Read the most authentic food reviews and explore new restaurants.

📍Location: Taitung, Taiwan

Meino Ice Cream is definitely one of the most unique ice cream shops in Hualien and Taitung. You can enjoy various ice creams made from local Taitung specialties in an old-fashioned residence, making it an ideal resting spot during your journey. There’s a small garden beside the store where they raise little lambs, which is also great for bringing kids to enjoy ice cream and see little animals.

The shop offers a wide variety of ice cream flavors. This time, I ordered the Red Oolong ($35) and Taro ($30) flavored ice cream, with an upgrade to a handmade crispy rolled cone. The Red Oolong has a subtle tea aroma and you can see fine tea leaf particles on the surface. In comparison, the Taro flavor was rather ordinary; I found it quite mild, and I ordered it because a friend strongly recommended it. It seems that everyone has different taste preferences.

The cookie part was very delicious, both crispy and fragrant. I recommend the upgrade, especially the crunchy tip of the cone which was the best bite! 😆

The ice cream from Meino tastes quite natural; it likely doesn't have too much added flavoring, so the flavors are quite mild. Personally, I prefer richer ice cream. However, considering that the ice creams are made with local ingredients from Taitung, they offer many unique flavors at reasonable prices. The environment and scenery are nice, and there's a parking lot for convenience, so I give it 4 stars 🌟. If I pass by again, I would definitely visit it again.

The most famous dumpling shop in the South Airport Night Market is Lai Lai Dumplings, but I personally think that Xiu Chang Dumplings are just as good in terms of texture!

This time, I arrived too late to order their chives dumplings, only managing to get the yellow chive dumplings. I found out that the chives dumplings are usually only served until around 3 PM—if you want to eat them, you might have to go early.

The yellow chive dumplings are flat and large on the outside, but surprisingly, the filling is solid and full when you bite into it. When you take a bite, a lot of sweet meat juice is released in your mouth, and they also have a great chewy texture! Personally, I really think they rival the dumplings over at Lai Lai.

Their side dishes also come in generous portions; the only downside is that there aren't clear signs or menus indicating the prices.

I have to mention a downside—the dining layout here is very chaotic and cramped. You have to order the side dishes and dumplings from different places. Also, the cleanliness of the dining area isn’t any better for indoor dining, and due to the crowd, I always sweat a little when I see staff carrying hot soup/ingredients. The only advantage of dining in is probably the air conditioning!

I think that if you go to Hawaii, you must eat at this restaurant. They start serving at five o'clock every afternoon. When I initially went, the door was not open yet, so I went to the back of the restaurant to have a drink and found that there were actually quite a few places to eat in this whole area! By the time I returned to the entrance, there was already a line forming; there were so many people waiting, which shows how delicious it must be!

The line moved pretty quickly, and I was able to order what I wanted in no time… ❤️ chirashi & spicy poke + ikura + uni. I think from the photos, it’s not hard to see the freshness of the fish! With every bite, you can taste the fresh sweetness, especially with the addition of sea urchin and salmon roe! Overall, it added a hint of sweetness and umami to the texture! Not only that, but their rice 🥣 is also specially prepared, making each bite smoother!

I highly recommend this place in Hawaii; the prices are very reasonable, the portions are quite substantial, and most importantly, the flavors are fantastic! During my week in Hawaii, I loved it so much that I went twice! I recommend that if you get the chance to visit Hawaii, you must try it out!

Overall Review: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌘
Dixon's foodie update is here #201
#dixon.local.foodie

This time, I'll be reviewing a well-known Italian pizza bistro!
This Old Oven Italian Pizza is a small but somewhat famous restaurant in Taipei, as its name suggests, specializing in pizza.

In addition to pizza, they also offer a variety of Italian dishes, including pasta and other European cuisine.

Indeed, after dining here, I can see why it has gained popularity and is difficult to book a table. Each dish is distinctive and doesn’t quite resemble the typical flavors found in Taiwan.

Of course, whether the food is delicious is subjective, but I can say that every dish leaves a memorable impression. Apart from that, the atmosphere of this place is quite pleasant, making it suitable for both romantic dates for two or gatherings with friends!

Additionally, the owners and staff are very warm-hearted. Even if their Chinese is not very good, they enthusiastically introduce each dish to us!

Although there was a bit of a miscommunication at times, you can really feel the owner's passion for each dish and their desire to share the history behind each meal!

As a pizza bistro, they also offer various drinks on the menu, including white and red wines and cocktails. Guests can mix and match as they like! The menu is rich with different dishes, making it quite challenging to try a bit of everything in one visit! 🤣🤣

So if you’re very interested in Italian cuisine and flavors from diverse countries like pizza, I personally highly recommend coming here to give it a try!

Food: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑
Drinks: 🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑
Atmosphere: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌗
Service: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌖
Price: 🌕🌕🌗🌑🌑
Location: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑

⭐️Food Section
The menu here offers a wide variety of flavors, from appetizers to main courses, including pasta and various side dishes. You can find almost everything on the menu.

On the day I visited with my friends, we ordered several different categories of dishes, starting with appetizers:
👉 Blue cheese with figs and prosciutto $550
This was the first appetizer served. The flavors of blue cheese and figs intertwine very complexly, but the prosciutto brings a strong meaty flavor. Together, these three create a new taste experience! 🤣🤣

👉 Venetian milk cod mousse with crispy corn cake $450
The name itself indicates its complexity, but simply put, it’s a corn cake topped with milk cod mousse. The portion is quite small, just enough for one bite.

The mousse is predominantly milky in flavor, and when paired with the corn cake, it’s also quite complex!

👉 Slow-cooked traditional duck leg ragu with handmade flat pasta $580
When this pasta dish arrived, it looked somewhat like a standard meat sauce pasta. However, the handmade flat pasta is quite wide!

The shredded duck is quite tender and not overwhelmingly flavorful. Personally, I found this pasta just okay. 🤣🤣

👉 Special chestnut sauce with pumpkin gnocchi and fresh truffle $650
This dish surprised me with its green hue when served! The gnocchi's shape is unique, and visually, it stands out!

In terms of flavor, since the gnocchi is primarily made from pumpkin, the overall taste is quite pumpkin-flavored. Although it mentions fresh truffles, the taste is not very strong. There are many spices involved, and you might even find bits of almonds and chestnuts, giving the dish a nutty flavor. 🤣🤣

👉 Tender seared duck breast with asparagus and candy beet with roselle truffle sauce $1100
This time, we ordered duck breast as our main dish, and the menu items are quite lengthy. I think the duck breast is handled very well.

However, the downside is that for its price, the portion is a bit too small. Besides the duck breast, it comes with asparagus and beets, paired with truffle sauce. The duck itself is well-prepared and delicious, while the beets and asparagus provide a complementary texture. If you’re looking to order a main dish, I definitely recommend the duck breast.

Now moving on to pizzas:
👉 Devil Pizza $440
Since we’re already here, how could we not order pizza? The pizzas come in various flavors, and the menu details the ingredients and contents, allowing everyone to see if there’s anything specific they want to try or avoid.

On that day, we ordered only one pizza, the Devil, which primarily consists of tomato red sauce, cheese, and salami. It’s a very basic, conservative choice.

When the pizza was served, it indeed looked like what you’d expect — a red tomato base topped with some salami.

As for the flavor of this pizza, I found it very okay. Since we chose a more common flavor, I didn't find anything particularly memorable about it, just that it was tasty and easy to eat.

Moving on to desserts, we ordered tiramisu that day. However, this tiramisu is primarily focused on the alcohol flavor. Such a flavor profile can be hit or miss for people, but personally, I really enjoy this boozy version. However, I think some people may find it hard to accept this authentic Italian soft and boozy tiramisu. 🤣🤣🤣

In the food section, the two types of pasta we ordered were quite distinct from what I had previously tasted – definitely special!

Regarding the pizza, this place primarily uses a thinner crust, with fillings depending on what customers order.

I believe the pizza here is quite good; however, since we were fewer in number that day and had ordered quite a few main dishes and pastas, we only chose one flavor of pizza. In terms of flavor, I think it’s above average, but perhaps because of the choices we made, there wasn’t anything too shocking.

However, the prices for various dishes are on the higher side. I think ordering pizza seems to be a better value for the money. The prices for pasta and entrees are slightly elevated, with smaller portions. Although the flavors are special, it depends on whether everyone can accept these more authentic European flavors.

I still highly recommend it for a visit! After all, these tastes and textures may not be commonly found elsewhere!

⭐️Drinks Section
When ordering at the beginning, the staff inquires whether you would like sparkling or regular water.

Of course, sparkling water incurs an extra charge, and that day they also opened a bottle of wine for everyone to share: Etna Rosso $1950. It was a very pleasant experience!

If you’re unsure about which wine pairs best with your meal, you can also consult the staff at the time, and I believe they will recommend suitable options!

⭐️Atmosphere Section
I found the atmosphere inside the restaurant quite great. The table and chair layout is spacious, and the distance between tables is not too close.

The ambiance leans towards an elegant and tranquil dimness, making it quite suitable for dates!

From outside, you can sense a foreign exotic flair, and upon entering, the decorations contribute to a high-quality atmosphere!

⭐️Service Section
Due to the fact that the owner is mainly a foreigner, sometimes during ordering or discussing dishes, they might not use Chinese effectively, leading to some miscommunication.

Nonetheless, you can see that the owner is very passionate and eager to introduce every dish and how to enjoy it, so in this aspect, I find the service quite excellent!

⭐️Price Section
I feel that each dish's portion in relation to its price is somewhat on the high side. Although it’s truly international cuisine, I think it’s acceptable to indulge in some different flavors occasionally. Still, I suggest checking the prices on the menu before deciding what to order.

Personally, I think the best value on the menu is the pizza.

If you’re coming here with a few friends, you can order two or three pizzas to share since each pizza’s portion is quite generous, similar to the usual sizes found in other pizza places.

For main courses or appetizers, you might need to consider the portion sizes shown in pictures online to get an idea.

As for the pasta, the portions are average, not overly large. For an adult male, one serving might not be enough. You'd likely need to order an appetizer and a main course, plus a few pizzas to feel satisfied.

Thus, dining here can turn out to be quite pricey! Especially since if you're in a good mood, you might also indulge in some drinks, the overall cost at this place can be considerable!

⭐️Location Section
This restaurant is located near the nearest MRT stations, Technology Building and Da’an Forest Park. So whether you’re using public transport or not, you will need to walk a bit to reach it. There isn't much special around the area.

Therefore, in terms of location, I think it’s just fairly okay.

⭐️Overall
I feel that this Italian pizza bistro resembles a European-style small restaurant. The variety of dishes is quite unique and each dish is above average and worth trying.

Given its extensive menu, I feel that you could visit multiple times to try everything!

Thus, I personally highly recommend coming here and would definitely consider returning! However, the challenging part might be to book a table! 🤣🤣🤣

🤪 Dixon's Foodie Chat 🤪
I’m sure many girls enjoy pizza or pasta! I also believe many have dreams of visiting Europe and want to travel there.

So why not take her to this Old Oven Italian Pizza Bistro? Since we can't visit Europe lately, at least we can enjoy pizza and European cuisine here!

Plus, the lighting and atmosphere are great! I believe the girls will be very happy coming here!

Just imagine: bringing a girl here for delicious pizza and pasta—doesn’t that enhance your relationship even more?! 😍😍😍😍

Catch you next time on Dixon's Foodie Chronicles! 🤪

🌟 Minimum purchase is one cup of coffee or drink, outside food is not allowed.
🌟 Each table and interaction is limited to one reptile.
🌟 Weekdays: 90 points / Weekends: 60 points, for children aged seven and above.

The Reptile Cafe is located next to the Lanxi Creative Park on Section 2 of Shulin Street. Parking for cars and scooters nearby is quite inconvenient. The cafe has a simple, rectangular indoor space with a small seating area of about six tables, but there are a lot of different kinds of reptiles, highly recommended for bringing children to experience (if they are not afraid). Private guided tours include: reptile feeding experiences, introduction to habits, professional explanations by the owner, feeding tips, debunking myths, and deep interaction.

If you're scared to handle the reptiles, staff can assist you. The boxes and glass windows will indicate whether the reptiles are safe to handle or provide information about their personalities.

Types of reptiles available include geckos, hognose snakes, bearded dragons, chameleons, giant grasshoppers, jungle horned toads, blue-tongued skinks, and many more. They are surprisingly cute, although I was really scared at first. 🤣🤣

The Reptile Cafe menu includes: coffee, drinks, desserts, and hot-pressed toast. Earl Grey lava Basque cheesecake is highly recommended! However, it’s easy to overlook the food here because most people are busy interacting with the reptiles!

Let’s eat:
Earl Grey Lava Basque Cheesecake 💰120
The aroma of the Earl Grey is very strong and not too sweet; the lava Basque flavor is rich and dense, although the lava part is not very pronounced. 😂😂

Caramel Latte 💰150

Thoughts: Initially, I was super scared because I wasn’t familiar with reptiles, but the staff were very patient in helping me handle them and introducing their habits. They also informed me about their personalities or recommended a few reptiles to try handling before I got more comfortable.

If you prioritize the food: Don’t miss the Earl Grey Basque cheesecake.

If you prioritize the environment: There are many adorable reptiles, and while the indoor space is small, it is very orderly.

If you prioritize parking: Scooters can be parked nearby (though it's still tricky).
Cars need to park farther away and walk over (parking isn’t easy).

If you prioritize restrooms: There is one shared restroom available.

If you prioritize queueing: It’s advisable to make a reservation on weekends.

If you prioritize service: It's quite good, and the staff are very patient.

If you prioritize value for money: 🌟🌟🌟
(Just comparing food and prices).

[Store Name: Tainan Water Intersection Noodle Gathering Place]

Hello everyone, I’m Jiedou! Today I want to share my food experience at the Tainan Water Intersection Noodle Gathering Place. This time, we ordered the Old Ginger Military Braised Beef Noodle Soup, Clear Braised Beef Noodle Soup, and a portion of Spicy Stinky Tofu, and every dish left me incredibly satisfied. Let me provide a detailed introduction to this delicious journey!

First, let me introduce their Old Ginger Military Braised Beef Noodle Soup. As soon as this bowl of noodles was served, the aroma of the beef soup wafted over, rich broth infused with warm ginger scent that made it hard to resist tasting it right away. The broth is made by simmering beef bones and old ginger for a long time, resulting in a thick beef aroma mixed with a mild spicy warmth from the ginger, making every sip feel both warm and nourishing. The noodles are chewy and firm, perfectly complementing the rich broth. The beef chunks are tender and juicy, bursting with flavor with every bite, making it an extremely enjoyable experience. If you enjoy bold flavors with a touch of ginger, this Old Ginger Military Braised Beef Noodle Soup will definitely become a favorite!

Next is the Clear Braised Beef Noodle Soup. This bowl has a relatively lighter broth but is equally rich in layers of flavor. The clear broth is very refreshing but retains the sweetness of the beef bones and the essence of the meat without any greasiness. The noodles, just like those in the braised beef version, have a satisfying chewiness and are even more delightful soaked in the clear broth. The beef chunks are also incredibly tender, with no toughness, and paired with the sweet broth, this bowl is very refreshing and still delicious. If you prefer lighter flavors, this Clear Braised Beef Noodle Soup is definitely your best choice.

Lastly, I must mention the Spicy Stinky Tofu. This stinky tofu completely overturns traditional methods, using a spicy broth for simmering, allowing each piece of tofu to absorb the rich spicy soup. The exterior of the stinky tofu is permeated with intense spicy aromas, while the inside remains soft with a rich tofu fragrance. The broth has a strong spicy flavor but doesn’t overpower, rather making you crave more with every bite. Each piece of stinky tofu is well-marinated with flavor, intertwining spicy and stinky aromas in the mouth, making it irresistibly delicious. If you’re a fan of spicy food, you must try this Spicy Stinky Tofu!

Overall, every dish at Tainan Water Intersection Noodle Gathering Place is highly satisfying. Whether it’s the rich Braised Beef Noodle Soup, the refreshing Clear Braised Beef Noodle Soup, or the uniquely flavored Spicy Stinky Tofu, every bite leaves you wanting more. If you also enjoy beef noodles and Stinky Tofu, this place is definitely a must-visit!

I hope everyone gets the chance to visit the Tainan Water Intersection Noodle Gathering Place to enjoy this perfect feast of beef noodles and spicy stinky tofu! See you next time!

Thanks to Fooday 🥳 for inspiring me to try more different cuisines 🍽
🚩 Location 🧭
Located near the intersection of Dazhi Road and Zhongxiao Road in the East District of Taichung City. It had previously relocated from across the street.

🪑 About the overall atmosphere 🎡
After moving from across the street, the store is noticeably much smaller. There are about three tables inside and two outside, and they use a self-service dish return system. The store has air conditioning.

💰 About the pricing 💰
Braised pork rice is $65, with no side dishes.

🍴 About the food ☕
This place is very famous for writing on their sign “the hardest to eat (braised pork rice)” in a small font, which makes people wonder why they would write that about their own food! I had eaten here before in Changhua and thought it was pretty good, but this time the piece of braised pork had more fat, and by the end, I found it a bit greasy. Setting that aside, it might just be a personal preference; the meat itself is flavorful and has a good texture! I wonder if next time I ask the owner for less fat it might improve things. The braising sauce doesn’t make the rice too sticky, as some braised pork rice sauces can cause the rice to clump together; here, the grains are distinct.

🤨 Conclusion ♥
I’ve heard that the nearby Xiao Braised Pork Rice is quite famous, but it’s always closed when I go, so I decided to try the Black Pig Master in Taichung. Overall, it was quite good as well!