Wednesday, June 29, 2005

CLOSED! dessert: i recommend ICE MONSTER

CLOSED a/o 1/2010!

ICE MONSTER
15, Yong Kang Street

pricing: $$$ (for shaved ice)
last visited: 7.29.05

Shaved ice is the best in Taiwan, especially since it's so hot and humid here and you need something to cool you down. It's usually pretty cheap, lots of selections and lots of places to find it. However, there has been a lot of news lately about how it's not so safe to eat- you don't know where the water is from where they make the ice, you don't know if the ice blocks have been on the ground, etc etc. But I generally stick to places that have a lot of customers and check if their toppings look fresh. My personal favorites to put on shaved ice, besides Mango & condensed milk, are rice balls, lemon jelly, green or red bean, sometimes boba and almond jelly.

One very popular shaved ice place is ICE MONSTER which not only serves shaved ice with various combinations of fruit, but also tops it with ice cream/sorbet! My sister loves the shaved ice here, and apparently it's pretty famous or trendy. It's usually quite busy and they've expanded beyond their original location on Yong Kang Street.



I ordered the trio fruit combo and requested the lemon sorbet instead of the mango sorbet. The generous portions of mango, kiwi and strawberries were all coated with evaporated milk, and then the mountain was topped with a big scoop of sorbet. The fruit was kind of sugary as maybe they were soaked in syrup already and the strawberries were probably frozen and defrosted.

You can also get just one fruit, and mango shaved ice is very popular. The trio ice was $150 NT or about $5 US. It's definitely pricey for shaved ice- you can usually find it for $40-$60 NT and sometimes for $30 NT plus $5 NT for milk. Depends on where you get it- I had quite decent shaved ice in Hsi Men Ding for $35 NT with all you could select sides on your plate, and the mango shaved ice with rice balls at IDEE mall was really good.

The atmosphere is busy and crowded- you usually have to start looking for a seat while you are in line. You sit on stools along the countertops and tables in front of the ordering section, and try and eat your shaved ice before it all melts. The sorbet on top and ice quickly melted into a puddle, which some people enjoy, but I personally didn't like. I personally think Ice Monster is a bit overrated and overpriced, as everything is too sweet and I didn't even eat more than two bites of the sorbet. It ends up being sugar sensory overload, when you are just looking for the refreshing taste of shaved ice. But if you are sharing with friends and like all those fruits and sorbet, then it's a fun experience to try.

Friday, June 24, 2005

who's hungry too?

Anywhere in the world- you're going to be hungry. But what are you looking to eat? For me, living in Los Angeles grants me the luxury of eating anything I want almost anytime I want. I accumulated a lot of my favorites- local hotspots, mainstream places, hole in the walls and a variety of tastes- Indian, Japanese, Mexican, American, Italian, Chinese, Californian- you name it, you can probably find it in LA. So traveling back and forth over the Pacific- I miss my favorites- enchiladas, waffles, pastrami sandwiches, french fries, carnitas tacos, chinese chicken salad, spicy tuna rolls, chicken pesto sandwiches with arugula, CPK pizza, asian fusion.

So not that Taipei doesn't have awesome food- it does, but it's another new journey to find out where and trying it out. So this is my little journal of my journey of finding foods I love in Taipei. The basics- dumplings, mango shaved ice, beef noodle soup, boba ice tea- you can't go wrong with most places. But where to find in Taipei - good thin crust pizza? Mexican food? The perfect salad? Minestrone soup? Tandoori chicken? American breakfast? Hopefully- I'll find some new favorites and meet other hungry people in Taipei!

PS- if you are visiting LA, some of the things/places i miss eating when i'm not there, in no special order!
California Pizza Kitchen
Johnny's Pastrami
El Tarasco
Poquito Mas
California Chicken Cafe
Literati
Corner Bakery
2117
Sawtelle Kitchen
California Roll Factory
New India Grill
Tacone
Talay Thai

Wednesday, April 27, 2005

desserts in Taipei

You can also search my blog or click on the restaurant name for the review.


Take your sweet tooth here


LITTLE SOUTH GATE
Food Court, B2, ESLITE Mall (XIN YI STORE)
11, SongGao Road
(02) 8789-3388
also food courts at 101 and Breeze Mall
$



85 DEGREES C CAFE

No. 2, Lane 16, Da An Road, Sec 1
(02) 2776-6350
and other locations
$


BEARD PAPA CREAM PUFFS
Eslite Mall, B2 Food Court
No. 11, Song Gao Road

Mitsukoshi Mall, A4 building, B2
No. 19, SongGao Road
$
and other locations


CHILI's
at Neo 19 (near Warner Village)
22 Sung Shou Road, 2 FL
(02) 2345-8838
$$





JOYCE EAST

128 Xin Yi Road, Sec. 5
(02) 2345-8838
$$






RAO HE NIGHT MARKET

near Song Shan train station
$





SHIH LIN NIGHT MARKET

Between end of Wenlin Rd., Jihe Rd. and Zhongshan N. Rd.
(near the movie theaters)
$




JIU RU

69 Jen Ai Rd., Sec. 4
(02) 2751-7666
$





You could also try...





ICE MONSTER

15, Yong Kang Street
$$$ (for shaved ice)





SWEET DYNASTY

No. 160, Chung Hsiao East Road, Sec 4
(02) 2772-2889
$





MOGA

No. 50, An Ho Road, Sec 2
(02) 2704-9646
$$-$$$





CHA LOUNGE

Grand Hyatt Hotel
No.2, Sung Shou Road
(02) 2720-1234
$$$


MISTER DONUT
-Breeze Center
-NYNY Mall in Xin Yi district
-across from the Takashimaya Mall: 39, Fusing S Rd., Sec. 1, (02) 8772-5990
-Taipei Main Station underground
-and other locations



PATARA

No. 12, Alley 247, Tun Hua S. Rd., Sec.1
(02) 2731 5288
$$


Get the main dish, but I'd go somewhere else for dessert...





BERRY & MILK

Breeze Mall (and other chain locations)
$$






TONY ROMA's

156 Min Sheng East Road, Section 3
(02) 2719-0992
$$





VVG BISTRO

20, Alley 40, Lane 181, Zhongxiao E Rd, Sec 4,
(02) 8773 3533
$$-$$$




YANG JI PEANUT CORN ICE

Hsi Men Ding
$$






EASTERN ICE STORE

Lane 219, ZhongXiao E. Rd., Sec. 4
(02) 2777-2057
$





STARBUCKS

on Badu Road
and almost everywhere
$$





It was nice while it lasted..







K2 GELATO

Warner Village outdoor food court
16 Song Shou Road
$$







HELLO KITTY PATISTORY

Eslite Mall (XinYi)
11, SongGao Road, B1
$$





Reviews coming soon!


  • Big Tom's Ice Cream
  • Tuesday, April 26, 2005

    Thai food in Taipei



    You can also search my blog or click on the restaurant name for the review.


    Make your reservations at these places


    157-3 Yanji St
    (02) 2752 3051
    $$






    THAI TOWN
    on Renai Rd
    (02) 2351-0960
    $$
    and many locations






    RAMA THAI 泰餐廳
    at ATT4Fun
    No. 12, Song Shou Rd., 10 FL 台北市信義區松壽路12號10樓
    (02) 7737-9998






    VERY THAI 非常泰
    -No. 319 Fuxing N. Rd 台北市復興北路319號
    (02) 2546-6745
    -Neo 19
    and other locations
    $$

    If it's in your neighborhood, you can try...




    CRYSTAL SPOON
    at QSquare
    $$-$$$








    LACUZ FUSION THAI CUISINE
    No. 29, Lane 236, DunHua South Rd, Sec. 1
    (02) 2771-2033
    $$-$$$



    Eslite Mall (XinYi)
    11, SongGao Road, 6th Floor
    (02) 8786-0029
    $$

      

    SKIP

    No. 12, Alley 247, Tun Hua S. Rd., Sec.1
    (02) 2731 5288
    $$


       


    CLOSED





    BLUE SPICE





    On my to-do list

    • Thai Made
    • Thai and Thai
    • Home's Thai Cuisine
    • Sukhothai @ Sheraton Hotel

    Monday, April 25, 2005

    American food in Taipei

    You can also search my blog or click on the restaurant name for the review.

    Make your reservations at these places




    CHILI's

    2F, 22 Sung Shou Road
    Neo 19 Building, 2nd FL (near Warner Village/101)
    (02) 2345-8838
    $$



    CHEERS Pub Bar

    at Grand Hyatt Taipei
    1st Fl., 2 Sungshou RD
    (02) 2720-1234
    $$-$$$




    THE DINER

    No. 145, Rui-An St.
    (02) 2700-1680
    $
    Cash only




    DEAN AND DELUCA

    at Breeze Center, B2F
    N0.39, Fu-Hsin S Road. Sec 1
    Taipei 105
    (02) 6600-8888 ext 7301
    $$-$$$



    CITIZEN CAIN

    No. 67 Dong Fong Street
    (02) 2708-4557
    $$





    ROBIN's GRILL TEPPAN LOUNGE

    at Grand Formosa Regent Hotel, 2 FL
    41 Chung Shan N. Road, Sec 2
    (02) 2523-8000 ext 3930
    $$$




    TGIFriday's

    at Miramar Entertainment Park and Mall
    20, JingYe 3rd Road
    Neihu, Taipei
    $$


    You could also try...





    NY BAGEL

    No. 122, Xin Yi Rd, Sec. 5
    Taipei 110
    (02) 2723-7977
    $-$$





    TAHITIAN NONI

    No. 108, Xin Yi Rd, Sec 5
    (02)8788-1987
    $





    BELLE FUSION

    149 Dunhua S Rd, Sec 1
    (02) 2777-3322
    $$





    McDONALDS

    NY NY, 101, Mitsukoshi, Hsi Men Ding and everywhere
    $





    Sorry! Closed since I've been there.




    TONY ROMA's

    156 Min Sheng East Road, Sec 3
    (02) 2719-0992
    $$









    STATES FRIES

    Warner Village outdoor food court
    16 Song Shou Road
    $$





    Someday soon on my list...


  • Lawry's
  • TGIF
  • Ruth Chris
  • Butter
  • California Grill
  • Long John Silver's
  • Saturday, April 23, 2005

    Afternoon Tea in Taipei

    You can find the most complete reviews if you look here by label or click on the restaurant name for the review.

    Feel like afternoon tea?
    Stop by these places




    85° C CAFE

    No. 2, Lane 16, Da An Road, Sec 1
    (02) 2776-6350
    and other locations
    $







    PASTA FROLLA

    No. 12, Lane 236, Tunhua South Road
    (02) 2773-3736
    $






    Trattoria Pizzeria SABATINI TAIPEI

    at new green Sogo, 11 FL
    No. 300, Chung Hsiao East Road, Sec 3
    (02) 8772-1237
    $$





    ROSE HOUSE

    No. 15, Lane 233, Tun Hwa S. Rd, Sec 1,
    (02)8773-2519
    and other locations
    $$



    Some untraditional options but definitely recommended




    the souffle and tea at

    JOYCE EAST

    No. 128, Xin Yi Rd, Sec 5
    (02) 8789-6128
    $$





    boba tea or your choice of drink and dim sum at


    CHUN SHUI TANG

    (SPRING WATER HOUSE)
    A9 MItsukoshi Mall, B2
    No.9, Songshou Rd
    (02) 27239913
    $-$$





    the brownie and tea/coffee at

    PS CAFE

    No. 181, Dun Hua S Road, Sec 1
    (02)2776-0970
    $





    a cupcake and tea/coffee at

    GINJER CAKES

    20, Lane 233, Tun Hwa S. Rd, Sec 1
    (02) 8773-3061
    $






    Not quite perfect, but there's finger sandwiches.






    JOYCE CAFE

    No. 22, Ching Cheng St
    (02) 2713-8362
    $$$










    CHA LOUNGE

    Grand Hyatt Hotel
    No.2, Sung Shou Road
    Taipei
    (02) 2720-1234
    $$$







    add a cake and drink to your lunch at

    SAZABY AFTERNOON TEA

    Sogo (Dun Nan store) B1
    No. 246, Dun Hua South Rd, Sec 1
    also at Taipei 101, B1
    $-$$






    JOYCE EAST

    No. 128, Xin Yi Rd, Sec 5
    (02) 8789-6128
    $$



    Just get the latte- pass on the cakes!






    STARBUCKS

    everywhere
    $-$$







    Haven't had it, but it's available




    BELLE FUSION

    149 Dunhua S Rd, Sec 1
    (02) 2777-3322
    $-$$

    :)