Due to the Taiwan Lantern Festival, I came to this IKEA restaurant located at the Taoyuan High-Speed Rail Station for a meal. However, because it coincided with the Lantern Festival and the weekend, the line was very long; I waited almost 30 minutes before I could sit down and eat.

The dishes here are similar to those in other IKEA Swedish restaurants, featuring classic items like meatballs, roasted pork knuckles, and salmon fillets. I personally find the flavors to be relatively light and healthy; their dishes are less often fried, with many being braised or pan-fried. Therefore, some flavors might be a bit unfamiliar to Taiwanese palates.

However, what impressed me the most was their side dishes. I ordered two fried chicken wings, and they were very juicy and hot right out of the oven. The tenderness of the chicken paired with the crispy thin skin was on par with top Taiwanese fried chicken shops, so I recommend trying the fried chicken wings.

For drinks, you need to buy a cup separately. You can enjoy unlimited refills, with options including Swedish fruit sodas and sparkling beverages. I personally recommend the sweet pear flavor, as it has a relatively natural taste.

# Open During the New Year

The business hours during the New Year are the same as regular business hours. IKEA will not be closed during the New Year period.

My family quite enjoys eating at IKEA, and sometimes we even make a special trip to have their dishes, especially the meatballs and chicken wings.

The Swedish meatballs definitely did not disappoint, served with rich gravy and sweet and sour lingonberry sauce; the sweet and savory combination is truly classic. The price is reasonable, with a serving of 15 meatballs enough for two people when paired with other small dishes, which is just right. As usual, there were also some fried chicken wings this time, which were nicely seasoned, with a crispy exterior and a hint of spiciness; however, they were a bit dark from frying, carrying a slight oiliness, but overall, the flavor was still acceptable.

As for the salmon chowder that I used to really enjoy, it seems that the Taoyuan store has a bit more salmon compared to the Kaohsiung IKEA? I just have a feeling about that XD. The fries, however, weren't that great; they were already cold by the time we took them from the shelf. On the other hand, the boiled sausage was quite tasty; I usually would have it with honey mustard but thought I’d keep the flavors light this time and tried it plain, only to discover that the plain flavor was actually quite sufficient!

Overall, the food quality at the IKEA Swedish restaurant is consistent, and the prices are affordable, especially the meatballs and fried chicken wings, which are definitely worth trying. Next time, I'll check out the IKEA in different regions!