Taipei
TAIPEI - BEST RESTAURANTS
Introduction
Taipei lost out to Dubai in Summer 2010 as home to the world’s tallest skyscraper (Taipei 101), but the capital of the Republic of China has come a long way since its days as the last refuge for political foes of Mao Zedong’s. “Made in Taiwan” now means high-tech innovations like Quanta Computer’s iPhone, while cinematic exports win Oscars and top prizes in Cannes. Business travel makes up a third of all foreign arrivals, but that need not exclude the sybaritic pleasures of Taiwan’s famous hot springs.
The city of Taipei is located in the Taipei Basin in northern Taiwan. It is bordered by the Xindian River in the South and the Danshui River in the West. The Northern districts of Taipei extend North of the Keelung River and border Taipei ’s famous Yangmingshan National Park. The city is surrounded by mountains.
Taiwan has plenty to offer, from truly unique scenery to exciting sporting activities and colourful festivals, not to mention the most varied Chinese food on earth. Taipei has a long established reputation as a gourmet's paradise.
You may not be able to carve out time for a trip to Taiwan alone, but if you are planning a visit to Southeast Asia, the tourist authorities hope you will spend part of your time here. Taiwan compares favorably to Hong Kong and Singapore as the country is vastly bigger than either and offers far more in the way of outdoor adventures, scenic resort facilities and a genuine Chinese culture that has been
preserved and nurtured.
The two most photogenic temples in Taipei are the Lungshan and the Pao-An.
Two of Taipei's famous night markets are worth visiting, one as it is the biggest, the other because of its proximity to Lungshan Temple and as it is a little closer to the city center. The first, Shilin Night Market, is out to the North of town in the direction of the National Palace Museum, and here you will find thousands of food stalls, row after row, making for a nice moveable feast if you are adventurous or have a
Chinese-speaking friend or guide with you. Closer to other important sites is the so-called Snake Alley (Huahsi Street) Night Market, near Lungshan Temple, with a couple of streets filled with stalls and a few side lanes of restaurants, food and medicine stores. Animal activists have prevailed upon the government to forbid the former demonstrations of killing snakes in front of bug-eyed tourists, so that is now done only if you are a bona fide snake blood or meat customer.
Cool Restaurants
Have you found yourself googling the internet and got stuck in hundreds of restaurant recommendations?
You don`t need more - for a business trip, a romantic weekender or a holiday trip - just the best of each style - an INSIDER GUIDE REDUCED TO THE MAX!
With WORLD TOP 7 you can now eat like a local.
DIN TAI FUNG 鼎泰豐
Best xiao-long-bao (steamed dumplings) in town or even in the world; it was rated by Time Magazine as one of the top 10 restaurants in the world; be sure to try the xiao long bao and tsai rou jeng jiao, which are similar kinds of steamed dumplings
FIFI 茶酒沙龍
Modern chinese with lounge
Address: 15, RenAi Rd, Sec 4, 2-3F, Taipei, Taiwan
Area: Taipei City
Web: http://www.isabelle-wen.com/wenfifi/
Phone: +886 2 2721 1970
Prices: Mains: US$ 6.- to US$ 12.-
After going up a slim escalator, customers on the second floor of "FIFI" will find themselves in a stylish Chinese restaurant; if you continue up to the third, you'll be surprised by "W", an East/West fusion lounge bar; he warm, trendy atmospheres on both floors here have helped make "FIFI" a very popular hangout in Taipei; "FiFi" offers contemporary Chinese cuisine and was opened by renowned local fashion designer Isabelle Wen
KAN PAI YAKINIKU RESTAURANT
Noisy japanese
Address: No 17, Lane 236, Dunhua S Road, Section 1, Taipei City
Area: Taipei City
Web: http://www.kanpai.com.tw/
Phone: +886 2 2776 3460
Prices: Mains: starting at US$ 10.-
Yakiniku means “grilled meat“, a Japanese term which refers to grilled meat dishes; "KAN PEI" is a small and noisy eatery where beer and sake are as important as the meat dishes; but unique and great atmosphere; and, the name (of the restaurant) is program: its unique trademark gesture is having everyone raise their glasses and say "gan bei" (meaning "bottoms up" in Chinese) at 8 p.m., for a shared moment that all patrons enjoy together; book well in advance!
KIKI RESTAURANT
Chinese with atmosphere
Address: 47, Lane 280, GuangFu S. Road,1F, Taipei, Taiwan
Area: Taipei City
Web: http://www.kiki1991.com
Phone: +866 2 2781 4250
Prices: Mains: US$ 6.- to US$ 12.-
"KIKI" is well-known because of its Taiwanese celebrity owners, who include singer and TV-host Lan Xin Mei; but, unaware of this fame you can be assured that the food here is good too; four of KIKI's restaurants can be found around Taipei, varying in size, but all with an atmosphere that compliments the food; the fair is billed as Sichuan cuisine, but it definitely has a fresh touch of Taiwanese cuisine; the stylish, unfussy decor and tasteful lighting make this place feel like a special occasion; whether you're seated at an intimate table for two, or with friends at a bigger table this is certainly a place where good food equal a great dining experience
SHABURI SHABU SHABU 紗舞縭
Shabu Shabu at its best
Address: 21, Lane 270, DunHua S Rd, Sec 1, Taipei, Taiwan
Area: Taipei City
Web: http://www.shaburi.com.tw
Phone: +886 2 8771 5548
Prices: Mains: US$ 10.- to US$ 40.-
One of the finest Shaburi hot pot (or shabu shabu) places in Taipei; pots come with choices like seasonal seafood and imported beef from the U.S., Australia, Japan and Taiwan; if you're more into seafood go for the set meal including King Crab, Snow Crab and Hair Crab - by the way the most popular choice among patrons to date
SHIN YEH 欣葉
Taiwanese with japanese influence
Address: 34-1, ShuangCheng Street, Taipei 104 Taiwan
Area: Taipei City
Web: http://www.shinyeh.com.tw/taiwan_a.asp
Phone: +886 2 2596 3255
Prices: Mains: US$ 8.- to US$ 25.-
Home-cooked Taiwanese dishes at it's best; busy during afternoon until late-night; one of the only places in Taipei that serves rice congee with sweet potato (a breakfast staple) the whole day
SHI-YANG CULTURE RESTAURANT 食養文化山房
Traditional taiwanese
Address: No. 7, Ln.350, Sec.3, XiWan Rd, XiZhi City, Taipei County, Taiwan
Area: XiZhi City
Web: http://www.shi-yang.com/
Phone: +886 2 2646 2266
Prices: Menu: US$ 32.-
Creative Taiwanese cuisine meets rustic tranquility at "SHI-YANG CULTURE RESTAURANT" located at a mountainside property on Yangmingshan; the restaurant, which first opened as a modest teahouse in Sindian in 1996, offers one of Taipei’s most unique dining experiences; "SHI-YANG" is about slowing down, soaking in the sights and savoring every morsel; it takes three hours to serve this artfully presented 10-course meal, which is priced at US$ 32.- per person; there is no a la carte selection — the prix fixe menu is determined by whatever fresh and local ingredients are available; the meals are a healthier take on the traditional Taiwanese fair; Seafood shows up in many dishes, but fresh vegetables receive a lot of emphasis
* This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm opening hours, dress code and pets policy directly with the restaurant before planning your trip.