Ayao's Food Diary
Coming down from Nanshan with an empty stomach, I walked into this McDonald's to find something to eat. You can order on your phone now, without having to use the kiosk, which is very convenient. There are quite a variety of burgers here, although they're not very large. However, the ingredients are still quite plentiful. There is also a restroom here, which is very convenient.
💥 Location: "McDonald's (Seaside Garden Branch)"
💥 Taste: The beef with pickles is absolutely amazing, haha. The flavor is very fragrant, the bun is very soft, and you can feel the cheese flowing inside with every bite. 🔥 Environment: It's quite spacious inside, with many tables for dine-in, and they clean the tables frequently, keeping it clean and hygienic. However, the restroom has a bit of an odor.
🔥 Service: There's no need to mention that McDonald's service has always been attentive and enthusiastic, with excellent training resulting in such good service.
📍 Beitou District, Taipei City (next to MRT Beitou Station)
McDonald's 🍔 - a recent hot topic
Since I started writing Fooday, I realized I hadn't eaten at any fast-food restaurants 😆. Passing by that day, I was drawn in by the aroma, marking my first McDonald's visit in half a year.
Not sure if it's due to the Hunter-themed buzz, but even though the cards were already sold out, the place was packed during Friday evening dining hours! There was a massive line at the self-service kiosks, and lots of dine-in customers too!
🥘
Ordered items:
🌶️ Spicy Szechuan McNuggets 10 pieces ($106):
Attracted by the new menu item 🥰
Made with Sichuan red pepper and various spices, the reddish coating is so appealing 😍
Upon biting, I found that only the coating is spicy, the meat inside is still like regular McNuggets.
The coating is fried drier than regular McNuggets (which I prefer).
The spiciness starts smooth with the first bite, and the numbing flavor develops as you chew (approximately mild-spicy).
🍔 Filet-O-Fish ($49):
Standard texture!
🌽 Large Creamy Corn Soup ($55):
Given a generous amount of large, plump corn kernels!
🍄
Return visit: Yes!
It's a memorable taste I missed after not having it for a long time.
This food review is about "Dan Dan Hamburger" located on Zhongzheng South Road in Yongkang, known as the "Southern King of Fast Food" in the southern region. Compared to regular fast-food chains, it offers more affordable prices and excellent value for money, naturally attracting a large number of loyal customers. Let's talk about the classic Spicy Chicken Burger first. This can be considered Dan Dan's version of the "Spicy McChicken". Compared to McDonald's, Dan Dan's chicken thigh portion is larger, the meat is juicy, the seasoning is fragrant rather than overly spicy, and the price is much more friendly, making it especially suitable for meat lovers.
In addition to the Chicken Burger, their Extra Long Hot Dog and Fried Rice Cake are also highly recommended. The hot dog has a firm texture and is flavorful even with simple condiments, while the fried rice cake is crispy on the outside and soft inside with a slight sweet taste, which is quite rare among fast-food options.
Of course, not every item is outstanding. For example, their corn soup and thick soup are Dan Dan's weak points. The soups are on the sweeter side, which might be acceptable for those who prefer the southern sweet flavor, but I personally find it a bit cloying.
Overall, Dan Dan Hamburger's main dishes and snacks indeed have their unique features, especially the "burger with thick soup" combination. Although the thick soup isn't tasty, this concept is brilliant! 😆 It's no wonder that these southern flavors attract some people from the north to travel south specifically to experience it.
🚩Burger King Fully Preserves the American Fast Food Style
The Burger King Xindian Store is located in Xindian City Center, the nearest MRT station is Exit 1 of Qizhang Station, and it takes about 2 minutes to walk. (This area is truly a fast-food chain battleground, with McDonald's, KFC, Burger King, MOS Burger, Subway… all available🤣) This branch opened in 2018, and it was a major event for Xindian District (re-establishing a location after more than 20 years). The first floor of the store is the ordering counter and kitchen, while the second floor is the seating area. Initially, there was also seating on the third floor, but currently, there is no staircase to access it. The store's decor is consistent with the chain's style, with the five-color paint on the wall suggesting a hamburger🍔 (very cute and hits my sweet spot😍). Seating includes high stools and regular tables and chairs, mostly with hard chairs, and a low sofa area that's hard to snag. Some areas show signs of wear after six years of operation. The overall space is somewhat dim, but the air conditioning is extremely cold.
Orders can be placed via a self-service kiosk or verbally at the counter. Both cash and various mobile payments are accepted. Receipts 🈶 with vehicle integrations ✔️ and no service charge 🈚.
Today’s order was the website coupon P0489, 1+1 combo for $69.
Since it was for the kids, the burgers had no sauce added.
Most of the lower-priced burgers at Burger King are smaller in size, similar to McDonald's. (Those with a bigger appetite need to order a Whopper to feel full.)
Grilled Garden BBQ Beef Burger: burger patty + lettuce + onion rings + tomato slices.
The amount of lettuce was relatively small, and the burger patty showed grill marks. Without sauce, it tasted slightly dry, but it was still acceptable.
Crispy Chicken Burger: just fried chicken filet + lettuce. The chicken is dusted and fried, the batter is not too much, and the taste is okay.
Corn Chowder: Even for dine-in, it's served in a take-out cup with a sealed film and a plastic lid. The temperature is extremely hot, but the seasoning and consistency of the soup are quite good, with a pleasant aroma and high-quality, plump corn inside.
The 1+1=$69 combo ranges from a maximum of $144 to a minimum of $94, and it's quite cost-effective for those with a small appetite. For someone with an appetite like mine, it feels a bit lacking, but the price is very affordable. It's essential to use a coupon at Burger King; don’t naively order the standard set meal.
Location: Canterbury, England
Today, I joined a day tour to this seaside town in England. Since the schedule was very packed, there wasn't much time for meals. I found a reliable Burger King nearby to eat.
🌟 Cheeseburger
It's the same mini burger with cheese as in Taiwan. It's super mini in size! Since I wasn't very hungry, I chose this burger—it's a standard item that you can't go wrong with.
🌟 Onion Rings
For my side, I chose onion rings because I'm not really a fan of fries. Plus, after so many days in England, almost all restaurants serve fries as sides, which has become boring. So I opted for the onion rings. I can only say that they probably don't sell well; they seemed to be pre-made and had been sitting for a long time. They were very cold and had a strong oil taste, making them hard to eat for me.
🌟 Vanilla Milkshake
I avoided the bottomless soda option and chose a vanilla milkshake that we don’t have in Taiwan. This milkshake is a product from the ant country (referring to America). It’s extremely sweet! Since it wasn’t too cold today, it was really pleasant and tasty to drink, giving me a happy feeling like a Frappuccino.
🌟 Cheese Bacon Fries
My family ordered this side, and I think it tastes amazing with cheese and bacon! Plus, the fries are freshly fried, very hot, and go perfectly with the rich cheese sauce and salty bacon. It’s just right together. This portion of fries has three different flavors and is worth the extra charge—highly recommended!
🌟 Other Whoppers and Burgers
These were ordered by my family. They taste pretty much the same as the ones in Taiwan, with nothing special to note, so I won’t share more about them.
Overall, it’s just a chain fast-food restaurant. If you’re in a hurry, it’s still worth stopping by for a meal.
I checked and it seems this place has quite a few branches, but I haven't eaten at the others. This time, I'm nearby to watch a game and happened to see this store's promotional activity. A friend also mentioned that it should have just opened.
I chose to order online and pick it up. There’s a discount of 30 on a total of 399. The total amount ordered was 408, after the discount it came to 378.
Double Layer Tender Fried Chicken Burger Set $169 (burger + drink + medium fries) The actual burger is smaller than I imagined. The meat is really tender.
Lemon Chicken Burger Set $169 (burger + drink + medium fries) The lemon flavor is just right. The meat is also very crispy. The fries are a bit soft.
I ordered two servings of Purple Gold QQ Balls, 35*2=$70. They are very soft, chewy, and delicious with a slight sweetness, but there are only 6 in one serving... I think 7 would feel more acceptable.
The online order pick-up time was 20 minutes later. When I arrived at the store, there was no waiting at all. Some payment methods for online payment also offer rewards, making it quite cost-effective. On the 20th of each month, there’s a discount of 15% if you spend over 600. If someone wants to try it out, they can wait for the promotion and order together with friends and family.
McDonald's doesn't need much introduction; it's a very established American fast-food chain that covers breakfast, lunch, dinner, and late-night snacks—it's practically a go-to for the public.
This time I ordered a six-piece chicken nugget meal, chose a lemon iced tea for my drink, and selected fries as my side.
Personally, I believe the soul of McDonald's chicken nuggets is actually the sweet and sour sauce; it's simply the perfect match. I remember there were instances when people purchased a large amount of sweet and sour sauce, which led McDonald's to stop selling it separately. This was bad news for me since I always dip my nuggets in a ton of sweet and sour sauce.
But this time when I went to the self-order kiosk, I found that sweet and sour sauce is available for individual order again, but you can only order a maximum of five packs at a time. I quickly decided to add an extra pack; it was just too good.
Conclusion: Eating McDonald's chicken nuggets means you have to dip them generously in sweet and sour sauce.
A Yao's Food Diary
21st Century Flavor Pavilion is considered a classic fast-food restaurant for roast chicken in Taiwan. Today I went to the gym, and after the workout, I was hungry and wanted to eat meat. This meal left me quite satisfied, especially their roast chicken, which is just as delicious as always 😂
Environment: 🌟🌟🌟
Overall, the dining environment is quite nice. It’s clean and simple, with plenty of seating, making it suitable for dining with family and friends. The decoration is quite basic, in keeping with the fast-food style.
Food: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Roast Chicken: Their herb roast chicken is really fantastic. The skin is slightly crispy, and the chicken meat is tender. Eating it together with the skin is awesome, even if it’s a bit indulgent 😂. Plus, there’s a lot of juice, which makes it very satisfying. Every time I order the roast chicken, it feels worth the price.
Soup: So-so, it has some meat in it, but compared to the roast chicken, I think it’s average. It’s okay to have with it.
Purple Sweet Potato Balls: They offer these for free with promotions, usually paired with a combo. The reason to come here is definitely for the chicken.
Drinks: The drinks are quite standard, with no special surprises, but they go well with the main meal.
Service: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
The staff's attitude is quite good. I asked some questions about the menu, and they patiently answered. Overall, the service makes you feel comfortable.
Price: 🌟🌟🌟
Their prices are slightly higher than typical fast-food restaurants, especially if you order a roast chicken combo. But honestly, for the portion and taste, it's worth the price, particularly suitable for sharing among multiple people. We took advantage of their promotional offer, and the two of us ate for 599, which averages out to about 300 per person, and we were really full.
Overall Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
In general, the herb roast chicken at 21st Century Flavor Pavilion is indeed their signature dish, and it's definitely worth a try. If you enjoy crispy skin and tender meat in roast chicken, this place will not disappoint! Additionally, the selection of side dishes and drinks is quite rich, making it a great spot for family gatherings or hanging out with friends.
🥖 Foodie Chubby 🥖 🥄 Eating and Drinking in Taichung 🥢
Thanks to Fooday for providing a platform where I can eat and earn at the same time.
🤣🤣
Today, I suddenly had a craving for KFC. I took my son to this fast-food restaurant near our home for dinner. This branch is located on Wenxin Road in the North District of Taichung and is considered a flagship store, open for over twenty years! The restaurant is very spacious and comfortable, with plenty of seating available! However, it seems that the dining area on the second floor is currently closed, possibly due to the pandemic or other reasons, which is a bit unfortunate.
The restaurant offers a convenient self-service screen for ordering, and after placing our order, we just went to the counter to pay and pick up our food!
We received our meals very quickly after ordering!
I've attached my comments on the dining experience along with the photos!
I hope that my simple sharing helps everyone understand the restaurant better. This is a food recommendation I would definitely revisit!
Today's Dining Rating
Cleanliness of the restaurant ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Attitude of the staff ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Deliciousness of the food ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Below are my brief food reviews! Taste varies from person to person, and personal preferences differ! Friends passing by are welcome to give it a try!
Recommended Ordering Methods for Regular Customers
The limited-time Ovaltine Ice Cream Sundae
I can only say that I personally do not recommend it.
Although there were previous flavors like brownie and tiramisu,
the powder was so much that it made me choke.
But the Ovaltine flavor powder doesn't melt,
and once you bite into it, it sticks to your teeth...
And I bought it twice but got different amounts each time.
Aren't there standard operating procedures (SOP)?...
The interior decor and layout of this store branch are not very good.
The overall space is quite small,
and during many time slots, there's no dine-in service.
The ordering area on the first floor is super cramped...
The staff's attitude is generally good,
but if there's an issue with the machines, their ability to handle it isn't that great.
They almost leave the customers to solve it themselves...?