tasting menu/bbq: I strongly recommend FIREPLAY TAIPEI

 

FIREPLAY TAIPEI

No. 6號, Lane 128, Fuhua Road, Shilin District, Taipei 

台北市士林區福華路128巷6號

MRT: Zhishan 

website: Fireplay FB page

hours: 6PM - 12AM; closed Monday and Tuesday  

$$  (dinner tasting menu NT$2400 + 10%)

Visit reviewed: 3/2021 (I was invited, but opinions are my own.)

street eats: I strongly recommend SPRING ONION PANCAKE VENDOR

SPRING ONION PANCAKE VENDOR 

corner of Anhe Road, Sec. 1 and Lane 102

near Ben Teppanyaki

$ 

Kid friendliness: you will see a line of kids waiting their turn afterschool 

Visit reviewed: 3/2021

When ordering spring onion pancake from a street vendor in Taipei, you will have to make a series of decisions. First decide if you want a half sheet (NT$30) or whole sheet (NT$60), then decide with egg or without, then lastly with sauce or without and if you want it spicy or not. Don't take too long to put in your order, otherwise you might have to wait an extra 5-10 minutes if others put in their order first. 

This street vendor often has a gaggle of kids and parents patiently waiting while he griddles, flips and rolls out new batches of dough with his magic rolling pin. After he's done rolling the pancake flat, he pulls out thin wooden center to fold half of it over again, so when he has to lift it, he can just lift the whole thing rather than try to scrape it off, and stand the outside of the pin on its side so it doesn't roll away. Kind of genius. 

I love the spring onion pancake here because it's just the right amount of doughy, chewy, crispy and hey all those hungry kids spending their pocket change on their afternoon snack can't be wrong. 

western: i still strongly recommend LAWRYS TAIPEI

LAWRYS TAIPEI

at Bellavita, 6F

28 Songren Road, Xinyi District 

(02) 2729-8555

MRT: Taipei City Hall

website: Lawry's FB page 

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

$$$

 

Kid friendliness: high chairs and kids meals available 

Visit reviewed: 3/2021 (this meal was comped but opinions are all my own)

previous visit: 11/2011 

Lawry's Taipei moved to Bellavita last fall, its third and newest home in Taipei since opening in 2002. The new space is brighter with floor to ceiling windows and makes for much better photos than its previous basement location, and you might even get a seat with a view of Taipei 101. 

When I posted on Instagram earlier this week, many followers exclaimed they didn't even know Lawry's existed in Taipei. It's true I hadn't posted about Lawry's for ten years even though I had been a loyal customer since 2007. It was hard to take an appetizing photo there, and the plate always looked consistently the same. 

In recent years, the competition for steak in Taipei has gotten fiercer. Just in the Xinyi District alone, there is Texas Roadhouse, Morton's and Smith and Wollensky (which all show up as related searches on google when you search for "Lawrys Taipei"), and that's not even mentioning places like Top Cap, Wildwood or Muchoyaki. 

But for prime rib... Lawry's is still the best. 

The spinning salad with extra cold fork. The creamed corn. The Yorkshire pudding. The creamy and original horseradish sauce. The Lawrys' seasoned pepper and salt. The huge silver cart with prime rib cut to order with au jus and scoops of mashed potato. All the ritual of the classic Lawry's experience is still the same even after all this time. 

I like to get the prime rib "a la carte" which still comes with bread and butter and salad. If you upgrade to the set, you get an appetizer, soup, salad and dessert, but usually that makes the meal longer and I just want to get to the prime rib. The 10 ounce Lawry's Cut (NT$2590) should be plenty for most people, but if you're really hungry you can go for the 16 ounce Diamond Cut (NT$3690) or pack leftovers for prime rib sandwiches the next day. There's also the California and English cuts (6-7.5 ounces) or the 5 ounce Taipei Cut available only during lunch, 

Don't forget to mention if it's your birthday or anniversary and get a souvenir photo to take home. They used to have polaroids but now it's printed from an iPhone. I wish it was still Polaroid, but you can't 'complain about a complimentary service. 

PS. Yay for birthdays- this post was typed up and photos uploaded from my new MacBook Air. 💝 Let's see if we can keep posts going in 2021. 

I love this salad. the dressing, the beets, the bits of egg and crispness of the romaine.

creamed corn and creamed spinach

news: 5 TAIWAN RESTAURANTS NAMED 2021 ASIA's 50 BEST

Five Restaurants in Taiwan named to Asia's 50 Best Restaurants list

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A post shared by Joan (@hungryintaipei)

Chefs across Asia celebrated together, but separately as the 2021 Asia's 50 Best Restaurants was announced in a virtual ceremony rather in an onsite awards celebration for the second year in a row. 

A record number of 5 restaurants repping Taiwan were named to Asia’s 50 Best, making us proud- Mume (15), RAW (21), new entry Logy (24), JL Studio in Taichung (26) and Shoun Ryugin (45). Team @logy.tw joins the list for the first time at #24 and chef Ryogo Tahara says “it’s a dream come true. It’s because of my team I can accomplish this goal.” 

Congrats also to Singaporean chef Angela Lai, named 2021 Asia’s Best pastry chef. You can currently try her desserts at two Michelin star restaurant Tairroir. 

I’ve been thinking about what it means that The Chairman is the first Chinese restaurant to be named number 1 restaurant in Asia, especially after a year where anti-Asian and anti-Chinese hate has risen around the world after a difficult year for everyone around the world. The world is a complicated place- and the gap between America where I grew up and Asia which is my home now has become so large. But to see the cross cultural camaraderie between the chefs, to witness their dreams come true, the recognition by #Asias50Best for many restaurants in Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, Thailand, Taiwan and more is a celebration for all the restaurants that have survived and strived to be places we hope to go to after we can safely travel again. It’s not a competition to see who can be best, rather it’s a way to push and lift each other up and forward, and that's what we will need to do after the pandemic. 

1. THE CHAIRMAN, Hong Kong
2. ODETTE, Singapore
3. DEN, Japan
4. LE DU, Thailand
5. GAGGAN ANAND, Thailand - New Entry - Aspire Lifestyles Highest New Entry Award 2021
6. SUHRING, Thailand
7. FLORILEGE, Japan
8. LA CIME, Japan
9. NARISAWA, Japan
10. MINGLES, South Korea 
11. SORN, Thailand
12. SAZENKA, Japan
13. LES AMIS, Singapore
14. BURNT ENDS, Singapore
15. MUME, Taiwan 
16. VEA, Hong Kong - Gin Mare Art of Hospitality Award 2021
17. NEIGHBORHOOD, Hong Kong
18. INDIAN ACCENT, India
19. L’EFFERVESCENCE, Japan - Beronia Highest Climber Award 2021
20. NUSARA, Thailand - New Entry
21. RAW, Taiwan
22. FU HE HUI, China
23. ZEN, Singapore
24. LOGY, Taiwan - New Entry
25. 25. BELON, Hong Kong
26. JL STUDIO, Taiwan
27. ODE, Japan
28. CAPRICE, Hong Kong
29. MINISTRY OF CRAB, Sri Lanka
30. LA MAISON DE LA NATURE GOH, Japan
31. CLOUDSTREET, Singapore – New Entry
32. MASQUE, India
33. 8 1/2 OTTO E MEZZO BOMBANA, Hong Kong
34. 7TH DOOR, South Korea - New Entry
35. NIHONRYORI RYUGIN, Japan
36. BORN & BRED, South Korea – New Entry
37. AMBER, Hong Kong
38. TA VIE, Hong Kong
39. ANAN SAIGON, Vietnam - New Entry
40. LABYRINTH, Singapore - New Entry and Winner of Flor de Cana Sustainable Restaurant Award 2021
41. EUPHORIA, Singapore – New Entry
42. JAAN BY KIRK WESTAWAY, Singapore
43. HANSIKGANGGAN, South Korea
44. MONO, Hong Kong – New Entry
45. SHOUN RYUGIN, Taiwan
46. GAA, Thailand
47. LUNG KING HEEN, Hong Kong
48. SEVENTH SON, Hong Kong
49. TOYO EATERY, Philippines
50. WING LEI PALACE, Macau

#hungrylist/ burgers: BEST BURGERS IN TAIPEI

A hungry girl’s list to burgers in taipei 

work in progress 

Are these the best burgers in Taipei in 2020? There’s quite a few new contenders that I haven’t tried yet, but these are the ones that I would go back today to go eat, and find myself routinely getting burgers to go. Bottless and Le Blanc are sit down restaurants with entire menus tempting you away from the burger, and you can add on foie gras or egg at Le Blanc. 

Burger and Co, JB Burger and Louis Burger are straightforward. great burgers with good ingredients, proportions and fries worth ordering. I also love the milkshake at Burger and Co, and the freshly cut fries at JB are the most like In N Out. And FYI, there’s nowhere to sit down at Louis Burger, but it’s very price friendly to reflect that. 

MY RECENT FAVORITES 

Bottless / Songshan 

Burger and Co / Daan 

Le Blanc / Daan 

JB burger / Daan 

Louis Burger / Tianmu 

I’VE TRIED IT, BUT I’M NOT A REGULAR 

Selfish Burger / Xinyi 

Awesome Burger  /Xinyi 

Burger Ray / Daan 

Morton’s / Xinyi 

KGB / Daan 

M One Cafe / Daan 

1885 / Songshan 

Bravo / Songshan 

Avenue / Daan 

Meat Up/ Ximen 

ON MY TO-EAT LIST 

Butcher by LanPengYou / Xinyi 

Big Al’s / Songshan 

Wagyu Burger / Daan 

Sheep and Pony / Daan 

Taihu Tasting Room / Daan 

Everywhere Burger Club / Daan 

Thefreen / Songshan + Xinyi + Zhongzheng 

BSB / Neihu 

Lovss burger / Wenshan 

Oldies Burger /Datong 

PLANT BASED BURGERS

Miss Green / Daan 

Ooh Cha Cha / Daan + Zhongzheng 

Wildwood / Xinyi 

Baganhood / Xinyi 

Little Tree Food / Daan 

CHAIN BURGERS 

Mos Burger 

Burger King 

The Diner 

Chili’s 

Gordon Biersch

TGIF

RIP / ONCE UPON A TIME IN TAIPEI 

Caliburger 

Punch burger 

Bing 

BLT burger 

Fanier Burger

Burger Fix

Burger Stop 

Manhattan Gold Burger 

California Grill

Forkers 

Haleakala

Bongos 

WHEN YOU DON’T WANT JUST A BURGER 

MOS BURGER -  rice burgers 

Peanut butter burger 

Veggie burger 

Foie gras burger 

Bone marrow burger 

Please add any of your favorites that I missed in the comments below! Until the next post, see you on instagram @hungryintaipei

news: TAIWANESE AMERICAN CHEF AUSTIN HU

Very sad news about chef Austin Hu who passed away suddenly yesterday. Taiwanese American Chef Austin was known for being a gifted and generous chef in Shanghai, but he was also one of the partners/ executive chef of Spot Taipei, which closed in 2018. Before the wave of current brunch spots opened, there weren’t a ton of choices in Taipei, and Spot was one of the few legit eateries where we could find delicious, hearty yet sophisticated New American dishes, like fried chicken waffle sandwiches, pancakes, breakfast tacos and Ferraro Rocher French toast. A great loss that will be felt by many.  

Remember the dishes from Spot Taipei 

http://hungryintaipei.blogspot.com/2015/09/brunchnew-american-i-recommend-spot.html?m=1

Chef Austin Hu wrote reflected about mental health for chefs 

https://www.thatsmags.com/shanghai/post/23690/chef-austin-hu-on-the-daily-pressures-of-life-in-hospitality

News from TimeOut Shanghai 

https://www.timeoutshanghai.com/features/Blog-Restaurants/75196/Austin-Hu-of-Heritage-by-Madison-has-passed-away.html

Chef Austin featured in the WSJ

https://www.google.com.tw/amp/s/www.wsj.com/amp/articles/in-shanghai-western-menu-chinese-ingredients-1375929264

news: 2020 TAIPEI + TAICHUNG MICHELIN STARS ANNOUNCED

 

[TAIPEI] ⭐️2020 Michelin Guide finally announced its Taipei & new Taichung stars, adding 4 new restaurants in Taipei and 4 in Taichung to the Michelin starred list, including new two stars for modern Singaporean JL Studio in Taichung and Logy in Taipei.

Street food lovers can look at the Taipei 54 bib gourmands and 170 restaurants featured at https://guide.michelin.com/tw/en/taipei-region/taipei/restaurants

Congrats to all the chefs and restaurants!!!

 Taipei Michelin 1 Star ⭐️ 

 -A Cut (new)

 -Danny’s Steakhouse

 -Da-Wan

 -Golden Formosa

 -Impromptu by Paul Lee

 -Ken Anho

 -L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon

 -Longtail 

 -Ming Fu Taiwanese 明福

 -Molino de Urdanize (new) 

-Mountain & Sea House 山海樓

 -Mume 

 -Sushi Akira (new) 

-Sushi Nomura 鮨野村 

-Sushi Ryu 鮨隆 

-Three Coins 

 -Tien Hsiang Lo 天香樓 

-Ya Ge 雅閣 

Taichung Michelin 1 Star  ⭐️(new)

 -Fleur de Sel 

 -Forchetta 

 -Oretachi No Nikuya 

Taipei Michelin 2 Star ⭐️⭐️

 -Logy (new)

-RAW 

-Nihonryori RyuGin 龍吟

-Sushi Amamoto 鮨天本 

-Tairroir 態芮 

-Guest House 請客樓 

 Taichung Michelin 2 star ⭐️⭐️(new) 

-JL Studio 

Taipei Michelin 3 star ⭐️⭐️⭐️

 -Le Palais 

my kitchen: i strongly recommend FLOUR BAKERY BANANA BREAD

Today I made pizza dough from scratch for the first time (thank you Mark Bittman). I don’t know why but for some reason I had been afraid of baking recipes that called for yeast and when I finally made my own focaccia last week I realized that instant yeast is my friend. 

So today after making pizza, the oven was still hot, I had a few very ripe bananas on the counter and coincidentally had creme fraiche in my fridge. So I’m glad I tried this popular banana bread recipe from my favorite Flour Bakery in Boston because it is AMAZING. Moist, caramelized crust and not too dense from whipping the eggs and sugar together first. Definitely worth the effort, though I moved the directions around a bit so that you can just use 1 mixing bowl.

Thank You Joanne Chang!!! I miss Flour Bakery, I want to try to make their breakfast sandwich next!! 

FLOUR BAKERY BANANA BREAD

Ingredients

• 1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• *1 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar *(I reduced to 3/4 cup, I might use 1/2 cup next time)
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup oil
• *3 1/2 bananas, very ripe, mashed *(I used 4)
•  2 tablespoons creme fraiche or sour cream
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• *2/3 cup walnuts, toasted and chopped *(I used whole pecans on top) 
• *added a handful of chocolate chips)
• *(I also added 1 teaspoon baking powder to get the top to rise higher)

Directions

Set oven to 350 degrees F (180C). Line the loaf pan with parchment paper.or butter generously 

Beat sugar and 2 eggs with a whisk until light and fluffy, about 10 minutes. Slowly drizzle in 1/2 cup oil. Add mashed bananas, 2 tablespoons creme fraiche, and 1 teaspoon vanilla. 

Sift together the 1 2/3 cups flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon and 1/2 tsp salt. Fold in dry ingredients and nuts. Pour into a lined loaf pan and *stir in a handful of chocolate chips atop. Bake for about 45 minutes to 1 hour, or until middle is set and top is golden