Asia - Taipei - Visiting and eating

I am visiting Taipei the end of March and would like to take a gift for my grandson. He loves birds and I am wondering if a bird feeder would work on the balcony in the city in an apartment on the 16th floor?

I would also suggest that people try some of the dim sum places around the corner from the famous one that is mentioned here often (sorry I can't find the name now but it is near the Mormon temple). The one we found you eat upstairs and the food is prepared street side But inside the building. I have found the food in Taipei to be excellent for adventuresome visitors. I especially like the typically very small places. Most of my experience has been in the Da'an area but I am sure with a little exploring you will find some fun stops anywhere you happen to be staying. It is an advantage to be with a Chinese speaker.

Are you referring to din tai feng?

Yes, I believe that is the popular place everyone talks about. I have a very hard time remembering the Chinese words for the names....sorry.

http://www.dintaifung.com.tw/en/index.asp

As a high rise dweller, I can tell you that the bird feeder on the balcony is a bad idea, and may not even be allowed by building management. Assuming that birds fly up there to feed, there will be a mess and bird crap all over the place. This isn't necessarily easy to clean and may affect neighbors as well, who won't find it funny.

I suggest you save the feeding-the-birds outings for the park, and bring him a beautiful color coffee-table book on the subject. Or a nice "Field Guide to the Birds of _____" (pick a geographic region). Any aviaries you could visit together?

Thanks for the information on the bird feeder. He is a little guy 1 1/2 years old and loves it when a bird does appear. From your comments I think I will forget the idea of the feeder.

The dim sum place I like is called Jin Ji Yuan Sorry I cannot give better directions but I am usually dropped off by a taxi and don't know the area.

Jin Ji Yuan 金雞圓. One is on Yongkang Street (永康街28-1號).
A sister is one block south of the main entrance to Taiwan University, by the subway stop, a few doors off of Roosevelt Road and XinSheng south Road (羅斯福路三段316巷8弄3之1號).

Maybe not the most delicate xiaolongbao and beef-noodles in town, but good value.

Lots of people keep song birds in their apartments...though 1.5 yrs is a little young unless the parents are enthusiastic...you might take him to Heping West Rd where there are dozens of bird stores, though.

The location I like the most is the one on Yongkang Street. The people are so friendly and recognize my daughter as a regular and always give her a big welcome. She speaks Chinese but they practice their English on me.

Any other suggestions for a dim sum place similar in value to the above? I prefer the ones not frequented by lots of tourists but favorites of the locals.

Again, sorry to be so vague but there is a PHO restaurant in the DA'AN district that is very good. Any other suggestions for other ethnic restaurants in that area?

Jin Ji Yuan 金雞圓. One is on Yongkang Street (永康街28-1號).
A sister is one block south of the main entrance to Taiwan University, by the subway stop, a few doors off of Roosevelt Road and XinSheng south Road (羅斯福路三段316巷8弄3之1號).


Good eating spot, much better than ding tai feng [favorite if expats, visitors from HK, China, rest of Asia].

Now that DTF HK has received their Michelin star all the DTFs worldwide are using this as part of the marketing and they have gotten busier as a result.

I visit the DTF in Hsinchu (B1 level of the FE21 department store) regularly. I like them: pleasant service and good food (especially compared to the average restaurant in the area).

Now that DTF HK has received their Michelin star all the DTFs worldwide are using this as part of the marketing and they have gotten busier as a result.

My wife and two grown-up sons [who live and work in Taipei] "insisted" we give it a try again this past December -- went to the 101 location [although their favorite spot is Alley 216 btw Ren Ai and Chung Hsiao]. There were at least 4 large tables of 10+ that were HK tour groups.

Food, imho was fair but nothing to rave about -- and certainly not worth the 1 hr wait.....

OT but interesting tidbit -- ownership is very hands on management and recruit/train extremely carefully. And their pay scale is excellent. An example, a dishwasher makes more than the average college grad in his/her first job! That is why their service is top-notch.

The location I like the most is the one on Yongkang Street. The people are so friendly and recognize my daughter as a regular and always give her a big welcome. She speaks Chinese but they practice their English on me.

Any other suggestions for a dim sum place similar in value to the above? I prefer the ones not frequented by lots of tourists but favorites of the locals.

Again, sorry to be so vague but there is a PHO restaurant in the DA'AN district that is very good. Any other suggestions for other ethnic restaurants in that area?

台北市敦化南路2段103巷6號

No.6, Lane 103, Sec. 2, Dunhua S. Rd., Taipei

There is a pretty good PHO restaurant next door. You won't miss it. I don't remember the name but it is not bad. Their Shrimp Pancake is very good so make sure you order one.

That is the Pho restaurant I go to and I will have to try the pancake! Since you are familiar with that area is there any place else you would recommend? I know there are many typical small places there but that is fine. My family speaks and reads Chinese so we are free to try the places the locals like. My first experiences with "real" Chinese food was in Beijing and we really like that style. In Taiwan the recipes are different but very good. The Chinese restaurants in the US are never the same.

The Chinese restaurants in the US are never the same.

I'm sure the Vietnamese restaurants are better though! (Than in Taipei.) VN food in Taiwan is pretty dreadful in my experience.

That is the Pho restaurant I go to and I will have to try the pancake! Since you are familiar with that area is there any place else you would recommend? I know there are many typical small places there but that is fine. My family speaks and reads Chinese so we are free to try the places the locals like. My first experiences with "real" Chinese food was in Beijing and we really like that style. In Taiwan the recipes are different but very good. The Chinese restaurants in the US are never the same.

Are you looking for real Taiwanese food or real Chinese food? Are you going to stay in Da'An area for your stay?

Yes, I am staying in the Da'An area and I hate to call it real Chinese food as that is quite subjective. Can I call it Beijing style? Any other ethnic food with the exception of Thai would also be of interest.

I am not sure if your computer can read Chinese but I remember that you can read Chinese.
粵香園
台北市大安區敦化南路一段190巷47號
This is a very good Cantonese restaurant. You might need reservation on the weekend.

祥發港式茶餐廳
台北市大安區市民大道四段82號1樓/ 02-8771-9392
This is a good Cantonese "Tea" restaurant. The dishes to get are "Red Wine Beef Brisket" and "Fried Chicken Wings".

The Taiwanese restaurant I was going to refer you to is moving out of its location this month. I am not sure where they will move to yet.

This is one of the most famous Japanese restaurants in Taipei. They have many locations.
http://www.mitsuitaipei.com.tw/home.html

Are you looking for Beijing food?

I will get back to you if I think of something else.

I'm sure the Vietnamese restaurants are better though! (Than in Taipei.) VN food in Taiwan is pretty dreadful in my experience.

I've never been to VN, but I've met numerous people from VN in Los Angeles and Portland, who swear that pho is better in the US.

I've never been to VN, but I've met numerous people from VN in Los Angeles and Portland, who swear that pho is better in the US.

Agree, there are food that I rather go have in the US and not in Taiwan. I think the most consistent Asian food in Taiwan are Chinese, Taiwanese, Thai, and Japanese.

I think the most consistent Asian food in Taiwan are Chinese, Taiwanese, Thai, and Japanese.

Can't really judge Chinese/Taiwanese.

Yep - Japanese food can be superb. Also relatively good at every level - ie from the kiosk at a train station, to food courts, to up market places.

But disagree about Thai though.

Yep - Japanese food can be superb. Also relatively good at every level - ie from the kiosk at a train station, to food courts, to up market places.

Total agreement, Japanese food has always been superb for many decades. Some restaurants have been in existence for over 30+ years.


This is one of the most famous Japanese restaurants in Taipei. They have many locations.
http://www.mitsuitaipei.com.tw/home.html


This is one of many really good places. Recently it's the hotspot[s], always fully booked in their various locations. I ate there several times during Christmas and Lunar New Years, primarily at their Tien-Mu location.

One has to take a quick note of history of Taiwan in the 20th century to seel where the culinary roots are.

There is indigenous Taiwanese fare. There is also very good Japanese cuisine due to the Japanese occupation until end of WWII. The Influx of KMT from China post war brought in many northern Chinese cuisine.

Viet and Thai? They are not close to what you can get at SGN or BKK. It is just a trend.

Superior Pho in US? yes that is due to the quality of marbled beef slices.

Are you looking for Beijing food?

Yes, I like the style of prep that they do in Beijing. Maybe we just have not found the right place in Da'An. We usually walk to a restaurant so that might be limiting us. We have a baby in our group so it has to be stroller friendly as well.

Are you looking for Beijing food?

Yes, I like the style of prep that they do in Beijing. Maybe we just have not found the right place in Da'An. We usually walk to a restaurant so that might be limiting us. We have a baby in our group so it has to be stroller friendly as well.

Sorry, I do not know any good Beijing restaurant in Da'An district. Can't help you there.

Sorry, I do not know any good Beijing restaurant in Da'An district. Can't help you there.

Walk south on FuHsing South Rd Sec 2, toward Technology MRT Station. On the east side of the street, 1/2 block south of Alley 170 (Family Mart store on SE corner), there is a small restaurant, 大連xyz in blue neon lights.

DTSM I guess I need more help on locating that restaurant. My daughter walked over there and could not find it. Are you sure it is still there? I think the Chinese name/letters copied okay when I sent her the above directions. She/they have lived in a lot of Asian cities and are usually pretty good about finding locations. Thanks for any additional help!!

Just returned from another nice visit in Taipei. I wanted to share a fun restaurant we found that is not too far from the university. I had my son in law type it in Chinese so I hope that would help. The menu is not really Chinese but varies from fajitas, stroganoff, fish, goulash, spaghetti and my favorite which was a nightly special -- seafood jambalaya. The chef/cook worked at several 4/5 star restaurants and he has pictures on the wall of himself at these restaurants. Sorry I can't remember specific ones. The prices are 85-200. It is very small and not fancy but it was a nice variation and the people were very friendly.
Thank you again for your previous help!!
Chantilly
香提洋食便當
台北市樂業街59號