Semi Club 分號俱樂部

[Foodholic Niko @ Taipei]

This store not only has signature sandwiches but also features very unique fried chicken.

"Semi Club" is located near the Zhongshan Junior High School Station, about a 6-minute walk. I had seen this sandwich and brunch spot shared by a KOL I follow on IG, so I chose a weekend to give it a try.

This place has two levels: the first floor is mainly for drink preparation and the bar seating area, with some regular seating, while the basement is not as cool (but after I murmured almost inaudibly, I noticed the staff adjusted the air conditioning 😂).

The decor is minimalist and modern, predominantly in white and silver, which young people will likely appreciate. The basement also features a selection shop, so you can browse while waiting for your food.

Semi Club Signature Sandwich: $340
(Pineapple cream cheese, pulled pork, cilantro avocado salsa, sriracha mayonnaise, white cheese, sourdough bread)
First, the advantages: the sourdough bread is probably buttered before being toasted, making it crispy and flavorful; I loved the bread part! Since there’s sriracha mayonnaise, it has a slight spiciness. Perhaps due to the cheese or the seasoning of the pork, I felt the overall dish was a bit salty—it’s tasty, but you'll find yourself wanting to drink some beverage or water.
By the way, the flavors of cilantro and avocado aren't very strong, so those who aren't fans of cilantro should still give it a try.

Cuban Sandwich: $330
(Slices of cheese, smoked ham, pulled pork, arugula, pickles, mustard seed mayonnaise, focaccia)
This sandwich’s bread is just as excellent, toasted to a crispness that isn’t harsh on the mouth. Apart from the pulled pork, there’s ham, which adds a bit more depth to the overall texture. Initially, I thought the arugula was quite refreshing, but later I felt that having it with the arugula and pickles together was also a bit too salty.

Club Fried Chicken: $200
I think this dish had the highest cost-performance value among everything we tried. It’s tasty and hearty, so it doesn’t feel expensive. The fried chicken is made from chicken breast but isn’t dry; it's just that one piece was slightly undercooked, so they might want to pay attention to that. Instead of using flour to fry, they used something resembling corn chips or cereal as a substitute, making the outer layer crispier and with a hint of sweetness—I personally love it. The chicken itself is already seasoned, so even without dipping it in the mustard seed mayonnaise, the flavor is sufficient; dipping makes it a bit too salty.

Drink 06 (Espresso, Secret Milk, Ruby Black Tea): $160
We took a sip before stirring, so the first taste was the acidity of the espresso, which I usually don’t enjoy. But after mixing it, I was impressed with the taste—it was really good! The espresso blends well with the black tea, and the "secret milk" adds sweetness; overall, it’s very smooth to drink.

Drink 05 (Espresso, Secret Milk, Chocolate): $160
This drink has a mix of acidity and sweetness. However, because the chocolate is quite prominent, it ended up feeling a bit too sweet by the end; I didn’t enjoy this one as much.

Overall, both sandwiches performed well, though I feel they were a bit salty. I preferred the Cuban sandwich more. For drinks, I recommend 06, and I’d like to try 04 (Espresso, Secret Milk) next time. The fried chicken is quite special; if dining with two or more people, I recommend ordering it.

If a friend enjoys American sandwiches, I’d recommend this place for dining.

The downside is that the prices are quite high; for two people having brunch, it easily comes to about 600 NT each. 😳