hotpot/late night: i recommend SHIMIN DA DAO SHUA SHUA GUO

SHIMIN DA DAO SHUA SHUA GUO
or CIVIC BLVD HOTPOT
No. 50, Yanji St.
(02) 2577-8747

MRT: Zhongxiao/DunHua or SYS Memorial Hall

hours: 5PM- 5AM

$$-$$$

Kid friendliness: individual hotpots embedded in table;

Visit reviewed: 12/11/2010 (all photos with iphone4)




There's something to be said about a place that has a half hour wait at 11pm. Granted, we were a large group of 10 people, but it's impressive that this two-floor hotpot place seems to be a hotspot for those wanting a late night meal. Shimin Da Dao Shua Shua Guo is on the corner of Civic Blvd (or Shimin Da Dao) and Yanji Street, with an electric blue neon sign highlighting its entrance (and weirdly, the other hotpot place across the street is nearly empty).



Each person gets their own hotpot, a plate of veggies (with tofu, corn, mushrooms, fishcake and lots of cabbage) and a moment to look at the paper menu for meat options- the cheapest being choice pork at NT$280 to the most expensive-Kobe beef at NT$1880, or nearly US$60. There's also vegetarian and seafood options, like tilapia or scallop & prawns, as well as ala carte add on items (which is in Chinese only on the menu) like this make-your-own fish ball paste..



I decide on the prime pork (NT$320) which is tender enough, though I did enjoy the bite of my friend's boneless short rib. After ordering, the server will bring you the dipping soy sauce, which you can request to be spicy or not, as well as rice, vermicelli or noodles. My other friend ordered the snowy tender pork, and I didn't think it was considerably better than the prime pork even though it was more expensive.



It was my first time having midnight hotpot and hopefully not my last... it's great to have good friends to drag out my homebody self and the meal isn't too heavy that you'll regret it the next morning.



Complimentary sweet red bean soup to finish off the meal.



As we leave, the place is still full (with a few tables with kids!) and the taxis line up outside to offer up rides to take us home. It's pretty insane that they are open until 5AM, but I guess you'll know where to go the next time a late night craving for kobe beef hits you.


View Larger Map

CLOSED! chinese: i strongly recommend SHANGHAI FANS

a/o 4/2011 CLOSED!

SHANGHAI FANS
or SHANG FAN GUANG
No. 3, Xinyi Road, Sec. 3
(02) 2707-5027

MRT: DaAn or ZhongXiao/Xinsheng

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

$$

Kid friendliness: high chairs available

Visit reviewed: 6/5/2010



Shanghai Fans is a solid alternative to the nearby original location of the crazily popular Din Tai Fung, especially for those with large groups or families with three floors of seating and private rooms available upstairs. Like any good Chinese restaurant, it has a huge extensive menu barely covered by what was ordered in this dinner, but unfortunately, the menu is only in Chinese with few pictures, so you should bring a Chinese reader with you.

The restaurant has that old school feeling and the prices are very reasonable for the family style portions. My aunt usually does all the ordering, and many of these dishes are featured on their "Top 10" dishes menu. That's usually my problem in taking so long to blog about Chinese restaurants- they don't have an English menu, someone else is ordering and I'm too busy chowing down to figure out what is what since everything tastes good.

The Crab roe tofu pot has a creamy, sweet flavor along with the silky tofu. I love this over a bowl of rice.



Make yourself a little pork belly sandwich with the sesame buns and braised Dongpo Pork. You can see the fat glistening off the pork belly and also on your lips when you're done devouring it.



The pan fried spring onion pancakes here are fat and twisty, with the spring onions stuffed inside, which may turn off some who don't like the strong scallion texture and flavor.



At Shanghai Fans, the xiao long bao is more of a side dish than the main event, but still satisfies. Those more adventurous can also try the si gua xiao long bao or loofah and shrimp.



Huge pot of Corn and egg soup so everyone can have a bowl or two.



Other dishes I've had before that I recommend ordering are the Shanghainese Pork Ham and Pork soup which has a milky white broth that beats any ramen broth I've had before, the cabbage and peanut slaw, and red bean paste in sesame pastry dessert. Or you can have a bowl of the sweet green mung bean soup.



Chinese food is such ubiquitous thing in the US, but it's sort of stereotyped and simplified along the lines of dishes expected from a take-out menu- beef and broccoli, chow mein, egg rolls, kung pao chicken or even more Americanized, orange chicken (which I admit, I grew up on and like to eat sometimes). But in reality, Chinese food is so diverse and more than what's offered at Panda Express the same way that American food is more than what's sold at McD's. And there's so many great Chinese restaurants in Taipei that I've eaten at- it's been great having this blog to learn more about what is from where, and I'll try my best to keep figuring out the best way to capture and articulate and share my experiences here.

my kitchen: cookie brownies from a box

Cookie brownies are for those with a serious sweet tooth, as the combination of the two is a bit over the top for me, even with a glass of milk.

If you can't find this box and want to try it, just scoop spoonfuls of your favorite chocolate chip cookie dough onto your favorite brownie recipe and you can achieve the same effect.

brunch/afternoon tea: i strongly recommend waffles at ARIEL LE CAFE

ARIEL LE CAFE
at Q SQUARE, 2 FL
No.1, Cheng De Road, Sec. 1
(02) 2552-5269

MRT: Taipei Main Station

website: qsquare.com.tw

hours: 11AM - 9:30PM

$-$$

Kid friendliness: no high chairs spotted. open cafe area in middle of mall

Visit reviewed: 12/11/2010 (photos by iphone 4G and Canon s90)




I have been on a search for a great waffle for brunch in Taipei ever since I've moved back- as I'm sure many of you have as well. The problems encountered in Taipei- too cakey, too dry, not crispy enough, available only for afternoon tea, too much hype, or too weird (with tuna?!). I think I finally might have found a contender that you fellow waffle lovers can try- and in one of the most random places, a cafe on the 2nd floor of the new-ish Q Square shopping center.



At first glance, I wasn't sure if I was at the right place, until I saw the sign above the kitchen which is across from the entrance/seating area which overlooks the lower floors of the mall. The airy space is a good place for people watching and has some interesting design, including the chandelier made out of coffee cups.




I was afraid after seeing the waffles at the other table that they were going to be cakey, but when they finally arrived to my table, the banana chocolate waffles (NT$160) were lighter than they looked with a touch of crispiness and dusting of powdered sugar. I wasn't disappointed for once and could eat two of the huge slices. I was a little surprised that they served the bananas and sauce on the side, but nothing a little elbow grease couldn't fix. After digging in, I found a scoop of vanilla ice cream underneath the bananas. I was tempted to ask for extra sauce or syrup, but didn't- don't know if they would charge you if you did. Other waffle options on the menu include plain, strawberry, tuna or ice cream.



Be forewarned that they have a policy on the menu, that one drink is required to be ordered per person sitting and the handmade coffees/teas/juices are NT$120-180, as well as a 90 minute time limit for seating, probably for those busy afternoon tea hours. The guy who seated us told us that my friend and i each had to order a drink, but when I couldn't decide, the second server said it was ok since I ordered waffles.

When I went at noon, there were plenty of tables, but after I came back from lunch upstairs, the place was bustling at around 2:30pm. Our waffle took at least 10-15 minutes to come to our table, so I imagine the wait could be longer during busy hours. Other brunch/afternoon tea options on the English and Chinese menu are desserts cakes (on display in the entrance area), quiches, scones and chocolate molten cake. You can also check out their desserts at their patisserie in the food court on B3.

mexican/new in town: i strongly recommend MACHO TACOS

MACHO TACOS
No. 3, Lane 126, Yanji St
(02) 2731-4489

MRT: SYS Memorial Hall

website: machotacos.com and facebook page

hours: 6:30 PM- 10 PM (soft opening hours)
M-F 11:30-3:00pm; 5:00-10:00pm | Sat 11:30-10:00pm, Sun 11:30-9:00pm

$-$$ (Cash only)

Kid friendliness: no high chairs and small space

Visits reviewed: 12/22/2010 & 12/17/2010



Macho Tacos, Macho Tacos, Macho Tacos- say it three times fast. You'll be hearing a lot about it for awhile I'm guessing from my first few visits, as we finally have a little "hole in the wall Mexican place" right here in Taipei. I had been hearing about it from a few readers before I had a chance to visit and I didn't want to have too high expectations especially during their soft opening month in December, but I'm happy to say that they are definitely on the right track and should soon become a favorite craving for many, including myself.




What sets Macho Tacos apart from the other Mexican places in town?

(1) The "Baja style Mexican" menu and prices.




Set up more like a taco joint you'd find near a college campus in LA rather than a sit down eatery, the prices are good for what we're used to paying for "foreign" foods. There are soft and hard tacos, burritos, burrito bowls, quesadillas and nachos, all available for under NT$200. The brightly lit signage is in English and Chinese with lots of pictures for newbies and the person taking my order seemed to understand everything even when I was ordering in English. There's also horchata (which my friend had for the first time) and beers. One con is that Macho Tacos only has about 12-15 sit down spaces that fill up quickly, but thankfully the food keeps well to-go, staying warm and crispy in the right ways.



(2) Fish Tacos on corn tortillas!



Macho Tacos replicates the experience of the fish taco (3 for NT$150) without any weird localization- down to the tiny piece of lime to squeeze, crispy fried fish topped with fresh cabbage and creamy, white sauce on a corn tortilla. Though the first time I felt the corn tortilla to be on the dry side, piling on the salsa helps. I know they are still tweaking all their menu items and their corn tortillas are handmade, so we'll see how it changes in the next few months.

(3) Mexican rice and beans!

It's not until you've sampled all the strange flavors passed off as rice and beans at Mexican restaurants in Taipei that you can appreciate how normal the rice and beans are at Macho. There is even a choice of black or pinto beans, as well as Mexican rice or cilantro lime rice- for your burrito or as a side. It fills up the burrito and makes it complete, yet there is still was a good portion of steak in my burrito. If you're hungry, I recommend getting the bigger size or macho steak burrito (NT$185) and maybe a taco or three.



(4) Location

For me, the location is perfect- on the Eastside, or Dong Qu, which is in my neck of the woods, not in Gongguan or Tianmu or Danshui. Can you imagine one day that there's little Mexican spots all over Taipei? It would be crazy!

Macho Tacos can be a little tricky to find and is easier to figure out from Yanji Street, though it's not too far from Lane 248's Toasteria and Alleycats.

Of course I had to try a little bit of everything to see what it tasted like. My favorites were the steak burrito and fish tacos- the meat of the carnitas/pork taco (NT$50 or 3 for NT$140) was a bit dry for me though I loved that each taco was doused in fresh pico de gallo, or chopped tomatoes, onions and cilantro.




and the chicken in the chicken hard shell taco was very bland, but the taco shell was fresh and crispy. I could see the diced chicken working in a quesadilla or burrito, but in a taco, it didn't seem to have any flavor. Both were made better by the salsa available in the mini salsa area, but I'd probably stick to my favorites on repeat visits. I might try the tofu tacos in the future and it would be cool to see if Macho could add shrimp tacos or burritos to their menu in the future.



I also wasn't crazy about the guacamole, as it was the squirt kind rather than the fresh, chunky kind and a side of NT$40 was a tiny plastic tub. I also heard that their nachos are made with nacho cheese which kind of excites me though I know that's more Taco Bell than Baja Fresh.



If you want it on the spicy side, you can look for the hot sauce bottles if the salsas don't do it for you.



There's no question that I have been waiting for a place like this for awhile, and it will be interesting to see if locals can also find a way to love Cali-Mex after years of eating Tai-Mex.

Happy new year everyone! 2010 has been a great year for eats in Taipei- can't wait to see what 2011 brings us!


View Larger Map

revisited/japanese: i still strongly recommend SUMIE at SAN WANT HOTEL

SUMIE NOUVELLE CUISINE JAPANESE
at San Want Hotel, 4th Floor
No. 172, Zhong Xiao East Road, Sec 4
(02) 2781-6909

MRT: ZhongXiao/DunHua or SYS Memorial Hall

website: sanwant.com

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

$$-$$$

Kid friendliness: high chairs and kids dinnerware available.

Visit reviewed: 11/18/2010 (all photos from iphone 4G)
Previous reviews: 10/24/2006 and 8/14/2005



From the beginning to the end of the meal, I love this season's set menu at San Want Hotel. Every bite satisfied and had layers of flavors that complemented the dishes before and afterwards.

First course: chawanmushi or steamed egg with ikura, shiitake mushroom and crab
The rich broth and silky texture had everyone at the table raving- this has to be one of the best steamed eggs I've ever had.



Second course: sashimi
I love sweet shrimp and uni. I always love Sumie's fresh sashimi and presentation- when it's so good, it melts in your mouth. If you don't eat raw fish, you can ask them ahead of time to switch it to something else.





Third course: Salad
I always forget that they have raisins in their salad- yuck. I move them to the side and I'm okay, though I'll have to remember next time to ask them not to put them on in the first place. A light Japanese citrus dressing on the salad with chopped fruits and vegetables atop fresh greens.



Fourth course: Prawns and mushrooms with miso sauce
This dish is served with the lid covered and the server asks that you remove the lid when you see steam coming out. The broth/sauce is slightly sweet and I think there was some fish hiding underneath. I was too busy eating and enjoying to take notes!




Fifth course: Grilled steak
The portion of this is just right for such a full set menu, but if you are coming for dinner or your first time, I recommend that you switch out the steak for lamb chops. The lamb chops at Sumie are my favorite anywhere with a slightly sweet marinade and tender bite.



Sixth course: Sushi



Some people are too full by this point to eat anymore (not me! haha!), but I love the bites of rolls that come at the end. The mini-chirashi sushi is so cute and leaves me wanting more.



Seventh course: Clam broth
Sometimes their broth at the end is too huge or gingery for me, but this one is just right.



Eighth course: Dessert and fresh fruit



Ordering a set course at Sumie can seem expensive, but it's well worth the price, especially if you're celebrating a special occasion. With lunch sets running from NT$500-900 and dinner sets at NT$1500 and up, the presentation, quality and taste surpasses lots of other Japanese restaurants where the prices will add up anyways per person. You can always have one person order a set menu and another order off the menu if you're afraid you won't finish. The set menu also changes seasonally, so I love being surprised by what's coming.

snapshot/breakfast: i strongly recommend the bacon cheese bao from CHAO ZHOU BAO ZI

CHAO ZHOU BAO ZI
No. 52, Lane 216, ZhongXiao E. Road, Sec. 4
(02) 2773-8371

MRT: SYS Memorial Hall or ZhongXiao/DunHua

hours: 7AM-8PM

website: chaozhou-baozi.com.tw Chinese only

$

Kid friendliness: mantou/bao only to go in a busy alley intersection but lots of kid friendly choices

Visit reviewed: 10/28/2010



Bacon + cheese + a soft bao = awesome!

When I saw the ladies next to me pick up 20 of the same buns at Chao Zhou Bao Zi on Lane 216, I had to ask- what are you getting? She said what sounded like "pei-gan chee-zu bao" or bacon cheese bao (NT$20) and totally sold me on it. I had to try one as well and I'm so glad I did.

If you pick it up hot, the cheese is oozing inside with chopped up pieces of bacon which goes perfectly with the slightly peppery, soft bun - kind of like a Taiwanese hot pocket. An indulgence that's much better than the processed breakfast sandwich you'd get at McD's. You can also pick it up warm/cool, to freeze or store for later reheating/steaming and consumption.

I've gone back several times to get it and sometimes they are sold out at different times of the day. I've also recommended it to friends who have also become addicted. While I like their meat bamboo baos, I prefer the meat to bun ratio from the Lao Guh Tsui Jian Bao place down the street. But the bacon cheese bun I've never seen anywhere else!

Though they've revamped their storefront sign, the signs for the buns and mantous are still all in Chinese and it's hard to tell what's available unless you ask in Chinese. They have a pretty wide variety and there are savory as well as sweet buns- like sesame or red bean or brown sugar mantou.

Since there are several places on 216, look for a sign on the corner that looks like this bag..




View Larger Map