Late-night literary café in Taipei’s Da’an Station: fine wine and Sichuan pepper noodles in an old house

Text and photos byZhou Huahua

Those who often read Zhou Huahua’s articles know that I’m a huge fan of everything related to “Taiwan.” The good things from this land should be recommended to everyone in various forms—whether it’s street snacks or market delicacies, they’re all among my favorite things. “Craving Bistro” is somewhat well-known in the foodie circle. Not only does its cuisine extend the Taiwanese spirit, but the decor inside the old house is also captivating. It’s a restaurant well worth visiting.

Craving Bistro
Recommendation rating: ★★★★☆ 4 stars
Short review: A dinner or late-night meal recommendation near Da’an Station on the Taipei East Metro Line, paired with a great Taiwanese wine

The shop is located in a lane on Xinyi Road, close to Fuxing South Road. Not far away is the Xinyi Market, which is packed with delicious food. The military dependents’ village flavors in this area really suit my taste.Wang Family Knife-Cut Noodles,Liu Lian Noodles,Shi Fang Noodles,San Jiu Potstickers and Dumplingsare all nice little shops. It’s just a turn after exiting Da’an Station on the metro; since their Taiwanese wines are amazing, it’s best to go without a bike or car so you can drink to your heart’s content.

● ETNEWS News Cloud reminds you: Don’t drink and drive.

The interior and exterior decor maintains the feel of an old house, perfectly in line with the current retro trend, instantly adding 10 points to the atmosphere. The indoor space isn’t large, and the seating is a bit cramped, making you feel like you’re eating at home. But it’s strongly recommended that you make a reservation in advance to be safe. Another reason I love Craving Bistro is because they play a lot of great music. With tracks from “I Understand What You Mean,” “Fire Extinguisher,” and “Song Dongye” playing in the background, the auditory satisfaction also enhances the taste experience.

Here’s the menu at Craving Bistro, which is roughly divided into dinner, late-night meals, and a drinks list. The izakaya concept weaves in several creative dishes from the owner, injecting ingenuity into traditional Taiwanese cuisine and making it more accessible to younger diners. New dishes are occasionally introduced. Before ordering, you can check out the small blackboard at the counter—only the most frequently ordered dishes may become regulars. It’s kind of like a competition concept.

Can’t not mention the drink menu at Craving Bistro—all the beverages are from Taiwan, including craft beer, sake, millet wine, plum wine, and more. The variety is the widest I’ve seen so far, and there’s a strong Taiwanese flavor.

● ETNEWS News Cloud reminds you: Don’t drink and drive.

Railway Princess—100 TWD,Checheng Old Station Master—120 TWD

Railway Princess (12%) is a brewed wine fermented with plums, while Checheng Old Station Master (19%) is a distilled liquor infused with plums.
Both have a refreshing plum acidity, though the latter has a stronger alcohol kick. You can choose based on your drinking capacity.

● ETNEWS News Cloud reminds you: Don’t drink and drive.

Unfiltered Sake—360 RMB

Sake from Taiwan’s Wufeng Farmers' Association Winery, with a rice polishing ratio of 60%
Named for its cloudy white appearance, this sake belongs to the nigori (unfiltered) family. It retains precious rice lees, offering a sweet and tangy flavor with an 8% alcohol content—perfect for light drinking.

Apple Beer—180 RMBLychee Beer—180 RMB

Left: “Girls & Robots” collaboration beer, named “? Travel the Universe”
The lead singer of Girls & Robots, Riin, loves Shiina Ringo’s music. With “Ringo” (apple) in mind, this beer features apple as the main note, with natural fruity aromas.

Right: Northern Taiwan Lychee Beer
This was the first craft beer I ever tried, and its fame and praise really need no further explanation.
Even after all these years, among the many new brews, it still has a loyal fanbase—proof of its unshakable status.

55th Street India Pale Ale —200 RMB

This is a full-bodied IPA with particularly pronounced hop bitterness. I’d say it’s a more advanced beer, not as widely approachable as the others, but those who love it are absolutely obsessed.

Millet Liquor with Mountain Boar Flavor, Made from Penglai Rice—220 RMB

If I could only order one drink at “Craving Bistro,” I’d recommend this indigenous millet liquor. It blends glutinous rice, millet, and Penglai rice, offering a rich rice aroma, gentle sweetness, and a captivating finish—truly unique.

● ETNEWS News Cloud reminds you: Don’t drink and drive. Don’t drive after drinking.

Big Bro’s Century Egg with Tofu—150 RMB

A traditional side dish like century egg with tofu wouldn’t cost 150 RMB without something special. Topped with cilantro, Thai basil, white sesame, and cola nut disguised as fried garlic slices, the overall flavor becomes wonderfully layered. Though I’m not usually a fan of century egg, eating it with tofu is still a delight.

Chicken Soup Cabbage—110 RMB

I jokingly call this the “rich man’s version of blanched greens.” The cabbage is blanched in chicken broth as concentrated as chicken essence. Just looking at the glossy surface tells you it’s something special. The cabbage itself is sweet and crisp, but the real highlight is the rich chicken juice that bursts in your mouth, leaving a sticky, gel-like coating on your lips—decadently delicious.

Chicken Fat Fried Rice—30 RMB

Though it looks greasy, the rich, mellow oiliness is irresistible, making you want to dig in bowl after bowl.

Homemade Sichuan Pepper Noodles—60 RMB

The most famous signature dish at “Craving Bistro” is this bowl of “Homemade Sichuan Pepper Noodles.” It was the first thing I made sure to order when planning to dine here. You haven’t truly been to Craving Bistro if you haven’t tried this dish. The lace-like noodles are visually appealing and perfectly cooked—chewy and bouncy to perfection. The seasoning is so good that everyone can’t help but rave about it. The Sichuan pepper offers a fragrant numbness with a mild heat that doesn’t sting the tongue or make you reach for water. The slight vinegar tang in the seasoning is almost magical, making you want bite after bite. Truly a signature dish—must-order.

Spicy Sausage from Hou Tou Cuo—60 NTD

A trial new dish only written on the small blackboard at the counter. It looks no different from regular grilled sausages on the outside, but once you take a bite, you’ll realize it’s truly the work of a seasoned pro. You can taste the texture of the pork, proof of the quality ingredients used. The sweet flavor with no off-putting smell shows the freshness of the meat. The spicy kick hits your taste buds hard like a dramatic retake—very satisfying and perfect with alcohol. It’s completely different from the sausages you’d usually find elsewhere, and for me, it’s an essential dish.

Pork Belly Trio—210 NTD

Enjoy three flavors in one: salted, honey-orange marmalade, and soy-glazed. We recommend starting with the lighter salted flavor, then moving on to the honey-orange marmalade and finally the soy-glazed. All three are quite delicious and great for those of us with indecisive taste buds. It’s also convenient to share among a group.

Grilled Beef Flat Iron—100 NTD *Trial New Dish

The flat iron steak, with its tender grain, is delightful for the fragrant oil released while chewing. At “Chancy Bistro,” it’s grilled to perfect tenderness—you won’t need to chew much at all. It’s really tasty.

Grilled Vegetable Platter—230 NTD

Bacon tomatoes, cream cheese grilled zucchini, cream broccoli, salt-grilled king oyster mushrooms, salt-grilled daylily buds

If you’ve had too much fish or alcohol, balance it out with this mixed grilled vegetable platter. The vegetables retain their moisture and have no annoying fibrous texture.

Insanely Sweet Small Squid—250 NTD

Prepared with Western cooking techniques and gently pan-fried in olive oil, it’s lightly seasoned so you taste the natural flavor of the squid. As the name suggests, it’s “insanely sweet.” One person could easily finish the whole plate. It’s full of ocean flavor.

Red Yeast Bonito with Tartar Sauce—160 NTD *Trial New Dish

The bonito has a firmer texture, somewhat similar to fried chicken nuggets. Seafood and tartar sauce are a classic pairing, and they work wonderfully together here.

Grilled Smoked Tiger Fish Belly—200 NTD *Trial New Dish

“Smoked fish” is the Taiwanese term for bonito, and the smoked tiger variety is particularly fierce, resulting in firmer, more solid meat. It’s worth dipping in a bit of salt and savoring slowly. Though it’s just a simple grilled fish dish, the choice of fish still reflects a strong Taiwanese essence.

Dessert: Fluffy Cloud—130 NTD

Desserts aren’t fixed items, so they may vary each visit. Today’s offering is “Fluffy Cloud,” a mousse-style dessert that tastes a bit like caramel flan. Its novel flavor is worth experiencing yourself—I won’t spoil the surprise here. You’ll enjoy the delight of discovering it for yourself.

“Chancy Bistro” is truly a great spot for a casual meet-up with friends after work. There’s good food, great meat, excellent drinks, and even a nice atmosphere and music. Aside from the slightly cramped seating, there’s not much to complain about. Even if you’re dining alone, you can order a bowl of “Private House Sichuan Noodles,” grab a “Hou Tou Cuo Spicy Sausage,” and pair it with a drink for an enviable late-night meal.

Chancy Bistro

Address: No. 13-1, Lane 8, Alley 30, Section 4, Xinyi Road, Da’an District, Taipei City
Phone: 02-27555859
Business Hours: Monday–Sunday 18:00–01:00
Fan Club:https://www.facebook.com/zenfooood/

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