No worries if the Paris Love Lock Bridge is gone — Taipei’s Love Lock Restaurant lets you lock in your wishes

▲ The English name of Lock Bistro is “The Lock,” inspired by Paris’s Love Lock Bridge.

Reported and photographed by Huang Shiyuan / Taipei

Everyone has heard of Italian cuisine, French cuisine, and Japanese cuisine, but have you ever heard of “disruptive innovation cuisine”? Zeng Xinhhan, manager of Lock Bistro, explains that disruptive innovation cuisine involves breaking down various delicious dishes, recombining elements of Eastern and Western cooking, and tailoring them to suit Taiwanese palates — all to overturn people’s conventional impressions of ingredients. Take one of their signature dishes, Truffle Sesame Oil Chicken Risotto, which blends the essence of French, Chinese, and Italian cuisines into a newly created, mouthwatering dish.

▲ Truffle Sesame Oil Chicken Risotto (NT$280)

Located in a lane on Section 5, Nanjing East Road, Lock Bistro not only offers “disruptive innovation cuisine,” but also has another standout feature: its English name, “The Lock.” The inspiration behind the name comes from Paris’s Love Lock Bridge. Zeng Xinhhan says he hopes diners here can make a wish and have it come true. That’s why the restaurant has installed an iron mesh at the entrance where guests can attach their wishes. Zeng adds that if it becomes full of locks, they’ll add more mesh. There’s also a smaller iron mesh inside the restaurant for diners to hang their wishes.

▲ Spicy Mexican Braised Beef (NT$380)


▲ Oyster Baked Egg with Tomato Salsa (NT$320)

As a result of being “disruptive innovation cuisine,” the menu features a blend of Eastern and Western flavors — dishes such as Truffle Sesame Oil Chicken Risotto, Crispy Wonton Skin Salted Pork Caesar Salad, Anchovy Seafood Risotto, Makgeolli Butter Braised Cod, Flying Fish Roe Soft-Boiled Tamago with Scallions, and Spicy Mexican Braised Beef. Zeng Xinhhan points out that for the Spicy Mexican Braised Beef, for example, Sichuan peppercorns and Mexican chili peppers are used, and the beef brisket is braised for 6–8 hours. As for the Truffle Sesame Oil Chicken Risotto, angelica root and ginseng are simmered into the risotto base, then enhanced with truffle oil and sesame oil, resulting in a layered flavor.


▲▲ Curry Tycoon Seafood Egg Sauce Rice (NT$580)

Another signature offering at Lock Bistro is the egg sauce rice series. The inspiration for egg sauce rice comes from Jeju Island’s volcanic fried rice in South Korea. However, instead of frying the rice, it’s made into a risotto and served with plenty of seafood. The pot is a cast-iron pan, where beaten eggs are poured into the heated pan and stirred with cheese strips. The rich, creamy egg-cheese mixture pairs wonderfully with the tender, chewy risotto, creating an unforgettable multi-layered texture. The base flavors for egg sauce rice include Indian curry, Korean kimchi, and Italian tomato.

Lock Bistro opened in May. To celebrate its launch, diners who eat there before the end of June will receive a free love lock. After June, the promotion is expected to change to “purchase over a certain amount to get a lock.”


▲ Exterior of the restaurant


▲ Love Lock Mesh Wall

Lock Bistro
Address: 1F, No. 8, Lane 6, Alley 23, Section 5, Nanjing East Road, Taipei City
Phone: 02-27666696
Business hours: 11:30–14:30; 17:30–24:00 (extended to 1:00 AM the next day on holidays)