The vegetarian buffet near the company is always prioritized if you didn't bring a lunchbox. As a meat-eater, I find it quite rare to genuinely enjoy the flavors here; the variety is abundant and I don't get tired of it. My favorite items are the fried burdock and fried shimeji mushrooms. Sometimes there are special dishes, like rice noodles, which are also very tasty.
From Monday to Friday, there are different activities or special meals; for example, today is Monday Meatless Day, so there's a 10% discount event.
The restaurant also sells vegetarian dumplings, and if you add 20 NT dollars, you can enjoy unlimited soup and rice for dine-in.
The price is based on weight. Whether it's considered expensive is subjective; however, I think it's sometimes acceptable to pay a little more for a vegetarian buffet that’s not too greasy and tasty. In addition to cash, you can also pay with an EasyCard, and invoices can be collected conveniently.
This restaurant is one of the few vegetarian places in Zhiben, and it offers both great dishes and stylish decor. Even if it were located in downtown Taitung City, I would still consider it a pretty good option. However, these advantages are also reflected in the prices, which are on the higher side.
This time, I ordered the Thai basil rice, where the pork is replaced with diced tofu. Although there’s no meat, the sauce that is supposed to be tangy, salty, and sweet truly hasn’t missed any flavors, and this oddly complements the diced tofu remarkably well, making it very enjoyable with rice. The rice is made with healthy five-grain rice, and it’s cooked perfectly with each grain distinct and transparent. If visiting for the first time and unsure about what to order, I would definitely recommend this dish. The set meals come with soup.
If you come as a group, you can order more different dishes, such as fresh seasonal vegetables or mountain pepper tofu. Friends who enjoy vegetarian food definitely shouldn’t miss out on visiting Zhiben.
There’s a loyalty card: earn 1 point for every $300 spent, 1 point for every $600 spent on holidays, and 5 points can be exchanged for a pudding.
The atmosphere is very comfortable 🥰. When you enter, you'll first pass through the product shelf area, and then you'll reach the restaurant 🤣. I've visited three times, and it's still very delicious 🤤. I didn't order the set meal, just individual items because what I wanted to eat wasn't in the set 🤣.
Highly recommended (regular orders):
After my first meal, I immediately bought a promotional coupon; haven't had a disappointing dish yet. Delicious food that makes you want to come back ❗️
Some dishes contain alcohol, which can be removed.
There's a paid parking lot about 500 meters away 🅿️.
10% service charge applies.
#Vegetarian
You can park for free at the PX Mart across the street. 🅿️
The atmosphere is comfortable, and there are plenty of seats. You can choose between individual dishes or group sets. It's located on the 16th floor of the Taichung SOGO department store, right when you come out of the elevator. We ordered a set meal for six people costing 3600, and even added extra dishes to feel full!
Highly recommended:
The staff had a rather unfriendly attitude and introduced the dishes in a very low voice... The tea is charged per person at $40 each, and it seems kids are charged $20.
The store is tucked in, so be sure to look carefully❗️
It offers a semi-outdoor dining environment.
Buy ten get one free for the same price of $25.
The vendor has announced that some meals contain egg and dairy products and are fried in shared oil, so vegans please consider your options carefully.
Their special sauce contains peanut powder.
You can make reservations by phone or online in advance/ Some meals are reservation-only.
#Vegetarian #Barbecue
The environment is simple and bright. The braised and teppanyaki series are the signature dishes. Average spending is 70. The owner enthusiastically introduces the dishes! Free iced tea and iced water are available. This was my second visit, and I was not disappointed.
The braised series (has a sweet taste): The soup noodles are delicious, with plenty of ingredients, making it very satisfying to finish. The stinky tofu... really stinks! But it's so tasty!
The teppanyaki series (lots of sauce, I like eating sauce?): Tried the fried bean curd sheets and was surprised! They were fried to a nice crisp, and it was my first time trying such a thing. The Kobe-style left me extremely full, reminiscent of eating steak on a sizzling plate. Highly recommended! Also had marinated snacks which I didn’t capture. All marinated snacks were flavorful! The seaweed was crunchy and not too salty! The pressed tofu would burst with juice when bitten into. Absolutely loved the seasoning of the marinated snacks and even took some home to have as a midnight snack.
The downside is that you might get a smell of smoke after eating; it would be perfect if this were improved.
You can park by the roadside, and there is also paid parking at the back. #VegetarianFood
I had the chance to eat at Mingde Vegetarian Garden during my university days. Back then, I wondered how vegetarian food, without any meat, could be so expensive. As I grew older, I found my taste becoming lighter, and when I started moving towards eating more whole foods, I finally realized that Mingde Vegetarian Garden actually offers quite a delicious vegetarian buffet. Moreover, during times of rising prices, buffets have always been an economical choice.
There are no issues with their quality control; the ingredients are very fresh, and the dishes lack an overpowering religious vegetarian taste, which I really like. You can naturally taste the food itself. Because it's healthier and located below a hospital, quite a few people also come here to buy meals for patients.
They offer both white rice and brown rice options, and the staff's service attitude is excellent. However, over the past few days, I've noticed that the menu doesn't change much, so it can get a bit monotonous if you eat there every day.
If you're looking for a brunch spot in Hualien City and want delicious vegetarian food, your first choice will definitely be Shiguang 1939.
The interior of the restaurant is completely transformed from an old Japanese house, and the exterior still retains the original Japanese garden landscaping. The structure of the interior space has been preserved as much as possible to maintain the original appearance of the old house, so dining here gives you a sense of going back to the Japanese occupation period. The decor is primarily focused on art and antique cameras.
There are many food options available, including shepherd's pie, tofu burgers, sandwiches, and baked dishes. Many ingredients are topped with cheese, so even friends who enjoy eating meat can still feel satisfied here. I personally ordered the warm salad (couldn't upload because I didn't make a reservation 😂), and the roasted vegetables were perfectly cooked—the skin was crispy while still retaining freshness on the inside. Paired with cheese powder and Japanese-style sesame dressing, it truly made my mouth water.
Each set meal also comes with a drink; you can choose between free green tea and hot coffee, while other drinks may require an additional charge. Overall, the space and the meals are very suitable for chatting with family and friends.
