Italian Restaurant Near Ximen
It's about a 10-minute walk from the MRT station.
The restaurant is on the second floor.
Going up the stairs feels like entering another world.
The decor is very artsy and beautiful,
perfect for taking photos and checking in.

🌟 Spicy Creamy Explosive Clam Pasta
There are tons of clams, almost covering the entire pasta.
For someone like me who isn't very good with spicy food,
I would say the spiciness is around medium.
I thought the cream would balance out the heat,
but it actually made me drink a lot of water.
However, the spicy creamy sauce is really delicious.
The sauce clings to the pasta well,
so it doesn’t feel separated.
I highly recommend this dish.

There’s a minimum spend of 300 NT per person,
but it’s not hard to meet.
I think the overall value is pretty high and the food is quite good.
If anyone is in Ximen and doesn't know what to eat,
you can give this place a try! 👍

Located in the Ximen shopping district, "Jai宅" has several branches and features visually stunning and creatively designed Italian dishes and desserts. This dining experience included two main courses and one popular dessert.

Orange Sauce Chef's Roast Chicken Thigh Pasta
The highlight of this dish is undoubtedly the orange sauce. It beautifully blends the tartness of tomatoes with the creaminess of butter, offering a rich sauce that’s not overwhelming. It perfectly coats the noodles, with each bite delivering distinct layers of sweetness and savory flavors. 🍅 Unfortunately, the presence of the roast chicken thigh was not as impactful as expected; both its aroma and texture were somewhat bland, which contrasted with the brilliance of the sauce. It’s a pity—if the chicken thigh were prepared with more character or enhanced with a charred aroma, it would greatly improve the overall impression. 🍗

Next was the Truffle Cream Matsusaka Pork Pasta
First, I must mention the enticing aroma of truffle cream, where the dairy and truffle combine harmoniously, delivering an impressive first bite. However, as I continued eating, the richness of the cream sauce gradually overshadowed other flavors, becoming a little overwhelming. Luckily, the addition of a soft-boiled egg helped to mellow the overall flavor and added a smooth texture. As for the Matsusaka pork itself, it had a firm texture but was generally average in flavor, lacking standout qualities and somewhat overshadowed by the sauce. I’d suggest sharing this dish with friends for the right balance.

This dessert's centerpiece was the Waterfall Original Tiramisu
This dish has garnered significant attention on social media, featuring a design where the filling cascades down like a waterfall when cut, making it perfect for short videos or posts. However, from a flavor perspective, this dessert brings one back to reality. It uses sponge cake rather than the classic ladyfinger cookies, resulting in a tiramisu-flavored cake rather than the traditional Italian dessert. It also somewhat lacks depth in the aroma of alcohol and coffee. While it’s not disappointing, it tends to lean towards a "try it once" kind of dessert.

Overall, the cooking style at "Jai宅" leans toward creativity and visual appeal. Although the taste varies, several main courses still perform well. The orange sauce dishes come highly recommended, while the cream-based dishes cater more to those who enjoy rich flavors. As for the desserts, they prioritize visual appeal over classic authenticity. If you're looking for a place to enjoy a casual meal with friends, take photos, and maintain a certain standard, "Jai宅" would be a great choice. First-time visitors are advised to try the orange sauce dishes and the waterfall dessert to satisfy both visual and taste experiences at once.

Foodholic Niko @ Taipei

To conclude: it's a moderately priced Italian pasta and risotto restaurant that can fill you up, but it's not particularly exquisite. It’s quite suitable for budget-conscious diners gathering, though it can get noisy when the restaurant is full, making it less ideal for those wanting a quiet chat.

"JAI宅" is a restaurant brand under the Zun Hong restaurant group, which also includes "SUNG." I recently dined at SUNG and earned some membership points, so I decided to try JAI宅 and use those points.

The "JAI宅 Ximen Store" is located near Ximen Station, about a 3-minute walk from Exit 6. It's on the second floor, tucked away in an alley, making the entrance a bit hard to find.

The restaurant is decorated mainly in beige, blue, and wood tones, mixed with green plants. The design resembles a simple European-style cottage combined with a green greenhouse, which should appeal to young women.

There are many seats available. We arrived around 5:30 PM on a weekday, and it was still quite empty, but by about 6:30 PM, the restaurant was nearly full; the business is quite good!

For couples on a date, they can order a couple’s set menu that includes a main dish, side dish, drink, and dessert for about 700 TWD per person, plus a 10% service charge.

However, since we weren’t very hungry and could use our membership points for a free order of fries, we opted for a la carte.

Sparkling Strawberry Mate Tea $120
I wasn’t very interested in this photogenic drink at first, but surprisingly, it was quite good! The sparkling sensation is mild, without the intense feel of carbonated drinks. The herbal taste of the mate tea is not strong, and it has small pieces of strawberries inside, making it taste sweet and tangy, which young girls would love!

JAI Fresh Fried Fries $160 (point redemption, so $0)
The fries are topped with some cheese powder, and while they don’t look great, I think they are well-fried. They are crispy when hot, and it comes with regular ketchup. It would be nice to have a more interesting dipping sauce.

Orange Sauce Italian Herb Mussel Clam Pasta $299, Orange Sauce Chef's Roasted Chicken Thigh Pasta $330
The orange sauce seemed to be the restaurant’s recommendation, so both of us chose dishes with this sauce. The staff said it’s made from a base of white sauce combined with many vegetables and fruits, but to us, it tasted like a mix of white and red sauces, haha. It wasn't bad, and its sourness was quite appetizing, although it became a bit rich towards the end.

Although the mussels were large, there were only three; luckily, there were some clam meat-like items inside, so it wasn’t too empty. However, the mussels had a slight fishy taste, which could use a squeeze of lemon to tone it down. The roasted chicken thigh was a nice size and seemed to be marinated with Italian herbs before roasting, making it quite tender; next time, I’d choose the roasted chicken thigh again!

P.S. You can add noodles for free, making it quite suitable for budget-conscious diners! (But for women with normal appetites, adding noodles might be too filling?)

Overall, the restaurant's decor gives a comfortable feel, but the dining atmosphere can be quite noisy. The food is acceptable and not unpleasant, but it doesn't leave a strong desire to return.