I’m spending quality time in Taipei on a regular basis. I’ve found a few places, but am still looking for reasonable daily drinkers at fair prices. Also, I’m on the lookout for recommendations on things to do while living short-term in Taiwan.
Thoughts?
fred
Hey Fred,
Where in Taipei are you located? what type of stuff do you like to drink? Anywhere you’ve eaten that you like?
Don’t want to recommend things you aren’t close to or have been to already =)
I stay down by the 101 at the Grand Hyatt. Taxis are crazy cheap and I love the MRT, so if it is reachable within Taipei, I’m game. The Tepenyaki place in the 101 mall on the 4th floor was pretty good, albeit spendy. I’ve got some co-workers there that have taken me to their opinion of the best beef noodle soup in Taipei. It was good and I’d never find it without guidance. It was a door that looked like the entrance to a service kitchen. Saffron up in TianMu is great Indian food and I try to get up there even though it is a trek. Best meal in Taiwan by far was the day we went out to the northern tip of Taiwan to a fishing village, bought a load of live seafood and had it cooked about 10 meters from the place we bought it. Kaoliang and lobster blood anyone? We had about 20 people so really feasted on that trip. I eat a lot of hot pot and like stone barbecue too. The view from the restaurant on the 85th floor of the 101 is well worth it and I thought the food was pretty good too - it was crab season when we went up, so we had quite a bit of crab cuisine.
On wine, I buy from Jason’s (bottom of the 101) because it is close and they usually have something on sale that has a chance of being reasonable (last time was Hugel Gewurztraminer and Pinot Noir for ~680 NTD / $22). Both ended up being average, at best. Le Sommelier in TianMu has a bunch of stuff form appellations I know but producers I don’t, so I’m hesitant to drop $70-120 on premier cru Vosne Romanee from an unknown domaine without tasting first. They do run big barbecues and tastings once a month or so, but I keep forgetting to look up the dates when I get into town, so I’ve not yet made one. The Sancerre Rouge I bought there for about 800 NTD was probably the best drinking I’ve done in Taiwan. The big new Sogo has a City Super in it with some really nice wines in a temp controlled room, but prices are handsome. 2004 La Tache was 86000 NTD ($2850) and they had some Coche Dury Bourgogne Blanc for 2400 NTD ($80), which was mildly tempting. Those both sold between September 2009 and September 2010 when I checked back. They were replaced with some other notable Burgs, but all seemed priced at 2-3x what I would consider retail. I think there’s a luxury tax in Taiwan for the big name wines, as there seems to be quite a markup on them.
I’m on quarterly rotation now, so get over there for 2-3 weeks every few months. If you happen to be in Taipei on occasion and want to meet up, let me know.
Cheers,
fred
If you haven’t been to the National Museum — make sure you go.
Everything Chiang Kai-shek’s revolutionary army could take from China - ended up here.
Absolutely amazing collection of Chinese art.
Unusual restaurant: Weis
Address: 1F, 6 Lane 71, Anhe Rd, Sec 2, Taipei (臺北市安和路二段71巷6號1樓)
Telephone: (02)2732 5099
It is a German restaurant with an Asian flair and a good list of Rieslings.
The old Taiwan beer brewery is an interesting place to eat - and drink.
Also - make sure you get some shirts and/or suits made. I have a great tailor across from the Regent – unbelievable prices for custom clothing.
There was also an incredible restaurant we went to that was up in the hills out of the city. Sit on the floor place. Ask around - someone should know.
Try to find a good Hakka restaurant. This is the native Taiwanese cooking. Different from the Chinese. I also stay at the Hyatt - not much around there except the 101.
I am sure you have visited the night markets.
Indeed night markets and the scene on a Saturday night out at Danshui are great. The National Palace Museum was the first place I went on the first weekend I was in Taipei. I’m ready to go back and see what has rotated in. Getting the guided tour was a big help to make sure the context of the artifacts was conveyed.
Thanks for the tip on the tailor. I intend to look around in Shanghai too on that front.
I’ve probably walked or run by Weis. I’ll check it out.
Cheers,
fred
Shangri-La custom Tailor -
3F, #8, Lane 39, Zhongshan N Rd, Section 2.
(02) 2531-2987
Henry…
He has made me dozens of shirts and a couple of suits, jackets, pants.
Very nice people - very good work and good prices. One day for shirts and pants. Couple of days for suits and sport jackets because you need to go in for a fitting.
And he makes you great tea while you shop. I think my picture may still be up on his wall of fame.
^misleading and incorrect. There is no ‘national’ Chinese cooking, makes no sense to say different from Chinese.
Do some research on the Hakka people. On my mother’s side, her ancestors immigrated to Hawaii in the late 1800’s, left Canton region where the Hakka were considered ‘outsiders’, non-natives to the area.
Taiwanese are not ‘native’ Hakka, though some Hakka may have emigrated there from the mainland, so how could Hakka style cooking be “native Taiwanese cooking”, any more than dim sim?
Sorry - when I was taken to one of the local Hakka restaurants that is what I was told. And I meant the food was different than what I expected from Cantonese or Hunan style cooking. Thanks for the correction.
Necro bump. Have a flight to Taipei in early Feb., but instead of an early arrival, we land at 9pm, which is too late to catch the HSR to Tainan. We’ll take the MRT to Taipei and stay there overnight. Any suggestions for late-ish dining on a Monday near the main station / Regent Hotel? Ningxia night market seems like a good fit, assuming we clear customs and get on the train quickly.
I’ll double up your inquiry. My son lives down in Taichung, and we’ll be heading over for a little over a week at the end of March. He’s 25, so he’s not going to have any idea what’s good up in Taipei.