Showing posts sorted by date for query frozen yogurt. Sort by relevance Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by date for query frozen yogurt. Sort by relevance Show all posts

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

3rd annual HungryinTaipei Readers' Choice Award Winners!



The results are finally in! I had vowed to myself to have these posted by January this year and somehow February flew by and it's the end of March again! With a lot of new winners this year, I had a little more legwork finding addresses and translating and writing up the ones I have yet to go to. It's always interesting to see what you guys vote for and what I've heard of and what's new and what categories are close races and others that are landslides.

Thanks to everyone who took the time to vote and share their favorites- I really hope more and more of you will vote each year! Some categories were unable to get votes or a consensus so I haven't named any winners.

I look forward to trying out and revisiting the favorites that I haven't blogged about- like A-Cut, Sushi Express and Kiki's- and if you don't see your favorite, be sure to vote next year! If you find a new favorite from this poll, don't forget to to mention that you found out about it here! And as usual- please double check any information first if you are going to a new restaurant for the first time- locations change, restaurants close down, and bloggers do their best in translating and typing! :)

3rd ANNUAL HUNGRYINTAIPEI.com's BEST OF TAIPEI 2010
READERS' CHOICE RESTAURANT POLL WINNERS


Favorite New Restaurant in 2010, Best Mexican/Tex Mex- OOLA MEXICAN GRILL
In some ways, this blog was started as a cry for help for good Mexican food in Taipei and it seems that many of you were craving the same thing. Oola Mexican Grill was one of the first to bring counter service burritos, carnitas and fresh guacamole to Taipei and won your vote for favorite new restaurant in 2010. It seems to have changed ownership with the new year and the reopening has added burgers and pizza to Oola's menu.
No.3 Ln. 136, Alley 1, Roosevelt Rd. Sec. 4 , (02) 2363-1111, Oola's facebook page

Favorite Cheap Eats- Night Markets
Taipei is famous for its night markets and for good reasons- the multitude of late night offerings for the price of the change in your pocket. Hot, icy, bite sized, giant and fried, stinky or on a stick - each night market has its own specialties as well as the usual suspects.

Favorite Special Occasion Restaurant, Favorite Romantic (tied)-
ABU and FLAVORS

I just went to Abu, last year's winner of Favorite New Restaurant of 2009, to celebrate a special occasion myself (my birthday!) and I can't wait to go back. Not only did our set menu include many of my favorites, but the French Italian dishes were executed so beautifully that each dish left me wanting more and looking forward to the next dish. Don't miss out on the foie gras and souffle if you can order it.
No. 28 Siwei Rd, (02) 2707-0699

It's been awhile since I first tried Flavors and I'm due back for a visit. An intimate setting and Swedish cuisine menu to wine and dine your sweetheart, Flavors still is a spot for readers to celebrate a special occasion with that special someone. Just don't forget to order the apple cake!
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
Winner for the third year in a row. There might be cheaper or fancier options, but world famous Din Tai Fung is inevitably where we'll take our friends to eat as voted best 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.
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;
www.dintaifung.com.tw


Favorite Kid Friendly/Family Restaurant L'IDIOT
Winner third year in a row. L'Idiot swept the votes for best new restaurant in 2008, offering seasonal but simple Western fare, with special menus for the holidays. The weekend brunch and open space that can seat large groups and offer space for kids to run around make it a family favorite.
No. 156, Minsheng E Rd Sec 3, (02) 2545-6966, lidiotrestaurant.com

Favorite Night Market- SHIH LIN NIGHT MARKET
Winner for the third year in a row. Eat at the covered, indoor part of Shih Lin Night Market or follow the crowds to the street eats near the theater or tucked inside the alleyways. Offering all the classic night market foods from oyster omelette to stinky tofu to baos to shaved ice or random food on a stick, Shih Lin barely edged out Shida for favorite night market.
Near Chien Tan MRT station

Favorite Place to Meet for Drinks- MARQUEE
Located across from 101, Marquee has Happy Hour specials, Ladies Night and hotspot lounge bar atmosphere to make it the readers' choice place to meet for drinks into the wee hours of the night.
No. 16-1, Xinyi Rd., Sec. 5, (02) 2729-5409 www.marquee-taipei.com

Favorite Delivery- McDONALDS and PIZZA HUT (tied)

Not that McD's will ever replace my favorite Thai take out place in LA, but the thought of having hash browns and mcnuggets without having to leave the house, on that rare occasion, sounds pretty good. Just practice ordering "su bing" and "ji kuai" in Chinese! Order NT$399 of food and the delivery is free.
(02) 40-666-888, mcdonalds.com.tw

I've definitely been guilty of ordering from Pizza Hut when it's crazy raining outside and I'm craving Hawaiian pizza. You can decide if you want the traditional Supreme, or something wilder like Japanese Takoyaki or Korean Kimchi BBQ.
(02) 412-9889, 35 multiple locations, check pizzahut.com.tw for addresses

Favorite Food Court- 101 Mall
Winner for the third year in a row. Grab a quick lunch while sightseeing at 101 Mall or just go for the variety. Offering almost every type of cuisine as well as teppanyaki, desserts and lots of familiar chains (KFC, McD's and Subway), you can also hit up JASON's Supermarket for some hard to find (but pricey) items before you head home (or back to your hotel).
45 Shifu Road, Xinyi District

Favorite Fast Food- MOS BURGER
Winner for the third year in a row, Mos Burger beat out McDonald's as your favorite stop for a quick bite. Hamburger or rice burger, Mos Burger offers up Asian flavors at a fast food setting. 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 Neighborhood/Area to Eat- SHIDA
Near a college campus you'll always find lots of cheap and good eats and Shida is no different. Voted favorite neighborhood/area to eat, it's one that I have to do a lot more exploring in!

Favorite Restaurant Discovered from HungryinTaipei.com- BURGER STOP
I'm always excited to discover authentic Western eats and to share them with you and happy when I hear that you guys agree with what I think. Burger Stop was voted as your favorite find from HungryinTaipei.com , as well as tied for Favorite Burger, and it was one of mine last year as well with its burgers and milkshakes fulfilling a craving for those of you missing a certain burger chain from the states! Rumor has it that they've added banana splits to the menu!
No. 26, Ln. 137, Yanji St., (02) 2711-7079, burgerstop.com

Favorite Taiwanese Restaurant- SHIN YEH
Winner for the third 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 birds eye view of Taipei from the 85th floor.
No. 112 Zhong Xiao 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
With its swanky digs and fresh sashimi, Mitsui (or San Jin in Chinese) is a favorite of many of my friends. I've only been to the Dazhi location which also offers bentos to go (and such dim lighting that it drives my camera crazy and I can't take good photos!)
No.602, Mingshui Road, Dazhi, (02) 2533-8802
No. 604, Min-Shui Rd., Dazhi, (02) 25338801
No. 30 & 34, Nong-an St., 1F, (02) 2594-3394
No.45-2, Nong-an St., 1F, Taipei City
No.108, Dun-Hua South Road Section 1, B1-1, (02) 2741-3394
mitsuitaipei.com.tw


Best Sushi/Sashimi- SUSHI EXPRESS
Winner second year in a row. Sushi Express adds a little fun to catching your 'fish'- customers choose from a parade of sushi plates whizzing by on a conveyor belt. I admit I was slightly surprised to see this as the winner, but with multiple locations and plates as low as NT$30, you can create your own omasake without the usual damage to the wallet. I've never been, so I'll have to try it out.
About 30 locations all over Taipei, addresses at sushi-express.com.tw

Favorite American/Western, Favorite Western Breakfast/Brunch- THE DINER
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 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
www.thediner.com.tw


Best French- L'ATELIER DE JOEL ROBUCHON
Those wanting to treat themselves to a gourmet meal in a restaurant opened by Robuchon, who currently holds the most Michelin stars in the world, no longer have to leave Taipei. I've heard that the set menu and experience is worth splurging for, despite the high price tag, and is just as divine as dining at any of his other L'Ateliers around the world (Paris, Hong Kong, London, New York, Las Vegas, and Tokyo) with the stylish open kitchen and luxe ingredients. I can't wait to confirm it with my own tastebuds.
at Bellavita, No. 28, SongRen Road, 5 FL, (02) 8729-2628, joel-robuchon.net

Best Italian- (tie) PAPA GIO and SOLO PASTA

Papa Gio offers classic Italian housemade pastas, thin crust pizzas and authentic family style dining by an Italian chef and owners. I've always passed by while running around the alleys behind ZhongXiao E. Road, and will have to stop by for a meal sometime soon.
No. 22, Alley 6, Ln 170, Zhongxiao E Rd, Sec 4, (02) 2711-8720, www.papagio.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
Winner second 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

Favorite Thai Restaurant- THAI TOWN
Winner second year in a row. Thai Town makes it easy to like them- lots of locations, offering upscale casual dining, good service, and consistently delicious Thai food. Choose your favorites from the menu (I love their chicken curry with Thai white rice, satay and pineapple fried rice) or get their pre-combined set menus of their most popular dishes.
No. 49 Ren Ai Road, Sec 2, (02) 2351-0960
No. 15 Nanjing W. Road, (02)2542-7277
No. 133 Anhe Road, Sec 2, (02) 2735-9638
No. 9 Song Shou Road, at Xin Yi Shin Kong Mitsukoshi, A9, 7th FL, (02) 2723-9987
No. 116 Tien Mu West Road, (02) 2826-4852
No. 68 Tien Mu East Road, at Tianmu Shin Kong Mitsukoshi, Building A, 7th FL, (02) 2873-6680
No. 22 Jingye 3rd Road, 2nd FL, at Miramar Mall, Dazhi, (02) 2175-3355
No. 128, Beishing Road, Sec 2, 2FL, XIndian, (02) 8913-5153
No. 65 Wen Hua Road, Sec 1, Banqiao, (02) 8965-1155
No. 659 Zhong Zheng Road, Yonghe, (02) 8231-1257
No. 122 Zhong Shan Road, Sec 1, Zhonghe, (02) 7731-7778
No. 95 Jengyi North Road, Sanchung, (02) 2989-8088
thaitown.com.tw


Favorite Vietnamese Restaurant- YUE YUAN PHO
Winner second year in a row. If you've never had a Vietnamese sandwich, you need to run to Yue Yuan Pho, 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 food 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;
Yue Yuan Pho's Facebook page


Favorite Korean Restaurant-ARI TOFU HOUSE
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
With almost 100,000 likes on Dazzling Cafe's Facebook page, it's no wonder there are continuously long lines for their infamous honey toast. What's 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. Oh yeah, Dazzling also serves food.
Reservation number: 02-87739229
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
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- LIN DONG FANG
What's so special about beef noodle soup that it inspires a whole festival and competition every year in Taipei? Comfort food for some, everyone has a different place for their favorite bowl. This year, voters chose Lin Dong Fang for the springy noodles, tender beef and housemade chili paste that transforms the broth.
No. 274, Section 2, BaDe Rd, (02) 2752-2556

Favorite Dim Sum- CHAO PING JI at SAN WANT HOTEL
Winner second 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- (tie) BURGER STOP and 1885 BURGER STORE
If Burger Stop = In-N-Out then 1885 Burger Store = Red Robin. One is a fast food burger and shakes shop and the other is sit down with more burger topping options and fat french fries. Both stand out of the pack of the burger rush of restaurants that have opened in the last few years with their juicy patties and good prices.
No. Lane 137, Yanji St, (02) 2711-7079, burgerstop.com
No. 24-1 Pucheng St, (02) 2367-8258 www.1885burgerstore.com


Favorite Hot Pot- DING WANG or TRIPOD KING
Spicy hotpot or mala hotpot is another must try for those visiting Taipei, and Tripod King is one of the most popular. Tripod King gets its name from its special hot pots, huge metal pots with three short, strong feet, which can hold two flavors of soup, so that those who can't handle spicy can share a meal. Don't giggle when the waitresses bow every time they leave your table or forget to take home a bag of the leftover broth to make some more hotpot at home.
No. 89, Guangfu N Rd, (02) 2742-2116, tripodking.com.tw

Favorite Pizza- (tie) ALLEYCATS and MARYJANE PIZZA
For the third year in a row, locally founded Alleycats wins votes with its stone oven baked pizzas, thin crusts and fresh toppings. One of my favorites is the "Napoletana" with fresh tomatoes, goat cheese, anchovies, olives and spinach (and I switch out the anchovies for mushrooms).
No. 6, Li Shui Street, B1, (02) 2321-8948
No. 285, Song Ren Rd, (02) 8780-5421;
Da An- No. 2, Lane 248, Zhong Xiao E Road, Sec 4, (02) 2731-5225;
Tien Mu- No. 31, Lane 35, Zhongshan N. Rd Sec. 6 , (02) 2835-6491;
Nei Hu- No. 67-1 Cheng Gong Road, Section, 5, (02)2630-6278;
Xi Men- No. 49, Alley 10, Cheng Du, 2FL, (02) 2370-8858;
www.alleycatspizza.com


With affordable prices and huge menu of toppings, Maryjane Pizza fits the bill for those looking for classic pepperoni or those looking for something different. Artichokes, jalapenos, blue cheese, squid, carmelized onions, sunnyside egg and smoked salmon are all options for more unusual toppings and if you don't find what you want from the preset combinations, you can make your own. With two locations near college campuses, the third newest location is in Dazhi.
No. 25, Lane 44, TaiShun St., (02) 2368-5222
No.89, WenZhou St., (02) 2369-5333
No.8, Ln.62, DaZhi St., (02) 2533-5200
maryjanepizza.com


Favorite Steak- A-CUT STEAKHOUSE at the AMBASSADOR TAIPEI HOTEL
Winner second year in a row. I've been hearing a lot about A-Cut for years when I asked about the best steak in Taipei, and it seems that the readers agree. Also chosen by Taipei Times as one of the staff's favorite restaurants of 2007.
at the Ambassador Taipei Hotel, No. 63, ZhongShan N Rd, Sec 2, B1 (02) 2571-0389; ambassadorhotel.com.tw

Best Vegetarian- MINDER VEGETARIAN
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


Favorite Afternoon Tea- Smith & Hsu
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, Zhong Xiao 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, Zhong Xiao East Road, Sec. 5, 6FL, (02) 8786-2877
smithandhsu.com


Best Frozen Yogurt- YOFROYO
Winner second 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
QSquare branch, No. 1, Chengde Rd, Sec. 1, B2, (02)2558-7919
Ximen Eslite branch, No. 116 Hanzhong St., (02) 2370-1938
yofroyo.com


Best Shaved Ice-MEET FRESH
Meet Fresh, otherwise known as Xian Yu Xian, quickly gained a name when it opened over 100 outlets across Taiwan. Besides shaved ice topped with condensed milk, various tapioca balls and colorful QQ bites, you can also get a variety of hot or cold dessert soups, herbal jellies, sweet tofu pudding or teas at the popular dessert shop.
Breeze branch, No. 62, Fuxing S. Rd, (02) 2775-3395
No. 36 An Ju St., ( 02) 2377-6788
No. 443, JinZhou St., (02) 2502-7023
No. 18, ChongQing S. Rd, Sec. 1, (02) 2389-1278
No. 20-1 LuoSiFu (or Roosevelt) Rd., Sec. 1 (02) 3322-2616
No. 239, NeiHu Rd, Sec. 1, (02) 2627-4322
No. 737, Lane 45, NeiHu Rd, (02) 2799-3638
No. 968 ZhongXiao E. Rd, Sec. 5 (02) 2789-0711
No. 214, XiYuan Rd, Sec. 1 , (02) 2336-2800
No. 105, ZhiNan Rd, Sec. 2, (02) 2938-1919
No. 210-3, Zhong Zheng Rd, (02) 2832-3006
www.meetfresh.com.tw


Favorite Milk Tea/Boba Shop- 50 LAN
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 PAUL
There are so many good bakeries in town, it's hard to choose one, but this year Paul got the most votes for its breads, pastries and sandwiches made with ingredients shipped from France. The fancy chandelier setting and extended brunch menu including crepes, quiche and sandwich & soup sets make it a popular spot too, despite its pricey fare.
No. 107, Ren Ai Rd, Sec. 4, (02)2771-3200
Shin Kong Mitsukoshi, A9, No. 9, Song Shou Road, 2FL, (02) 2722-0700
paultaiwan.com


Best Bakery-cakes BLACK AS CHOCOLATE
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. 50, Fuxing S. Road, Sec 1, (02) 2796-5133
No. 123, BaDe Road, Sec 4
No. 247, Lin Sheng N. Road
Eslite XinYi shop, No. 11, Song Gao Road, B2
Tienmu shop, No. 15, Lane 38, Tian Yu Street
Neihu shop, No. 282 Rui Guang Road
blackaschocolate.com


Finally! I'm done! 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 at the end of 2010 and see if I can ever get the list out by January!

Monday, September 13, 2010

western/chinese: SUGAR CAFE



SUGAR CAFE
No. 4, Alley 27, Lane 216, Zhong Xiao E. Road, Sec. 4  (moved a/o 10/2011)
No. 406-1, Ren Ai Rd, Sec. 4
(02) 8771-4210

hours:11:30 am - 9:30

$-$$

Kid friendliness: no high chairs spotted

Visit reviewed: 5/4/2010



When my friend picked Sugar Cafe as the lunch spot for our girls' lunch, I thought she chose it because she had been before and wanted us to try it- after all that was the regular M.O. for our lunch dates. But when we got there at 11:15AM to a closed location, we questioned her choice- 'Is this place open? Haven't you been before?' We then found out not only that it doesn't open until 11:30AM (as many places in Taipei can't seem to open before noon), but that she chose the place because she thought the pictures of the food looked good from its Facebook page. Good one, VC.



Once the door lifted, I had a slight sense of dejavu and it wasn't until I got inside and checked out the menu that I realized that this was formerly the location of Yogurt Me. It turns out the owners totally revamped from the inside out- basically reinventing and reutilizing the space and using the Yogurt Me yogurt as a dessert or side for afternoon tea. I think it was a smart move- no one wants to go to a froyo place for sandwiches and breakfast, but people will go to a cafe for froyo. Plus it was just a better designed space, post revamp, moving around the previous "kitchen/yogurt counter" to the back and making way for more seats.



Anyways, if you had never been to the previous incarnation, you'd just see it as a cozy space with warm colored walls and seating areas.

But unfortunately, Sugar Cafe didn't serve any of the desserts or waffles my friend had spotted- instead during lunch hours (before 1:30PM), only the lunch menu is served. Back in May, it was only in Chinese, but it looks like a new English/Chinese menu was introduced over the summer as well as a menu change. The old menu had pastas and rice dishes, but the new menu includes burgers, sandwiches and fried rice.

So I left it up to my friends to order- the menu has both Western and Chinese offerings- so we got a sampling of both.



Complimentary shredded cabbage while we wait for our mains.



When Spaghetti with tomato meat sauce (NT$160) arrived to the table, a few of my friends complained about the pungent smell that accompanied it. When we inquired, they said it was the cheese, but I must admit, it was quite strong smelling for parmesan. I tried a few bites and there was nothing wrong with it- it had the familiar slightly sweet tomato sauce, but one of my friends was so turned off by the smell, she didn't dare take one bite.



The other dishes we ordered were the fried pork chop with rice and the fried chicken with rice which looked the same, with the crispy slices of meat, neat side of rice and trio of vegetables, egg and sprouts. While I enjoyed the bites of pork chop, it was weird for me to eat this along with the spaghetti and it felt sort of like bian dang food served up on a nice plate.



Some fresh oranges to complete the meal- but just makes me wish I had some frozen yogurt!



I would have liked to try the dessert/afternoon tea menu, as the lunch menu wasn't unique enough to call me back, but it could probably be a decent place to eat for people who work or live nearby and want a quick bite to eat. It's too bad that Sugar Cafe doesn't serve breakfast and desserts all day long (that are featured on the sign outside)- it might bring it a wider audience if it did.


View Larger Map

Sunday, September 05, 2010

news: CLOSED restaurant updates & A8 Shin Kong Mituskoshi revamp



Walked around the A8 Xinyi Shin Kong Mitsukoshi food court today for the first time since its revamp in July. It's a bit fancier now, with a glossier look and some new additions- Subway, Hielo frozen yogurt, Richard Blanc bakery, Coldstone ice cream and what seems to be new sushi and teppanyaki places. Also an interesting addition- a pizza place called Skinny Taj Pizza with some traditional pizzas as well as some fusion. Noticeably gone is Good Day, which seemed a little lost previously on the opposite side of the food court near all the Japanese snacks. But now the food court extends and circles around the whole B2 floor. When I get back from LA, I'll explore it some more and do a full post.

After catching GOING THE DISTANCE last night, I thought I'd wander over for crepes at Suzette forgetting that NYNY is pretty much emptied out and being redone (rumor has it- for a new H&M in Taipei?!?). So the whole row of Starbucks, Mister Donut, McDonalds and around the corner, Suzette, are all gone (not to mention the NYNY food court). The website hasn't been updated, so don't know if it's moved elsewhere or if it's gone for good. Does anyone know?

What else has closed this year?
-Citizen Cain which is now a place called Cubano, which I heard has quite good Cuban sandwiches!
-La Casita
-California Grill at the Dun Hua location
-Famous Larry's NY Pizza
-Blue Spice Thai (we barely knew you!)

Any other updates that I should add to this list?

There's quite a bit of change in the 101/Taipei City Hall MRT area- the addition of the Taipei City Hall bus station center and addition/extension of the MRT station there has another food court-looking space to explore. Later this year (or next?) will also add the Le Meridien and W Hotel to this busy Taipei area. Looking forward to seeing what restaurants open up in those hotels.

Wednesday, May 05, 2010

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

Friday, March 26, 2010

2nd Annual 2009 Best of Taipei Readers' Choice Poll Winners



Hi everyone! After many a sleepless nights of tabulating, writing, bleary eyed researching and fact checking and google translating, I finally have the results!

Another year of eating, another year for the HungryInTaipei.com's Readers' Choice poll! Thanks to everyone that took the time to collect their thoughts and write down/vote what their favorite restaurants are. To see how people voted, you can see the comments at this Best of Taipei categories post. Some categories were unable to get votes or a consensus so I haven't named any winners- such as for Favorite Late Night Bites and Favorite Delivery.

I look forward to trying out and revisiting the favorites that I haven't blogged about- like Abu, Sushi Express and Kiki's- and if you don't see your favorite, be sure to vote next year! If you find a new favorite from this poll, don't forget to to mention that you found out about it here! And as usual- please double check any information first if you are going to a new restaurant for the first time- locations change, restaurants close down, and bloggers do their best in translating and typing! :)

2nd ANNUAL HUNGRYINTAIPEI.com's BEST OF TAIPEI 2009
READERS' CHOICE RESTAURANT POLL WINNERS


Favorite Restaurant in Taipei, Favorite Special Occasion Restaurant, Favorite Unexpected Find in Taipei, Favorite Romantic- FLAVORS
Swedish food in Taipei? Flavors is the winner for the 2nd year in a row for Favorite Unexpected Find in Taipei, and after I visited it last year I discovered why. An intimate setting, friendly owners and swedish meatballs and apple cake that will inspire hard core fans. Apparently, a few readers agree and voted it their favorite restaurant and special occasion restaurant too.
No.13 Alley 26 Lane 300 Ren Ai Rd. Sec.4, (02) 2709 6525, flavors.com.tw

Favorite New Restaurant in 2009- ABU AUTHENTIC CUISINE
I've been hearing a lot about Abu and can't wait to try it. Fans of the owner and head chef from Tutto Bello (last year's winner for Best Italian) have followed him here, and advance reservations are recommended.
No. 28 Siwei Rd, (02) 2707-0699

Favorite Cheap Eats- Night Markets
Taipei is famous for its night markets and for good reasons- the multitude of late night offerings for the price of the change in your pocket. Hot, icy, bite sized, giant and fried, stinky or on a stick - each night market has its own specialties as well as the usual suspects.

Favorite Restaurant in a Hotel, Favorite Japanese Restaurant- SUMIE NOUVELLE CUISINE at SAN WANT HOTEL
Winner for the second year in a row. I always get the multi-course set menu and my friends new to the restaurant always are dazzled by Sumie's plating and presentation of every dish. Don't let the upscale modern interior scare you away from some of the freshest sashimi and best lamb chops in Taipei.
No. 172, Zhongxiao E Rd Sec 4, 4 FL, (02) 2781 6909, www.sanwant.com

Favorite Western Breakfast/ Brunch- THE DINER
Winner for the second year in a row. The first time I ate at the Diner, I couldn't decide what to eat- but in a good way. Offering a wide selection of Western brunch/breakfast options all day, it's definitely the place to go if you're missing tasty pancakes, eggs benedicts, omelettes or even a breakfast burrito. Just be prepared to wait for a table and don't forget to try the dessert menu.
No. 145 Ruian St, Taipei, (02) 2700-1680;
No. 6, Ln 103, Dunhua S Rd Sec 2, (02) 2754-1680,
www.thediner.com.tw


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 Kid Friendly/Family Restaurant L'IDIOT
Last year's multiple winner L'Idiot swept the votes for best new restaurant in 2008, offering seasonal but simple Western fare as well as impressed voters with its desserts. The weekend brunch and open space that can seat large groups and offer space for kids to run around makes it a family favorite.
No. 156, Minsheng E Rd Sec 3, (02) 2545-6966, lidiotrestaurant.com

Favorite Romantic Restaurant- (tie) VILLA 32 and FLAVORS
Complete your romantic evening with some hot springs or a couples massage, or just wine and dine your honey at ultra-luxe Villa 32's Euro restaurant, tucked in Beitou, about an hour outside of the city.
No 32, Zhongshan Rd, Beitou, Taipei, (02) 6611-8888, villa32.com

Favorite Buffet/Favorite Afternoon Tea- CAFE at GRAND HYATT HOTEL
Winner for the second year in a row for favorite buffet, first time for favorite afternoon tea. 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. The make your own waffles are tucked in the corner away from the wall of food. Afternoon tea at Cafe will be more than tea and finger sandwiches- it's the Grand Hyatt's buffet, so you can get your fill of fruits, ice cream, desserts, dim sum and pastries. I've only been to Cafe for brunch, but I expect the variety and quality to be just as great any time of the day.
No.2, Sung Shou Road, (02) 2720-1234, taipei.grand.hyatt.com

Favorite Night Market- SHIH LIN NIGHT MARKET
Winner for the second year in a row. Eat at the covered, indoor part of Shih Lin Night Market or follow the crowds to the street eats near the theater or tucked inside the alleyways. Offering all the classic night market foods from oyster omelette to stinky tofu to baos to shaved ice or random food on a stick, no visit to Taipei is complete without a visit to this night market.
Near Chien Tan MRT station

Favorite Restaurant to take Tourist Friends, Best Xiao Long Bao- DIN TAI FUNG
Winner for the second year in a row. There might be cheaper or fancier options, but world famous Din Tai Fung is inevitably where we'll take our friends to eat as voted best xiao long bao. I'm guilty of it, you're guilty of it- but only because it's worth the wait.
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
No.300, Zhong Xiao E. Rd., Sec. 3, (02) 8772-0528
www.dintaifung.com.tw


Favorite Place to Meet for Drinks- A-PLUS SUSHI AND SAKE BAR
Choose from over 30 kinds of sake and relax on the lounge-like sofa seating at A-Plus Sushi and Sake. If you're hungry, you can also get some spicy tuna rolls or one their small plates while you enjoy your cocktail hour.
No. 33, AnHe Rd, Sec 1, (02) 2731-9266; www.aplusdiningbar.com.tw

Favorite Food Court- 101 Mall
Winner for the second year in a row. Grab a quick lunch while sightseeing at 101 Mall or just go for the variety. Offering almost every type of cuisine as well as lots of familiar chains (McD's and Subway), you can also hit up JASON's Supermarket for some hard to find items before you head home.
45 Shifu Road, Xinyi District

Favorite Fast Food- MOS BURGER
Winner for the second year in a row, Mos Burger beat out Subway as your favorite stop for a quick bite. Hamburger or rice burger, Mos Burger offers up Asian flavors at a fast food setting. 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
Winner for the second 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.
No. 112 Zhong Xiao 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 Chinese Restaurant- KIKI
WIth authentic Sichuan spiciness, Kiki wins with its bold flavors. It looks like they have added locations since I first went there over five years ago before I started the blog, so it looks like I'm due for another visit.
No. 47, Lane 280, GuangFu S. Road,1F, (02) 2781-4357 / 2781-4250;
No. 396, XinYi Road, Sec. 4, (02) 2700-2777;
No. 51, DongFeng St, (02) 2709-9078;
No. 28, FuXing S. Road, Sec. 1, (02) 2752-2781 / 2752-2791;
www.kiki1991.com


Best Sushi/Sashimi- SUSHI EXPRESS
Sushi Express adds a little fun to catching your 'fish'- customers choose from a parade of sushi plates whizzing by on a conveyor belt. I admit I was slightly surprised to see this as the winner, but with multiple locations and plates as low as NT$30, you can create your own omasake without the usual damage to the wallet. I've never been, so I'll have to try it out.
About 30 locations all over Taipei, addresses at sushi-express.com.tw

Best French- SAVEURS
I can't keep this place a secret anymore, since Saveurs is the winner of Best French Restaurant in Taipei. Saveurs offers a rustic French lunch set, which is a steal at NT$400, with a soup, salad, main dish and dessert, made by chef Patrick Cabirol. The lamb shank and warm chocolate moelleux will make you want to come back for more with friends.
No. 14, Lane 219, Fuxing S. Rd, Sec 1, (02) 2751-0185

Best Italian- MACARONI GRILL
Huge family style sized salads, pastas, pizzas and desserts are meant to be shared at Macaroni Grill, and though it's a little more than what we'd pay in the states, there's nowhere else in town you'd get table side opera with your bruschetta and eggplant parmesan.
at Neo 19, 30 Sung Shou Road, (02) 2722-4567; macaronigrill.com

Best Indian- SAFFRON
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.
No. 38-6, TianMu E Rd, (02) 2871-4842

Best Mexican/Latin/Spanish-EDDY's CANTINA
Located all the way out in Danshui, Eddy's Cantina gives readers a reason to make the day trip- such as baked enchiladas topped with cheese and carnitas with freshly made tortillas. All the recipes used at Eddy's Cantina come from the owner's Mexican family to satisfy those craving "real Mexican food" in Taiwan, and frozen deliveries are available throughout Taiwan.
No. 151-1, Zhong Shan Road, Danshui, (02) 2628-2638
eddyscantina.com


Favorite Thai Restaurant- THAI TOWN
Thai Town makes it easy to like them- lots of locations, offering upscale casual dining, good service, and consistently delicious Thai food. Choose your favorites from the menu (I love their chicken curry with Thai white rice) or get their pre-combined set menus of their most popular dishes.

No. 49 Ren Ai Road, Sec 2, (02) 2351-0960
No. 15 Nanjing W. Road, (02)2542-7277
No. 133 Anhe Road, Sec 2, (02) 2735-9638
No. 9 Song Shou Road, at Xin Yi Shin Kong Mitsukoshi, A9, 7th FL, (02) 2723-9987
No. 116 Tien Mu West Road, (02) 2826-4852
No. 68 Tien Mu East Road, at Tianmu Shin Kong Mitsukoshi, Building A, 7th FL, (02) 2873-6680
No. 22 Jingye 3rd Road, 2nd FL, at Miramar Mall, Dazhi, (02) 2175-3355
No. 128, Beishing Road, Sec 2, 2FL, XIndian, (02) 8913-5153
No. 65 Wen Hua Road, Sec 1, Banqiao, (02) 8965-1155
No. 659 Zhong Zheng Road, Yonghe, (02) 8231-1257
No. 122 Zhong Shan Road, Sec 1, Zhonghe, (02) 7731-7778
No. 95 Jengyi North Road, Sanchung, (02) 2989-8088
thaitown.com.tw


Favorite Vietnamese Restaurant- YUE YUAN PHO
If you've never had a Vietnamese sandwich, you need to run to Yue Yuan Pho, 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 food 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;
Yue Yuan Pho's Facebook page


Favorite Korean Restaurant- HAPPY KOREAN
One of the only places in Taipei that I've found to have delicious cold noodles in soup just like I had in Korea, Happy Korean delivers very affordable and authentic Korean food. Lunch time specials offer discounts off of already low prices off of dishes like the bulgogi beef bowl, and there's even a small play area for kids.
No. 1, Lane 99, Xin Yi Road, Sec 3, (02) 2703-9237

Favorite American/Western- CHILI's and TGIF (tie)
Chili's and TGIF look, feel and taste just like they do in the US- big portions, a dizzying menu of food and cocktails to choose from, and a family friendly atmosphere that can seat all of your large group needs (ie all your relatives/co-workers/baby shower/birthday guests). Tied for winner of Favorite American/Western, Chili's and TGIF are often your best bet to find Tex-Mex, ribs, macaroni and cheese, or sweet-enough-desserts in Taipei.

CHILI's at Neo 19 Building- No. 22, Sung Shou Road, 2F, (02) 2345-8838;
Tianmu Mituskoshi- No. 200, ZhongZhen Rd., section 2, 2FL, (02) 2875-4838


TGIF at tgifridays.com.tw
No. 94 Chungching S Rd, Sec 1, (02) 2389-3579
No. 2, Lane 49, Zhong Xiao E Rd, Sec 4, (02) 2711-3579
XImen- No. 72, Wuchang St, 2FL (02) 2388-0679
No. 150, Dunhua N. Rd, (02) 2713-3579
Xinyi/World Trade Center- No. 7, Keelung Rd, Sec 2, (02) 2345-2789
Miramar Mall- No. 22, Jingye 3rd Road, 2FL,
No. 297, Zhong Xiao E. Road, Section 5, 2FL (02) 2528-3579
Global Mall- No. 122, Zhongshan Road, Zhonghe, 4FL (02) 2225-3578


Favorite Ramen-AKASAKA RAMEN
Sometimes a bowl of noodles is the best comfort food, and if ramen is your noodle of choice, then Akasaka Ramen offers over 15 different kinds to choose from, including swirls of char siu, braised pork, kimchi, corn or soft boiled eggs. Or see if their award-winning TV Champion ramen bowl lives up to its name.
No. 49 Hanzhong Street, 2nd Floor, 02-2381-0829
No. 140 Nanking East Road, Section 1, No. 2 F 02-2567-6373
No. 4 122-1 Chung Hsiao E. Road, Taipei, 2nd Floor 02-2752-0786
No. 147 Bade Road, Sec 02-2747-7737
No. 96 Chongqing South Road, Taipei, No. 2 F 02-2370-7396
No. 52 Xinglong Road 02-2932-3504
udesign.com.tw/akasaka


Favorite Beef Noodle Soup- YONG KANG NIU ROU MIAN
Voted the dish you miss most while you aren't in Taiwan, beef noodle soup is a must try for new and returning visitors alike. Everyone has their favorite beef noodle soup place, and voters chose Yong Kang Niu Rou Mian over last year's winner Lao Zhang. Whether you get the braised beef noodle soup or clear broth noodle soup, be sure to add some of the sweet, pickled vegetables and order the steamed pork and yams.
No. 17, Lane 31, Jinshan S. Rd., Sec.2, (02)2351-1051

Favorite Dim Sum- CHAO PING JI at SAN WANT HOTEL and PLUM BLOSSOM ROOM at BROTHER HOTEL (tie)
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

Order some siu mau, cha siu bao and har gow to your heart's delight as Brother Hotel has an array of carted dim sum favorites. Even with two floors of tables, prepare for a wait on the weekend without a reservation.
No. 255 Nanjing East Road, Sec. 3, 2F/3F, (02)2712-3456, brotherhotel.com.tw

Favorite Hamburger- CALIFORNIA GRILL
Winner second year in a row. Since opening its second branch behind Dun Hua Sogo, California Grill has captured new customers and established itself as the best hamburger in Taipei among quite a lot of competitors. Offering a "So-cal" or Southern California spin on its burgers (beef, chicken, salmon or even tofu) and salads, once you try their lunch special you might be hooked.
53-1 Yong Kang St., (02) 2343 5111
No. 1, Lane 238, Dun Hua S Road, Sec. 1, (02) 8771-9423;
californiagrill.com.tw/


Favorite Hot Pot- ORANGE SHABU SHABU
Winner second year in a row. If there was gourmet shabu shabu, Orange Shabu Shabu would be it. 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.
No. 135, Da An Road, Sec 1, B1, (02) 2776-1658;
29, RenAi Rd, Sec 4, 2 FL, (02) 2771-0181;
orangeshabu.com.tw


Favorite Pizza- ALLEYCATS
For the second year in a row, locally founded Alleycats wins votes with its stone oven baked pizzas, thin crusts and fresh toppings. One of my favorites is the "Napoletana" with fresh tomatoes, goat cheese, anchovies, olives and spinach (and I switch out the anchovies for mushrooms).
No. 6, Li Shui Street, B1, (02) 2321-8948
No. 285, Song Ren Rd, (02) 8780-5421;
Da An- No. 2, Lane 248, Zhong Xiao E Road, Sec 4, (02) 2731-5225;
Tien Mu- No. 31, Lane 35, Zhongshan N. Rd Sec. 6 , (02) 2835-6491;
Nei Hu- No. 67-1 Cheng Gong Road, Section, 5, (02)2630-6278;
Xi Men- No. 49, Alley 10, Cheng Du, 2FL, (02) 2370-8858;
www.alleycatspizza.com


Favorite Steak- A-CUT STEAKHOUSE at the AMBASSADOR TAIPEI HOTEL
I've been hearing a lot about A-Cut for years when I asked about the best steak in Taipei, and it seems that the readers agree. Also chosen by Taipei Times as one of the staff's favorite restaurants of 2007.
at the Ambassador Taipei Hotel, No. 63, ZhongShan N Rd, Sec 2, B1 (02) 2571-0389; ambassadorhotel.com.tw

Best Vegetarian- YU SHAN GE
If you think vegetarian, you might think salad bar or tofu burger, but Yu Shan Ge elevates the vegetarian dining experience to an entirely different level. The presentation of the set menus are delicate and stylized, and the meal is an adventure into new flavors and foods.
No. 14, BeiPing E. Road, (02) 2394-5155; www.yu-shan-ge.com.tw

Best Desserts, Best Frozen Yogurt- YOFROYO
Taipei has finally caught up to the frozen yogurt craze, and Yofroyo leads the pack. A rainbow of flavors to choose from, with fresh fruit, mochi and sweet toppings served up in a satisfying size, all for under NT$60. Open late, so you can go for a late night snack and then browse the alleys of the Shida night market.
at Shida Night Market, No.9, Ln.59, Shida Rd., (02))2365-0188; yofroyo.com

Best Ice Cream- MOVENPICK
Everyone has their favorite ice cream flavor and mine might be the mint chocolate chip from Movenpick. Drool!
No. 12-1, QingCheng St, (02) 2546-7126;
Breeze Center (02) 8772-5457;
DaZhi- Miramar Mall, 3rd FL at 22 Jing Ye 3rd Road, (02) 21753608;
Banqiao- Far Eastern Dept Store, 13 FL (02) 29568291;
Kung Kuan MRT Station, (02) 2362-0906 ;
Taipei 101 B1 (02) 8101-8525 and 89th FL (02) 8101-0156 ;
Xin Yi Shin Kong Mitsukoshi, A4, B2 (02) 2723-6030
www.movenpick-icecream.com.tw/


Best Shaved Ice- ICE MONSTER
Sadly, repeat winner Ice Monster closed a few months ago after years of popularity on Yong Kang St. It'll be difficult to find an equal substitute for Ice Monster's monster mango ice- piles of mango topped with a snowball of mango sherbert sitting upon a mountain of shaved ice.
No. 15, Yong Kang Street, (02) 2394-8279; www.icemonster.com.tw

Best Coffee/Tea Shop- STARBUCKS
With 95 locations across Taipei, it's no wonder Starbucks won "Best coffee/tea shop" with its familiar green signs and menu of lattes, frappucinos, and my favorite, their chocolate chip muffin. The sofas and stools to lounge on don't hurt either.
Find locations at starbucks.com.tw though addresses are only in Chinese

Best Bakery- FLAVORFIELD

There are so many good bakeries in town, it's hard to choose one, but this year Flavorfield got the most votes for its Japanese style European fresh breads, pastries and sandwiches.
at 101, No. 45, Shifu Road, B1; at Fuxing Sogo, No.300, Zhong Xiao E. Rd., Sec. 3

Food you guys miss most when you are not in Taipei- Beef Noodle Soup
Food that you want brought to Taipei- good Mexican food (me too!)
Favorite restaurant that needs to open a branch in Taipei- Cheesecake Factory and In and Out


Whew! That was a mouthful! We'll do this again at the end of 2010! If you like the list, hope you will leave a comment below!

Thursday, January 14, 2010

western/dessert: i recommend MOM's PIES



MOM'S AMERICAN STYLE HOMEMADE PIES
75 Neihu Road, Section 2
Neihu District
(02) 8797-1716

Various delivery locations around Taipei
Mr. Hsu 0935-504-554
Ms. Wu 0922-091-113
Mr. Hsieh 0922-324-060
Mr. Huang 0931-311-215

website: imomi.com.tw Chinese and English (worked for me in Taipei, but not in LA)

hours: check website for hours/locations

$

Kid friendliness: some flavors might be too dense for kids, but what kid doesn't love pie?

Visit reviewed: 6/19/2009



Taipei is a city full of desserts- you can easily find cake-by-the-slice in every coffee shop or bakery; fruit topped shaved ice or scoops of ice cream for the summer days; colorful macarons and delicate napoleons, and now even frozen yogurt.

But pie?

Pie seems to be an elusive Bigfoot in the world of Taipei desserts. Look long enough, and you'll find it offered on the menu of a few American places like Jake's Country Cafe, ACC, or the Diner, or your best bet for pumpkin pie around Thanksgiving time- Costco, or randomly in the basement of Sogo at a little shop called Rose Pie.

When I was craving a slice of lemon meringue pie a few years ago, I started searching for pie places in Taipei, and started hearing about Mom's Pies. It sounded so mysterious. It was sold off a truck? Would it taste American style homemade like its name promised? Most importantly, was it good?

So when I was having lunch with a friend at Happy Korean and spotted a woman at the table next to us with a bag that said Mom's Pies, I quizzed her about where she got it. She said it was just right around the corner of the restaurant, on the sidewalk across the street from AIT, and kindly gave me her flier.



So my friend and I paid the bill, hurried outside and sure enough, a woman with a table full of pies was on the street corner. We'd found Bigfoot! I'd heard about it for so long, it was weird to finally see it in person. Although some people would think twice about buying a pie from the street, this made sense to me since Taipei is a city where you could buy practically anything from a street vendor, before LA was the city where you could buy almost anything off a truck.

But instead of a truck, Mom's Pies has been driving a van and selling it around different spots in town from Tuesday to Friday- the updated weekly schedule can be found on their website, though it is only in Chinese. You can also call for free delivery if you order more than 2 pies.



I spotted lots of flavors- pumpkin, chocolate, peach, cream cheese, cherry cream cheese, blueberry cream cheese, and chocolate cream cheese, and I know they have some more interesting flavors like red bean, taro, green tea cheesecake, purple yam and oatmeal (?!?!).

But still no lemon meringue. :(

The slice of pecan pie(NT$45) was full of large pecans and had a good sweet, sticky filling and the crust was flaky. A whole pie of the same flavor is NT$300 with 8 slices.



I've had their cheesecakes after finding them this day- coincidentally, someone gave a relative of mine a pie of different slices (NT$360) and their cheesecakes are dense and a bit heavy. They are so thick that you could pick up the whole thing by the slice and it would be a solid piece. The red bean and green bean flavors also kind of weirded me out (not really American homestyle), but I want to try the peach and apple in the future.

Where have you spotted Mom's Pies and did you give it a try? What's your favorite flavor?

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

2nd Annual 2009 Best of Taipei Restaurants Readers' Favorites Poll



It'a that time of year again! I had a lot of fun finding out what your favorite eats in Taipei were last year and I'm hoping more readers will share this year. Copy and paste the area below, fill in the ones you want to vote for and paste in the comments section.

I've added a few fun categories that I hope you guys will participate in... I know some of you are visitors, so you can share what you miss when you're not here!

VOTING

Voting will be open from November 24th - December 26th. There must be a minimum of 5 categories filled out (with different restaurants) in order for the vote to be counted. For example, you cannot fill out the same restaurant in 3 categories and nothing else. But if you really love that restaurant, vote for it in the applicable 3 categories and fill out 4 other categories, then it will count.

I changed it from "best" to "favorite" because some people told me it was too much pressure to declare something the "best" when they hadn't eaten everything. It's okay if you haven't tried everywhere in Taipei! No one has. It does not have to be a restaurant I've reviewed. So just vote for your favorites!

You don't have to have a google account to vote. Just pick the "name" or "anonymous" option and put in your first name or initials if you don't want to put in your name.

Also feel free to campaign for your restaurant or favorite eatery on Facebook, Twitter or your website with a link to this page. But only votes on this post will count.

I will tabulate and announce the winners by January 15th, 2010 (fingers crossed!).

2nd ANNUAL HungryInTaipei.com's
2009 BEST OF TAIPEI RESTAURANTS READERS' CHOICE AWARDS

Favorite Restaurant in Taipei
Favorite New Restaurant in 2009
Favorite Cheap Eats
Favorite Special Occasion Restaurant
Favorite Restaurant in a Hotel

Favorite Western Breakfast/Brunch
Favorite Chinese Breakfast
Favorite Late-Night Bites
Favorite Kid Friendly/Family Restaurant
Favorite Romantic Restaurant
Favorite Buffet
Favorite Night Market
Favorite Restaurant to take Tourist Friends
Favorite Unexpected Find in Taipei
Favorite Place to Meet for Drinks
Favorite Delivery
Favorite Food Court
Favorite Fast Food

Favorite Taiwanese Restaurant
Favorite Chinese Restaurant
Favorite Japanese Restaurant
Favorite Sushi/Sashimi
Favorite French Restaurant
Favorite Italian Restaurant
Favorite Indian Restaurant
Favorite Mexican/TexMex/Spanish Restaurant
Favorite Thai Restaurant
Favorite Vietnamese/Southeast Asian Restaurant
Favorite Korean Restaurant
Favorite American/Western Restaurant

Best Ramen
Best Beef Noodle Soup
Best Xiao Long Bao
Best Dim Sum
Best Hamburger
Best Hot Pot
Best Pizza
Best Steak
Best Vegetarian
Best Afternoon Tea
Best Desserts
Best Ice Cream
Best Frozen Yogurt
Best Shaved Ice
Best Coffee/Tea shop
Best Bakery- Breads
Best Bakery- Cakes

Favorite Food I Miss When I'm Away From Taipei
Favorite Food That Needs to Be Brought To Taipei
Favorite Restaurant that Needs to Open a Branch in Taipei

Friday, October 16, 2009

CLOSED dessert/frozen yogurt: i recommend HIELO



HIELO
No. 124, Zhong Xiao E. Road, Sec. 4
(02) 8772-6632

Editor note: This location spotted closed a/o 9/2014

website: hielo.com.tw Chinese and English

hours: Sun- Thur 11 AM - 10:30PM; Fri/Sat 11 AM - 11:30 PM

$-$$

Kid friendliness: lots of space and frozen yogurt

Visit reviewed: 9/18/2009



Wrapping up what seems to have turned into dessert week this week on the blog, here is a look at Hielo, the latest addition to the new frozen yogurt wave in Taipei.

First of all, let's talk about the name.

Hello! Helio? Hielo?

How do you spell the name and what does it have to do with frozen yogurt? From a distance, you might not even know that this store across from the Starbucks near Dun Hua Sogo has anything to do with food, much less desserts. Is it just me, or does it looks sort of like a phone or tech store with the Hello-my-name-is... dialogue box, with Hello misspelled. (After all, we've all seen plenty of things misspelled everywhere around town.)



After some digging, it turns out the "hielo" is the Spanish word for ice. But it's so strange that you're naming a froyo store in Spanish in a country that dubs Dora the Explorer in Chinese or lacks popularity of Mexican or Spanish foods.

But I digress... Don't get me started about (the lack of good) Mexican food in Taipei...

The store is cute and inviting enough for frozen yogurt experts and novices. The cashier helpfully offers little cups of samples and asks if you have any questions.



There's plenty of area to sit down and eat.



The signs make it fairly easy to decipher how to order- pick a flavor, pick a size, pick your toppings. Hielo offers two flavors- original tart and uji matcha AKA green tea. You can also get a shake or coffee, or cushion your yogurt in a waffle bowl.



The toppings range from the typical fruits and berries to the cereal/cookie toppings, including watermelon, pineapple, orange and kiwi. What was slightly annoying was that if I wanted to pick a raspberry or blueberry topping, I had to pay an extra NT$40 per topping.



So we decided against that and got a small original flavor with strawberry and mango (NT$115). The small is definitely enough to share between two people. My friend who was with me had never had Pinkberry before and enjoyed the tart and sweet flavor of the yogurt and fresh fruits.



I'd probably stop by again as I'm in this area often, but with this pricing, I'd probably revisit the self-serve pay as you weigh Yogurt Art down the Zhong Xiao road, as they have more flavors and rumored fruits and berries now, or wander over YoFroyo, which is nearly half the price. I also wish one day one of these places would have yogurt chips. Yogurt chips, please!

For those of us who are a few years over Pinkberry/Yogurtland/Red Mango, Hielo might be a little late, especially with the weather cooling. But for those who are new to the tart-is-in flavors, Hielo might be a refreshing change from the corner shaved ice or too sweet ice cream choices.

And btw, has anyone been to Yogurt Me lately?


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:)