A&J Restaurant 北平半畝園

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A&J restaurant is a place i've been meaning to visit for a while. When I was hankering for a bowl of beef noodle soup in Irvine, I would head over to the A&J to get my fix. The beef noodle soup in the Irvine location did not seem like a great bowl in Taiwan standards, but they were my favorite around that area at the time. I would usually a bowl of beef noodle soup with thin noodles, a side of pan-fried beef bun, and a side of pig ears or spicy tripe. For years i've wondered how it compared to the original A&J in Taiwan. After being spoiled with an excellent array of alternative beef noodle providers, I was not so impressed with the A&J's beef noodle soup. However, they still offer the juicy, crispy, and meaty pan-fried beef buns. It is still worth an occasional visit for that.

Address:  台北市東豐街33號

                 No. 33, Dōngfēng Street, Daan District
Phone #:  02-2700-5326

Business Hours: 11:00-14:00, 17:00-20:30
Website: N/A

Accepts Credit Cards: yes

Price Range:   $$

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:  3.5 out of 5
Service: 3 out of 5

Overall: 3.33 out of 5

Final Thought: Good place for pan-fried beef bun

Review

The Chicken Rice Shop 齊客來

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The Chicken Rice Shop is a chain store serving Hainanese Chicken and other south east asian fare with around 60 shops in locations in malaysia, singapore, the phillipines, and Taiwan. Their Hainanese Chicken is made with a hundred year old recipe containing 16 types of Herbs and spices. The Chicken Rice Shop is on the alleyway with JBSD Tofu and Go Go Pasta near the Zhong Xiao Dun Hwa MRT. Their Hainanese Chicken is very tender flavorful and a big portion at a very fair price (around 350 NT per person). This is kind of a family style restaraunt and not that good for dining solo. Grab a friend and try this place out if you're craving some Hainanese Chicken.

Address: 台北市敦化南路一段233巷19號
                 No. 19, Lane 233, Section 1, Dūnhuà South Rd, Daan District

Phone #: 02-2751-5342
Business Hours: 11:30-14:30, 17:30-22:30
Website: http://www.thechickenriceshop.com.tw/

Accepts Credit Cards: yes
Price Range:   $$$

Attire: casual

Good for kids: yes

Take out: yes
Waiter Service: yes
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: 3.67 out of 5
Recommendation: Great Hainanese Chicken

Review

Celestial Clay Jar 天罎

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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.

Xin Jiang Barbecue 新疆野宴-OUT OF BUSINESS

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Address: 台北市大安區敦化南路一段160巷25號1樓
                 No. 25, Lane 160, Section 1, DūnHuà South Road, Daan District
Phone #: 02-8771-8001
Business Hours: 17:30-0:00
Website: Xin Jiang BBQ Facebook Page

Price Range:   $$$

Accepts Credit Cards: yes

Attire: casual

Good for kids: yes

Take out: not all items
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: Xin Jiang themed Recline-Down BBQ Restaurant

Review

Taipei has offers a wide range of options for those seeking barbecue meet. The predominant restaurants are the Japanese style yakiniku self-serve bbq with it's variants, then the Korean barbecue restaurants, and then you get the hybrid Taiwanese hot pot / griddle-based BBQ restaurants. Xin Jiang Barbecue is one of rarer restaurants that offer a wide variety of skewered food items for you to grill over their charcoal tabletop pit. You might have had a taste of Xin Jiang bbq skewers with their famous Cumin Lamb Skewers 羊肉串. They have this and many more skewers utilizing fresh ingredients. The main seasonings at this BBQ restaurant is cumin, salt, pepper, and cayenne pepper. The lack of sauces is no problem as these simple ingredients are enough to accentuate the natural oils and flavors of the meats themselves. You might find yourself paying around 500 NT per person, but this is definitely worth it based on the quality of the ingredients. If you are fond of Cumin Lamb Skewers 羊肉串, then you must visit Xin Jiang Barbecue.

Din Tai Fung 鼎泰豐

Image from Official Website  

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Address: 台北市忠孝東路四段218號
                 No. 218, Section 4, Zhong Xiao East Rd, Daan District
Phone #: 02-2721-7890
Business Hours: 10:00~14:30 , 16:00~22:00
Website: http://www.dintaifung.com.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: 4.5 out of 5
Decor:  3.5 out of 5
Service: 3.5 out of 5
Overall: 3.83 out of 5
Recommendation: Favorite/Popular "Little Basket Dumpling" Restaurant

Review

Din Tai Fung is an extremely popular bamboo basket dumpling restaurant with locations outside of Taiwan. It would rank in the top 3 must-eat restaurants when visiting Taiwan, and not without good reason. The difference in their dumplings skin and quality of their fillings set them apart from their competitors. Their intricate and delicate culinary craft allows them to provide their unique and top-notch renditions of fairly commonplace Chinese dishes. You will not regret giving Din Tai Fung a try.

Yun Dian 云滇

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Address:  台灣台北市大安區忠孝東路四段49巷4街14號
　　　　No. 14, Alley 4, Lane 49, Section 4, ZhōngXiào East Rd, Da-an District

Phone #:  02-27116411
Website: http://www.yundish.com.tw/

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: 4 out of 5
Decor:  3.5 out of 5
Service: 3 out of 5
Overall: 3.5 out of 5
Recommendation: Tasty Yunnan Cuisine

Review

Yun Dian is a restaurant serving Yunnan cuisine. They are located on the alley right behind the Zhongxiao SOGO. The restaurant was packed during dinner, so this seems to be a popular spot in the area. I have not had authentic Yunnan Cuisine before so I would not know how to rate or recommend this place based on authenticity. They serve a variety of rice noodle soups, "loose" buns, and other Yunnan dishes. The prices for each dish are bearable and does not exceed 200 for an entree. I will need to try other Yunnan delicacies before I can make an educated opinion on this restaurant.

Phoenix Saliva House 鳳涎居雞膳食坊

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Address:   台北市大安區敦化南路一段190巷48號
                  No. 48, Lane 190, Section 1, DūnHuà South Rd, Da-an District
Phone #:  02-2771-9779
Website:

Price Range:   $$

Accepts Credit Cards: probably

Take out: probably

Waiter Service: yes

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: Great place for various Chinese chicken soups.

Review

In the alleys behind Zhong Hsiao Sogo lies Phoenix Saliva House. It is a chain that sells various types of chicken soups that are helpful against various ailments. You also can get very cheap sides at around 40 NT to go with the soup that runs arond 150 NT. It is a great place to get a bowl of hot soup, and it is good for your health too.

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

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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.

De Emblem Cantonese Style 得記港式

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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.

Yong Kang Beef Noodles 永康牛肉麵

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Address:   台北市大安路一段75巷9號1樓           
                   No. 9, Lane 75, Section 1, DàĀn Rd, Da-an District
Phone #:  02-2711-6298
Website: http://beefnoodle-master.com/

Price Range:   $$

Accepts Credit Cards: idk

Take out: yes

Waiter Service: yes

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: Slightly above average beef noodle soup, but pricier.

Review

Yong Kang Beef Noodles is a 40 year old beef noodle restaurant established by a veteran from the humble begginnings of a beef noodle stall. They feature authentic Si Chuan style beef noodle soup that is on the spicier and heavier that the average beef noodle. Their prices average 160 NT per bowl of beef noodle with their signature half meat half tendon beef noodle soup priced at 180 NT. The restaurant interior is above average in comparison to other beef noodle soup joints, and the service is better than average as well.

Sergeant Chicken Rice 三巡海南雞飯

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Address:   台北市忠孝東路三段300號
                No. 300, Section 3, ZhōngXiào East Rd, Da-an District  (Sogo Fu Shing)
Phone #:  N/A

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

Accepts Credit Cards: no

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: 3.17 out of 5

Recommendation: Cheap Eat.

Review

Sergeant Chicken Rice is a booth located in the Fu Shing Sogo B1 Food Court. They serve a simple combination meals that include rice, soup, boiled vegetables, and a entree of your choice. The price for the combos are around 150 NT each, and their signature dish is the Hainan Chicken Rice. This is a cheap and fast option for a rice based meal at the Sogo B1 food court.

Hsu-Ji Pan Fried Bao 許記生煎包

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Address:   台北市龍泉街19號 (師大夜市)

                 No. 19, Long Quan St, Da An District (Shi Da Night Market)

Phone #:    0910-083-685
Website: http://www.hsu-ji.com/

Price Range:   $

Accepts Credit Cards: no

Take out: yes

Waiter Service: no

Outdoor seating:  yes

Alcohol: no

Rating

Food Quality: 3 out of 5

Decor:  3 out of 5

Service: 4 out of 5

Overall: 3.3 out of 5

Recommendation: Quick and cheap way to fill stomach.

Review

In the food stall area in the Shi Da nightmarket, there was a particular stall that still had a crowd gathered around it even on a sunday night. Hsu-Ji Pan Fried Bao seemed to be a popular stall, so I ventured over to see what it was all about. The stall's service is better than average because they have a line for ordering where you are given a number after you paid for your order. However, after you get your number, pandemonium erupts when people crowd around to get their order. They prepare a batch of around 120 pan fried bao per 5 minutes, so you really have to fight to get yours first. This seems like a popular stall.

Concelebration Low-Rise 北平同慶樓

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Address:    台北市敦化南路二段168號

                  No 168 Section 2, DūnHuà South Rd, Da-an District

Phone #:    02-2739-6611

Website: http://www.latour.com.tw/cgi/advt/tongchin/index.htm

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:  3.5 out of 5

Service: 4 out of 5

Overall: 3.8 out of 5

Recommendation: Fairly good family style meals.

Review
Concelebration Low-Rise is a restaurant featuring northern Chinese cuisine. They serve family style meals with dishes ranging from 150-1100. The price is dependant on how well you want to eat. They have a wide menu offering  flour-based foods, clay pot stews, and stir fried dishes. Sadly, I did not try the Roast Duck Three Ways, which costs around  1100 NT. That dish should be the iconic dish of the place, as Concelebration Low-Rise specifically represents Beijing cuisine. This is a good restaurant for a family style meal. Their dishes use fresh ingredients, and the sauces used were not too heavy. The clientele are mostly locals, so you can be assured that you are getting decent food at a fair price.

Lao Dong Beef Noodles 老董牛肉麵



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Address:    台北市羅斯福路四段24巷4號 (公館分店)

                   No. 4, Lane 24, Section 4, LuoSiFu Rd, JhongJheng District

Phone #:    02-2369-5198

Website: http://www.olddon.com.tw/

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: 4 out of 5
Decor:  3 out of 5
Service: 3 out of 5
Overall: 3.3 out of 5
Recommendation: A bowl of no nonsense beef noodles.

Review

Meandering around the streets and alleyways of Gong Guan, I stumbled upon the Lao Dong Beef Noodle shop right next to the (Gong Guan MRT Exit 4) Starbucks. Beef noodle soup has been a long-time interest of mine, and I have been trying different restaurants for a while now. This chain store has its humble beginnings as a noodle cart operated by a Shanghainese migrant from the mainland. It has a history of around 60 years. In 2006, they won an award for their Consommé Beef Noodle Soup, and in 2010 Lao Dong Beef Noodle was showcased at the Shanghai Expo in the Taiwanese Cuisine Exhibit. Although the store is named Lao Dong Beef Noodle, they offer a wide variety of foods such as dumplings, beef wraps, Chinese tamales, and meat pies. The prices range from 100-240, so you can expect to pay around 150 per person. The beef noodle soup was not particularly impressive, but it is a solid bowl of beef noodle soup with firm noodles, lightly flavored broth, and tender braised beef chunks. This is potentially my "go-to" beef noodle shop in Gong Guan.