No need to fly abroad for gourmet food: A complete guide to five Michelin-starred restaurants opening branches in Taiwan

Reported by Huang Shiyuan / Special feature

Want to try restaurants recommended by the Michelin Guide but have no time to travel abroad? Technically speaking, there are no Michelin-starred restaurants in Taiwan,but currently, four restaurants that have received Michelin-star ratings have opened branches in Taiwan: Tim Ho Wan, Ryugin, Shanghai Night Market, and Li Family Cuisine. Additionally, the Hong Kong-based Cantonese restaurant Celebrity Cuisine (which has previously been awarded two stars) is also scheduled to open in June at the Howard Plaza Hotel in Kaohsiung.You can enjoy delicious food without leaving the country.

▲ Pan-fried radish cake from Tim Ho Wan. (Photo by Chen Tzu-yin)

Tim Ho Wan
Dubbed "the world’s most affordable Michelin restaurant," Tim Ho Wan has been awarded one Michelin star for six consecutive years. Chef Mak Kwai-pui, the founder of Tim Ho Wan, once said he hoped people could enjoy Michelin-level flavors at an everyday price. The restaurant is committed to “steaming dim sum to order,” paying meticulous attention to ingredient quality. Tim Ho Wan’s Four Heavenly Kings are “Crispy BBQ Pork Buns,” “Pork Liver Sausage,” “Smooth Malay Cake,” and “Pan-Fried Radish Cake.” Among them, the king of kings is the “Crispy BBQ Pork Bun,” which breaks away from the traditional steamed method—Chef Mak uses a “baked” technique, resulting in a crispy yet fluffy texture. The specially formulated exclusive flour goes through 11 production steps.

Currently, Tim Ho Wan has two branches in Taiwan: Zhànqián (Station Front) and Xìnyì (Xinyi), along with a takeaway-only branch at Zhànqián. The Xìnyì branch has also started offering takeaway services. A third branch in Taichung is confirmed to be located in Dayeh Land, with plans to open in early June 2015.

For the menu, besides the basic offerings, both the Xìnyì and Zhànqián branches have exclusive chef's recommendations. At Xìnyì, these are Soy Sauce King Fried Noodles, Radish Stewed Beef Tripe, and Spicy Salt Squid Balls, while at Zhànqián, they include Preserved Meat Glutinous Rice, Curry Beef Brisket Ramen, and Crispy Fried Tofu.

Tim Ho Wan Zhànqián Branch
Address: 1F, 36 Section 1, Zhongxiao West Road, Zhongzheng District, Taipei City (HOYII HeYi Lifestyle Mall)
Phone: (02) 2370-7078
Dine-in hours: 10:00–22:00 (last order at 21:30)
Takeaway hours: 11:00–20:00

Tim Ho Wan Xìnyì Branch
Address: B2, 12 Songgao Road, Xinyi District, Taipei City (Taipei Xinyi New Life A8 B2)
Phone: (02) 2722-9358
Business hours: Weekdays 11:00–21:30 (last order at 21:00)
Day before a holiday 11:00–22:00 (last order at 21:30)

Tim Ho Wan Taichung Branch (Opening expected in early June 2015)
Address: 251 Section 3, Taiwan Boulevard, Xitun District, Taichung City (Taiwan Dayeh Land)

▲ Ryugin (Shōun Ryūgin), special grilled squab with special miso sauce and squab consommé. (Photo provided by Hereshimeng)

Shōun Ryūgin (Ryugin Taiwan)
The Taiwanese branch of Ryugin serves Japanese kaiseki cuisine in the form of an approximately 12-course evening set meal, including several hot and cold appetizers, soup,

Business hours: 6 PM to 11 PM
Address: 5F, No. 301, Lequn 3rd Road, Taipei City
Phone: 8501-5808
Closed: Mondays and national holidays
Service charge: A 10% service charge is generally applied for reservations, and an additional 15% private room fee is charged for private dining rooms.
Price: Set menu price NT$ 6,500 (no à la carte options available).

▲Li Family Cuisine. (Photo / from the official website of BELLAVITA)

Li Family Cuisine
The founder of Li Family Cuisine, Li Shanlin, had a grandfather named Li Zijia who served as the head of the Imperial Household Department during the Tongzhi and Guangxu reigns of the Qing Dynasty. He was in charge of all aspects of daily life, including food and lodging, and because he also managed the imperial palace’s cuisine, he gradually became an expert in gourmet food and culinary arts. After retiring, Li Zijia passed down the imperial recipes to his son Li Junfeng, who then passed them on to his grandson Li Shanlin. In 1985, Li Shanlin founded Li Family Cuisine, which features imperial flavors and Beijing-style dishes. The hallmark of Li Family Cuisine is its meticulous selection of ingredients and refined preparation techniques, emphasizing the natural taste of the ingredients and striving for simplicity and authenticity. The Taiwanese branch of Li Family Cuisine was introduced by BELLAVITA, aiming to offer Taiwanese diners a taste of authentic Beijing-style imperial cuisine.

Address: 3F, No. 28, Songren Rd., Xinyi District, Taipei City
Business hours: Lunch 11:30–14:30; Dinner 18:00–22:00, 18:00–22:30 on eve of holidays
Phone: 02-87292638


▲Night Shanghai at Shin Kong Mitsukoshi New Taipei A4. (Photo / taken by Huang Shiyuan)

Night Shanghai
As the name “Night Shanghai” suggests, the restaurant offers a range of classic Shanghai dishes. It currently has one location in Shanghai, two in Hong Kong—including one on the sixth floor of the Marco Polo Hongkong Hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui, which was awarded two Michelin stars in 2012 and one star in both 2013 and 2014. Night Shanghai opened in April at Shin Kong Mitsukoshi New Taipei A4. Shanghai cuisine is renowned for its famous dishes from Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai, with many classic dishes celebrated both domestically and internationally. True to its name, Night Shanghai serves a variety of well-known Shanghai dishes such as twice-cooked pork, tender chicken noodle soup, stir-fried bamboo shoots and green beans, and spinach with bean curd sheets.

Address: 19, Songgao Rd., Xinyi District, Taipei City (5F, Shin Kong Mitsukoshi New Taipei A4)
Phone: 02-23450928

▲Celebrity Mansion, a renowned Cantonese restaurant from Hong Kong, is set to open in June at Hanshin Kaohsiung. (Photo / taken by reporter You...)

Celebrity Mansion
Celebrity Mansion is a high-end Cantonese restaurant in Hong Kong. Opened in 2007, it is tucked away inside the Lan Kwai Fong Hotel on Jiu Ru Fang in Central, offering discerning gourmets exceptional private dining experiences. Its mastermind is Chef Zheng Jinfu (also known as Chef Fu), who was hailed as the “Hidden Culinary God” by Hong Kong foodies in 2009. Celebrity Mansion received its first Michelin star in 2010 and was elevated to two stars in 2011. Chef Zheng Jinfu, known for his outstanding culinary skills, was recruited over 20 years ago by Hong Kong textile tycoon Lin Baixin to work at his private residence. Hanshin Group has acquired the Asian franchise rights, allowing it to open “Celebrity Mansion” locations not only in Taiwan but also across mainland China and other parts of Asia. Celebrity Mansion is scheduled to open in June.

Address: Hanshin Kaohsiung Hotel
Business hours: To be determined
Phone: To be determined