Burnt Cake $20
When I was a child, I really disliked burnt cake because I found it hard to bite into; it was just a lump of dough and didn’t taste good, it was all powdery... Because of that, I would always finish the fried dough sticks and leave the burnt cake behind.
This stereotype only changed after I started working and began buying breakfast by myself on my way to the office.
The burnt cake from the Giant's traditional breakfast remains crispy even until noon. Of course, it can't compare to when it's fresh out of the oven, but if you don’t have time to finish it in the morning, it can still be delicious for lunch later on.
If you care about the dining environment, I suggest taking it to go. This is an old traditional shop, and the atmosphere has that nostalgic feel.
#Vegetarian
Shan Hai Lou specializes in handcrafted exquisite Taiwanese cuisine, using fresh local ingredients to recreate the banquet-style dishes from the 1930s. It has won a Michelin star for six consecutive years and a Michelin Green Star for four years, making it the only restaurant in Taiwan to receive both awards.
Shan Hai Lou is located on Ren'ai Road in the Zhongzheng District of Taipei City. The nearest metro station is Zhongxiao Xinsheng Station, Exit 8, which is about an 8-minute walk away.
The restaurant's decor reflects the style of a 1930s banquet hall, with wooden windows made from repurposed antiques, adorned with famous paintings and antique tables and chairs, creating an understated yet elegant atmosphere.
Today, two people dined here. Upon entering, a staff member guided us to our seats, provided a tablet to view the menu, and we ordered verbally from the staff. After the meal, we settled the bill. Payment options include cash, credit card, and multiple payment methods; invoices can also be issued with a registered receipt, and there is a service fee.
We were seated on the first floor, which accommodates 2-4 people. For larger parties, seating is at the back of the first floor or at round tables on the second floor.
Today, we ordered the "Mei" personal set meal, which costs $2380 plus 10%. Photos and thoughts on the dishes are below.
There was a bit of a wait between each course, and the servers briefly explained the name and characteristics of the dishes without being overly intrusive. The service was good, and the dining environment was quiet and comfortable throughout the meal, providing overall good value for money. The only thing to note is that the set meal does not include drinks; tea costs an additional $120 plus 10% starting price. Plus, I accidentally ate too much salty popcorn chicken this afternoon, so I can't guarantee whether the portion would be filling.
I rarely give such high ratings to this type of snack shop!
When I arrived at this place, I didn't have high expectations.
🤔💭 "Isn’t it just a little noodle shop selling simple broth, dry noodles, and cold cuts?"
I hadn’t planned on eating here.
Unfortunately, no matter how I walked that day, there were very few shops open for business.
Even if they were open, either there were no customers or the owner was nowhere to be found. After quite a trek, I finally found this place that seemed to have a crowd.
"Since there's not much choice, let’s just go with it! As long as it’s clean!"
My friend and I shared this thought, and seeing that the exterior wasn't too bad, we went inside to eat.
Customers came and went, and we didn’t have much expectation. After all, the main goal was to fill our stomachs; whether it tasted good or not was secondary.
"It’s not expensive!"
That was our first impression of the place—until the food arrived at our table.
😳⋯⋯
Wow, that’s a surprisingly large bowl?
The small bowl of plain noodles was about the same as the large bowl,
The $25 bamboo shoot soup bowl was also huge,
The minced pork rice was piled high with a lot of minced pork, and we could even add pickled vegetables?
Not only was it large, but it was also really delicious! 😳
It’s basically just regular plain noodle broth—nothing fancy or memorable about the flavor,
but it has that hometown taste, a traditional little shop,
clean and the broth was clear with hardly any impurities.
I once thought the big bowl was an illusion,
Maybe it had been too long since I ate at this type of vendor,
Later, a small family came in, and the dad ordered a bowl of fried noodles,
And it was clear that his bowl of fried noodles was definitely large.
(I was too shy to take a sneaky photo of others, so I didn’t.)
The fried noodles were piled up high like a mountain.
The bowl was also super big, but the fried noodles could be stacked high to a "peak,"
We ate for about 30 minutes,
Even though that dad was opening his mouth wide for each bite and chewing hard, eating the fried noodles like it was a big dish,
The fried noodles in front of him still didn’t drop below the rim of the bowl,
It just went from a pointed mountain to a flatter one,
Still a mountain.
This place is completely the kind of shop where grandma worries you’ll get hungry! 😳
My friend and I both felt very lucky, as if we stumbled upon a treasure,
This little shop was clean and bright, with simple things that were simply delicious,
And the best part, it’s very cheap and a great deal!
If you don’t mind having some rice, noodles, soup, or porridge, you should come and give it a try! 😆
This restaurant is actually considered an old brand of finding. It features an open kitchen that presents a European bistro style. Their introduction to T+T is interpreted as tapas tasting, representing a delicate and exquisite experience. When I got to know this restaurant, I learned that their set menu changes every month, and most of the dishes pair well with our Asian culinary culture, making the Michelin one-star rating absolutely well-deserved!
I specifically noted a few particularly impressive dishes, especially…
The classic and unbeatable
❤️ Oyster Noodle Soup
I’m not sure if that’s the real name, but this is a creative dish inspired by oyster noodle soup. Visually, it conveys the essence of the noodles, and the fried noodles wrapping the fresh oysters along with a garlic-flavored dipping sauce elevate this dish to another level! My friend said… if this dish is gone in the future, they would not return to T+T! This shows how important this classic dish is.
❤️ Wheel Cake
This dish is also a classic menu item in the restaurant; no matter how many times the menu changes, it still appears. The main flavor is truffle mushroom puree paired with duck liver, which has a very rich taste, combined with the enchanting aroma of truffle, making it a luxurious and delicious little wheel cake!
❤️ Main Dish - Lamb
If you don’t like lamb, you can actually switch to beef. However, I personally highly recommend this main dish because it has no strong lamb flavor, and the lamb is incredibly tender. Paired with a specially crafted sauce by the chef, I could eat as many pieces as I like!
Overall, I highly recommend this restaurant 🍴 and after having the first experience, I would want to return to taste each seasonal menu. The dishes reflect the chef’s creativity, the service shows the staff’s dedication, and the overall design provides a great quality experience! I look forward to everyone sharing each seasonal menu with me!
The dish is iron plate beef for $120. Those who like thin slices of beef will enjoy this dish, as it is cooked with onions that are quite flavorful.
Additionally, there's the sirloin beef for $140. This portion is perfect for those who enjoy chewy, thick cuts of beef, and it also pairs well with onions, making it quite delicious.
The side dishes are stir-fried cabbage and stir-fried bean sprouts. If you like spicy food, you must order it spicy, as stir-frying the vegetables with spice enhances the flavor significantly.
White rice is available for $10 per person with unlimited refills. It also comes with soup and iced black tea, which can also be refilled endlessly.
The seating in the restaurant isn't very plentiful, so you may have to wait during meal times.
The restaurant provides a place to hang coats.
🔅Actual visit date: 2024/12/01
*Please do not reproduce & use commercially without permission.
It was my first time dining at Grand Hyatt. Besides the colorful Japanese cuisine, the cafe is also quite famous, but I haven't tried it yet. This restaurant specializes in Japanese dishes. I dined there on a Sunday evening; the price for one adult was $1780 plus service charges. I used the birthday discount for the month, so for four people, one person ate for free, which brought the total to about $1500 per person.
Here are some items I noted down that are must-tries: salmon sashimi, deep-fried whole shrimp (with shell on skewers), grilled flounder, grilled salmon, hand rolls with selectable fillings, red bean soup (with optional purple rice), Japanese imagawayaki, and the ramen broth was surprisingly impressive. The catch of the day was red grouper, and there was also a special large octopus.
The portions were not very large, but everything was quite delicately presented and had a good Japanese vibe. I think the quality was quite good, and I highly recommend the grilled flounder; it was incredibly delicious, even better than many Japanese dishes outside! Other than the recommended dishes, nothing else was really disappointing, although the Japanese desserts looked just okay, so I didn’t take many more.
Overall, although the selection was a bit less than I expected, everything tasted quite good. My first visit to the Grand Hyatt was beautiful; the atrium had a large Christmas tree. After the meal, it's nice to stroll around and take some photos.
The environment of the bar is dimly lit, and it’s not suitable for taking photos with a flash, so please excuse any blurriness in the pictures.
Recommended by a colleague, VIXIV 614 Club, located on Dongmen Road Section 2 in Tainan, is a bar full of atmosphere. The overall decor leans towards dark tones with a hint of retro style, featuring both first and second floors. The first floor is noticeably livelier, making it suitable for chatting and drinking, while the second floor is relatively quiet, ideal for small group gatherings or enjoying a drink alone.
This time, I happened to encounter their new menu, and without hesitation, I ordered a cocktail called "Taiyaki." The name is very enticing, and it was a pleasant surprise when I drank it—it really did taste like taiyaki with red bean filling! I don’t know how they concocted it, but the combination of sweetness with a hint of creaminess truly makes it feel like indulging in a liquid version of taiyaki; it’s super amazing and delicious.
My colleague ordered a drink called "Washi," and it had a flavor reminiscent of a traditional Japanese room, with a tatami mat essence. However, his evaluation of this drink was somewhat average; he felt that while there was creativity, the taste was a bit strange.
As for the pricing, since the cocktails did not have the prices listed, my colleague helped me capture a screenshot that day, and later I asked him about it—he charged me 400, so it's about 400 per drink! It’s not exactly cheap, but for a bar with this kind of atmosphere, it is reasonable. Overall, this is a place suitable for drinking and chatting with friends while enjoying the ambiance. Next time I visit, I should try a few more cocktails to see what other interesting flavors I can discover.
Comments on the Restaurant: The restroom in the department store is located on the outside at the other end, and the sink area is somewhat small.
Chuhyu Series First Experience - Teppanyaki Restaurant
This time, I chose the Chuhyu series teppanyaki, which costs $1880 + 10% per person. I also specially celebrated a birthday, and the owner thoughtfully prepared candles to enhance the atmosphere.
A La Carte Beverages
Meal Items:
A La Carte
Kizuna (+$1000)
Heard it was a must-order signature dish, and it did not disappoint. The fish is cooked perfectly, rich in fat and melts in the mouth.
Overall Evaluation
The dining environment is quiet with not many guests, making for a pleasant overall experience. Celebrating a birthday here also made me feel the owner's thoughtfulness, and I would like to try another Chuhyu sushi if given the chance.
The newly opened bar is located in an alley in the East District, featuring a bartender who has won awards at world cocktail competitions. The classic cocktails are excellent, but the special cocktails are also quite unique. I was impressed by one that came with ink and white paper, which you could write on with a brush, and the paper could be eaten along with the cocktail—I've never seen anything like it before.
I also had the chance to try the limited scallion pancake taco, which had delicious filling and tasty dough, making a perfect match. The environment is comfortable and relaxing, and I really liked it.