【Foodholic Naoko @ Taipei】
To cut to the chase: If you don't mind queuing, I highly recommend coming to try this gnocchi shop!
"BON MEINGERDA" was originally located near Da'an Station but later moved near Jiantan Station. It's always a popular spot with long lines. Previously, I dismissed the idea of waiting in line, but since I happened to be near Jiantan Station today, I decided to give it a shot!
"BON MEINGERDA" is located near Jiantan Station, just a 7-minute walk from Exit 3. It's in a residential area next to a small community park, making the environment quite serene and comfortable. I also saw some netizens mention that takeout is an option to enjoy in the park.
They are regularly closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and seem to only operate in the evenings on Thursdays and Fridays.
They open for lunch from 11:30 AM and for dinner from 5:30 PM, and they close when they run out of food.
Inside the shop, there are only 14 seats. It's said that you need to arrive early to line up before opening in order to have a chance to eat in the first batch. When we arrived around 4:40 PM on a Sunday, we noticed there was no one in line yet, so we strolled around the park. By about 4:55 PM, people began to line up, and by around 5:10 PM, the first batch was fully booked. Subsequently arriving customers had to register for a waiting list, and might not get in until around 6 PM or even 7 PM.
⚠️ Once they're sold out, they're gone, so the business hours are just for reference.
I heard the portions of gnocchi aren't very large, so we were a bit greedy and ordered three servings for two people. The conclusion is: it's better to stick to two servings because three was too much for us, and we almost wasted some food.
We ordered Duck Breast with Balsamic Cream Gnocchi ($260), Braised Pork Mushroom Pesto Gnocchi ($230), and Soy Milk Chicken Cheese White Sauce Gnocchi ($230).
All three flavors were very tasty, and it's hard to pick a favorite. However, they all share a minor flaw; the sauce can be quite rich after a while, especially the cheese white sauce, which becomes even heavier when it cools. I recommend ordering different flavors to share, as this keeps things fresh and less overwhelming.
The balsamic vinegar cream flavor has a sour note that might not be for everyone, but personally, I found it quite delicious.
The gnocchi itself performed exceptionally well! The texture was just right—chewy and bouncy, highly recommended!
The duck breast was softer and chewier rather than having a crispy exterior, which I found tasty but not extraordinary.
The braised pork was very Taiwanese-style; I think it could have been a bit crispier, but the flavor was above average and the portion was decent.
The soy milk chicken came shaped very cutely and looked round, at first glance resembling a meatball. The chicken was firm and flavorful, and dipping it into the shop's homemade chili sauce elevated it even more. If you like spicy food, I recommend adding some!
Overall, the gnocchi truly lives up to its reputation and is worth the wait—it's delicious! If the wait is under half an hour, I would definitely return~ (Next time I might try visiting on a weekday lunchtime, hoping the crowd will be smaller?)