For sushi in Taipei, a lot of people like Addiction Aquatic Development. For hot pot, there's a good spot on the top floor of this mall in Ximending… I don't quite recall the name. Don't miss an opportunity to eat Lu Rou Fan and Beef Noodle Soup and Xiao Long Bao (everyone loves Din Tai Fung but I'm more a fan of Jin Ji Yuan on Yongkang St.) and Ay-Chung's tripe/oyster noodles in Ximending and all the night-market food!

The concierge you spoke to sounds like a real douche… laughing at a customers' recommendation request is incredibly unprofessional.