It used to be my favorite restaurant, offering affordable and delicious pasta.
The reason I say "used to" is that several years ago, I visited twice with family and friends, and both times encountered small cockroaches crawling around while dining indoors, which was really unpleasant. On this return visit, it feels like the dining environment has been tidied up.
I ordered my favorite creamy vegetable chicken pasta again. The white sauce is rich, and the pasta has a slightly chewy texture; the chicken breast is a bit tough, but it has a good meaty flavor, which pairs better with the creamy sauce. Perhaps this is why I liked white sauce back then.
Although cabbage is not a typical side in Italian pasta dishes, it actually fits well in this dish and adds a bit of vegetable content.
Many years ago, I'M PASTA was probably one of the few affordable pasta places that correctly used durum wheat to achieve that chewy texture, but now such places are more common.
The restaurant is located within the Yawen Lakeside Healing Forest, and the seating area is quite large. It is entirely self-service; you pick up a menu at the counter, find a seat for yourself, and then order and pay at the counter. A machine will be given to you to pick up your food, which vibrates when it's ready. The speed of food delivery is fast. After dining, you take your plates to the recycling area.
I ordered a Margherita pizza, Cherry Duck pasta, and a Strawberry Apple fruit smoothie. The pizza has juicy tomatoes that pair well with the sauce, and the crust is not too hard. The Cherry Duck pasta has many ingredients, and notably includes cucumber and Thai basil. It has a strong garlic flavor with a slight spiciness, and the pasta is a bit on the hard side. The Strawberry Apple smoothie is made with solid ingredients, containing whole strawberries and apple chunks, though it is a bit sweet.
Overall, it was quite good. If you're here, you can enjoy a meal at this place.
There's parking available on the roadside. 🅿️
[New Taipei Banqiao] Pocket Pasta
The store features a cream-colored decor design, creating a warm and relaxing space. On the day I visited, I noticed many families dining together, and the staff were very friendly.
The meal design is thoughtful, offering suitable dishes for both main courses and afternoon tea. Within a five-minute walk, there is a paid parking lot available. Motorcycles can be parked in roadside spaces. It's close to the Banxin MRT station, currently connected to Banqiao station, with a free "Circular Line Shuttle Bus" for transfers.
This month, there is also a two-year anniversary event! For any main course ordered, you can enjoy one of the following offers:
Main courses include: pasta, risotto, and salad. Ordering a main course with a drink allows you to get a 30 NTD discount. There are also three types of combo meals available, and drinks can be upgraded for a price difference.
✨ Personal recommendation
◽ Premium Beef Truffle Cream Risotto ✨ $380 NTD
The truffle flavor is incredibly rich! Truffle lovers shouldn’t miss this～ The risotto is also on the softer side, making it suitable for children to eat👌 The beef has tender cartilage in the middle, which is easy to bite into, and finally garnished with black pepper and spice powder to enhance the meat's aroma.
◽ Chef's Golden Cream Shrimp Noodles (Thin/Fettuccine) ✨ $320 NTD
The ratio of golden sauce to cream is just right, rich but not greasy. It has a familiar white sauce flavor, with a hint of salted egg yolk aroma in the finish. The Fettuccine has a softer texture, and the shrimp is already shelled.
◽ Grilled Mentaiko Smoked Salmon Omelette ✨ $240 NTD
This dish is a bit heavier in flavor, and they give a generous amount of mentaiko sauce! The soft omelette contains salmon, making it suitable to order as a side to share with everyone.
◽ Chef's Special Salsa with Corn Chips ✨ $120 NTD
Unseasoned corn chips that you can savor the aroma of, paired with the chef’s special salsa, which is a bit sweet, slightly sour, and mildly spicy, a flavor I've never had outside.
◽ Mentaiko Soft French Bread ✨ $49 NTD
The bread is toasted just enough to be slightly crispy, with the mentaiko flavor just right, not too salty or bland.
◽ Lime Pomegranate Sparkling Drink $150 NTD
The ice and sweetness are fixed, with lemon slices added as decoration, making it not overly sweet and great for photos!
◽ Japanese Roasted Tea Latte ✨ $140 NTD
The roasted tea flavor is strong, with a slightly sandy texture, recommended for those who, like me, love strong tea.
◽ Worry-Relief Caramel Pudding $120 NTD
The pudding 🍮 is very tender! It's best enjoyed with caramel sauce, although I find the caramel slightly bitter; I prefer eating the pudding alone, which has a subtle egg aroma～
◽ Chestnut Tiramisu $140 NTD
Those who have seen the popular “chestnut flavored tiramisu” on the internet will know its fame, but I still prefer the traditional tiramisu recipe.
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■ No. 65, Banxin Road, Banqiao District, New Taipei City
■ 02 2958 8873
■ 11:00–14:30, 17:00–21:00
(Open on Saturday and Sunday afternoons)
■ No service charge, 90 minutes dining time during peak hours.
■ Pet friendly (non-ground)
■ The Banxin Station on the MRT (Circular Line) is currently suspended due to the earthquake on April 3, 2024.
You can take a train to Banqiao Station and transfer to a free shuttle bus there!
(The boarding location should be at Platform 3 of the Banqiao Transfer Station).
■ Parking Information: Jiating Minsheng Park Underground Parking Lot.
▶ Crispy Fried Calamari $260 ◀
The outer layer of the crispy fried calamari is not too thick, making it very crunchy when bitten! Also, their calamari has a particularly soft texture, and it's easy to chew! It comes with two types of dipping sauces: one is tartar sauce, and the other is salsa. The salsa has a slightly bland flavor.
▶ Fig Cheese Salad $340 ◀
In Taiwan, it’s rare to find figs, but they actually have a fig salad! The seasoning of the salad itself is very simple, just olive oil and balsamic vinegar, so it has a predominantly sour taste. There’s cheese on top that has a slightly smoky flavor, and besides the figs, there are what seem to be pickled grapes! Quite special! The highlight within is the caramelized walnuts, coated in a layer of caramel, which can be a bit bitter towards the end, but I still really like it!
▶ Spicy Beef (Bao Ka Ka Noodles) $340 ◀
This one is really spicy! The Bao Ka Ka noodles aren't too chewy, making them easy to eat. Every piece of noodle is coated with sauce, and the beef is served in whole chunks similar to beef soup. The flavor is actually more like braised beef soup rather than red sauce pasta. I recommend this for friends who enjoy spicy food!
▶ Stir-Fried Spicy Sausage (Handmade Cat Ear Noodles) $360 ◀
Although it’s called spicy sausage, it’s more like small minced meat. The stir-fry is not completely devoid of flavor, especially when paired with the chewy cat ear noodles, which I prefer even more! The cat ear noodles are very elastic and require a bit more chewing, and there are also some vegetables added!
This is my second visit to this restaurant. This time, we ordered the following four dishes:
The red wine braised beef and garlic spicy shrimp pasta need to be reserved a day in advance. Overall, I think the dishes are quite delicious. The beef in the red wine braised beef is very tender, and the shrimp is already peeled, which is super considerate. 💯
The red wine braised beef, garlic spicy shrimp pasta, and tender chicken thigh platter come with black tea, creamy soup, and crispy fries.
You can reserve the dishes a day in advance, but although the reservation was for 11:00, the food only arrived at 11:30. It would be even better if the delivery could be on time. 💯
I must say that the boss is very nice! Very courteous!
The shop is clean and bright, which lifts the spirits.
The ingredients for the pasta are substantial, the flavor is rich, and the noodles have a good texture, not at all mushy, very delicious.
Although it isn't particularly outstanding, it is above average.
The prices are reasonable, making it a rare find for affordable dining in Hsinchu.
The juice is freshly made by the boss, although the juicer is super loud🤣
But it doesn't affect the dining mood.
It's a great place that I would definitely revisit! 🥳
The breadfruit tree is located at the corner of Minguo Road and Mingli Road; it's somewhat hidden, and the atmosphere inside is great for friends to gather and chat. The ingredients in the restaurant are very fresh; the pesto risotto and meat sauce pasta are both delicious. The risotto is quite unique, containing a variety of vegetables that create a rich texture. The risotto is on the wetter side, and the basil is directly included in it, with edible flowers on top, which is very special!
The soup and cheese are also good. The black tea is slightly sweetened. The decor and lighting in the restaurant are very comfortable, and there are seats both inside and outside. It's well-managed and full of greenery, almost like being in a paradise. Each plant is carefully tended to by the owner. Having such a dining environment in Hualien is very pleasant and stress-relieving; it's definitely worth visiting to relax!
🍝 Kaohsiung Sanmin ▫️ Kaohsiung Medical University Business District
🍝 An Italian pasta restaurant where you can adopt cats
This affordable Italian pasta restaurant located near Kaohsiung Medical University
I have probably visited at least three times since it opened.
Even if I don't dine in, I've donated canned food or supported their calendars,
Hoping to do my part for the cats in their care. 💪🏻
Although it is a cat adoption restaurant,
Every time I visit, it's very clean.
Whether it's the first floor without cats or the second floor where cats play,
There are no unpleasant odors affecting our appetite. 🐈
This time, my family, who aren't particularly fond of cats,
We made a reservation in advance and let the restaurant know to sit on the first floor.
Fortunately, there’s online booking (via inbox on their Facebook page).
Soon after we arrived, we noticed the sign at the entrance flipped to "open,"
And saw many students who looked like they were from Kaohsiung Medical University coming to dine,
Making it feel quite popular in this area. ❤️
This time, my family and I ordered
Completely different types of pasta.
➰ Spicy Garlic Shrimp Pasta 299
This dish has a mild spiciness level 🌶️
It’s suitable for friends who can handle a little spice.
The fresh shrimp received high praise from my family 🦐
They kept saying they hadn't tasted such flavors for a long time.
➰ Creamy Salted Egg Chicken Pasta 289
The salted egg yolk was quite a creative twist on the dish. 🥚
But I happen to love this type of item.
The sauce here is a bit on the wetter side,
The noodles maintain their chewy texture, and the chicken breast is tender.
Overall, the flavor is slightly above average. 🤏🏻
Like most restaurants,
This place also offers upgrade sets for 79 or 129 NT dollars,
But we were worried about getting too full, so we just ordered soup on the side. 😆
——
Before we left, I couldn't help but excuse myself to use the restroom,
And headed to the second floor to check on a few of the recent cats in their care.
The cats are not shy at all and super cute.
If anyone is interested in adopting a cat,
You might want to drop by and take a look! ✨
——
· The restaurant operates on a self-service basis 🈚️ no service charge
· Does not accommodate groups of five or more
· Does not accommodate children under ten
· Minimum spending of 239 NT dollars 💰 must order and pay first
Located near the Taichung Natural Science Museum, "Wan Mian Pasta" is a very popular and affordable pasta restaurant. The pasta here has a good flavor, especially their pesto, which is particularly distinctive. Unlike regular pasta where the pesto is mixed in and served, they place a dollop of pesto alongside the pasta for you to mix yourself. The pesto has a very rich flavor, surprisingly on par with some gourmet Western restaurants, with the fresh aroma of basil, making every bite very satisfying.
However, this time there was a bit of a letdown. Firstly, the prices have increased, which is somewhat disappointing for regular customers. Worse yet, the amount of pesto has also decreased. After mixing the pesto, the pasta no longer has that rich green color, lacking the previous visual and taste enjoyment. It makes one nostalgic for the past satisfaction.
I ordered their clam and crab meat pasta, and the number of clams has noticeably decreased. What used to be a dish full of clams is now down to just three, creating a disparity. While the overall taste is still good, particularly the texture of the noodles and the sauce pairing, these changes by the restaurant make it no longer as affordable as before.
