takeout/taiwanese: i recommend SHIN YEH x INLINE

hi guys! As you may know, Covid has been peaking in Taiwan and numbers are at a record high and for the first time, I have a number of friends who have caught (and recovered from) Covid. Since everyone is being more cautious and while things are not shut down (like this time last year), I have been definitely eating more at home, cooking and ordering in. So when Inline reached out and asked if I wanted to check out their service, I looked at the list of restaurants and I said YES. I realized that it had been far too long since I had my favorite dishes from Shin Yeh since it's usually a place I would eat at with my grandmother and visiting relatives, but why not enjoy it at home? 

inline is mainly known for their reservation booking service, but they also have a ton of restaurants that you can order from. For Shin Yeh, they have takeout from four locations- Xinyi Mitsukoshi A9, Nanjing, ShuangCheng (original shop) and takeout/delivery from ZhongXiao branch. The menus have slightly different variations at the branches, and I ordered ahead to schedule a time and got the confirmation once the restaurant opened. While you can click on the top right side to change the language to English, it doesn't translate the dishes' names to English (for now), though the newest OS for iphone lets you highlight the dish name to translate. 

If you're looking for what to order from Shin Yeh, here's what I recommend  (with photos) below: 

1. Signature braised pork 欣葉滷肉NT$270  

I was afraid 1 portion of the pork belly wouldn’t be enough since it said it had 3 pieces, but 2 portions was really sizeable with lots of tender chunks of meat! It was still warm when I got it. Would definitely reorder. Enjoyed the leftovers and sauce with rice in a second meal. 

2. Sesame oil kidney (small) 麻油腰只(小）NT$410 

Shin Yeh separated the sesame oil broth so the kidney didn’t overcook. Pork kidney is slightly crunchy and bouncy, yum. This isn't something that I have often, but when I think of this dish, I think of Shin Yeh since it's one of their signatures. It might not be for everyone, but those who love it, love it. 

3. Wok fried pork liver 香煎豬肝 NT$300 

Shin Yeh’s pork liver is slightly sweet and soft. This is another favorite of my family's. IYKYK. Uncover right away so it doesn’t overcook. 

4. Baby oysters with leeks and fermented black beans 

蔭豉蒜青蚵 NT$310 

This was another dish I was slightly worried about overcooking, but it was fine. Juicy baby oysters with the pronounced flavor of fermented black beans - this was one of the first dishes I reached for, and wished I had added a few bowls of sweet potato porridge after eating. 

5. Poached chicken (L) 鹽水土雞（大） NT$480

 I admit I am spoiled by the deboning of Hainan chicken, so the meaty pieces were gone quickly and then the bony pieces were not. 

6. Cashew shrimp 腰果蝦仁 NT$460

They separated the cashews which I thought was interesting, it was either this or the salt and pepper shrimp. This is less work to eat. It's been so long I forgot we like the pineapple shrimp here. Next time! 

7. Stir fried chives with preserved eggs 韭菜炒松花 NT$285

Another perfect with rice dish

What's your favorite dish from Shin Yeh? Check out some other favorites from my previous visits - the clams and loofah or stir fried vermicelli  , or the gua bao. Reminder to self-next time get some sweet potato porridge and pineapple shrimp.

Thank you Inline and Shin Yeh for letting me try my favorites at home. 

#hungrylist/news: 10 BEST NEW RESTAURANTS TO TRY IN TAIPEI + HSINCHU, MAY 2022

I'm always getting asked if I have any recent finds and I finally had time to put together a short list of places I've either really enjoyed and look forward to going back to (and haven't mentioned yet on IG), or places that are on my list to try! Will try to do this monthly because Taipei is always changing and opening new things, even during a pandemic! Congrats to all the new restaurant openings, I already have a few to mention for next month's list! 

10 BEST NEW-ISH RESTAURANTS TO TRY IN TAIPEI, MAY 2022 #HUNGRYLIST

1. ZEA

2. AT EASE

3. ANTIPODEAN FUJIN

4. POKEWORKS

5. FONDA MEXICO

6. ACME CAFE

7. CHEF MARKET 

8. BE GOOD

9. LILLA (HSINCHU)

10. HSINCHUKU (HSINCHU)

1. Zea

TAIPEI's NEWEST RESTAURANT IS A MODERN LATIN AMERICAN TASTING MENU WITH HEART, OPENED THIS MONTH BY HUSBAND AND WIFE TEAM- ARGENTINIAN CHEF ELIZONDO JOAQUIN & DI HARN, @zea.tpe @elizondo_joaquin

106台北市大安區仁愛路四段300巷20弄5號 

No. 5, Alley 20, Lane 300, RenAi Rd, Sec. 4, DaAn District

2. At Ease

OPENED LAST FALL, IT'S IF IMPROMPTU  WAS A SPORTS BAR. CHEF PAUL LEE DREAMS OF STUFFED FRIED CHICKEN WINGS, BONE MARROW RICE, GOOSE FAT FRIES, BEER AND BASEBALL GAMES. @at_ease_tw

中山區中山北路一段49號 / No. 49號, Section 1, Zhongshan N Rd, Zhongshan District

3. Antipodean Fujin

BRINGING AUSSIE BRUNCH + AVOCADO TOAST TO FUJIN ST IN BIGGER AND BRIGHTER DIGS. NOW WE DON'T HAVE TO DRIVE ALL THE WAY TO NEIHU FOR QUEEN's BREAKFAST. @theantipodean

松山區民生東路五段27巷10號 / No. 10, Lane 27, Section 5, Minsheng E Rd, Songshan District

photo from @theantipodean

4.  Pokeworks

BUILD YOUR OWN POKE BOWL, FIRST BRANCH OUTSIDE OF THE MAINLAND. FINALLY REAL CALI-STYLE POKE BOWLS IN TAIPEI. THREE SCOOPS FOR ME PLUS AVOCADO AND LOTUS CHIPS. Read my review + more photos, click here!  @pokeworks.tw  

大安區復興南路一段107巷45號 / No. 45, Lane 107, Section 1, Fuxing S Rd, Da’an District

5. Fonda Mexico

FLAUTAS, TACOS, GRINGAS AND ENCHILADAS, OH MY. I'VE BEEN GOING BACK ON REPEAT SINCE LAST YEAR, BUT NOW IT'S TIME TO SHARE MY LATEST FAVORITE MEXICAN IN TAIPEI. DON'T FORGET TO ORDER GUACAMOLE AND FIND OUT THEIR SPECIAL OF THE DAY. @fondamexico

台北市中正區羅斯福路一段123號 / No. 123, Section 1, Roosevelt Rd, Zhongzheng District (02) 2351-5181

6. Acme Cafe 

AIRY GORGEOUS BRUNCH WITH A SHILIN VIEW. SO THAT'S WHAT's INSIDE THAT BUILDING. @acme.taipei

士林區劍潭路1號7樓 / No. 1 Jiantan Rd 7F, Shilin District, 

photo from @acme.taipei

7. Chef Market at Chun Place

TAKE YOUR PICK AT DAZHI's NEWEST + FANCIEST FOOD HALL - FROM WOOLOMOOLOO TO WAGYU LAB, SUSHI BAR TO SAKE BAR, IT'S LIKE SOMEONE PUT ALL THEIR GOURMET FAVORITES IN ONE PLACE. NOW YOU KNOW WHERE TO GET BANANA CREAM PIE AND CHIRASHI BOWLS FOR LUNCH. @chefmarket_tw

台北市中山區樂群三路303號/ No. 303 Lewinsky 3rd Rd, Zhongshan District 

8. Be Good

NEWLY OPENED HUMBLE HOUSE NANJING's CAFE, MENU BY CHEF KIN MING LAM. CHICKEN AND EGG WAFFLES ANYONE? @begood.tpe

10491台北市中山區松江路116號2樓 / No. 116 Songjiang Rd, 2F Zhongshan District

9. Lilla

LA VIBES IN HSINCHU, BAKERY AND MENU BY TEAMS FROM GEN CREATIVE, BOTTLESS + SALT & STONE. @lillaeats

新竹縣竹北市莊敬南路29號 / No. 29, Zhuangjing S Rd, Zhubei City, Hsinchu 

10. Hsinchuku

OOH CHA CHA"s SISTER CAFE, ASIAN FUSION VEGAN IN TRADITIONAL JAPANESE BUILDING IN HSINCHU. SOUTHEAST ASIAN FLAVORS SPICE UP THE PLANT FORWARD MENU, WHILE THE COCKTAILS REFRESH THE PALATE. @hsinchuku

No. 166, 南大路東區新竹市300 / No. 166, Nanda Rd, East District, Hsinchu 

my kitchen: EASY BEST CHOCOLATE CAKE

Easy Best Chocolate Cake

Makes 2x round 9 inch cake pans

I’m finishing the last of this cake and realized that I didn’t post the recipe here yet. (Amazingly, it’s still moist and delish even a few weeks later.) After posting on IG, I realized that the version I used from addapinch blog is a very close variation of Ina Garten and Hershey’s chocolate cake recipes. The hot coffee is definitely the secret ingredient that you cannot miss and I made a sour cream cream cheese frosting instead of chocolate. Will definitely make again. Enjoy! 

Easy Best Chocolate cake 

FOR THE CHOCOLATE CAKE:

Ingredients  
2 cups all-purpose flour 

2 cups sugar

3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda 

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup milk or buttermilk, almond, or coconut milk

1/2 cup oil 

2 large eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 cup boiling water + 1 teaspoon instant coffee 

• Preheat oven to 176 C / 350º F 
• Prepare two 9-inch cake pans by lining bottom with oven paper or buttering and lightly flouring.
• Add 2 cup flour, 2 cup sugar, 3/4 cup cocoa, 2 teaspoons baking powder, 1.5 tsp baking soda and 1 tsp salt  to a large bowl. Mix dry ingredients. 
• Add 1 cup milk (I added a little lemon for buttermilk substitute), 1/2 cup vegetable oil, 2 eggs, and 2 teaspoons vanilla to dry ingredients and mix together on medium speed until well combined.  
• Slowly add 1 cup boiling water+ coffee on low speed until well combined. It will be runny/on the thin side, and that’s ok. 
• Split cake batter evenly between the two lined round cake pans, or one large pan for sheet cake. Bake for 30-35 minutes, until a toothpick or chopstick inserted in the center of the chocolate cake comes out clean. If you make cupcakes, check cupcakes around 20-25 min and scoop with ice cream scooper. 

FOR THE SOUR CREAM FROSTING:

• 1 1/2 cups sour cream
• 1 cup cream cheese 
• 3 tablespoons powdered sugar 
• 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Stir until creamy and combined. Will be less firm than cream cheese frosting at room temperature. 

american/fusion: I strongly recommend POKEWORKS

 

POKEWORKS TAIPEI

No. 45號, Lane 107, Section 1, Fuxing S Rd, Da’an District

(02) 2775-3576

MRT: Zhongxiao/Dunhua

website: Pokeworks Facebook

hours: 11AM- 8PM (closed Sundays)

$ (NT180-220 / person) 

Kid friendliness: only a few tables to sit in back, no high chair spotted, but lots of non-raw options like chicken, tofu and veggies available on the menu. 

Visit reviewed: march 2022

You guys know I can be picky about poke bowls in Taipei (because they seem to more like salad bars here). Since @pokeworks.tw is the first Asian branch of US @pokeworksco , it will feel happily familiar to those missing California style poke bowls.

You can pick a preset combo or build your own bowl, starting with rice/salad base (or noodles!), protein (2-3), mixins (5), dressing, toppings (4) and crunch (4). For this price point (NT$180-280+) you get a ton of selections and everything was very fresh, and it’s the combination of the components together that make it a legit poke bowl.

My usual Pokeworks order:  

-half and half brown rice and salad 

-protein: tuna, salmon and scallop 

-mixins: cucumber, kale, seaweed salad, edamame, sweet onion

-dressing flavor: sriracha aioli

-toppings: surimi salad, masago, kimchi, avocado (extra)

-crunch: shredded nori, garlic crisp, lotus crisp

I love that there’s choices like baby scallop, masago, surumi crab salad, avocado, shredded nori and fried lotus root. Was super satisfied by my bowl and will def be back! 

(Maybe even when I’m craving Asian chicken salad- add chicken, cucumber, onion, mandarin oranges, wonton crisps and use poke works classic or ponzu fresh flavor lol ). This was actually verryyyyy tasty. Thanks Ashley! lol

news: 2022 ASIA’s 50 BEST

Team Taiwan 🇹🇼 chefs celebrated the 2022 #Asias50Best yesterday in Taipei in an unofficial gathering, along with chefs in Tokyo, Bangkok, Hong Kong and Macau. Two restaurants - Logy and JL Studio made it to the Asia’s 50 Best list- and an additional five restaurants in the top 100, with Mume and Ryugin, and new entries Adachi, Liberte and Le Côté. Mume also was honored with the 2022 Sustainable restaurant award.

 It’s been a continued unpredictable few years for restaurants, but great to see chefs coming out to support each other. Congrats to all of chefs in Asia’s 50 Best and their teams- hope to be able to (re)visit again someday soon. 

🇹🇼 2022 Asia’s 50 Best 

#38 LOGY @logy.tw @ryogotahara_logy 

#45 JL STUDIO @jlstudio_tw @jimmy_jlstudio 

#52 ADACHI (new entry)

#54 MUME @mume_taiwan @richie_lin (also 2022 Sustainable Restaurant award)

#57 SHOUN RYUGIN @shounryugintaiwan @ryohei_hieda 

#72 LIBERTE @liberte_taiwan @kenji.liberte 

#99 LE COTE @lecotelm @lanshuchen (new entry) 

1 Den Tokyo 

2 Sorn Bangkok 

3 Florilege Tokyo 

4 Le Du Bangkok 

5 Chairman Hong Kong 

6 La Cime Osaka

7 Suhring Bangkok 

8 Odette Singapore 

9 Neighborhood HK 

10 Nusara Bangkok 

11 Sazenka Tokyo 

12 Fu He Hui Shanghai 

13 Ode Tokyo (highest climber) 

14 Villa Aida (highest new entry) Wakayama

15 Narisawa Tokyo 

16 Mingles Seoul 

17 Sezanne Tokyo (new) 

18 Joo Ok Seoul (new)

19 Ensue Shenzhen (new)

20 Meta Singapore (new)

21 Masque Mumbai 

22 Indian Accent New Delhi 

23 Les Amis Singapore 

24 Caprice Hong Kong 

25 Blue by Alain Ducasse (new)

26 7th door Seoul 

27 Mosu Seoul (new) 

28 Da Vittorio Shanghai (new)

29 Sushi Masato Bangkok (new)

30 Onjium Seoul (new)

31 Samrub Samrub Thai Bangkok (new)

32 Mono Hong Kong 

33 Gaa Bangkok

34 Wing Hong Kong (new) 

35 Ministry of Crab Sri Lanka

36 La Maison de La nature Goh Fukuoka 

37 Zen Singapore 

38 Logy Taipei 

39 Ultraviolet Shanghai 

40 Labyrinth Singapore

41 Burnt Ends Singapore 

42 Ete Japan (new) 

43 Cenci Kyoto (new) 

44 Cloudstreet Singapore 

45 JL Studio Taichung 

46 Raan Jay Fai Bangkok (new) 

47 Wynn Lei Palace Macau 

48 Otto E Mezzo Shanghai 

49 Megu New Delhi (new) 

50 Dewakan Kuala Lumpur 

my kitchen: EASY LEMON KALE FAGOLI

Lemon kale bean soup just sounded so good and perfect for winter, and of course, halfbakedharvest takes the best photos, so I had to try this recipe. (I wish my kitchen had the window light that hers does, but sadly no windows in my kitchen). 

LEMON KALE ORZO SOUP

▢ 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

▢ 1 shallot, chopped (x) 

▢ 4-6 cloves garlic, smashed

▢ red pepper flakes (x)

▢ 2 tablespoons salted butter

▢ 2 cups dry orzo pasta (i used fagoli, 1 cup next time, soaks too much liquid) 

▢ 6 cups low sodium chicken or vegetable broth

▢ 1 can white beans 

▢ kosher salt and black pepper

▢ 1/2 bunch kale, finely shredded

▢ 1/2 cup basil pesto (I added less) 

▢ 1/2 cup whole milk (I added a little heavy cream) 

▢ 1 cup grated parmesan cheese (I added 1/2 cup) 

▢ zest and juice of 1 lemon (I did 1/2 lemon)

https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/white-bean-lemon-pesto-orzo-soup/

Yum would make this again though I would add less starch so it’s more soupy than not

My kitchen: EASY CRISPY POTSTICKER SKIRT

Easy Crispy Potsticker Skirt 

Learn something new everyday and if you haven’t learned how to make crispy pot stickers at home yet, you must try this easy method perfected by @kirbiecravings. Our current fave brands of supermarket potstickers are Mazendo or the shrimp pork dumplings from Ba Fang. I should document the different brands I’ve tried, but always end up going back to Mazendo. 

[TAIPEI] 🥟Practice makes perfect #potstickers #crispyskirt 

EASY CRISPY POTSTICKER SKIRT 

1/2 cup water 

2 teaspoons flour 

Stir together to make a slurry. 

1- Oil pan and griddle potstickers for 2 min uncovered, medium high heat. I usually put 10-12 in a circle on nonstick pan 

2- Pour in slurry and cook 3 min covered on medium heat

3- Uncover and cook about 5-8 more minutes til skirt is golden brown and edge of skirt can be gently lifted by spatula

4- Gently put plate on top of potstickers (top of plate facing top of pan) and flip pan and plate together. (Or slide it off the pan to plate if you want the skirt to be at the bottom)

Enjoy!! 

american/chinese: i recommend FORKS AND CHOPSTICKS

[TAIPEI]

Orange chicken in Taipei. 

When I first started the blog, the question I would get once in awhile was "where can I find Americanized Chinese food in Taipei?" And I had no idea, I mean it just was not a thing here. Plus you've got dumplings, noodle soups and veggies galore. 

But then after a few years I would really get nostalgic for that styrofoam box of orange chicken, chow mein and a fried egg roll. I know I wasn't alone because I even followed the news of an American Chinese diner opening in China (and closing a few years later) and orange chicken getting so popular you could buy it at Trader Joes. Panda Express even started trying to started making burritos with orange chicken and had Innovation Kitchens. 

And now, Taipei finally has its own spot to order a few of your takeout faves. The founders of FORKS AND CHOPSTICKS 筷叉小館  were feeling the same cravings and tackled this problem with a cloud kitchen solution. 

The menu at Forks and Chopsticks isn't long, but it's got the classics you might spy at the mall food court - broccoli beef, orange chicken, chicken zucchini, eggplant and tofu, chicken and string beans, fried rice, and chow mein..and yes, there's fortune cookies, takeout boxes and that familiar looking styrofoam shaped box (minus the styrofoam cuz it's Taiwan 2022). 

And the taste comes pretty close, at least for me who hasn't been to the states in 2 years and hasn't had orange chicken in more than that. I must admit Panda Express' orange chicken was such the guilty pleasure in college. So while the flavor is close, I do wish it was a bit more crispier and stickier (though I guess I get Korean fried chicken for those cravings these days). Paired with a chewy chow mien, it scratches an itch. The familiar fried rice, the lucky numbers with your fortune.

You can order by the dish or get a combo 1, 2 or 3 dishes with rice or noodles (or upon special request half and half). Currently you can find @ForksxChopsticks on ubereats or pick up,  but there's no dine in yet. They are also testing egg rolls (another fave that I haven't had in years) and crab rangoon. 

There _are_ fortune cookies, but they are an extra charge unfortunately, the same way chips and salsa are not free in Mexican restaurants here. lol. 

So anyone been missing their takeout menu from back home? What else are you missing? Maybe honey walnut shrimp or (it's been so long I had to google) sweet and sour shrimp or Kung Pao chicken. 

FORKS AND CHOPSTICKS 

(pick up and delivery only)

No. 67號, Guangfu S Rd, Songshan District, Taipei

(02) 2748-4205