Tasting Journey #67 - 天星港式飲茶

天星港式飲茶
台北市南京東路三段275號二樓(兄弟飯店旁)　
02.2713.3877
http://www.citystar.com.tw/about04.php

I love dim sum. Vancouver has awesome dim sum, but does Taipei?
Two of my coworkers come here a lot, and recommended this place for our pre-CNY luncheon.  We arrived around 1pm, and it was still packed.  Good sign. 
This place is part of the City Star Restaurant Group. I have previously tried their other restaurant - 京星, but did not find it appealing at all.  Unlike 京星, the table space is much more comfortable.  Like any dim sum restaurants, it is expected to be loud and busy.  Food is tasty, especially the BBQ pork bun.  I heard their BBQ pork is really good too, but they ran out already.  The Singaporean vermicelli noodle was a bit wet, but I was surprised that they would even serve this at a dim sum restaurant.  I would come back here again. Heck, I'm going to bring my 96 years old grandma here for a tasting journey. She loves dim sum, and I'm sure she will enjoy this place.

 

Tasting Journey #66 - 吳記麻辣鴛鴦鍋

吳記麻辣鴛鴦鍋
台北市松山區八德路四段143號
02.2748.0666

Came here for a late night dinner around 10pm, and there were still 3 tables full of guests. I guess this is what a "老店" is like - no fancy interior decoration, nor contemporary design to attract the younger generation, yet it is able to survive amongst the bustling full of new restaurants in Taipei.  Its main guest-streams are returning guests and guests that come by word of mouth. I heard this place has been around forever.
The server told me that they will open till 3am as long as there are guests, but that they can close whenever after midnight. 

Unlike other spicy hotpot where all the dishes ordered are served on separate plates, they place many of the ingredients in the pot when they bring out the soup base.  I guess this is considered "home-style" since most people making hotpot at home would put many of the ingredients such as tofu, fish paste, cabbage...etc in the broth to start with.

Pork was OK even though we ordered high quality pork slices for the meat.  Dishes worth mentioning are: fish paste, meat balls and the pickled cabbage.  Being not a crazy fan of fish paste, I do have to say that theirs is quite tasty because it doesn't taste like typical fish paste. Bur rather, it tasted more like tofu to me.
The meat balls tasted home-made, which made it tastefully unique. Their pickled cabbage is really sour, to the point that it can probably be used to cook 酸菜白肉鍋 (sour cabbage pork hot pot). But we ate it just like that, and tastes just as good - well, if you are a fan of sour dishes.

I highly recommend this place. Price-wise, it is a bit on the higher side compared to other spicy hotpot places. We ended up spending $1,600 for 2 people (there were quite a bit of left overs) so I would say the portions ordered are more for 3 people. Like all other shared hot pots, I suggest that this place is a worthy-visit when you have a group of at least 4 people.

 
...and btw, did I mention that the owner looks just like one of my (and my mom's) all-time favourite singer - 蔡琴 (Tsai Chin). Her make-up, hair-style and the way she talks just captivates me.  While my friend places the order, I had to make multiple sneak peaks at her, trying hard not to stare and make her feel uncomfortable.  But if you are fan of Tsai Chin, you must come and take a look. hehee....:)

Tasting Journey #65 - woolloomooloo

Woolloomooloo
台北市信義路四段379號
02.8789.0128

Came here for lunch one day with colleagues because it was located near the office.

The exterior deco is very contemporary; The interior is even more so.  With hints of warehouse-turned-restaurant, from cranes hungover the ceiling, lamps made of glass cups, to walls slated with sheets of steel, every little detail portrayed a New Yorker loft style.



Food was great, and coffee is well-made. Portion is a bit small. Perfect for hipsters looking for a place to chill for the afternoon.  I do have to say that the ambience of this place captures my heart much more than the quality of food. From the photos taken, you can see that I was much more mesmerized by the architecture than the food.  I would say that this place is a good sunny afternoon chill out place where you can bring your Mac and your tune, order a cup of coffee, chill and relax.

Tasting Journey #64 - 春水堂

春水堂
various locations
http://chunshuitang.com.tw/

Had to log this just so I remember this place as a dining option... though a very low priority in the option list. 麻油麵線 is quite good, but as a place known for the invention of bubble TEA, the tea are very expensive.
I also ordered a snack dish - some kind of marinated tofu and blood cake. Not good at all.
I have to say I am disappointed with the quality given the price charged.  I probably wouldn't really consider this place as a dining place unless I'm looking for somewhere convenient and quick.

Tasting Journey #63 - Costumice Cafe

Costumice Cafe
台北市大安區忠孝東路四段223巷71弄6號1樓
02.2711.8086
http://www.ipeen.com.tw/shop/108189-COSTUMICE-CAF%C3%89

This cafe has a front yard garden where if you want, you can sit out there and sip coffee.
I've never been here during the day, but I heard it's more like an afternoon tea place where you can read or surf the web. I was there at night time however, the music was quite loud, making it a bit difficult to chat. I also saw people playing cards.  It became a very bustling night time hang out place.

 

Tasting Journey #62 - Wendel's German Bakery & Bistro

Wendel's German Bakery & Bistro (溫德德是烘培餐廳)
台北市內湖區瑞光路513巷22號11弄
02.8751.3708
http://www.wendels-bakery.com/index.asp

Interesting cafe-style restaurant, all self-served.
In a setting similar to the public market at Granville Island, you pretty much walk in, find a table, put your stuff down, then head up to the food section to place your order. You pay, they hand you a number, and you head back to your table. They will come and bring your food. Utensils are self-served, and so is cleaning-up afterwards. 

Food is pretty good, though I was a bit confused whether this is German or Greek. They also served flammkuchen (German style pizza) with Greek ingredients such as feta and olive.  Still good though.

 

Tasting Journey #61 - 永和豆漿 (大安店)

永和豆漿 (大安店)
台北市復興南路二段102號
(near 大安MRT station)

Apparently it is a popular hang out place for a post-clubbing meal.
It offers the very traditional breakfast dishes such as soy bean milk, 燒餅油條, 蛋餅, 飯糰...etc.
I was quite surprised with the different iterations available such as adding an egg into your 燒餅 or adding 飯糰 into your 燒餅... all seemed quite odd to me as why would you want to combine different dishes together. I didn't dare try, but hey, there's gotta be demand for it to stay on the menu right?

I tried the steamed dumplings, salty soy bean milk and the basic 燒餅油條.
Remind me never to order savoury soy bean milk anymore. Reason #1 - it is not aesthetically pleasing at all. It looked like it was regurgitated from somewhere.. you know what I mean. Reason #2, soy bean to me is more like a drink, something that can compliment the dryness of the 燒餅.  This savoury version had lots of ingredients in it, such as pickled radish and dried shrimp...etc. It tasted more like soup, and is served hot. You can gulp it down as you choke on the dryness of your 燒餅.

Steamed dumplings ain't that spectacular either, and not worth mentioning at all.

Would I go back? Maybe not, but wouldn't be reluctant to eat it if I happen to be in the area and hungry as well.

Tasting Journey #60 - Ice Monster

Ice Monster
台北市忠孝東路四段297號
02.8771.3263
http://www.ice-monster.com/

Unlike traditional shaved ice, this place serves snow flake ice.
Traditional shaved ice is like slurpee where the ice is finely chopped into sizes of grains.
Snow flake ice is where the flavour itself is already part of the ice (i.e. they freeze the juice directly into ice blocks).  In addition, it is so finely chopped that it is soft like snow flakes - melts in your mouth.

This place is known for its mango flavoured ice and its bubble tea flavoured ice.
Mango ice is tremendous and awesome. Bubble tea ice is interesting, but if you're not used to drinking bubble tea at full sweetness, this dessert does become too much after a few bite, especially when the portions are huge.

Price-wise, we are looking at $240+/dish.  I recommend sharing one dish with another friend.

 

  

 

Tasting Journey #59 - 金雞園

金雞園
台北市大安區永康街28-1號
02.2341-6980

Located at the end of the infamous 永康街, this area is filled with nothing but restaurants that are filled with guests.  金雞園 was recommended by my food addict colleague. Unlike Ding Tai Feng, a world renown chain store for 小籠包 (steamed dumplings) for tourists, this place is the equivalent of Ding Tai Feng for locals.
Less all the luxurious interior decoration and the fancy wait-list SOP, the dumplings here are heaven and half the price.  Having tried Ding Tai Feng 3 times already, I have to say that I honestly prefer 金雞園 much more.  At Ding Tai Feng, the dumplings consists of meat broth that oozes and burns your lip when you bite into it; The dumplings here doesn't have as much broth but the meat is still juicy. Frankly speaking, I find the Ding Tai Feng broth quite greasy and a bit too much after having a few dumplings. Therefore, less juice is preferred for me.  In addition, the skin at 金雞園 is much thinner, and much preferred. What's even better, an entire meal will cost you next to nothing.
Make sure you make reservation or go early to get a seat.

 

 

Tasting Journey #58 - 韓國館

韓國館

台北市信義區基隆路一段380巷6號 
02.2723.3302

Was looking for a team lunch in celebration of colleague's birthday, as well as to welcome 2 new members to the TPE LLO office.
The place had to be somewhere close by, and I came across this place on ipeen.com.tw
It was ranked 5 out of 6 stars.  Also recommended by 食尚玩家, a popular TV show that goes around trying out food.
We arrived at noon, and it was still empty. I thought maybe because the restaurant is located in an alley, and there just aren't too much traffic. However, within 10min, the restaurant became jam packed.
Food was tasty, service was efficient. Price is also reasonable. It also offers a set lunch menu for people that work nearby.  I'd definitely go back again.
Seafood pancake was well stir-fried - crispy on the outside. Quite different than the Korean food that I'm used to in Vancouver. This version looked and tasted more like Taiwan-style green onion pancake. Still delicious, but without the abundance of seafood in the pancake.
Side-dishes can be refilled free of charge.
Meat dishes are also very tender and well marinated. Server will cook the meats for you.

 

Tasting Journey #57 - 作田居酒屋

作田居酒屋
台北市大安區敦化南路一段160巷12號
02.8771.8006


My favourite izakaya in Taipei.  The restaurant, well, not really a restaurant but more like a corner eatery, is all made of wooden interior. Great atmosphere.
Their home-made plum wine is amazing.
Favourite dish: grilled chicken wing stuffed with mentaiko, pickled bitter melon, tomato wrapped with bacon, grilled mochi...etc.

Everything is so perfectly grilled and juicy.
Price-wise, you're looking at $1,000/person.