Creative Sichuan-inspired Cuisine: A Must-Visit for Bold Palates – "Muggle Cooked Flavors"

Text & Photos /San Gao Eats Han

At first glance, the restaurant name "Muggle Cooked Flavors" might make you think it's a hotpot place. The term "Muggle" refers to someone born without magical powers, so does the name suggest... that even without magic, they can cook dishes as if blessed by it? Hehe~ Let’s not dig too deep. Anyway, this family gathering was booked at this long-established restaurant that has maintained rave reviews for over a decade.

There’s parking for a few cars at the entrance, but spaces are limited. Inside, the lighting is dimmer, and the decor gives off a rather nice, more formal atmosphere—suitable even for hosting guests.

Speaking of this Muggle place, many people compare it to Taipei’s Kiki Restaurant, as there’s some connection between them. Though I haven’t tried Kiki yet, after seeing their menu, Muggle Cooked Flavors seems more creative. The average price per dish here is mid-range, but portions are on the smaller, more refined side—so around NT$400–600 per person should be about right.

Touted as the #1 most ordered dish on the menu, it’s mainly made with mashed preserved eggs and spiced minced pork. Even with that description, what you actually taste is completely different from what you’d imagine—it doesn’t have an overwhelming preserved egg flavor, saltiness, or strong spices. Instead, it’s mild, tasty even on its own, yet also pairs very well with rice. Quite strange, but definitely worth trying.

The second most ordered dish on the menu, it features a mix of garlicky, sweet-sour, soy-salty, and caramelized flavors, while also retaining the essence of traditional-style ribs. No wonder it’s called Hometown Ribs—it fits quite well. This one is also great with rice, and those who enjoy this flavor will probably keep eating piece after piece.

Stir-fried quickly with pickled mustard greens, chili peppers, mushrooms, and chicken breast cubes. The chicken breast is tender and absorbs the flavor of the mustard greens, giving it a cohesive taste—pretty decent overall.

The exterior is fried to just the right crispness. The egg tofu is extremely smooth and tender, and the three-cup seasoning really works well together. But again, it’s a small plate with just a few pieces—the portions here are about right for three people each.

This one’s a bit weaker—it’s just garlic stir-fried water spinach with a hint of dried chili aroma.

I thought this was really good—the crispy outer coating is light, and the sweet and sour glaze is just right (and not the overly ketchup-y kind). The boneless fish inside is delicate and slightly sweet—I should probably ask what kind of fish it is...

It also contains sweet peeled pumpkin—it’s a simple soup that’s quite nice for cutting through greasiness. Though it says it serves three, if you’re not huge soup fans, ordering one bowl for five or six people to share is about right.

With an added 10% service charge, the total came to just over NT$2,000. The food came out quickly, and my family all agreed it was delicious and went well with rice—some even ate two bowls. I think if every dish hits the mark, it would be really great.

Muggle Cooked Flavors Restaurant
Address: No. 49, Section 1, Daxing West Road, Taoyuan City
Business Hours: 11:00 AM – 2:30 PM, 5:00 PM – 9:30 PM
Phone: 03-3573398

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