Location: Jiaoxi Township, Yilan County
While searching for a birthday restaurant in Yilan, I discovered that Mingshuiran has opened up in Yilan. I quickly made a reservation a month before the birthday gathering and successfully secured a booking. However, I found it a bit unusual to pay the full amount three days after making the reservation. Nowadays, more and more omakase-style restaurants operate this way (is it something we get used to?!).
🌟 Clam Soup
The omakase meal started with a clam soup, which was refreshing. It was warm, smooth, and quite therapeutic.
🌟 Fish with Seaweed
The chef crisped the fish skin to perfection. The fish meat was tender and delicious, not at all tough.
🌟 Sashimi-Grade Scallops + Salmon Roe
The scallops were sweet and fresh, with no unpleasant bits getting stuck in my teeth.
🌟 Spicy Cod Roe and Yam
I really dislike yam, but the way it was prepared didn't give me that disgusting feeling. The grilled spicy cod roe was also exceptionally delicious and memorable.
🌟 Wagyu Burger
The anticipation started with the pan-seared Parmesan cheese. The richness of the Wagyu fat made the overall burger small but full of that classic American burger joy.
🌟 Lobster Three Ways
The lobster was paired with creamy cabbage, enhancing the dish's flavor beyond just seafood freshness and adding a layer of creaminess.
The lobster itself had a fresh and sweet taste. In parts where there is a stronger visceral flavor, the chef had pre-cooked it, reducing the gaminess.
The remaining lobster parts were made into a lobster soup, which was excellent.
🌟 Main Course: Duck Breast
After having tried Mingshuiran in Taipei, I was expecting something special with the duck breast exclusive to Yilan, but I found it underwhelming. It was slightly overcooked and perhaps not the best choice of meat. The flavor was a bit dry, as the duck breast at Chamonix is handled better.
🌟 Main Course: A5 Wagyu
The tenderness of the A5 Wagyu met my expectations. My family thought the portion was a bit small, but I was already prepared for that since I had been to the Taipei location. Each bite brought a burst of juiciness, making it delicious 😋.
🌟 Dessert was a chocolate brownie with ice cream, and the birthday cake was tiramisu. The dessert was decent.
Overall, it was a pretty good omakase teppanyaki experience. The chef, being from Yilan, was very humorous and explained everything clearly. He even told us to let him know if we weren't full, saying we couldn’t go home if we weren’t satisfied! However, since the table was quite large, those further away might not have heard him, which was a bit unfortunate.
Because the family gathered to celebrate a birthday and have a meal, the atmosphere was quite good, but I feel that the total bill is a bit too high. The dishes mainly featured seafood, and the portion of beef was a bit too small. Today we ordered A5 and A4 wagyu beef and cherry duck breast, and I think the A5 wagyu was the best. The duck breast seemed a bit overcooked, but the wagyu burger was pretty good. As for the seafood, the lobster and scallops were quite good, and surprisingly, the mentaiko yam was better than I expected. The service staff had a good attitude, and the chef was quite interesting, introducing each dish and asking about the preferred doneness and texture. Overall, the service experience was pleasant.
Translation to English:
Location: Zhongzheng District, Taipei City
For my birthday, I went to the restaurant “Duchamp” under the Wangpin Group. It’s a teppanyaki restaurant that is stable and unlikely to disappoint when you don’t know what to eat.
🌟 Lemon Butter Fresh Shrimp & Truffle Steamed Egg
The lemon flavor is a bit weak, and there’s a stronger butter taste. The shrimp is quite standard and not particularly impressive. The steamed egg is very hot and goes very well with the truffle, making it delicious.
🌟 French Onion Cheese Soup
This is completely my kind of dish and is very tasty. It pairs well with the crackers on top, adding a nice texture. The piece of cheese inside makes everything very flavorful.
🌟 Pan-Seared Truffle Filet
They first pan-seared a half portion for the customer to try the doneness. The doneness of mine was just right. It’s extremely tender and juicy, leaving a lasting impression on the palate. Very delicious! 😋
🌟 Duchamp Signature Sakura Shrimp Fried Rice
Personally, I really dislike sakura shrimp, so I always customize my order to exclude it. The fried rice has a standard taste typical of their restaurant. It’s quite distinct with the rice grains, which is very acceptable.
🌟 Tiramisu
Duchamp always disappoints me with their desserts and drinks. This tiramisu is also quite ordinary and lacks any distinctive features.
🌟 Milk Tea
It has a sort of coconut milk base. I still don’t like it very much 😂. Inside, I'm shouting, "Is it really that hard to make a regular milk tea?"
Overall, it’s quite standard. None of the dishes are bad, making it a place to go when you don't know what to eat. 👍👍👍
Environment
The space at the store is relatively small, with all the seats at the bar. There are not many seats inside, probably about 10, and sitting feels a bit cramped.
Food
📍 Beef 💰 180
Standard beef slices, with a strong flavor of marbled beef.
📍 Oysters 💰 180
Not many in number but each one is very plump. If you’re not a huge fan, it’s recommended not to order, but for those who dare to eat raw oysters, it's a must-try.
As for the vegetables, they are the basic bean sprouts and cabbage, with just the right amount. If you want to add more, you need to pay extra: cabbage costs 40 and bean sprouts 20.
Parking
Motorcycles 🛵 can be parked in nearby parking spaces.
Cars 🚗 have a bit more trouble as they need to park in a farther parking lot 🅿️.
Service
The staff will help you with the soup and drinks; you just need to enjoy your meal at the table. There’s no service charge after the meal.
Payment Method
Cash 💰
On a typhoon day, I quickly went to a nearby open restaurant to eat since the wind and rain weren't too heavy. I wanted some dishes, so I chose Dapu Teppanyaki. Unfortunately, the chef here doesn’t have the skill of wrapping, so I couldn’t verify if the wrapped ones taste better. There was no break in between, so I could still have teppanyaki for afternoon tea. The restaurant has only one large grill station and about ten seats. Around 4 PM on a typhoon day, I didn’t have to wait in line, and there were quite a few people coming for takeout. Some even came to get vegetables to go. A box for $50 includes cabbage and bean sprouts, which seems pretty worthwhile and convenient.
Once seated, the chef immediately asks if I want it spicy and starts cooking the dishes to save waiting time. I found the food a bit on the salty side, but it was within an acceptable range and pairs well with white rice.
Fresh oysters $180. The flavor of the oysters was more pronounced, but there was no unpleasant freshness to it. However, I ended up with 2 or 3 small pieces of oyster shells in my meal.
I personally think the Dapu Teppanyaki is just average. If possible, I would choose to spend a bit more time at other places.
Taipei Beitou - Local affordable teppanyaki, the vegetables are slightly oily and rather ordinary, but the chicken thigh steak is cooked quite well! You can request more rice, but you need to let the staff know proactively!
📍 Pan-fried Chicken Thigh Set NT$220
🌕🌕🌕🌕🌘
The chicken skin is crispy, which is a plus. It is topped with chopped scallions and garlic slices, and there's pepper sauce at the bottom for dipping. Highly recommended to order this!
📍 Teppanyaki Lamb NT$180
🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑
Honestly, it’s quite ordinary, nothing special about it, and the sauce is a bit thick. (The slices of lamb seem to be composite meat)
📍 Set Menu with Two Portions of Vegetables
The cabbage and bean sprouts are very average, lacking garlic flavor. The portions are also a bit small.
📍 Soup, Side Dish, and Drink
The drink is a common kind of nostalgic sweetened black tea, and the side dish is a special cold seaweed salad. The soup is radish soup, which is quite plain and lacks flavor.
📍 Nine-layer Egg NT$50
🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑
The egg is cooked quite well! The portion should be two eggs!
▶️ Environment
🔹 There are not many seating options indoors; all are bar stools facing the teppan (can seat about 10 people).
🔹 Overall, it’s not very clean, but there is grease along the edges of the tables and teppans.
🔹 After entering the restaurant, you will be served soup and black tea.
🔹 Cutlery is provided, and there are tissues in the drawer.
▶️ Helpful Reminder
🔹 Payment can be made using Taiwan Pay.
🔹 If you want more rice, please proactively tell the staff! It’s not self-service.
▶️ Overall Evaluation
🔹 The price is not too expensive but also not very cheap; it falls within a mid-range affordable category. The vegetable portions are small and tend to be oily. I feel the quality is slightly less than that of Dapu Teppanyaki. The teppan is not very clean and has grease.
【Taipei Wanhua】Yu Teppanyaki
Looking for a small celebration for a little anniversary, I found this restaurant.
I have only tried omakase twice.
Previously, I ate at another teppanyaki place but the meal left a rather mediocre impression, with constant interruptions during eating and chatting.
However, at this place, apart from being seated and served, they don’t constantly disturb you.
So far, it’s the best value omakase I’ve tried, with a high cost-performance ratio.
The B set costs 1,880 NTD, differing mainly in the live Australian lobster.
Personally, I don’t mind, as long as it isn't unfresh.
I opted for the 1,380 NTD A set—it’s a great deal! You get to enjoy all the popular ingredients.
No service charge, with a dining time of two hours.
The pace of serving is just right, and you can sit for a while after finishing your meal.
You need to pay a 500 NTD deposit per person when booking.
They will call you the day before to inquire about the set you want.
On the day, payment is made table-side, using cash or full payment, but no credit cards accepted!
(Aside: The bowls and plates used to serve the food are very beautiful. I kept admiring them and wished to take them home.)
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✨ Highly recommended
◽ A Set✨1,380 NTD/person
＞ Mullet Roe Salad: Served with apples to soften the saltiness of the mullet roe, making it a suitable appetizer.
＞ Seafood Clear Soup: Contains various seafood, shellfish, shrimp, and vegetables. The broth is fresh and sweet, which I like very much, though the geoduck was slightly chewy.
＞ Garlic Bread: It’s soft, warm garlic bread.
＞ Hairy Crab Steamed Egg: The egg served in a beautiful shell bowl is smooth, with strands of crab meat, okra slices, and baby corn. The base shows slight signs of being oversteamed.
＞ Japan Sashimi-grade Scallop: A large scallop! Pan-fried to the perfect doneness, not too raw or too dry, coupled with zucchini and garnished with salmon roe.
＞ Pan-fried Hiroshima Oyster: As a fan of raw oysters, I wasn’t initially excited about cooked oysters, but the Hollandaise sauce and slightly charred surface brought out the oyster’s freshness upon tasting!
＞ Stir-fried Seasonal Vegetables & Cod: Fish skin is pan-fried till crispy; fish meat melts in the mouth. The seasonal vegetables include greens and mushrooms, accompanied by salsa sauce.
＞ South African Live Abalone: Very much anticipated! The live abalone is fresh and large, easy to consume when cut into small pieces. Surprisingly juicy and not too chewy, with the truffle white sauce merely as a garnish, not overpowering its flavor.
＞ South American Lobster: Since the B set has live lobsters, this one might be frozen? After being grilled with cheese, the saltiness intensified slightly, but the texture was bouncy and delicious.
Plum vinegar was provided to cleanse the palate, but I suggest not drinking it all at once since it’s also needed after having the wagyu! (I drank it in one go, QQ)
＞ Japanese Wagyu (if you don’t eat beef, it can be substituted with pork or chicken in advance)
Heavily marbled, fried to a crisp but lacks meaty texture, with a predominant sense of fat. The sauce on the side which I assumed was tartar turned out to be garlic mousse🧄 with a creamy texture, strongly suggesting to eat together!
＞ Beef Tendon Fried Rice: Fried until slightly dry, with distinct grains, the beef tendon also tastes pretty dry. This dish is just okay in my opinion.
＞ Dessert: Dorayaki + Fruits + Unsweetened Tea
The chef prepares the dorayaki on-site, filled with sweet but not cloying red bean paste. The paired white dragon fruit was expected to be unsweetened but turned out to be as sweet as the red variety. Finally, a cup of unsweetened tea leaves you about 80% full.
📍 No. 232, Kunming Street, Wanhua District, Taipei City
☎️ 02 2331 0038
⏰ 12:00–15:00, 17:30–21:30
💰 No service charge
🚇 Ximen MRT Station
🚌 Bus stop name: Kunming Activity Center
🅿️ Map Search: Dodo Parking Lot - Neijiang Station, Neijiang Street Parking Lot, Changsha Second Station Parking Lot
For teppanyaki cooked on the spot, it is very cheap, much cheaper than the place next door. The owner cooks very deliciously! The slightly spicy flavor is super tasty. I ordered the fresh shrimp for $160, which was just the right portion for my small appetite, and the price was very reasonable. It comes with a bowl of rice, a serving of cabbage, and a serving of bean sprouts, all cooked slightly spicy, which goes great with rice. The male owner, who is also the chef, is very friendly, but the older woman at the register is probably just an employee, so her attitude isn't very good. Five stars for the male owner and chef, but only one star for the female employee.
🚩Affordable Teppanyaki in Xindian - Deliciousness that Exceeds the Price
Chilin Teppanyaki is located on Jianguo Road in Xindian City, between Dapinglin and Qizhang stations, about a 10-minute walk from either station. Chilin has been operating in Xindian for many years, briefly moving to another area in between, but reopened in Xindian again in 2018. The shop is narrow and long, with limited space, having only 10 seats at the grilling station and 8 seats at individual tables. The interior decor is somewhat outdated, and the lighting is quite dim.
After being seated, customers fill out the menu and pay after the meal, with cash only accepted. After ordering, customers help themselves to rice, soup, and drinks. Currently, there is a minimum spend of $150 for each customer, regardless of height or age.
Thoughts on the meal: ⬇️
Side Dishes: Cabbage and bean sprouts. The cabbage is stir-fried crisp, with a beautiful color and moderate seasoning, allowing the sweetness of the cabbage to shine through. The bean sprouts are also crunchy and stir-fried just right without burning. If you can handle spicy food, I highly recommend adding spice to the side dishes; their chili has a wonderful aroma, not just simple heat that hurts the tongue.
Miso Soup: The soup base is rich, containing small dried fish and kelp tofu, which I personally really enjoy.
Chicken Leg: It is pan-fried without sauce, with the skin cooked just right. The seasoning is also perfect, and it tastes great. It's cut into bite-sized pieces, but this dish takes a bit longer to prepare.
Lamb: The black pepper sauce is rich and pairs well with the stir-fried soft onions. The lamb is tender and goes very well with rice.
Scallion Omelette: The portion is likely made from two eggs; it's simply delicious.
Pangasius + Grass Shrimp: Both the shrimp and fish are well-grilled and quite tasty, but the portion is a bit small.
I discovered this place during the pandemic. The teppanyaki place I used to frequent often didn't answer calls, and Chilin has high ratings on Google Maps. I fell in love with it after just one visit. When taking out the main meals, there's a $20 discount along with a complimentary fried egg, which is a great value. I've returned many times since then and found the quality of the food to be stable, with very few misses. The downside is that the indoor environment is not great, and the owner is somewhat cold and not very friendly.
"I've actually been hesitating between 2 stars and 3 stars, because the food is delicious, but the hygiene of the environment..." by Sister
<About the Meal 🥣>
I ordered something very simple, just a single-person set meal, which includes sizzling tofu, chicken, and basic vegetables, with a medium level of spiciness.
To be honest, I found the tofu to be just okay; it wasn't as soft and tender as I had imagined, but rather a bit dry. The shredded chicken was quite tasty, paired with the sauce and onions, the flavor was just right, and the chicken was tender, making it easy to take bite after bite with the rice. The vegetables included cabbage and bean sprouts— the cabbage was fresh and crunchy, sweet and tender; if I had a bigger appetite, I would have wanted to order more. The bean sprouts were more ordinary, lacking the sweetness of the cabbage, relying solely on the sauce for flavor, which somehow fell short.
<About the Staff 👨🍳>
The staff's attitude was neither good nor bad; it was kind of difficult to assess. However, the chef's speed of preparation was impressive, as the meals started coming out shortly after I ordered dinner.
<About the Environment 🐾>
The environment is rather small, and there were hairs in the food; when it comes to cleanliness, it's really...
