Not being able to book a spot means you’ll just have to say “bye-bye”! 4 restaurants you can’t dine at even if you have money

▲ RAW Restaurant opened by renowned chef André Chiang. Photo / Huang Shih-yuan

Reporter Huang Shih-yuan / Taipei

Taiwanese people love good food, but some delicacies (and restaurants) are simply out of reach — no matter how much money you have. There are many restaurants that are hard to get into even if you’re willing to pay, especially those with limited seating and reservation-only policies. Without securing a spot in advance, money won’t help you get in. Examples include “RAW,” a Taiwanese-flavor restaurant opened by renowned chef André Chiang, the Taiwan branch of Japan’s three-Michelin-starred Sushi Yoshitake, and the private kitchen “Cat on the Roof.” Recently popular conveyor-belt sushi spot Mutsumiya Kurazushi and Korean BBQ spot HONEY PIG also have very limited seating during peak hours.

The “RAW” Taiwanese-flavor restaurant was established through a collaboration between former executive chef of the French three-Michelin-starred restaurant Le Jardin des Sens, André Chiang, and the Horng’s Group. Stepping into RAW, you’ll find design elements everywhere — from the massive raw wood bar that extends into the seating area, to the integrated cutlery storage boxes built into the tables. The sense of design isn’t only in the hardware; it’s also reflected in the dishes. André Chiang uses creativity to transform ordinary ingredients into astonishing culinary creations. With only 56 seats available, RAW only opens bookings 14 days in advance. The moment midnight strikes, spots for 14 days later are instantly snapped up. Truly experiencing Chef Chiang’s craft is no easy feat.

RAW
Address: No. 301, Lequn 3rd Road, Taipei City
Business Hours:
Lunch: Wed–Sun 11:30–14:30
Dinner: Tue–Sat 18:00–22:00
Closed on Mondays

▲ Dining at Sushi Yoshitake Taiwan costs 6,500 TWD per person. (Photo / Provided by Horng’s Group))

Sushi Yoshitake Taiwan serves Japanese kaiseki cuisine in the form of an evening set menu consisting of around 12 courses, including several hot and cold appetizers and soup dishes.

Kaiseki Ryuuin (Xiangyun Longyin)
Business Hours: 6:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Address: 5F, No. 301, Lequn 3rd Rd., Taipei City
Phone: 8501-5808
Closed: Mondays and national holidays
Parking: Valet parking available
Service Charge: A 10% service charge applies for regular reservations; an additional 15% private room fee is charged for private dining
Pricing: Set menu only, NT$6,500 per person (no à la carte options)
Age Policy: Children aged 10 and above may be seated, provided they can eat most dishes served to adults
Dress Code: No T-shirts, shorts, or sandals allowed

Meanwhile, the exclusive rooftop private kitchen “The Cat’s Private Kitchen” is an ultra-popular reservation-only restaurant, accepting only one group for lunch and one for dinner each day. Due to consistently outstanding reviews, loyal customers keep returning while new ones continue to join the waitlist. It’s said that by September 2014, inquiries were already fully booked through 2015 — truly one of the hardest restaurants to reserve a table at.

The Cat’s Private Kitchen
No. 9, Lane 32, Yixian Rd., Xinyi District, Taipei City
Phone: 0961173451
http://www.rflower3f.blogspot.tw/

▲ Kurazushi Songjiang Nanjing Branch offers conveyor-belt sushi from Japan, with each plate priced at NT$40. (Photo / Huang Shiyuan)

Popular dining isn’t limited to high-end restaurants. Conveyor-belt sushi from Japan, Kurazushi, caused a stir as soon as it launched in Taiwan. Online APP reservations sell out daily (only 14-day advance booking is available), and although walk-ins can draw a number in person, those numbers are usually gone by 1:00 PM. Even with standby options, getting a table remains tough. To avoid long waits, if there are too many on standby, the restaurant will post notices ceasing to accept further standby requests.

Kurazushi Songjiang Nanjing Store
Address: B1, No. 101, Section 2, Nanjing East Road, Zhongshan District, Taipei City
Price: NT$40 per plate (excluding special menu items)

▲ The recently super-popular Korean BBQ spot HONEY PIG. Photo by Huang Shiyuan

As for the recently super-popular Korean BBQ HONEY PIG, strictly speaking, you can still get a table if you really want to, since it started operating 24 hours a day from February 2. However, dining hours are extremely popular, and because the restaurant does not limit meal duration, waiting up to three hours is possible.

【Honey Pig】Taiwan Taipei Branch
Address: No. 3, 415, Section 4, Xinyi Road, Xinyi District, Taipei City (Xinyi Road & Keelung Road Intersection)
Phone: 02 2725 5757
OPEN / 24-hour operation