Indulge in a juicy ribeye steak at Da Ke in Taipei, paired with British honey beer and bar bites for the perfect match

Text and photos byThree Highs Sir

I’ve had Da Ke on my radar for a while, but this time I decided to drop by spontaneously and made a lunch reservation just the day before. The decor and ambiance are simple and relaxed, with a youthful vibe from both the front and back of house staff. I’d browsed the menu briefly on Facebook—it’s fairly reasonably priced.

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Da Ke offers both à la carte options and set meals, a common choice here. Several craft beers are available as add-ons to the set. I went with the British honey beer Honey Dew—sweet and slightly bitter on the first sip, with a honeyed finish that’s smooth and not cloying. For starters, I had chicken liver pâté and black sugar longan bread. The plate was centered with baby lettuce and figs. The chicken liver pâté was silky and smooth, with a pleasant aroma, and paired wonderfully with the slightly sweet bread. One bite left me wanting more.

For bar snacks, I ordered chicken wings (priced per piece) and grilled Iberico pork skewers. The mid-wings were deboned and stuffed with garlic custard, then coated in a crispy layer—the oil wasn’t greasy at all. The pork skewers were well-cooked, served with fried pork rind (a bit rough), corn salsa mixed with cilantro, and paprika. These two snacks were hearty and satisfying.

For the main course, the steak options included a classic cut and ribeye heart. Given the Prime grade indicated and the portion size, the price was surprisingly reasonable (around 700–800 NT). I went for the ribeye heart... The sauce was well-seasoned, and the grilled cabbage was delicious. The steak itself was fairly average, lacking the rich texture and depth of flavor I’d expected. But if you go in without high expectations, it’s still okay.

Another dish was a Marseille-style fish soup, featuring red snapper (a bit overcooked) and shrimp. Aside from the clams, which were particularly juicy and fresh, the overall flavor was rather mild and unremarkable.

For dessert, we were served a small treat—a matcha Madeleine, slightly warm with a crisp, roasted exterior. The texture was soft and fluffy, not dry, with a subtle matcha flavor. That day, they also served lemon tart (not on the menu), which had no crust but was instead topped with a crispy streusel-like powder. The custard filling was fragrant, tangy, and refreshing—also delicious.

The total for two people was just over 2,000 NT. Even with my not-so-small appetite, I left quite full. For the price and quality, it’s definitely worth a return visit. I noticed a few single seats inside—coming here alone for a relaxed meal seems like a great idea too.

Da Ke Western Restaurant
Address: No. 18-3, Section 2, Jinan Road, Zhongzheng District, Taipei City
Business Hours: 11:30 AM–2:00 PM, 5:30 PM–9:00 PM (Closed Mondays)
Phone: 02-23948810

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