鼎泰豐 Din Tai Fung
A visit to DTF in Taiwan is a must for me. Although some people reviewed that the food tasted exactly the same as the outlets in Singapore, I think that the one in Taiwan tastes so much better and I always like to visit the same outlet to avoid the tourist crowd heheh.
蠟筆小新期間限定主題餐廳 Crayon Shinchan X Buongiorno Pasta
Address: 台北市中正區市民大道三段2號 (三創園區 Syntrend Creative Park B2)
Nearest Metro Station: Zhongxiao Xinsheng 忠孝新生
This was something that I anticipated the most but it disappointed me. Shinchan has been my favourite character since young. I used to get the DVDs and I have a collection of the comic books in Chinese version, from first episode to the latest episode, maybe I missed out a few episodes in between. Therefore, I was really prepared that I would get at least one merchandise from the store. However, there were only a few types of merchanise available. I thought that maybe I could get the pillow but frankly speaking, the design was not really nice so I did not get anything in the end sad x100000.
Initially, I ordered the dorayaki in shinchan shape and a soda drink that I could bring the cup home. However, I was informed that the machine was spoilt so the dorayaki was unavailable. Also, the store ran out of the cups so there were no soda drinks. I do not know if I was lucky or what. :') In the end, I bought the spaghetti so that it would not be a wasted trip.
The first few bites of the spaghetti were meh to me but somehow it tasted better afterwards.
Zoom In Apartment
Address: 台北市大安區敦化南路一段233巷40號
Nearest Metro Station: Zhongxiao Dunhua 忠孝敦化
This is another place that I would visit everytime when I am in Taiwan but this was my first time entering the cafe. It is mainly a clothing store but there is a hidden cafe at the side. The space is pretty small, there are only two tables with sofa seats and a bar table so it is better to make a reservation before visiting. Overall, it is quite a cozy and comfortable space. I really like the ambience of the cafe.
While waiting for the orders to arrive, the lady boss served the handmade biscuits which were on the house.
It was my first time seeing this type of holder. I think it is quite creative to have this where we can put the spoon and teabag after use.
If I did not remember wrong, the waffle is one of their signature items and I had the one with chocolate sauce.
The taste of the lemon tart was similar to one of the cafes which I had visited in Singapore. It was quite sour but appetising.
點點心台灣 Dim Dim Sum Taiwan
Address: 台北市信義區忠孝東路五段68號 (信義微風 Breeze B1)
Nearest Metro Station: Taipei City Hall 市政府
This is also a place on my must-visit list because the food is really good?! The restaurant is from Hong Kong and one of the Lollipop members, Awayne Liu, franchised it over to Taiwan. The food was so good that I over-ordered this time because there were so many dishes that I wanted to eat. Their teapot was also cool as the tea flows out from the bottom of the teapot.
The 豬仔流沙包 (custard buns) was one of their signature dishes and it was one of my favourite too! It is recommended to eat the buns when they are warm so that the molten custard filling will not harden and it will flow out after one bite.
This is my first time eating brinjal. Yes they made it to be so delicious omg because I have tried a few different brinjal dishes after coming back to Singapore but the taste and texture were meh. Anyway, there were three servings for this dish but I did not manage to take a photo before eating.
After finishing the dishes above, I was still tempted to order the carrot cake even though I was quite full so I did. Their carrot cake was different from the usual one that we always have which is mashed radish but this is more of small radish cubes. I think it was still not bad.
After the meal, I roamed around Xinyi Shopping District and I love visiting the area because of its atmosphere. It is similar to Orchard Road where international and some high-end brands stores are situated at. Line Friends Cafe is also located in one of the malls over there, featuring Choco this time. Previously, it was a typical Line Friends Store located at the higher level of the mall. The current concept is a better photo-taking place as compared to the previous store.
Sadly, I still have not visited Taipei 101 Observatory despite travelling to Taipei for a few times. Though the entry ticket is slightly pricey, I still hope that I get to go up to the higher levels one day because I had researched the structural systems of the building for my school project previously and I really want to take a look at the damper LOL. Also, I want to see the view of Taipei from the higher levels.
I always think that the sky in Taiwan looks beautiful.
鬍鬚張 卤肉饭 Formosa Chang
Address: 台北市忠孝東路二段134巷12號1樓
Nearest Metro Station: Zhongxiao Xinsheng 忠孝新生
Nearest Metro Station: Zhongxiao Xinsheng 忠孝新生
I was here for 魯肉飯 (braised pork rice) because it was very delicious when I went to the outlet at Ning Xia Night Market last time. However, it was average when I tried it at this outlet but the other dishes were still alright.
黑橋牌 Black Bridge
Address: 台北市中正區北平西路3號B1
Nearest Metro Station: Taipei Main Station 臺北車站
As I was very hungry after returning from Shifen, I decided to grab something to eat before heading to the cafe where I made a reservation. Black Bridge is famous for its sausages so there are sausages in almost every item on the menu. I bought one bao with sausage filling and it was not bad.
士林夜市 Shilin Night Market
Address: 台北市士林區基河路101
Nearest Metro Station: Jiantan 劍潭
Nearest Metro Station: Jiantan 劍潭
I finally visited Shi Lin Night Market hahaha. I did not really check out most of the stores because it was raining so I stayed indoor most of the times. Due to the weather, there was less crowd at the underground mall where the food stalls are situated at. I randomly checked out one of the stalls over there and ordered oyster omelette. Omg I love their version of oyster omelette?! I am someone who is afraid of the oysters smell and taste so usually I only eat the omelette when I order this in Singapore. LOL it may sound funny when I can just have normal omelette rather than the omelette of oyster omelette but it is still different because of the sauce and the way they made it. So far, there is only one restaurant in Singapore that I am fine with eating the oysters but their oyster omelette is so expensive so I only managed to eat once. The oyster omelette in Taiwan is really my type of food, the oysters do not have the fishy or weird smell and taste. And it was the 轉角遇到愛 (Corner with Love) stall!
I got to know this store because of Gemma Wu as she posted one picture of the milk tea and reviewed that it was good so I decided to try it. I had their 黑糖珍珠鮮奶 (brown sugar pearl milk) and 珍煮丹 (I keep remembering it as 珍煮母 hahaha) provides the option of having the drink in warm or cold so I had the warm version since I was feeling cold due to the rain plus I was in skorts LOL. The drink was much better than the one from The Alley. I am not sure whether it was because one was milk while the other was milk tea or one was warm while the other was cold but I think it is worth to try.
饒河街觀光夜市 Rao He Night Market
Address: 臺北市松山區八德路四段
Nearest Metro Station: Songshan 松山
The 胡椒餅 (pepper bun) is always recommended by many, same for me too. Although there was a longer queue this time, it moved quite quickly. The pepper bun still tasted as good as the first time that I tried it, very peppery and piping hot.
I was so disappointed with the 炸鮮奶 (deep fried milk?). I remember the last time when I had it, it was so fluffy and the sweetness was just nice for me so I went back to the same stall this time. Maybe because it was made by a different person, it was meh.
I had the 苦瓜汁 (bittergourd juice) at another stall this time since I happened to be nearby but it was slightly more bitter than sweet. I guess I would go back to the old stall for the drink next time.
良辰吉時 is opened by one taiwanese artiste, 納豆 and the store has been popular among the locals as well as some tourists since its opening. At first, I wanted to get one of its signature drinks but the staff told me that it is blended and suggested me to get something warm. Thus, I got their 熱蜂蜜檸檬薄荷飲 (warm honey lemon mint drink) which is one of their seasonal drinks in winter.
早餐@西門町 Breakfast @ Ximending
永和豆漿 Yong He Dou Jiang
Address: 台北市中正區漢口街二段30號
As usual, I headed to Yong He for breakfast. I think their breakfast is the best as compared to other breakfast stores in XMD that I have tried so far. I guess I can have 蛋餅 in different types everyday for breakfast LOL my love for 蛋餅. To be honest, I have been eating homemade 蛋餅 for my breakfast once or twice per week ever since I am back in Singapore. The only con is that the taste is slightly different due to the sauce and method of cooking.
My love for 蘿蔔糕 (carrot cake) too.
And their 豆漿 (soy milk)!!! It was so good and thick. I hate the fact that I am unable to get something like this in Singapore too.
呷尚宝JSP漢中店
I like the packaging of this breakfast store as it was in the box rather than plastic bag which made it easier to eat. Plus the food was quite oily so putting them in the box is actually better. Frankly speaking, their food was not bad too but I still prefer Yong He. Just that this store is nearer to my hotel so I would go for this if I am lazy to walk further down.
金花碳烤吐司專賣 Golden Flower
Address: 台北市萬華區內江街17號
This is recommended by some of the locals for breakfast in XMD. The waiting time was omg for me. I waited for almost 30 minutes for my order to be ready. In the mean time, there were several customers who ordered later than me but received their food and left. I guess it was because of the 黑豬肉蛋餅 which I had ordered as they had not prepared the meat since they just opened not long ago. However, the staff was quite nice and apologetic when he handed the food over (I did not look or sound pissed but I was just ??? when it was not my turn yet hahaha). Yes, most of the Taiwaneses are nice plus I saw many handsome guys this time LOL (it made my trip better). Overall, I think it is worth to try this other than Yong He if you are around in XMD but do not order the same thing as me if you are there early in the morning.
I had 金花小女人 which is one of their signature items. It was good and the portion was so huge!!! I definitely cannot finish it alone. I do not know why but the bread in Taiwan always taste better, it is softer and nicer. I might go back for their sandwich again next time.
The 黑豬肉蛋餅 was nothing special, I thought it would taste amazing since it was 黑豬肉 as compared to the usual bacon or ham hahaha.
午餐/晚餐@西門町 Lunch/Dinner @ Ximending
朱記餡餅粥店 Zhuji
Address: 台北市中正區寶慶路32號 (遠東百貨寶慶店 Far Eastern Department Store B1)
I would usually come here for a meal since it is near the hotel that I was staying in. I only had their fried rice this time as I wanted to save my stomach for other food but I remember that their dumplings (not xiaolongbao type) were yummy too.
西門町 Ximending
王子起士馬鈴薯 (Prince Cheese Potato) is also must-have for me in XMD. I like the cheese and how the various ingredients were mixed with it.
This is located one or two stalls away from the Prince Cheese Potato. The grilled octopus looked good so I decided to have a try. After the first bite, ok I know I will not order it again lol. It was so tough that I took some time to chew finish one piece and the sauce or seasoning was quite bland to me.
I tried the grilled mochi during my previous trip and I thought it was average but this time, I had a strong craving for it so I got it again. I wanted it with condensed milk but that was oos thus I had it with matcha. I still think that it is soso hahaha, most probably will get it only when I crave for it.
This fried chicken shop is opened by one Taiwanese artiste, Nono, and he has currently opened many outlets in Taiwan and expanded it overseas. I had their chicken from both Taichung and Taipei outlets previously and it was so delicious!!! The chicken nuggets were very juicy and the seasoning was just nice. However, I guess the staff who cooked it this time put too much seasoning, both the chicken nuggets and 甜不辣 (tian bu la) were damn salty.
Also, I got the 愛玉檸檬 (aiyu lemon) from this store since it was right beside and it is quite heaty to eat so much fried food hahaha.
I was here for bubbletea because of the cute packaging LOL. However, I did not realise that it was only applicable to certain drinks and I ordered the wrong one so yeah...
As I was waiting for my food to digest and it was so cold outside, I decided to get a drink and chill at Starbucks. The staff recommended hot coco to me after reminding me that the drink that I initially ordered was cold. Seriously, most of the Taiwaneses are so nice and friendly. Therefore, I got that and I did not know that hot coco can be so good?! I guess it was my first time having coco as I usually have hot chocolate in Singapore.
便利商店 Convenience Stores
Yes, I bought it because of the cute packaging LOL plus I was very thirsty. It actually tasted like QOO white grape juice.
I also bought one packet of soy milk whenever the breakfast store that I went did not sell it. I prefer 統一陽光豆漿 (uni-president soy milk) to 光泉豆漿 (guang quan soy milk) because it was sweeter heh.
檸檬紅茶 (lemon red tea) was good too.
During my last night in Taiwan, I decided to be yolo and I bought the soda ice cream to eat even though it was about 10°C.
It is my routine to visit one of the Sanrio stores at the airport before boarding the plane. It was my first time visiting this outlet at Terminal 1 and it is totally different from the one at Terminal 2. To be honest, I found more cute and small stuff (within my budget) to buy here as compared to the other outlet though that store front is more cute. And I bagged one keychain and magnet home yay.
Back in Singapore.
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