korean: i strongly recommend KYUNG JU KOREAN RESTAURANT

KYUNG JU KOREAN RESTAURANT
(or CHING ZHOU GUAN in Chinese)
No. 62, 1st Fl-2, Fuxing N. Rd
(02) 2776-9928

MRT: Nanjing East Road

hours: 11 AM – 2 PM； 5 PM – 9:30PM

$$

Kid friendliness: high chairs available

Visit reviewed: 4/20/2010



I'm sure everyone has heard that sometimes when one doors closes, another opens. In this case, when I revisited Happy Korean, I was sad to discover that it no longer had all the dishes that made it a favorite when they changed owners (and I know I'm not alone). I was pretty upset for awhile, but on the hunt for a new Korean restaurant. Thankfully reader Justine shared a restaurant that she had a authentic meal at for me to try out.



Kyung Ju Korean Restaurant (or Ching Zhou Guan in Chinese) offers a wide array of korean bbq, soups, noodles and stir-fried blood red spicy dishes.



The menu is extremely tourist friendly with a photo for every dish and English, Chinese, Korean AND Japanese! We were very excited to see that the cold noodle soup was on the menu, but it wasn't available yet- probably sometime in June.

A good mix of about six panchan comes fairly quickly to the table and is refilled for free- my favorites include the crispy broccoli, the spicy fishcake slices and refreshing bean sprouts and seaweed.



The galbi or bbq ox rib was grilled for us inside and tender with a chewiness and familiar sweet marinade. Dip it in the bean paste sauce and wrap in a lettuce leaf- I remember the first time I did that in Pusan, I thought it was strange, but it's perfect for those avoiding carbs. You can opt to also grill it yourself as there is a area to grill on each table.



You can also add a slice of raw garlic or kimchi, but I just pile on the meat!



The Seafood spring onion pancake (NT$280) is perfectly crispy, not too thick or thin and devoured so quickly by our table that we order another.



Each dish, like the traditional Korean stone pot rice is presented to table and then the server mixes and it for us to divvy up. One bowl could be enough for one person's lunch, or for us, we are sharing a little bit of everything. What's funny is that the server checks with me, asking if I got the picture before he takes it away to stir (and every other dish to follow). He knows that a good picture is worth a

It's a solid dish with lots of veggies and a healthy dose of gojujang, the red pepper sauce that is spicy and sweet, and brown crispy bits of rice.



We had about six hungry people at our table and I think went a little crazy ordering. Dishes that I'd definitely skip next time are the stir fried squid and the spicy broiled rice cake with chilly sauce (their typo, not mine. haha) - the squid was soft instead of chewy and the rice cake was a bit heavy.




Instead get the tofu stew or the kimchi pot stew (NT$200) which has vegetables and vermicelli inside.




Thankfully I was not disappointed by the Bibin cold noodle (NT$220) which was hiding underneath a layer of chopped lettuce, which gave it a nice touch of salad and texture.



The slippery noodles had just the right bite and was more sweet than spicy, despite the threatening red color. I went back for seconds and thirds.



The cold noodle was one of the favorite dishes among the group, while the Soybean paste noodles was left mostly uneaten. Maybe everyone was full as it was one of the last dishes to arrive, but a few people commented the noodles were too soft.



The Korean version of jia jiang mian is quite different from the Chinese version- the sauce is usually thicker, saltier and darker (from the addition of roasted soybeans sauce). It's a cool option for those looking to try something different, but I'm sticking to the naengmyeon.



The owners of Kyung Ju Korean Restaurant have been running their restaurant here in Taiwan for over 30 years, but this is the first time I had heard of it. You can't miss the wall of photos of famous people who've eaten there, including President Ma, near the entrance, but even more evidence to their popularity is that the restaurant was fairly full at weekday lunchtime both times I went. If you're desparate for parking, you can check with them as they have a few spots available in front of their back entrance in the lane behind Fuxing.



The meal ends with a small black dessert for each person wrapped in a bright green plastic leaf, which is a denser, jelly-ish version of the rice cake that I'm used to.



The restaurant has a casual atmosphere and is perfect for large groups, especially with a second floor of seating. I'll definitely be back for the cold noodle soup. If you're reading, thanks Justine!

Any other Korean places I gotta try? Let me know!

CLOSED! new in town/dessert: i strongly recommend YOFROYO- DUN NAN BRANCH

CLOSED! a/o 2013

YOFROYO
No. 39, Lane 187, Dunhua S. Rd. Sec. 1
(02) 2752-0767

MRT: ZhongXiao/DunHua

website: yofroyo.com

hours: Mon-Thurs 12 PM ~ 11 PM
Fri-Sun. 12 PM ~ 12 AM

kid friendliness: a few tables in back, but easy to take to-go

visit reviewed: 5/4/2010
review of Yofroyo at Shida branch: 5/18/2009




Not to far from where Sherry's Frozen Yogurt came and went is the new Dong Chu East District branch of Yofroyo, tucked a couple alleys away from the corner of Dun Hua and Zhong Xiao (and the stinky tofu vendor).

Once you get in the right alley, it's not too hard to spot with its colorful logo beckoning you to see what it is.



The space is not huge, but there's a good amount of seating and tables on the side as well as tucked in the back. While stylish and kind of mod, the low backed chairs got a little uncomfortable for me while we were lounging and eating.



I was pleasantly surprised to see that prices were not too much more than its original Shida location and a small size wasn't skimped on. I think this is definitely important for picky customers who have a lot of options to beat the heat. It's almost half the price of the nearby Hielo and Yogurt Art.

After browsing the choices, I still stuck to my usual small Tokyo Reverie (NT$65) with green tea frozen yogurt, red bean, green tea mochi and chewy clear konjac.



Other frozen yogurt flavors include Mango, Chocolate, Berry, Lychee and the new Acai Berry.

I was planning to share one with my friends, but we were too tempted by the "Buy one, get one free" grand opening promo to resist (which runs until 5/16). Two of my friends chose to make their own combos with the original tart flavor and two toppings, which is easy to do at an additional NT$10 per topping.

I love the new colorful sporks too, though they are quite Yogurtland-ish. I usually save and reuse my Yogurtland spoons and might quickly collect a set of Yofroyo ones soon.



Opening this branch almost a year after opening the original in the Shida night market, Yofroyo is a welcome addition to this neighborhood. Especially when you're looking for relief from this crazy Taipei humidity and heat!

OTHER LOCATIONS

Shida Night Market
No. 9, Lane 59, Shida Rd.
(02)2365-0188

Gongguan
No. 2, Lane 316, Roosevelt Rd., Sec. 3
(02)2368-9808

burgers/western: i recommend HALEAKALA

HALEAKALA
at Bellavita, 4 FL
28 Songren Road
(02)8729-2868

hours: SUN- THURS 10am to 10pm;
FRI/SAT 10am - 10:30pm closes at 10:30pm

$$

Kid friendliness: no high chairs spotted, but two different sitting areas.

Visit reviewed: 3/4/2010 and 3/9/2010



Anytime I hear about a new cuisine hitting Taipei, I wonder how it will be executed, how it will do, and most importantly, how will it taste? So when I heard from a reader that there would be a Hawaiian restaurant in Bellavita, I thought it was an unusual choice. But after visiting Haleakala, one realizes that the restaurant is no more Hawaiian than L'Atelier Robuchon.

Sure there's a wanna-be tiki bar and a floral theme on the menu.



But there's no poi or spam or loco moco or even chicken teriyaki here- the menu is about mini-burgers with waffle fries, burritos, quesadillas, lettuce wraps, and appetizers like Hoisin Duck Tortilla Crisp, Satay, Chicken Katsu or Beef Curry Samosas.

But don't get too excited about the "burrito" as stated on the menu, they are actually cold mini-wraps with options like chicken or tuna salad with egg (NT$240). Go with the garlic shrimp for your best bet and don't bother with the stale chips.



The cozy sofa like seating is in the main restaurant area, or you can sit outside near the escalators for more room if it's crowded. But two out of the three times I went, it was fairly empty, or let's say, private.




And once you get over your disappointment that it's not Hawaiian food, the fare at Haleakala is actually not bad. The mini burgers come in pairs and with crispy waffle fries, and have fun names like "Maui" (with guacamole and sauteed onions), "Malibu" (with bacon and cheese), or "Sunset" (with bbq sauce and bacon) that had no relation to the toppings. Vegetarian burger options are also available.

I got the "Hula" (NT$240) which came with sauteed mushrooms and cheese, along with the requisite lettuce, tomato and pickles.



The buns were nicely toasted and buttery and didn't overpower the beef patty, which held its own as a rotund, juicy centerpiece. My friend who ordered the chicken "burrito" wrap against my recommendation kept trying to give me half of her wrap in exchange for one of my burgers. After I gave in, she agreed that the burgers are definitely the way to order.

The waffle fries reminded me of my high school days and Carl's Jr, but when I snapped back to the present, I was wishing that they'd throw in a few more.



The burger dish alone is probably not enough to fill hearty appetites, so the prices can add up if you order a few other appetizers or salads. We had ordered a Macademia Chicken Caesar Salad (NT$280) to share. The portions here are definitely on the small side for the prices. The Caesar was better than the fried chicken on a skewer.



The onion rings are also decent, but unmemorable- not like those fat, deep fried rings you'd get at any burger place with crispy fresh onions inside.



There are sets available for lunch and dinner for about NT$480, but it's more worth it at dinnertime as it comes with an alcoholic drink then.

Also note that while the dinner set come with appetizers that they are fairly bite-sized and it comes with only one mini-burger instead of two.



The lone Hula burger, mini-sized calamari and lettuce wrap left me wanting more, so I drowned my hunger in my kiwi mojito and panna cotta instead.




Haleakala reminded me of Islands, the Hawaiian themed burger chain in the states, but morphed as a less greasy, more upscale fusion version. A hip place to meet for drinks or burgers, especially if you don't want to wait in the weekend lines at Chili's or want to have a little oasis for a meal with a tropical drink, even if there's no spam musubi.

dessert/afternoon tea: i recommend PATISSERIE SADAHARU AOKI PARIS

PATISSERIE SADAHARU AOKI PARIS
at Bellavita, B2
No. 28, Song Ren Road
(02) 8729-2759

MRT: Taipei City Hall

website: sadaharuaoki.com

hours: SUN- THURS 11 AM- 10 PM
FRI/SAT 11 AM- 10:30PM

$$-$$$

Kid friendliness: colorful but expensive treats. small area to sit for afternoon tea

Visit reviewed:



I'd spotted the sleek, white mini-shops of Patisserie Sadaharu Aoki Paris before at the corners of various malls in Taipei with the dozens of colorful macarons under glass counters, but the price tags stopped me from sampling. Macarons are pretty, but the thought of paying that much for one bite of sugar always made me hesitant.



But when food je t'aime suggested meeting at their new sit down location at Bellavita for afternoon tea, it gave me an excuse to finally try what I'd been hearing about for so long. A cake sampler degustation sounded quite tempting.

At the Bellavita location, there are about four to five small tables for afternoon tea'ers to sit and sip, but we didn't have a problem grabbing a seat on a friday afternoon.

The menu reminded me of a blank canvas to the colorful palettes that are echoed in throughout Chef Aoki's world-



the Bonbon Maquillage ("makeup chocolates") (NT$1080 for 12)- vividly colored chocolates that could be mistaken for pastels in a box or colors from a MAC makeup kit...



the rainbow colored rows of macarons and cakes flavored with traditional or Asian infused flavors...





or the emerald green matcha that was prevalent in the desserts and even drinks that could be made into a cold matcha au lait glace. The flavor was quite strong and sweet that wasn't balanced out by the milk, and I wished I'd ordered a regular latte about two sips in.



The illustration of the Verrine Bamboo (NT$340) also piqued our curiosity, which looked almost like one of those self-sustaining ecosystems or an Earth Day themed dessert.



When it came, we oohed and aahed at the super-Smores in a cup with a Japanese twist...



But it had too much going on and was too sweet for me. There was marshmallow-like creme, thick bite-sized graham cracker type squares, azuki red bean, green tea ice cream, after eating the chocolate cookie on top. I think if some of the flavors were not as sweet, then it could balance out, but with all the elements being so intensely sugary, it became a tad overkill.



For the same price range, get the Degustation (NT$380) instead. Six mini-portions of cakes that are actually enough to share between two- a sampler plate that is perfect for the indecisive.



Each bite had a distinct punch- sesame, green tea and chocolate, hazelnut and caramel- and all were quite sweet again, but at least I felt like I had gotten more my money's worth with this dish.



Patisserie Sadaharu Aoki Paris only has seven shops in the world- the others are in Tokyo and Paris. So the Taipei shop might draw visitors who want a taste of the French/Japanese creative confections with flavors like sesame, citron, matcha, caramel, wasabi or yuzu. I've also sampled a bite of the Bonbon Maquillage which was given to a friend of mine and it was a heavenly bite of ganache- I'd happily accept a box of those (or macarons) as a gift over Godiva anyday.

my kitchen: chocolate cupcakes

I have yet to find any cupcakes in Taipei that I like better than the ones that come out of my own oven. Granted it's from a box and frosted out of a can, but I love playing with piping the frosting and making it look fancy. It's actually super easy to do once you have the right tools (I picked up a Wilton 12 Piece Cupcake Decorating Set from City Super at Fuxing Sogo). Look at the difference almost four years makes- my cupcakes from 2006.

Next time I might try sprinkling a teeny bit of sea salt on top and seeing if it tastes as good as sea salt chocolate bars.