DOZO

Profile

Address:    台北市大安區光復南路102號1樓
                   No. 102, GuāngFù South Rd, Da-an District

       
Phone #:    02-2778-1135
Website: http://www.dozoizakaya.com/

Price Range:   $$$$

Accepts Credit Cards: yes

Attire: casual

Good for kids: no

Take out: yes
Waiter Service: yes
Outdoor seating:  no
Alcohol: yes

Rating

Food Quality: 4 out of 5
Decor:  4 out of 5
Service: 4 out of 5
Overall: 4 out of 5
Recommendation: Good place for drinks, pricey array of Japanese Cuisine.

Review

Near the Sun Yat Sen Memorial MRT station, there is a trendy Izakaya called Dozo. They serve an assortment of Japanese cuisine from sushi to yakiniku. A lot of their items do not seem very traditional, but a modernized twist of Japanese fare. It will also take a couple dollars to fill yourself up, since their menu items are quite pricey as the quantity of each dish is quite small. Three pieces of nigiri will run you around 300 NT. And six skewers of meat will run you 340. Yet, if you can afford the cost, Dozo offers a sleek modern space to enjoy intriguing cocktails over some snack-type foods. They also offer a small selection of original desserts that are delicious and well-presented.

Li Jin Traditional Tofu Jello 立晉傳統豆花

Profile

Address:   新竹市建功一路6號    

                  No. 6, JiànGōng 1st Rd, Hsinchu City

Phone #:  N/A
Website: N/A

Price Range:   $

Accepts Credit Cards: no

Take out: yes

Waiter Service: no

Outdoor seating:  no

Alcohol: no

Rating

Food Quality: 4 out of 5

Decor:  3 out of 5

Service: 3.5 out of 5

Overall: 3.2 out of 5

Recommendation: Traditional Tofu Jello with modern twists too.

Review
Another spot that still stands after 18 years is the Li Jin Traditional Tofu Jello shop. This might be the place where I had my first conscious bite of Tofu Jello. It is a taiwanese snack where they add soft tofu into a sweet soup served with other sweet ingredients of your choice. A modern twist that is good in the summer is their slushee tofu jello. Instead of serving tofu jelly in that hot syrup, they turn the syrup into slushee form and serve it on top of the tofu jello and ingredients. I do not know if any other places serve tofu jello in this way, but their ice is very fluffy and uniformly sweet. This place is a great last stop to end a night of snacking.

Pork Pocket Buns 割包

Profile

Address:   新竹市建功一路1-17號             

                  No. 1, JiànGōng 1st Rd, Hsinchu City

Phone #:  N/A
Website: N/A

Price Range:   $

Accepts Credit Cards: no

Take out: yes

Waiter Service: no

Outdoor seating:  no

Alcohol: no

Rating

Food Quality: 4 out of 5

Decor:  3 out of 5

Service: 3.5 out of 5

Overall: 3.2 out of 5

Recommendation: Wide Variety of Folding Buns.

Review

Also nearby the NTHU street market area, a standalone pork bun stand that not only sells their tradition pork pocket buns, but an assortment of other pocket bun items like egg pocket buns and fish pocket buns. Never tried any of the other items though, because I really like the pork pocket buns. Everything is under 50 NT, a very cheap quick bite.

Little Cave 小洞天

Profile

Address:   新竹市建功一路13號              

                  No. 13, JiànGōng 1st Rd, Hsinchu City

Phone #:  N/A
Website: N/A

Price Range:   $

Accepts Credit Cards: no

Take out: yes

Waiter Service: no

Outdoor seating:  no

Alcohol: no

Rating

Food Quality: 4 out of 5

Decor:  3 out of 5

Service: 3.5 out of 5

Overall: 3.2 out of 5

Recommendation: Cheap rice and pork sausage combo tray.

Review

In the bustling National Tsing Hua University entrance street market, there is a popular storefront that offers rice sausage and taiwanese sausage trays for 100 NT. This is a very longstanding and popular place, and many students and locals visit this place for a cheap quick snack.

Temple Entrace 廟口牛肉麵

Profile

Address:    新竹縣竹東鎮朝陽路18號      
                   No. 18, CháoYáng Rd, Jhudong Township, Hsinchu County, Taiwan 310
Phone #:  N/A
Website: N/A

Price Range:   $

Accepts Credit Cards: idk

Take out: yes

Waiter Service: no

Outdoor seating:  no

Alcohol: no

Rating

Food Quality: 4.7 out of 5

Decor:  3.5 out of 5

Service: 4 out of 5

Overall: 4.1 out of 5

Recommendation: Unique Hakka-Style Beef Noodle Soup.

Review
The oldest and most frequent place I been eating Beef Noodle Soup, and what has defined beef noodle soup for me is the bowl you get at Temple Entrace in Ju Dong. They started literally as a small beef noodle restaurant at the entrance of a temple in Ju Dong. Through the continual support from the locals, they managed to move to a bigger space separate from the temple entrance, but kept the name. They have been in business for over 20 years now, and it still seems to be filled with local Hakka clients, who love the heavy flavored broth, with a mixture of spices, and the flat-stlye noodles, that may not be as Q, but soak up the soup very well. If you ever venture south to Ju Dong, you should try this local favorite.

Chef Liu's Pigs' Legs 劉師傅霸王豬腳

Profile

Address:    台灣台北大安區和平東路二段118巷35號

                   No. 35, Lane 118, Section 2, HéPíng East Rd, Da-an District
Phone #:   N/A
Website: N/A

Price Range:   $

Accepts Credit Cards: no

Attire: casual

Good for kids: yes

Take out: yes
Waiter Service: no
Outdoor seating:  no
Alcohol: no

Rating

Food Quality: 4 out of 5
Decor:  4 out of 5
Service: 4 out of 5
Overall: 4 out of 5
Recommendation: Pork leg rice combos at fair price.

Review
 In the restaurant alley near the rear entrance of NTU, Chef Liu's Pigs' Legs offers rice combo meals with a variety of pig leg and non pig leg related entrees for under 100 NT. The portions are not very big, but enough to stay within a 2000 calorie diet. The items are oilier and saltier, but not unlike any other rice box/rice combo meal restaurants. Their braised pork legs are simmering in the gravy until you order it. They scoop up whatever you like and chop it up and ask you to pick 3 more items from their narrow assortment of side items. This is a very good choice for a rice combo meal in the rear entrance of NTU, considering price and quality of food.

Closed for Business

Fat Angelo's

Profile

Address:    台北市信義區松仁路28號

                   No. 28, SōngRén Rd, Sinyi District
Phone #:   02-8729-2741
Website: http://www.bellavita.com.tw/store.php?d=4

Price Range:   $$$

Accepts Credit Cards: no

Attire: casual

Good for kids: yes

Take out: yes
Waiter Service: yes
Outdoor seating:  no
Alcohol: yes

Rating

Food Quality: 4 out of 5
Decor:  4 out of 5
Service: 3.5 out of 5
Overall: 3.83 out of 5
Recommendation: Thin crust pizza in swanky food court.

Review

My newest area of interest is the Bella Vita food court. It is probably the best food court i've seen in Taiwan, and it made me delay the exploration of the Taipei 101 food court, which is very much like all the other food courts around the island. The variety the Bella Vita food court has to offer is wide, and the quality is set at a high bar. I appreciate the different designs put into each restaurant of the food court, so that each space has its own theme.  The first restaurant I tried is Fat Angelo's. It is a Italian restaurant that has a brick oven for their selection of thin crust pizzas (~600 NT for 12"), pasta's (~400NT), or sandwiches (~250NT). The seating is not so comfortable, the decor is quaint, and the service is sort of slow. The seating at this food court is improved if you choose to sit down at "We Share Everything" which is like a posh general dining area, where the servers will order your food at an restaurant at the food court, and bring it to you. But to fully show the theme and surroundings of each restaurant I will insist on being seated at the restaurant space.

Tsujiri

Profile

Address:   台北市忠孝東路五段8號
                 No. 8, Section 5, ZhōngXiào East Rd, Sinyi District
Phone #:  02-2729-9699

Website: http://www.tsujiri.com.tw/
Price Range:   $$

Accepts Credit Cards: no

Take out: yes

Waiter Service: no

Outdoor seating:  no

Alcohol: no

Rating

Food Quality: 4.5 out of 5

Decor:  3 out of 5

Service: 3.5 out of 5

Overall: 3.7 out of 5

Recommendation: Strong matcha flavored icecream and desserts.

Review

At the Hankyu Department store B2 food court lies Taiwan's first Tsujuri Tea House. The line is a good 15 minute wait, but the products are definitely the best in class. While the prices are a bit high, they do not exceed 200 NT for a single item/combo. Tsujiri is a 150 year old traditional tea house that became famous for their tea leaves and matcha. Most of their items are worth trying, and I will be returning to taste more of their non-icecream items.

Lucky Horse 吉馬

Profile

Address:  台灣台北中正區羅斯福路三段316巷7-3號
                  No. 7-3, Lane 316, Section 3, LuóSīFú Rd, Jhongjheng District
Phone #:  02-2362-6168

Website: http://www.chain777.com.tw/
Price Range:   $

Accepts Credit Cards: no

Take out: yes

Waiter Service: no

Outdoor seating:  no

Alcohol: no

Rating

Food Quality: 4 out of 5

Decor:  3.5 out of 5

Service: 3.5 out of 5

Overall: 3.3 out of 5

Recommendation: Well braised pork intestine, fresher oyster and cleaner.

Review

For those that detest the dusty and grimeyy nightmarkets, but still want to taste Taiwanese snackfoods can go to Lucky Horse. All of their items are under 100 NT and only 5 or 10 NT more than the nightmarket price for similar foods. Their signature dish is the oyster/pork intestine string noodles, and it goes for 45 NT for a small and 60 for big. They also offer wild boar sausages for 35 NT, or you can get the combo for 89 NT which comes with a drink. They have a clean interior, plenty of seating, and a professional looking service staff.

So Free

Profile

Address:    台灣台北大安區羅斯福路三段283巷28號

                   No. 28, Lane 283, Section 3, LuóSīFú Rd, Da-an District
Phone #:   02-2364-3351
Website: N/A

Price Range:   $$

Accepts Credit Cards: no

Attire: casual

Good for kids: yes

Take out: yes
Waiter Service: yes
Outdoor seating:  no
Alcohol: no

Rating

Food Quality: 3.5 out of 5
Decor:  3 out of 5
Service: 4 out of 5
Overall: 3.5 out of 5
Recommendation: Cheap novelty pizza, but limited seating.

Review

In the northwestern back alley area of NTU lies a novelty pizza restaurant that is famous for their eccentric Pizza creations like Ginger Superman, Korean Kimchi, and Apple Cinnamon. Seating is extremely limited at the store, and they only accomodate around 8 people dining in at a time, so most of their orders are take-out. However, I feel that the pizza is best when it is eating straight out of the oven, so you should insist on waiting to be seated before you order. The cheese began to solidify very soon after it was plopped in front of me, so I can't imagine how one would enjoy this pizza after even 5 minutes to another location. I would recommend this place for the person who wants to try wierd items. The Ginger Superman should be tried once in a lifetime. I will need to return and try Apple Cinnamon, and maybe Banana Almond.

Greatest "Sister-in-law Noodles" 頂好哨子麵

Profile

Address:   台北市大安路一段73號1樓         
                   No. 73, Section 1, DàĀn Rd, Da-an District
Phone #:  02-2778-6498
Website:

Price Range:   $

Accepts Credit Cards: idk

Take out: yes

Waiter Service: no

Outdoor seating:  no

Alcohol: no

Rating

Food Quality: 3.5 out of 5

Decor:  3 out of 5

Service: 3 out of 5

Overall: 3.1 out of 5

Recommendation: Cheap noodle and soup dishes with signature "sister-in-law noodles"
Review

In the corner of Da An road and Zhong Shiao East Road is a reknown noodle place called Greatest "Sister-in-law Noodles." It actually literally looks like Whistle Noodles, but a quick view of the history of this dish makes me go with "Sister-in-law Noodles" as the proper translation. This seems to be a popular noodle establishment with customers coming through rapidly. They have various locations around Taipei, but the original store is right here in the East Side. Their menu items are all under 100 NT with difference in prices with big portions and little portions. Their whistle noodles are dry Qey noodles mixed in this oniony meat sauce. They also serve a variety of fish ball soups and dumpling soups. Definitely worth seeing what the fuss was all about, but did not really enjoy the sauce.

Chicken Egg Oyster Omelettes

Profile

Address:   台北中正區羅斯福路四段24巷1-9號
                  No. 1-9, Lane 24, Section 4, LuóSīFú Rd, Jhongjheng District

Phone #:  N/A

Website: N/A

Price Range:   $

Accepts Credit Cards: no

Take out: yes

Waiter Service: no

Outdoor seating:  yes

Alcohol: no

Rating

Food Quality: 2 out of 5

Decor:  3 out of 5

Service: 3 out of 5

Overall: 2.66 out of 5

Recommendation: Cheap snack at laaaaate hours.

Review

Next to the front entrance of NTU, there is a oyster omelette stall open til 4 a.m. They also serve an assortment of other snacks like duck meat string noodle soup and braised pork rice. Everything on their menu is under 50NT, so you can have a quick bite for cheap at this joint.

Bangkok Grill 曼谷燒

Profile

Address:    台北市羅斯福路三段 286巷 18號 1樓
                  No. 18, Lane 286, Section 3, LuóSīFú Rd, Jhongjheng District

        
Phone #:    02-2363-0081

Website: N/A

Price Range:   $

Accepts Credit Cards: idk

Attire: casual

Good for kids: no

Take out: yes
Waiter Service: no
Outdoor seating:  no
Alcohol: no

Rating

Food Quality: 4 out of 5
Decor:  3 out of 5
Service: 3 out of 5
Overall: 3.3 out of 5
Recommendation: Cheap Thai Style Rice Sets

Review

Near the front entrance of NTU lies a back alley lined with restaurants. Among the various restaurants, Bangkok Grill stands out as offering a cheap menu with distinct taste and with fast service. The combo meals are not gourmet, but for the prices of around 100 NT for rice, entree, and 3 sides plus soup, one can hardly complain.

Smith and Hsu

Profile

Address:    台北市忠孝東路五段33號

                   No.33, Section 5, Zhong Xiao East Road, Taipei
Phone #:   2-2747-4857
Website: http://www.smithandhsu.com/

Price Range:   $$

Accepts Credit Cards: yes

Attire: casual

Good for kids: yes

Take out: yes
Waiter Service: yes
Outdoor seating:  no
Alcohol: no

Rating

Food Quality: 3.5 out of 5
Decor:  4 out of 5
Service: 3 out of 5
Overall: 3.5 out of 5
Recommendation: Great place for modern afternoon tea.

Review

Next to the number 1 Taipei City hall exit is a modern looking tea house offering a wide assortment of tea, sandwiches, and desserts. Smith and Hsu is just the place for a modern afternoon tea experience at an affordable price.

Dazzling Cafe 蜜糖土司專賣

Profile

Address:    台北市忠孝東路四段205巷7弄11號

                  No. 11, Alley 7, Lane 205, Section 4, ZhōngXiào East Rd, Da-an District
Phone #:   02-8773-9229
Website: http://cafe.dazzlingdazzling.com/

Price Range:   $$

Accepts Credit Cards: no

Attire: casual

Good for kids: yes

Take out: yes
Waiter Service: yes
Outdoor seating:  no
Alcohol: no

Rating

Food Quality: 3.7 out of 5
Decor:  4 out of 5
Service: 4.5 out of 5
Overall: 4.06 out of 5
Recommendation: Fancy cafe with delightful desserts and drinks.

Review

Dazzling cafe is a very bling bling eatery located on the east side on the alleyway behind Luxy. They feature a honey toast dessert that is very popular item. They have a wide assortment of drinks available to pair with the honey toast or meal proper.They also have many types of pasta dishes, sandwiches, and a few dinner entrees to chose from. The honey toasts run about 280 NT per order and drinks are around 120. I have not tried the hot food, so I will have to fill that information in on a later date. The place is a good place to kick back with some coffee and dessert.

De Emblem Cantonese Style 得記港式

Profile

Address:  台北中正區羅斯福路四段52巷18號
                  No. 18, Lane 52, Section 4, LuóSīFú Rd, Jhongjheng District
Phone #:  N/A

Website: N/A
Price Range:   $

Accepts Credit Cards: no

Take out: yes

Waiter Service: no

Outdoor seating:  yes

Alcohol: no

Rating

Food Quality: 4 out of 5

Decor:  3.5 out of 5

Service: 3 out of 5

Overall: 3.5 out of 5

Recommendation: Clean place for affordable numb-spicy stinky tofu.

Review

Hidden in an alley nearby the Gong Guan Night market is De Emblem Cantonese Style restaurant. It is quite a confusing name, but they sell numb-spicy stinky tofu in self-heating bowl. The basic pot of stinky tofu runs for about 60NT, and you can add various ingredients like lamb slices, mushrooms, and noodles for around 50 NT per item. I came here for the numb-spicy stinky tofu, and it really did its job. I prefer the braised stinky tofu over the fried version, and the ones they serve here are flavorful enough to prompt me to return for another numbing session in the future.

Huang Pig Intestine Noodles 黃家大腸麵線

Profile

Address:  台灣台北中正區羅斯福路四段108巷8號
                  No. 8-1, Lane 108, Section 4, LuóSīFú Rd, Jhongjheng District
Phone #:  N/A

Website: N/A
Price Range:   $

Accepts Credit Cards: no

Take out: yes

Waiter Service: no

Outdoor seating:  yes

Alcohol: no

Rating

Food Quality: 4.5 out of 5

Decor:  4 out of 5

Service: 4 out of 5

Overall: 4.2 out of 5

Recommendation: Best Pork Intestine Noodle in Gong Guan Nightmarket.

Review
In the Gong Guan Nightmarket, there is a pig intestine noodle stand that sells nothing but pig intestine noodle. For it to survive with just one item, that item must be pretty good, so I gave it a try. A small sized bowl sells for 25 NT and a large bowl sells for 40 NT, but the size of the small is comparable to the other stands that sell for around 40 NT. This stand has clean tables and condiments on each table for your personal seasoning needs. This is so far the best bowl of pig intestine noodle in the Gong Guan Nightmarket area.

FIFTEEN PIZZERIA NAPOLETANA (15 那不勒斯披薩屋)

Profile

Address:    台灣台北大安區和平東路二段118巷4號

                   No. 4-1, Ln 118, Heping E. Rd, Sec 2
Phone #:   02-2377-1142
Website: N/A

Price Range:   $$$

Accepts Credit Cards: no

Attire: casual

Good for kids: yes

Take out: yes
Waiter Service: yes
Outdoor seating:  no
Alcohol: yes

Rating

Food Quality: 4.5 out of 5
Decor:  4 out of 5
Service: 4.5 out of 5
Overall: 4.3 out of 5
Recommendation: Gourmet Pizza in a Cozy Atmosphere

Review

Tucked in a alleyways of the NTU rear entrance restaurant area is a gourmet pizzeria called 15. They serve a wide variety of pizzas ranging from 300 NT to 500 NT, various appetizers at around 200 NT, and drinks at around 100 NT. Their decor is very gastro pubish, with a bartop available to view the pseudo brick-oven pizza making process. Their staff is very friendly, helpful, and prompt. They also welcome silly banter and make an effort to entertain their guests. At the very least, they busted our tables, asked if we needed anything, and responding quickly when summoned. This pizzeria left me with a good impression, and is currently my favorite NTU area pizzeria.

University Entrance 大學口

Profile

Address:   台北中正區羅斯福路四段24巷1-9號
                  No. 1-9, Lane 24, Section 4, LuóSīFú Rd, Jhongjheng District

Phone #:  N/A

Website: N/A

Price Range:   $

Accepts Credit Cards: no

Take out: yes

Waiter Service: no

Outdoor seating:  yes

Alcohol: no

Rating

Food Quality: 2 out of 5

Decor:  3 out of 5

Service: 3 out of 5

Overall: 2.66 out of 5

Recommendation: Cheap snack at laaaaate hours.

Review

Right outside the Starbucks next to the Gong Guan MRT exit 4 lies a Intestine Noodle and Stinky Tofu stall that is open a lot later than its competition. They serve Intestine noodles at 40 NT and stinky tofu at 40 NT for a small portion and 50 NT for a large portion. This is a popular stall for take outs and hungry customers from 12am-1:30am.

Bele'm 貝倫坊

Profile

Address:   台北市和平東路2段118巷37號

                 No. 37, Lane 118, Section 2, HéPíng East Rd, Da-an District

Phone #:    02-2732-3391

Website: N/A

Price Range:   $$

Accepts Credit Cards: no

Attire: casual

Good for kids: yes
Take out: yes

Waiter Service: yes

Outdoor seating:  no

Alcohol: no

Rating

Food Quality: 3 out of 5

Decor:  3.5 out of 5

Service: 4 out of 5

Overall:  3.5 out of 5

Recommendation: Ok pasta at a slightly higher price than market.

Review

Bele'm is a bakery and cafe located near the rear entrance to the National Taiwan University. It is one of the many diverse dining options available in the rear entrance area. They serve steaks and pastas ranging from 120 NT to 300 NT, with an addition 50 NT option to include soup, bread, and a drink of chioce. Bele'm is also a bakery that provides a wide assortment of average looking baked goods. They have a cozy interior and a competent wait staff. They have enough people to run the bakery and the cafe efficiently. It is an average store with nothing special in particular. 

Dragon Bro's Fried Chicken 龍哥無骨雞腿排

Profile

Address:   台灣台北中正區羅斯福路四段108巷8號
                  No. 8-1, Lane 108, Section 4, LuóSīFú Rd, Jhongjheng District
Phone #:  N/A

Website: N/A
Price Range:   $

Accepts Credit Cards: no

Take out: yes

Waiter Service: no

Outdoor seating:  yes

Alcohol: no

Rating

Food Quality: 4.5 out of 5

Decor:  3 out of 5

Service: 3 out of 5

Overall: 3.5 out of 5

Recommendation: High value fried chicken and salad snack.

Review
Upon my visits to the Gong Guan Nightmarket, there is a boneless fried chicken stall that usually has a queue of about 20 people long. People don't seem to mind waiting 15 minutes for this stall, and I was curious, but not curious enough to wait for a serving during peak time. For 60 NT at Dragon Bro's, you can get a portion of fried chicken and a side of cole slaw. They also serve shrimp rolls and calamari spring rolls: 3 for 50 NT. This is seems to be the most popular stall in the Gong Guan Nightmarket.