sanji is packed with ramen slurping customers. There aren't a ton of ramen options in the Xinyi area and the ones I can think of are all in food courts, like Ajisen ramen at Xinyi Eslite or Ramen Kagetsu ramen in Vieshow food court. Sanji has a nice noodle shop feel without being too expensive.

And after we pay the bill, Sanji's regular line has formed at the door with ten or so people in the middle of the afternoon. I'd definitely come back, especially if I spotted there was no line.