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!
/
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.
/
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!
/
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?
Taipei Neihu - The full name is Tianzhongyuan Bubble Bookstore, which offers a variety of simple meals. You can read comics and other books for free inside the store, making it suitable for family gatherings and reading, enjoying the afternoon time.
📍 Salmon Steak Set NT$250
🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑
The salmon is quite large, but unfortunately, it was overcooked. Although the skin was crispy, the meat became very dry and tough; if you didn't know better, you would think you were eating jerky! Lemon was provided, which added bonus points!
The side dishes of cabbage and enoki mushrooms tasted okay. However, the spicy radish was impressive! It was very flavorful and delicious!
📍 Lemon Chicken Fillet Set NT$250
🌕🌕🌕🌕🌘
At first, I thought the chicken fillet would be deep-fried, but it turned out to be a whole chicken steak pan-fried, and they even gave two pieces, which is great! It also comes with lemon, highly recommended!
The set includes the following:
🔹 Drink: We chose unsweetened iced green tea / black tea, which they specially added ice and shook to make the drink very frothy.
🔹 Soup: The miso soup had quite a few ingredients (tofu, kelp, and onion).
🔹 Dessert tea jelly: Not overly sweet, with a subtle brown sugar flavor.
▶️ Environment
🔹 The indoor space is very large, estimated to accommodate 30 guests.
🔹 Menus and pens are placed on the table first.
🔹 The decor style mimics European design and is very refined.
🔹 There is no self-service drinking water provided.
🔹 Cutlery is not self-served and will be brought with the meal.
▶️ Friendly reminders
🔹 There are many people even on weekday afternoons.
🔹 It is advisable to call ahead for reservations.
🔹 Payments after dining are cash only.
🔹 Card payments are not accepted, but invoices can be issued.
▶️ Overall rating
🔹 The food is acceptable; aside from the salmon steak being overcooked, everything else was quite good. The environment is comfortable, and there are comic books or magazines available to read, but it can get quite noisy with many people, so it's suggested to bring headphones if you want to read.
Changhua time-honored complex restaurant
They sell hot pot, light meals, stone pot stir-fries, dim sum, and desserts.
There are plenty of seats inside, perfect for gatherings with many people.
It is convenient to have your own private parking lot
This time I enjoyed a simple meal and tender tofu pot
The flavor of both main meals is good, and the side dishes are also very delicious. It is a pity that the white rice is a bit hard and feels like it is not yet cooked~
For dessert, we had brown sugar pudding🍮. It tasted more like jelly, and it was a pity that the taste of brown sugar was not very rich~
Overall rating: 🌕🌕🌕🌘🌑
Dickson’s Malaysian food diary!
Today this is a restaurant located in the food court of a major department store in Mid Valley South Key.
In fact, it is not difficult to find that this chain should also have many branches in Malaysia.
And because of religion
There are many Malays who don’t eat pork.
Therefore, chicken is a very popular type here.
Therefore, there are many restaurants here that specialize in chicken dishes.
From the name of this store, it is obvious that it sells chicken.
The format is a bit like a simple meal set meal
Types of chicken are mainly distinguished by taste
Contains ordinary saltwater chicken or other chicken with sauce
Can be paired with main meals and side dishes to choose from
In addition, if you want to eat chicken alone, you can also order it a la carte
Overall
This one is actually pretty much like a regular bento shop or a simple eatery.
We can make a set meal or a simple meal according to your needs.
Of course the main course is chicken.
In addition, most of them eat rice as their staple food.
But if you want to eat noodles, there are several set meals here to choose from.
Food: 🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑
Drinks: 🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑
Atmosphere: 🌕🌕🌕🌑🌑
Service: 🌕🌕🌖🌑🌑
Price: 🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑
Location: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑
⭐️Food section
👉Roast chicken simple meal set
The types of chicken here are roughly divided into general salt water chicken, white chopped chicken or braised chicken.
There are also grilled chicken-style simple meals to choose from.
The roast chicken set meal I ordered this time
Contents include ¼ roast chicken
And a bowl of rice, a bowl of soup, a bowl of vegetables and two snacks
In fact, the overall portion is quite sufficient.
Although the chicken portion may be a little small
But for an adult, one meal should be enough.
The chicken part is just like what I introduced before
Most of the chicken here in Malaysia is relatively dry.
So I feel a little bit uncomfortable eating it.
But I think one of the great things here is that
Their sauces are all very good
Even if the chicken itself is a little dry or woody
But it can be supplemented by the sauce on the side.
The sauce this time is really great
By Taiwanese standards, it’s probably a sweet and sour chili sauce with a little more flavor.
But it should be noted that I have to pay extra for the sauce.
So you should consider it if necessary, and pay attention to ordering it.
In addition, every set meal comes with chicken rice
Although it’s called chicken rice in English, it doesn’t taste like chicken.
Maybe just sprinkle some chicken juice on it
We can just treat it as white rice
In addition, the set meal will come with boiled eggs.
I think the boiled eggs here taste pretty good.
Maybe it’s because of the addition of some other sauces.
As for the green vegetables, you can also choose what you want from the other two types.
But basically it’s just an ordinary boiled green vegetable
The portion of the set meal that comes with soup and dessert is very basic.
The soup is just an ordinary small clear soup
At least it allows you to avoid greasiness
Also, because I feel like I need more protein
So I also added some more
A bit like a combination of saltwater chicken or white-chopped chicken
It tastes just like the white chicken we sell in the Taiwanese market.
But there will be some sauce on it
Gives the whole chicken a little more flavor
⭐️Drinks section
There are so many drink choices here
In addition to basic soft drinks
There are many more, such as fruit sparkling drinks and the like
This time I ordered something like milk tea with pearls in it.
I have to say the drinks in this store
Compared to other simple eateries or convenience stores nearby,
Really put a lot of thought into it
Maybe it’s not like the bubble milk tea in the hand-crank drinks shop outside.
But at least it tastes pretty good overall.
Pearl is too much
Not just a random pearl
I personally think it’s quite a plus in terms of drinks.
⭐️Atmosphere part
The atmosphere of this store is a bit like a regular clean and tidy casual restaurant or convenience store.
Most of the customers in the store are Malay or Indian.
It’s rare to see faces from the East
Because of this, it’s possible that the shop assistants don’t speak Chinese very well.
In addition, many families come here to have dinner together.
The overall atmosphere is that of a warm, quiet and harmonious small restaurant.
Suitable for families to dine together
⭐️Service section
Because this restaurant also uses QR Code to order food.
So basically the store clerk only gives you the QR Code at the beginning
And later he was responsible for delivering food
So basically there is nothing special about the service part
⭐️Price section
It’s a pretty basic simple meal or set meal price.
A basic set meal is around NT$200.
Not particularly high, not particularly low
Therefore, I personally think the price is OK.
With a portion like this, you can feel full.
I don’t think there’s anything to be picky about.
⭐️Location section
Food street also located in a department store mall
Natural competition is fierce
But since this should be a chain store in Malaysia
I think the quality won't be much worse.
There is also a fixed group of customers who come to consume
⭐️In summary
Basically a concept similar to a chain family restaurant
The target of the customer group should be quite fixed.
Of course I wouldn’t say it’s particularly delicious.
But it’s just an edible concept, right?
Of course, if you just want to eat some pure chicken
This place is actually quite suitable.
Because if you order a few pieces of chicken, the price is actually not high.
And it can supplement protein, which is not bad
If friends are interested in chicken dishes
Also want to know what Malaysians usually eat at chain stores like this?
Welcome to come here and give it a try!