Authentic Thai cuisine is also available in Taiwan – these ultra-thick crispy moon shrimp patties even have juicy meat inside!

Text and photos by /viviyu

As summer approaches, the temperature keeps rising, sometimes becoming really unbearable. It’s hard to have an appetite during mealtimes, and you can’t just eat cold noodles every day. That’s when the refreshing sweet-and-spicy flavors of Thai food come to mind. On this day, while visiting my friend’s newborn in the south, I took the opportunity to dine at Huatai City. But it didn’t seem very crowded for a holiday...

The place is actually quite easy to spot right by the road, though parking nearby isn’t very convenient. We happened to find a spot close to the entrance.

Since it’s run by Thai people, the menu is available in Chinese, English, and Thai. The prices are a bit steep, about the same as those at Vientiane Kitchen.

There are also set meal options, which might be more cost-effective if you’re dining in a larger group.

Honestly, the air conditioning inside isn’t very cool – we had to rely on ice-cold lemonade to keep our body temperature down. It’s a big no-no to feel too hot when dining out, unlike when you’re at a street food stall...

The interior decor has a distinct Thai style, and like local restaurants in Thailand, there’s also a photo of the Thai king – definitely authentic.

Crispy Moon Shrimp Patties – $320

When ordering, I was shocked to see that the crispy moon shrimp patties cost $320. To be honest, I hesitated for a long time because the price is pretty high. But this dish is a favorite of the kids, and without it, there probably wouldn’t be much else ordered. When it arrived, the thickness was genuinely surprising – these are probably the tallest and thickest moon shrimp patties I’ve had in Taoyuan.

Using a fork as a scale makes it clearer – the fish paste is super thick and still retains its juiciness. The outer crust is wonderfully crispy, and it pairs excellently with sweet chili sauce.

Spicy Szechuan Chicken – $320

The chili sauce drizzled on top is quite flavorful, and the chicken is fried to a crisp. However, this dish was also a bit pricey for me.

Chicken Fried Rice – $150

Vincent’s pick – the fried rice comes with a sunny-side-up egg, really reminiscent of the fried rice you’d get in Thailand. We asked the kitchen not to make it spicy, and the portion for the kids was about one bowl’s worth.

Oyster Sauce Beef Rice – $150

The oyster sauce beef doesn’t really taste like it’s stir-fried in sauce – it’s more like a clear stir-fry, which was different from what we expected. Anita didn’t like it much, so it ended up being for the adults.

Spicy Stir-Fried Coconut Beef Slices – $200

I had originally wanted to try green curry, so I asked the staff for a recommendation. I didn’t have any specific dish in mind, and we also added a bowl of steamed rice for $30.

The total for this meal was $1200, which is mid-to-high range for a party of two adults and two kids. It might be better value for larger groups sharing set meals. The Thai-chef-prepared food is quite authentic – a great option when you’re craving Thai flavors.

Huatai City Thai Cuisine
Address: No. 328, Section 1, Xin Nan Road, Luzhu District, Taoyuan City
Phone: 03 222 2573

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