Read the most authentic food reviews and explore new restaurants.
🔅Actual visit date: 2025/03/29
*Photos may not be reproduced or used for commercial purposes without permission.
Located on the 6th floor of Far Eastern SOGO Taipei Dunhua Store, although I’ve eaten at quite a few all-you-can-eat places, this was my first time at Han Lai Seafood Restaurant. Here’s a simple record of what I had (please excuse any inaccuracies in the items).
There were many soups; my friends and I enjoyed the freshly made beef soup, clam soup, and radish and pork belly soup, all of which were good.
The duck meat was cut into small pieces but was very tender, highly recommended.
The pig’s trotter was surprisingly tender, with crispy skin that wasn’t too tough.
The fried shrimp was decent, worth trying.
The salmon sashimi had a good amount of fat.
The hand rolls with nori were crispy, and the fresh shrimp flavor was delicious.
My friends ate a lot of shrimp; I thought it was okay with just one.
The cooked oysters were quite tasty and had a creamy flavor.
The salad area also had many cold dishes and a large bowl of cheese.
The crackers with foie gras (?), were very tasty according to both me and my friends.
My friends said the steak was delicious and tender, but I was too full to try any.
The honey-glazed ham with steamed buns and square pastries had a texture similar to fried dough; I accidentally had two of this set but felt the second one was just okay.
My friend tried the freshly made pasta with white sauce and said it was very good, so I also ordered the pesto sauce, which I liked; it was rich and something I normally wouldn’t have ordered.
There was a good amount of fruit, all delicious. My friend and I loved the combination of pineapple and yogurt, and the yogurt was unsweetened, which was great.
Desserts:
The lemon tart had a nice acidity, and the fresh cream on top wasn’t necessary to eat.
The noodle tea cake (Basque cake) was quite special and okay.
The vanilla pound cake was a bit dry but tasted fine.
The baked crème brûlée came in a whole pot, which was a bit unique but very tasty.
The soufflé was a small adorable piece; my friend thought it was fluffy, but I found it somewhat lacking; it paired well with honey (is the honey actually the good part?).
The ice cream was available both by scoop and in a soft-serve style. You can skip the soft-serve, just go for Häagen-Dazs; that day, I encountered a really tasty vanilla blueberry macaron, and the cones were well-preserved and delicious.
The naan near the curry was very hard, so you should avoid it.
My friends drank a lot of beer (super worth the cost 😂).
Additionally, I especially enjoyed a citrus lemonade that had a nice sweet-tart balance, which complemented the other food well.
The coffee machine had good coffee, and you could switch out the beans, which was nice; I chose a hazelnut cocoa…something, and it was quite strong and aromatic.
That concludes my record. Overall, I really liked this place! They had a variety of items that should be available, but none were particularly disappointing. The environment was quite comfortable and spacious, with some seating areas looking unique (like an entire large round table or oddly-shaped big tables). It wasn’t as expensive as I imagined, and using dining vouchers should be even more economical. I left with a good impression of this place. My friends enjoyed drinking until 21:30, making it very worthwhile 😆
💰Dinner on holidays: $1180 + 10% per person
Dining time: 17:30 - 21:30
This week, I had a fried egg, a freshly made omelet, a vegetable salad, fried noodles from Tainan, and cold cuts.
A Li Hai's breakfast options are abundant, and every week I can enjoy fresh and delicious dishes. The fried egg and omelet made to order in the cooking area are delicate in texture, and adding selected toppings enhances the flavor. The salad bar offers a variety of vegetables, ensuring that every bite is refreshing and nutritious, and provides various dressings to satisfy different taste preferences. Whether you are a light meal enthusiast or someone who enjoys a hearty breakfast, you can find suitable choices here.
🎉 Taoyuan Lobster All-You-Can-Eat Limited Time Offer 🎉
🎉 Taoyuan Sheraton U-Xi Kitchen 🎉
This event will run until the end of March, so hurry up and come for one last meal‼️ The upgraded dishes for lunch and dinner are very impressive 😁 As soon as the news broke, I immediately made a reservation 👍 and the all-you-can-eat lobster is just so tempting 😍
However, before I even got there, I saw many posts about people transferring their reservations 🥲 It felt like I was losing my excitement 😆 But as the dining date approached, I still went 😙
We arrived early and chatted while in line, and it didn't take long for us to get to our dining time 👍 I really like the dining environment at Taoyuan U-Xi Kitchen; the high-ceilinged space looks super beautiful ☺️ I find it very comfortable to dine here.
Once inside, I saw a crowd heading toward the lobster area. They're controlling the amount of lobster each person can take, so you can only grab one at a time, which I understand, but the lobsters were about the size of my fingers and nearly gave me a shock 😳 After grabbing one, I didn't want to go back for more 😆
Meanwhile, the sashimi area had no one picking anything up, so I quickly went over and the sight of being able to have raw scallops calmed my nerves a bit 😆 The salmon sashimi had nice marbling, so I quickly helped myself to some salmon belly as well 🙌🏻
An hour into the meal period, there was no queue for the snow crab legs anymore. After trying some, they were quite good 😋 but the beef hoof crab I found to be a bit fishy 🥲
There was always a queue for the lobster, but honestly, compared to the head and white shrimp, the meat of the white shrimp is probably just as good 😆
I don't really remember the hot dishes that well; the only good thing I remember is the beef soup dumplings. The beef soup was super tasty, but the beef was a bit tough. The dumplings may have been pre-cooked, as the skins were very soft and fell apart easily 🥲
In summary:
None of the dishes left a strong impression; it seems like everyone was there just for the lobster buffet, but the size of the lobsters really lacked sincerity. Considering the holiday price of 1380 plus service charge, I think I could accept the 1080 price point more comfortably 😆 but luckily, we are Taoyuan residents, so we saved the 10% service fee 👍
This is the Sakanaya Kamogawa Karasuma shop in Kyoto, which specializes in all-you-can-eat vegetables, offering organic, pesticide-free vegetables grown in Kyoto. Breakfast costs only 550 yen per person, but it's limited to 40 guests.
The meals provided include a variety of vegetables, side dishes, porridge, udon noodles, milk, and miso soup. For those who love eating vegetables, it's quite a value-for-money option. However, for me, it felt like something was missing, perhaps due to the lack of meat; overall, it still seemed a bit insufficient.
🍾 Unboxing the StarLux Airlines VIP Lounge! A high-end lounge exclusively for business class passengers at the airport, featuring all-you-can-eat Fu Hang Soy Milk and various meals! 🍾
Airlines such as EVA Air and Cathay Pacific have set up airport lounges for business class and premium members, allowing passengers to relax and dine before their flights. StarLux Airlines also has lounges at Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 of Taipei Taoyuan International Airport.
This time, we're unboxing the StarLux Airlines lounge located on the 4th floor of the departure hall in Terminal 1 at Taoyuan Airport.
StarLux is a relatively new airline among domestic carriers, and thus the lounge feels more "delicate and compact." I'm sure you'll understand what I mean once you see the photos below!
Although the space is compact, the self-service area offers a wide variety of meals and a fully stocked bar. The dining area is designed to be warm and comfortable, giving guests a feeling of home away from home.
Each guest entering the lounge can order one main course from the menu, with the most famous item being the breakfast in collaboration with "Fu Hang Soy Milk." There are also different options available for lunch and dinner.
Now, let's take a look at the dining options, atmosphere, service, and overall evaluation of the StarLux Airlines VIP lounge!
#New Banqiao Hilton Hotel
#Market Flavor
The first visit to "Market Flavor" is a buffet restaurant located on the second floor of the Hilton Hotel in Banqiao District, New Taipei City. It offers a diverse range of international cuisine, with the buffet stations mostly similar in content. However, there are a few dishes that I found particularly unique, including "Momo Chacha", "Shaoxing Yuanbao", and "freshly baked egg cake"; there's also a special dish pushed out by the chefs from the kitchen, "grilled pork ribs."
It's worth mentioning that the selection of beers and drinks available on-site is quite varied, which is rare to see!
Overall, despite the dishes not being high-end and the flavors being average, the quality of the ingredients is fresh, and the dining environment is clean and bright. The overall experience is considered above average; it's worth visiting again.
Individuals typically don't come to buffet restaurants often; I suppose it's usually just for large gatherings that we would come here!
Shiang Shih Paradise, known for its long-standing reputation and variety of dishes, perhaps raised my expectations from the start, so I didn't feel particularly amazed beyond my expectations. But honestly, my appetite has diminished from what it used to be. Given the price of over 1000, I would prefer more refined dishes that provide that satisfying feeling of eating well.
However, for the opportunity to experience dishes that you wouldn't find in typical restaurants, Shiang Shih Paradise is still a great place to occasionally try!
What impressed me the most was the spicy dumplings and baked scallops!
🌶️ Although it's called spicy, it's not too numbing nor too hot, but it's very aromatic! I personally don't have a strong preference for spicy food, and was initially hesitant thinking that I might not be able to finish even one bite. But after trying it, I found it to be very fragrant and not overly spicy at all! The dumpling skin is thin with a lot of filling. 👍
People who love intense spice may not be satisfied, but for someone like me who enjoys a bit of excitement once in a while, I think it's just fine. 👌
🐚 I didn't have much expectation for the baked scallops, thinking it would just be ordinary scallops with cheese put in the oven. But I was surprised to find two pieces of scallop meat inside! The baking was generous, very creamy, and it was even more satisfying than it looked!
A dish I rated highly: sashimi!
If I had more room in my stomach, I would have loved to eat a few more pieces, but unfortunately, I was too full! The sashimi was fresh and tender, and I really wanted to have a few more rounds, but I ended up skipping them to explore other dishes. 😂 There were truly so many dishes that I couldn't finish even one round! 😅
Perhaps people frequently visit Shiang Shih Paradise because they enjoy this variety, and the opportunity to taste different themed dishes each time?
Food richness: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕
Specialty degree: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑
Deliciousness: 🌕🌕🌕🌑🌑
Service: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑
Overall rating: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑
Alihai should be the top buffet restaurant in Taitung City (actually, there aren't many in the whole city 🤣), located right next to the Zhengqi Night Market in the Sheraton Hotel.
This time, the opportunity to eat at the buffet was actually due to the company's year-end party. Although there were no lucky draws, as a food lover, I already feel satisfied to be able to eat at the best buffet restaurant in Taitung City, especially in this era of rising prices. This buffet restaurant charges 1,500 NT dollars per person, which makes me reminisce about the days when I could happily eat for 700 or 800 NT dollars.
However, regarding the food, the seafood did not meet my expectations. There were various types of sashimi, as well as Alaskan king crab and other types of crab, but the freshness was very ordinary, and the meat didn't have much bounce to it. On the other hand, I highly recommend the soup dishes! There were as many as 7 or 8 types of soups available, ranging from the common clam soup and beef soup to seafood chowder. The performance of the steak was excellent, cooked to a perfect medium, allowing the sweetness of the beef to shine through.
As for drinks, they provide draft beer that you can pour yourself, and there are options for Heineken and Taiwan Beer. Overall, it's not bad to visit this place once in a while!
#OpenDuringChineseNewYear
Business hours: Open during the Chinese New Year!
The Beef Room Charcoal-Grilled Steak at the Banqiao Fuzhong branch is located on Guanqian East Road in Banqiao, just a five-minute walk from Fuzhong MRT Station, making it quite convenient for transportation.
The restaurant is on the second floor and has a spacious area.
Today, we tried the sharing platter and the buffet, totaling 1,319 NT dollars.
Sharing Platter:
Includes sirloin steak, golden chicken thigh, excellent seafood (Set A), and two drinks.
The sirloin steak is cooked medium-rare, without any sauce.
The surface is grilled to perfection, and the doneness is well controlled.
The steak comes with a heated stone, allowing diners to place the slices of meat on it to adjust the doneness, which is quite interesting.
The golden chicken thigh has a slightly crispy skin after being grilled, and it is tender and juicy.
We chose a mixed sauce for the chicken, which combines the flavors of red sauce and black pepper sauce quite well.
Set A includes two large white prawns and grilled squid.
The large white prawns are fresh, with the shells pre-peeled for easy enjoyment, although the prawn meat feels somewhat loose in texture.
The grilled squid has a chewy texture, and the sweet and salty flavor from the grilling sauce is not bad; I actually think it’s better than the white prawns.
Among the drinks, the Bear Milk Tea is quite unique, featuring a large ice cube shaped like a bear floating in the milk tea.
If you drink a bit faster, you can use this bear ice cube to brew soda or cola, adding a bit of fun.
The frozen lemon sour is just an ordinary alcoholic beverage, but its presentation on the table is quite nice.
Buffet:
There is a wide variety of options, from fried items, Chinese-style noodles, stir-fried dishes, vegetarian salads, curry rice, and even freshly cooked Vietnamese rice noodles.
The flavors are quite standard, without any particularly notable highlights; at least it’s filling.
I heard the pizza is worth trying, but since it’s easy to fill up on carbs at the buffet... I didn’t take any.
Overall, it’s a moderately decent steak buffet restaurant.
The spacious interior offers a comfortable layout, and while there aren’t many highlights in the dishes, the overall quality is decent, with no significant negative reviews.
The most recommended item is the interestingly shaped bear milk tea.
This place is quite suitable for group dining.
Highly recommended to everyone.
🚩 Location 🧭
Located on the 3rd floor of the Millennium Hotel in Taichung City, Xitun District, at the intersection of Zheng Road and Section 2 of Huizhong Road. There is a parking space in the hotel basement for 1 hour at 60 NT dollars.
🪑 About the Overall Atmosphere 🎡
When you exit the elevator on the 3rd floor, you can see the reception desk immediately. The decor features a light wooden style. The self-serve area is not very big, mainly concentrated on one side. Drinks, desserts, and fruits are positioned in the center or on the other side. The selection is not too extensive, but they offer private rooms for company year-end parties or similar events; there are only four restrooms, which is a bit limited and often causes waiting.
💰 About Pricing 💰
Adult breakfast: 800 NT dollars, 1188 NT dollars on weekdays, 1388 NT dollars on holidays.
Children's breakfast: 400 NT dollars, 680 NT dollars on both weekdays and holidays.
Toddler breakfast: Free, 250 NT dollars on both weekdays and holidays.
🍴 About the Meals ☕
One of the recommended dishes is the tomato beef noodles, which are made fresh upon order. The beef is tender and delicious, and the noodles have a nice chew that complements the tomato broth. The freshly made beef soup is very tasty, with the meat slices placed in a bowl and topped with piping hot broth; the broth itself is rich and flavorful. The lion's head meat sauce noodles have different noodles than the tomato beef noodles, but are also quite flavorful and chewy. The steamed crabs are cut in half for easier consumption. The cherry duck breast and seafood congee are also highly recommended. The orange juice tastes like it is freshly squeezed and delicious.
🤨 Conclusion ♥
Actually, I feel that the choices are not very many, and by the end, I was mostly eating repeat dishes. Considering the price, the cost-performance ratio is not high, and unless for gatherings or events, I wouldn’t consider coming back to eat.