#hungrylist/ repost: 10 NEW PLACES TO EAT NEXT IN TAIPEI - SUMMER 2017

A lot of you might have noticed that I've posted less and less on the blog over the years. I've started to freelance as a (paid) contributing writer for various sites and publications. In case you missed it, this was an article for Taiwan News of some of my favorites and places I wanted to try last summer. This obviously skews more internationally- as they were new openings of a modern Vietnamese restaurant from Vegas and two Korean BBQ joints with roots from Korea, a world famous Japanese ramen with insane lines, and a cheese shop serving up Italian cheeses. Almost a year later, all of them are still putting out good food and Longtail was even awarded a Michelin star! The only ones I still haven't tried yet are Longtail and EPL- where does the time go? Time for another round up. 

You can find the original article here. 

Do you want to see more round ups like this on the blog? I know my readers are split- many of you are finding my blog when you are researching where to go for a first time visit and others have been living here a long time like me. 

10 new places to eat next in Taipei

HungryinTaipei's (HiT) list of what's been trending and new in Taipei, Summer 2017

1. DISTRICT ONE TAIPEI 

(Photo by @hungryintaipei) 

District One Taipei just soft opened last week, but photos of their signature lobster pho have already drawn in crowds to their shop in the Da'an district. Opened by Chef Khai Vu and the team from Revel Eatery, District One brings Vegas modern Vietnamese to Taipei, with delicious dishes like beef carpaccio, crispy egg rolls, oxtail fried rice and pork vermicelli. The lobster pho might get all the (well deserved) attention, but the brisket oxtail pho (NT$300) with the tender meat and beefy broth is definitely not to be missed. 

No. 21, Alley 7, Lane 181, ZhongXiao East Road, Section 4, DaAn District 

foodcourt: VIE SHOW CINEMAS FOODCOURT

VIE SHOW CINEMAS FOODCOURT
No. 16, Sung Shou Road, 2F

$

kid friendliness: no high chairs, but room to put your strollers. Play area and arcade in the back, as well as downstairs, though the downstairs arcade is quite loud and noisy

website: vscinemas.com.tw

last visited: 6/ 8/2007

I have to say I'm pretty fascinated with the food courts in Taipei. They are mostly the same in the different malls with different variations, but sometimes you might find some unique offerings. If you need a quick bite to eat before you watch a movie at Warner Vie Show Cinemas near 101 or you're in town for a trade show (like Computex), what do you eat?

Since I've seen quite a few movies, I've circled around this food court many a times. There's Burger King, Haagen Daaz, Doner Kebab, Teppanyaki, crepes, Korean bimbimbap, Vietnamese pho, Indian curry, Chinese wonton noodles, Japanese omelette and curry, Taiwanese snacks, shaved ice, Buffalo Steak, Dennis Deli, even a Froot juice bar and Bellini Italian cafe to the outside of it and LA Cafe downstairs.

There used to even be a Mexican shop-Taco Taco, but it's now extra seating area. (And yes, I tried it and yes, there's a reason why it's out of business).



Well, here's my shortlist of hits and misses-

HITS

• BURGER KING- because you can't go wrong with a whopper. Quick and same as you'd expect at any other BK
  
• DONER KEBAB- This place is growing on me. You can get the chicken or beef or both in a wrap or bun, and with the lettuce, tomato, olives, onions and sauces customized to your preference- it's like Subway, but better. With fries and a drink (NT$150).
  
  
  
  
• CHINESE NOODLE SHOP- the wontons and noodles are cheap and food court-level tasty
  
  
  
  
• HAAGEN DAAZ- although their service is terribly s-l-o-w sometimes. If so, just go downstairs and around the corner to the much faster and friendlier new kid on the block, Coldstones.
  
• FROOT- It's not Jamba Juice, but it's close. They have a few tasty drinks (NT$80+) especially on a hot summer day.
  
• BELLINI PASTA PASTA- usually tasty Japanese style Italian pasta, but bit longer wait than food court food. Just come a little earlier than your movie time.
  
  
• TAIWANESE SNACKS- just a few bags to sneak into the theater, and they supply the long toothpicks for your green beans, tofu, tempura or other traditional Taiwanese snacks. Good flavor and slightly healthier than Burger King.
  

MISSES

• PHO- haven't had the pho here yet, but it's the same chain as the one in Eslite and I never see anyone ordering from there. Ever.
  
• KOREAN SPECIALISP- (their typo, not mine) WIthout asking, they drench the bimbimbap with hot sauce, so that it's unbearably hot (spice wise and temperature wise) without much flavor to the beef or pickled vegetables. The rice gets burned on the bottom without getting crispy and what's up with the lettuce? I do like the side of thousand year old egg and tofu with the set lunch (NT$150). If you're craving bimbimbap, go to the foodcourt at 101 instead. They also have many side order options where this place doesn't.
  
  
  
  
• CREPE PLACE- Maybe it's better now that it's moved where the tako-yaki place used to be. But when I last got a crepe a few years ago, it was stiff and tasted like cardboard.
  
  
  
  
• BUFFALO STEAK- It's not buffalo, but I'm not sure it's beef either. Tough yet mushy and bland- though you can't tell by looking at it.

Of course, you could always stick to popcorn (I like to get mine mostly sweet and some salty- personally, I'm addicted to the kettle corn option here) and a slurpie from 7-11 in the Neo 19 building.

BTW, looking for movie times or buying tickets online in English? Try vscinemas.com.tw

I'm hoping to cover more foodcourts and mall restaurants the same way, with all the info in one post. The businesses in Taipei don't make it easy for you though, with all the websites in Chinese and on several occasions, I've even asked their information desks and they always seem to have "run out" of their English brochures.

hungryintaipei recommends: 7 PLACES TO SATISFY SO CAL CRAVINGS IN TAIPEI

Whether you've lived in Taipei for one year or for eleven (like me), you will inevitably end up craving a few things from home. When I first moved back to Taipei in 2005, the things I missed most was Mexican food as it was difficult to find and when you did find it, it didn't mean it would be very good. Then it was trying to find LA style pho or kbbq. Then salads. Anyone who has lived here longer than five years can appreciate the new waves of cafes, restaurants, bistros, brunch and bakeries that make Taipei more diverse in its food choices every year, when you don't feel like Chinese food.

Every summer, I get a chance to go home to LA and eat at all my favorite places, and this year I found some new favorites. The biggest trend in LA this year?  Build your own poke bowls, with at least a dozen different shops opened across LA just in the last year or two. This one is from SEA SALT POKE on Sawtelle.  Let's see who brings pokemania first to Taipei. Maybe NCIS?

Inspired by my travels this year, I'm going to try to put together a series of posts of how to find different cities in Taipei-- Paris, Tokyo, Boston and LA, for starters. Here is my take on where to take yourself when you just can't eat another bian dang and you're craving pie or tacos. 

7 PLACES TO SATSIFY SO CAL CRAVINGS IN TAIPEI

LA: Craving DTLA's LOBSTASHACK or LOBSTATRUCK's lobster rolls?
TAIPEI:  Try LOBSTER BAR in Taipei.  No. 17, Lane 116, DaAn Road, Sec. 1, (02)  2771-0333

Lobster Bar was the first to cause a flurry of lobster roll photos to spread on my social media in Taipei when it opened a few years ago. Lobster Bar's lunch menu is a limited business menu, while they have more options like oysters and uni pasta at dinnertime full menu. Note they also do not serve the lobster roll on weekends, instead they have a brunch menu with a lobster sandwich and eggs benedict. The lobster roll and fries are not cheap at NT$680, but you know, they are pretty expensive in LA and Boston too! I will also have to try the newer Lobster Foods and Le Kief.

Lobstashack is super hidden shop near DTLA's Chinatown

LA:        Craving Sawtelle's TENTENYU tori paitan ramen?
TAIPEI: Try NYC's TOTTO RAMEN. No 9, Lane 16, DaAn Road, Sec. 1 (02) 2778-9866

Both Totto Ramen and Tentenyu offer tori paitan ramen, which simmers chicken and chicken bones for hours rather than pork, for an equally rich and satisfying bowl of ramen. Both are relatively new shops in their neighborhoods. Totto Ramen opened in Taipei in late spring of 2016 this year, while Tentenyu also just opened a few months ago.

Tentenyu trying to get in on Tsujita's tsukemen business

LA/OC: Craving BOILING CRAB's cajun spiced whole shabang seafood boil?
TAIPEI: Try Taipei's BROOKHURST SEAFOOD BAR or SHRIMP DADDY.

My dad absolutely loves the dungeness crab in whole shabang sauce (mild spiciness) so much that we have taken him to Boiling Crab for the last four years since we first took him. So I was fairly excited to try Brookhurst (and other restaurants that were inspired by Boiling Crab but have since closed) to see if they could be a good spot to take my dad. Brookhurst has done their own thing by adding options like scallops, lobster or noodles, and even serving the combos in large skillets instead of plastic bags. 

Boiling Crab. Salt and pepper and limes for dipping!

LA/OC: Craving OC's SAIGON 9?
TAIPEI: Try the pho at CYCLO. No. 9, Lane 75, DaAn Road, Sec. 1 (02) 2778-2569 or No. 137, Section 3, Chenggong Rd (02) 2796-1313 

I haven't been to Cyclo since it moved to its new shop near ZhongXiao/Daan, and their offerings aren't going to be as varied as the shops you'll find in Garden Grove, but they have a solid bowl of pho, bottles of Sriracha and crispy egg rolls. Yes, there are ton of mom and pop Vietnamese shops in Taipei, but this is going to be the one most like what you'd find in LA. They've also opened a branch  in Neihu last year. 

Saigon 9, quick lunch right next door to Great Wolf Lodge

LA: Craving tacos from GUISADOS?
TAIPEI: Try TWINKIES TACOS or MACHOS TACOS in Taipei 

Let's not even pretend that what you are going to find in Asia is going to be the same level as what you would find in LA/Cali, but unless you are going to make your own Mexican food or fly to LA, you have slim pickings. And you know what, Machos delivers a solid baja style fish taco and chimichanga (though their nachos could use more cheese) and Twinkies is off to a good start with their tacos, but I don't want to hear complaining it's not as good as Cali. That's a fact, IT WON'T BE THE SAME, just like how beef noodles and dumplings aren't going to be as good and cheap in the states. 

drooling so badly at this mini tacos sampler from Guisados. only $7!

LA: Craving Korean cold noodles from Ktown??
TAIPEI: Try SAM WON GARDEN No. 45, Ln. 188, Ruiguang Rd.  (02) 8752-3222

Sam Won Garden is my go-to place for when I'm craving galbi and mul naengmyeon, or short rib and cold noodles. Just like the Vietnamese food scene in Taipei, there are a ton of little localized places here, even in every food court, for when you want bibimbap or Taipei style kbbq, but Sam Won is the most LA-ish of them all. It's a big enough restaurant to host your group of 20, they give you a bowl of the Korean lettuce salad that has the slightly sweet and spicy dressing, and they have chewy, soupy cold noodles on the menu. 

LA: Craving GULFSTREAM's lemon meringue pie? 
TAIPEI: Try DRIP CAFE No. 26, Lane 553, Section 4, Zhongxiao E Rd (02) 2764-8181

I can't be the only one craving American style pies in Taipei. There is no shortage of lemon tarts in bakeries here, but it's not the same as a towering slice of pie with a crown of torched airy meringue. I semi-regretted getting the slice at Gulfstream since it's $12 a slice now (you can practically get a whole pie at Marie Callender's for that price), but it was still amazing. While Drip Cafe is known for their cronuts, I fell in love with their lemon meringue pie (and banana cream pie). 

Gulfstream's lemon meringue pie

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!

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!

snapshot/vietnamese: i still recommend SAVOY

august 2015 zhongxiao shop

Thick slices of bbq chicken, slightly sweet mayonnaise, pickled radishes, carrots and cucumbers  in a toasted chewy yet crusty french loaf. I was so ravenous that I tore into the chicken sandwich as soon as I got home. I wanted to try the newly opened Lee's Sandwiches, but it was a bit far me in the Taipei Main Station neighborhood. So I went with something familiar- the chicken banh mi (NT$160)  from Yue Yuan. Except this time it came with tomato. I love tomatoes so I didn't mind it was a bit different than I remember it, but the flavors, chicken and bread were the same as the one that that I've had over the years and fell in love with at first bite years ago. 

Savoy is also known as Yue Yuan (their Chinese name), but a few years ago they went through some rebranding and now the shops sport bright orange signs saying SAVOY instead of the original yellow and black signs that had their chinese name 越苑 and in English, the word "pho." Their pho is still solid, as are their dry rice noodles, but I love their sandwiches for a quick bite on the go.

feb 2015 anhe shop

SAVOY 越苑

No. 10, Alley 32, Lane 216, Zhongxiao E. Road, Sec. 4

忠孝東路4段216巷32弄10號 

(02) 2731-9597

11:30AM- 9PM

Original Shop

No. 12, Ln 155, Dunhua N. Rd

台北市敦化北路155巷12號

(02) 2718-0660

Anhe Shop

No. 8, Lane 103, Dunhua South Road, Sec. 2 

台北市敦化南路二段103巷8號

(02) 2701-2523

CLOSED / the owners reopened as PHOEVER in 2020 with similar menu and just as good a banh mi

snapshot/instagram: PICO PICO, SQUARE PIZZA, BURGER AND CO., LALOS & CYCLO

This past week on instagram,  I revisited some old favorites, tried new Peruvian and pizza by the slice restaurants and made Hello Kitty rice krispies! And as you should when are you in Taipei,  scarf down a bamboo steamer full of dumplings for breakfast for only NT$45. Thought I would try something new on the blog- to post some instagram highlights every so often to share new restaurants and finds and capture my thoughts before a full blog post. Enjoy!

PICO PICO 

Finally tried Pico Pico, a Peruvian restaurant that my friend C had been telling me about for awhile. Among our favorites were the chicken paella, or arroz con pollo, which had a curry flavor and juicy chicken thigh atop, the charred octopus and the beef heart skewers. Lunch and brunch menus also available.

PICO PICO, No. 28, Lane 102, Anhe Rd, Sec. 1, 安和路一段102巷28號, (02) 2755-1161

SQUARE PIZZA AL TAGLIO

Stopped by newly opened Square Pizza al Taglio for a quick bite. Rectangular pizzas by the slice with toppings like house made porchetta and eggplants with sundried tomatoes. Reminded me of my trip to Italy and the delicious pizzas at Bonci Pizzarium in Rome! 

SQUARE PIZZA AL TAGLIO, No. 39, Lane 160, Dunhua S. Rd, Sec. 1, 

敦化南路一段160巷39號, (02) 2751-7998

BURGER AND CO 

Listened to old school jams and ate burgers with mustaches at Burger and Co.

BURGER AND CO.,  No. 49 TongAn St., 通安街49號, (02) 2784-0182

LALOS BAKERY 

Liked the perfectly tangy lemon tart with meringue at Lalos Bakery on Renai Street. I also love their honey citron bread and chouquettes. 

LALOS BAKERY, No. 91, Anhe Road, Sec. 1, 安和路一段91號 

CYCLO 洛城牛肉粉

Visited the new location of Cyclo for the first time near Sogo/DaAn Road. The original location serving up LA style pho near Renai closed last year. Get the pho with brisket, meatballs and tendon. 

CYCLO 洛城牛肉粉, No. 9, Lane 75, DaAn Road, Sec. 1 大安路1段75巷9號 , (02) 2752-8666