Rakumenya 樂麵屋

Profile

Rakumenya is a Ramen Shop located near the Zhong Xiao Fuxing MRT. They are unique in how they let the customers customize the strength of the soup base and the hardness of the Ramen noodles. These type of Ramen shops are hard to come by in Taiwan, and it is very reminiscient of Shin Sen Gumi or Orochan in Los Angeles. The two popular soup bases served here are the pork broth and their specialty chicken-vegetable broth. For under 250 NT, you can select a soup base variation that you desire. Each bowl comes with a few basic slices of cha siu, egg, and vegetables, but you can add other ingredients for a nominal fee. They have the best tasting noodles that I have had so far in Taiwan: al dente, very snappy, and Q-licious. If you find yourself hankering for a bowl of Ramen, try this popular restaurant in the East District.

Address:  台北市大安路1段83巷10號1樓
                 No. 10, Lane 83, Section 1, DàĀn Rd, Daan District
Phone #: 02-8772-8159
Business Hours: 11:00-22:00 (guesstimation)
Website: N/A
Price Range:   $$
Accepts Credit Cards: yes

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: Best Ramen Noodles in Taipei

Review

Dazzling Thai Cafe

Profile

Dazzling Thai Cafe is a spin-off from the popular Dazzling Cafe Restaurants, but they serve Thai food instead of general "western" food minus the honey toast. They still offer a selection of their popular well concocted drinks. You will generally spend about 500 NT a person to eat here, as their entrees are around 280 NT each. If you are lucky you can get their two person meal set that rings in at 980 NT, but I do not recommend it because the food is not that amazing. This place offers average "modern thai" food that is neither amazing or disgusting. The decor and service is unmistakably dazzling.

Address:  台灣台北市松山區復興南路一段39號
                 No. 39, Section 1, FùXìng South Rd, Songshan District
Phone #: 02-8773-9229
Business Hours: 11:00-9:30
Website: Dazzling Thai Cafe Facebook Page

Price Range:   $$$

Accepts Credit Cards: yes
Attire: casual

Good for kids: yes

Take out: yes
Waiter Service: yes
Outdoor seating:  yes
Alcohol: yes

Rating

Food Quality: 3 out of 5
Decor:  4 out of 5
Service: 4 out of 5
Overall: 3.67 out of 5
Recommendation: Average "Modern Thai" food in dazzling setting.

Review

Eddy's Cantina

Profile

Address:  新北市淡水區中山路151-1號
                 No. 151-1, ZhōngShān Rd, Danshuei District Xinbei City, Taiwan 251
Phone #: 02-2628-2638
Business Hours: 11:30-14:30, 16:30-21:30
Website: http://www.eddyscantina.com/

Price Range:   $$

Accepts Credit Cards: idk

Attire: casual

Good for kids: yes

Take out: yes
Waiter Service: yes
Outdoor seating:  yes
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: Pretty good mexican food

Review

Eddy's Cantina is probably the mexican restaurant with the most legitimate mexican roots in Taipei. Nestled on a sloping 3-way intersection of Dansui, Eddy's Cantina brings tacos, burritos, enchiladas, and salsa to a unsuspecting part of Taiwan. Entrees are about 200 NT with the option to upgrade to a meal for 85 NT to add three sides and a drink. The ingredients are kind of authentic, but the flavors seem to be dulled to suit the Taiwanese taste bud. Still, it is probably one of the best mexican restaurants in Taiwan. If you don't feel like making the long ride up to Dansui, Eddy's Cantina has opened a new location in Tien Mu. This is decent place to have some tacos over ice cold brews.

Taurus Steaks 金牛座平價牛排

Profile

Address: 台北市羅斯福路三段316巷8弄8號
                 No. 8, Alley 8, Lane 316, Section 3, LuóSīFú Rd, Jhongjheng District
Phone #: 02-2368-0873
Business Hours: 11:30-15:00, 5:00-22:00
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 out of 5
Service: 3 out of 5
Overall: 3 out of 5
Recommendation: Mystery Steak Set for 5 Dollars US

Review

"Bargain Steaks" are a unique part of the Taiwanese food scene. From "My Home Steak" to the dirty nightmarket stalls that offer it, teppan steaks are popular in the lower end food category. Taurus Steaks offers the similar 150 NT "steak" set meal that comes in either black pepper or mushroom sauce. You get unlimited red tea and a bowl of soup with each set meal you get. This is a locally loved dish and part of the collective memory of all Taiwanese childhoods. I recommend that you give these one of thse Taiwanese particle steak places a try, and if you are in the area, try Taurus Steaks.

Celestial Clay Jar 天罎

Profile

Address: 台北市敦化南路一段295巷16號
                No. 16, Lane 295, Section 1, DūnHuà South Rd, Daan District
Phone #: 02-2709-6916
Business Hours: 11:30-21:30
Website: http://www.975.tw/

Price Range:   $$$

Accepts Credit Cards: yes

Attire: casual

Good for kids: yes

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

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 late night eat, but not good.

Review

Celestial Clay Jar is a very traditionalesque chinese restaurant that offers many slowly cooked items from their special earthen cookware. They pride themselves in being very health conscious, and so their dishes are flavored just enough, but not overly oily and heavy. The average price of a dish is 250 NT, so you will probably spend about 500 NT a person here. The service staff seemed very friendly and recommended what they thought was the most poular dishes without feeling like they are pressuring you to purchase the most expensive items. Also, the server we had was very attentive to our needs and courteous in accomodating us. This is a very interesting place to dine especially for those who might want to try a light meal that is not flavorless.

Tokyo Sakaba 東京酒場

Profile

Address: 高雄市五福三路152號
                No. 152, WǔFú 3rd Rd, Kaohsiung City
Phone #: 07-282-0818
Business Hours: 17:00-05:00
Website: N/A

Price Range:   $$

Accepts Credit Cards: yes

Attire: casual

Good for kids: yes

Take out: yes
Waiter Service: yes
Outdoor seating:  yes
Alcohol: yes

Rating

Food Quality: 2.5 out of 5
Decor:  3 out of 5
Service: 2.5 out of 5
Overall: 2.7 out of 5
Recommendation: Cheap late night eat, but not good.

Review

The Love River in Kaohsiung City is a very scenic and leisurely spot enjoy an evening stroll. Among the many dining options around this area, there is this 3 story building that radiates itself over its competitors on the riverside. Tokyo Sakaba is a 100 NT taiwanese stir fry restaurant that has a pretty stocked alcohol list, sake in particular. Most of the famaliar items from those "beer station", "hot stir fry" restaurants are offered here, but they are not very good renditions in comparison to the better establishments that exist in Taipei. Try some other restaurant if you are in the area because this place is more like a last resort.