All reviews of category "Family restaurant"

This was my first time dining here, and I discovered that this restaurant is a family-style eatery similar to Japanese Western food, which happens to be my personal favorite type! The food exceeded my expectations, and I would be willing to visit again in the future.

During the New Year period, there were a lot of people queuing. Luckily, our family arrived at 4:30 PM and was able to secure a spot to be seated before 6 PM. Guests arriving later had to wait over two hours!

This restaurant specializes in all-you-can-eat bread rolls. I initially thought they would serve some cheap, overly sweet bread rolls, but the staff brought to our table three different types of rolls that were fresh and warm, served with a delicious cheese butter sauce. I felt I could be full just from eating their bread rolls! 😂

The waitstaff seemed well-trained; even with so many customers, they managed to address everyone’s needs in an orderly manner. I have great respect for them!

The menu has many pages, with beautiful photos of each dish, following the standard style of a Japanese Western family restaurant. The main courses include grilled dishes, pasta, and rice meals, with options for different levels of set meals. We chose the "Deluxe Set" (Main dish + 210 TWD), which includes an appetizer, soup, and drink.

For the appetizers:

👉 Spanish Omelette
Quite delicious! I enjoyed the sautéed mushrooms on the side; they were perfectly salty and flavorful, and the omelette was good.

👉 Fruit Salad
Surprisingly plentiful in fruits, including grapes, apples, guava, and pineapple. It was quite nutritious and the portion was just right.

👉 Caesar Bacon Salad
Mainly consisted of bacon and romaine lettuce, with a good portion size. The dressing was a bit salty but acceptable.

For the soups:

👉 Pumpkin Soup
We all ordered the pumpkin soup, haha. It was above average, with a rich and creamy texture, and a strong pumpkin flavor.

For the main courses:

👉 Pan-Seared Sea Bass with Lemon Butter Sauce
I think this was the best dish! The sea bass fillet was large, virtually free of bones, and the seasoning was very fragrant with a strong butter flavor. The mushrooms and broccoli on the side were delicious too. No excess starch; the bread rolls complemented the meal perfectly.

👉 Tomato Chicken Pasta
The noodles had the right texture, appealing to children. The tomato meat sauce was flavorful, although I found it a bit salty overall— a taste that most people would enjoy.

👉 Garlic White Sauce Baked Cheese Chicken Rice
The rice was turmeric rice, which I found tasty. The bacon and chicken were rather ordinary, and perhaps a bit dry after baking.

For the drinks:

👉 Kiwi Apple Juice
A thick cup of pure fruit smoothie, where you can taste the kiwi juice. However, it was a bit sharp on the tongue, and one cup made you feel quite full.

👉 Forest Berry Juice
This juice was also very thick; it seemed to have added sugar, and in addition to the sourness of the berries, there was sweetness in it as well.

——

Overall, this family restaurant has a wide variety of meal options, plus the bread rolls can be refilled, served with a tasty cheese butter sauce. The selection of bread rolls is extensive, making it an excellent place for family gatherings.

Dining time during peak hours is 90 minutes.
#OpenDuringNewYear The restaurant is open from New Year’s Eve to the fifth day of the New Year; please refer to Skylark's official Facebook page for operating hours. Some dishes may not be available during the New Year period, depending on the restaurant's announcement.

"Johnny's Handmade Kitchen" is located near Lin Sen East Road in Chiayi, next to what seems to be a courthouse? In any case, it's next to a public institution. I went there for dinner on a weekend night and was pleasantly surprised to find there weren't many people. The overall environment was very comfortable, and it felt like a place where you could sit down leisurely and enjoy your meal without the pressure of being rushed to finish.

I ordered a few dishes, and let me start with the red wine braised beef. When it was served, I initially thought it was curry, but after taking a bite, I realized it had a slightly sour red wine flavor. The acidity wasn't overwhelming, but for someone who isn't used to this kind of taste, it might feel a bit strange. However, the portion of beef was quite generous, and by the end of the dish, I felt quite full.

The pumpkin pot was a highlight; the broth was really good, with a rich pumpkin aroma that wasn't overly greasy. The ingredients were quite generous, including various vegetables and meats, making it really satisfying. Sipping the warm soup slowly on a holiday felt especially soothing.

Then there was the stone-cooked garlic rice, which was my favorite. The flavor was incredibly fragrant! The garlic reminded me of the garlic shrimp rice from Zuo Ma Li, but their version was also quite good. The rice was cooked just right, and the accompanying ingredients were also nice, with every bite bursting with flavor. I really recommend this dish.

Lastly, there were drinks and snacks included after the meal, and the dessert wasn't too extravagant but perfectly balanced out the meal. Overall, I found it quite filling and reasonably priced, so I would definitely recommend it.

This year, I tried the classic collaboration New Year's Eve dinner sets from Pingtung's Li Ji and Chiayi's Xinbeiping. Priced at NT$3888 with free shipping, the selection is rich and genuinely impressive. As flavors I’ve loved since childhood, this New Year's set truly brought back a flood of memories and surprises.

The star of this meal is definitely the sugar-braised duck, a classic taste I've loved since I was young. It is sweet without being greasy and has a strong sauce flavor. The duck is flavorful and tender, with each bite packed with rich sauce—definitely a dish that would disappear off the table in seconds.

Quail Iron Eggs:
This dish is very unique, with a chewy egg white and just the right amount of sauce soaking in, balancing salty and slightly sweet flavors that are very tasty.

Braised Bamboo Shoot Pork Hock:
Rich in collagen but not greasy, the meat is tender, complemented by the braising sauce and the sweetness of Alishan bamboo shoots. The dish has a wonderful layers of flavor and is very satisfying as a side.

Traditional Seafood Soup:
From the moment this soup is served, it instantly brings back memories of childhood street banquets. The broth is thick and smooth, with a seasoning that has a strong traditional flavor, truly evoking the tastes of the past.

This collaboration New Year's dinner set brings together classic flavors from both Pingtung and Chiayi, allowing for the tasting of multiple signature dishes at once. The ingredients are substantial and the seasoning is thoughtful, showcasing sincere effort in every dish, making it an excellent choice for New Year’s Eve dinner or family gatherings. Most importantly, with free shipping, it’s really a great deal—NT$3888 is definitely worth it!

Such classic collaborations from old stores not only allow for delicious flavors but also evoke the warmth and memories of tradition.

I happened to crave a simple meal, saw this place on Fooday with good reviews, so I decided to give it a try. As a result, it became my go-to spot, and I've been there three times so far.

In terms of lunch prices for office workers on weekdays, it's not cheap, but most traditional simple meals in Taipei recently cost over 200 NT dollars, so it actually feels reasonable.

The meals at the restaurant are made to order, perfectly seasoned, and they actually serve a lot of meat. You take a bite of rice with a bite of meat, and by the time you finish the rice, there's still a pile of meat left. I highly recommend the beef stir-fried with scallions; it's a popular dish and goes very well with rice.👌

The iced red tea that comes with the set meal is quite good, and the dessert's tea jelly, which isn’t overly sweet, is also great and has a retro feel to it.

It gets very crowded on weekdays, so you might need to wait for a while. If you’re in a hurry, it’s recommended to call ahead for your order.

📍Hiroshima, Japan
Family-style restaurant 🍴Saizeriya, with 1,552 stores worldwide.

On Saturday afternoon, after visiting the Hiroshima Atomic Bomb Dome, I followed the crowd into the covered Hiroshima Hondori Shopping Street. Hiroshima is indeed filled with many European and American tourists; the Japanese restaurants I saw along the way were packed with visitors.

I noticed this Saizeriya on B1 was quite busy, filled with Japanese families and students! I remembered seeing discussions online about this super cheap chain from Japan, with many people praising its good-quality ingredients, even though I've never eaten at the Taiwan locations 😆. So, I got the urge to try it out.

Once inside, there was a short line, but the wait was quick. No need to register; the staff would come to seat you.

The ordering method was quite special. First, you browse the paper menu at each table, featuring large pictures (in Japanese and English). Then, you scan a QR Code that takes you to the online ordering system (also available in Simplified Chinese), where you input the dish numbers from the paper menu (the last image shows the ordering system).

That day probably had an unusually large crowd 😄. After placing my order, I waited quite a while; it was almost 20 minutes before they started serving.

🥘
Ordered items:
🇮🇹 Italian-style Hamburger Steak (¥500):
This dish is among the pricier options on the menu but still very affordable 😝.

The hamburger steak was quite juicy, and the combination of tomato and cheese sauce made it a delicious hamburger patty!

🍳 Half-boiled Egg with Meat Sauce Rice (¥350):
A popular item at Saizeriya! The risotto was topped with a slightly baked Italian meat sauce; it was a bit salty but quite tasty 😆.

🧅 Onion Bread Soup (¥300):
The soup was rich and hearty, filled with plenty of onions and cheese, and also on the saltier side. The piece of toasted bread served on top was delicious.

🧄 Garlic Baked Snails (¥400):
Served in a baking dish with six holes, I was amazed to find about 2 to 3 little snails in each hole. The sauce was very flavorful and completely covered the taste of the snails, providing a chewy texture to enjoy.

🍄
Will I return? Yes!
None of the dishes disappointed! The prices are incredibly reasonable. It was just a bit crowded, so I had to wait some time for my food and at the self-service checkout. Next time, I'd choose to dine during off-peak hours.

The White Rice Police went to work today and had lunch at this highly-rated place, My Kitchen. It's a very delicious casual dining restaurant, and of course, the white rice passed inspection by the White Rice Police too! However, a small downside is that it is a bit expensive. The dish I ordered, the Spicy Chicken Rice, cost $280. I have to say that the prices in Taipei are truly astonishing!

We arrived before noon and there were still quite a few seats available. However, as soon as lunchtime hit, it quickly filled up with guests, and it was completely full in a very short amount of time. If you want to eat here, remember to arrive early; otherwise, you may have to wait a bit. Overall, the taste is excellent, but the prices are on the high side. I might only want to eat here once in a while.

I heard it was a restaurant specializing in stir-fry that originated in Taiwan, so I went! Perhaps because it's located in an office district, it was bustling with customers even during the weekday lunch hours!

【Atmosphere of the Store】
I personally love the retro and simple atmosphere based on light blue and white! It made me feel like I was eating in Taiwan! Haha. The food took a little while to arrive, but the staff was kind, and they brought me a paper apron while I was eating. 😊

【Food Evaluation】
I ordered the diced pork with dried tofu set meal. In addition to the main dish, it comes with rice, soup, side dishes, and dessert. The main dish had a delicious sweet and spicy seasoning that paired well with the rice! The meat was tender, and it went perfectly with the tofu! The soup with radish was also tasty, and I was very satisfied with the flavors!

【Overall Evaluation】
If I had a slight concern, it would be that the prices are somewhat high. 😅 There are many types of set meals that I would want to eat every day, but since the prices aren't very cute, I think I'll go occasionally!

Originally, I was going to the small eatery nearby, but I was suddenly attracted to this place. It's truly authentic local cuisine.

After glancing at the restaurant’s featured dishes, including small bowls of beef noodles for sixty and dumplings at three pieces for one, the prices are surprising, especially in an era of rising costs. Finding such affordable big bowls of beef noodles is quite rare.

Environment: 🌟🌟
The restaurant's environment is simple and somewhat old, and the cleanliness might be slightly lacking. However, the atmosphere and interactions among customers are full of warmth, reminiscent of dining at grandma's house. For diners who don’t pay much attention to the surroundings, this place is still a good choice.

Food: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Their beef noodles are especially recommended, priced at just 70 yuan, with generous portions that include beef, greens, and pickled vegetables. The broth is rich, and the noodles are springy, showcasing the traditional flavors of Taiwanese snacks. The quality of the dumplings is good, handmade, although they are small in size; three pieces are quite a value.

Service: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
The owner is very friendly and enthusiastic, even helping me with dumpling sauce! Such service is rarely found in other places, providing customers with a home-like feeling. The business seems to exist for making friends; during my visit, three or four tables were chatting. The overall atmosphere is relaxed and friendly. This level of service is a big plus for a budget restaurant.

Price: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
A small bowl of beef noodles is only 60 yuan, and a large bowl is 70 yuan. This price is already quite rare in the market, especially considering the portions are enough to fill me up. I was surprised by the price of the dumplings—where can you find three pieces now? The value for money here is exceptionally high.

Overall Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
A great place for local snacks, emphasizing cost-performance for diners. Although the environment has some shortcomings, the delicious food and friendly service make up for this. It's truly a great value and comes highly recommended.

Taipei Xingtian Temple Station - A warm family-style restaurant, with exquisite set meals that include soup and side dishes, plus dessert and drink. The owner noticed I didn't have enough rice and specially came over to ask if I wanted another bowl, which was very thoughtful!

📍 Rosemary Roast Chicken Leg Set NT$280
🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑
The rosemary roast chicken leg is very well marinated, and the chicken skin is deliciously crispy and fragrant, with pepper salt available for dipping. Unfortunately, it didn't come with lemon; otherwise, it would have been even better!
Side Dish: The cucumber was a bit ordinary, nothing special.
Accompaniment: The tofu had a bit of an odd taste, just average.
Soup: Bamboo shoots and enoki mushrooms, quite tasty. The bamboo shoots were rich and tasted very fresh and sweet.
The white rice was decent, not too wet or soft, just right.
For the drink, I chose: South African Rooibos Tea (iced), which has a very rich flavor, caffeine-free, perfect for the evening!
Dessert: Jasmine Green Tea Jelly, not too sweet, with a subtle jasmine fragrance, quite nice!

▶️ Environment
🔹 The interior seating is spacious, with plenty of seats, estimated to accommodate around 20-30 people.
🔹 The decor is quite homey, though some areas look a bit worn, showing signs of age.
🔹 Tableware is provided with the meal.

▶️ Thoughtful Reminders
🔹 Upon entering, you will be guided to a seat, with a menu to fill out at the table, and you order at the counter.
🔹 Payment after the meal can be made via mobile payment (Taiwan Pay, Jkopay, AllPay), but there is no LINE Pay.

▶️ Overall Evaluation
🔹 The meal itself isn’t particularly surprising, and the price isn’t very cheap. At nearly NT$300 for a set meal, the value for money isn’t high, and overall, it feels quite average.

♛ Dinner and late-night bites you must try—rich spiced curry x meticulously crafted set meal ♛ #Shuangshu in Xinying

The first time I heard about Xibei Restaurant was on Threads. The enthusiasm of local youth for their cooking and their passion for the Xibei area in Tainan shone brightly, making it hard not to remember.

Let's make it a habit to try something different at Shuangshu on Friday night—so I decided to explore it.

［ What I ordered that day ］
💃🏻 Spiced Curry $190
💃🏻 Chicken with Dried Chili $190
(This is the summer version of the daily set meal—Fridays)
💃🏻 Orange Earl Grey $50
💃🏻 Honey Earl Grey $40
(Drinks paired with set meals are $10 off)

First of all, I really love the richness of the #SpicedCurry! Dipping a bite of white rice into the moist curry sauce, the creamy texture brings a sense of happiness, followed by a burst of spices like fireworks.

I can completely imagine the effort the chef put into simmering, slowly cooking a pot filled with a base of plenty of vegetables, yogurt, and spices, fragrant but not heavy, with ample and substantial ingredients. Speaking of ingredients, the chicken thigh pieces inside are incredibly tender and pair perfectly with the sauce.

I'm not a fan of spicy food, but this was the first bowl of mildly spicy curry that I finished completely (the restaurant offers free rice refills, and if you finish the added rice, you can get a discount). After getting extra rice, I felt full but didn’t want to waste the sauce, so I tried to scoop up the sauce with some steamed vegetables on the side and was pleasantly surprised at how well it paired—absolutely loved it!

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Unknowingly, I've written quite a bit about the curry; the upcoming #ChickenWithDriedChili set may not get as much attention, not because it wasn’t delicious (in fact, it was quite tasty) but because my dining partner was the one eating it (I was too focused on digging up curry sauce 🤣).

The Chicken with Dried Chili was similarly topped with rich, tender chicken thigh meat, fragrant and spicy. My partner knows I love king oyster mushrooms, so they shared some with me, and I found the tender, flavorful texture unforgettable.

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Both dishes were mildly spicy, and despite our fear of spice, we rated them highly because the flavors were rich and crafted with care. Thankfully, we ordered drinks, and two large, tall beer glasses were filled with Earl Grey concoctions (orange and honey). Sipping them down was refreshing and made me realize that having Earl Grey as a pairing drink was quite unique!

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This small restaurant does not cut corners on ingredients or cooking methods, and the cozy atmosphere is evident. Whether through direct experience or by observing the menu, you can see the passion of local youth for cultivating and conveying their ideals. With both a story and substance, how could you not support them?