A French chef falls for a Taiwanese girl and opens an authentic French restaurant in Taipei

Text and photos byBearMeow Rudy

Led by a finance industry foodie, BearMeow visited the French restaurant La Cocotte for the first time. The confit duck leg and braised oxtail were incredibly delicious — a place highly recommended by BearMeow！

Having gained fame after being voted one of Asia’s Top 101 Restaurants by the American food website The Daily Meal, this spot isn’t easy to book. It’s recommended to reserve a table in advance to avoid disappointment.

In fact, among the 2013 list of Asia’s Top 101 Restaurants, seven restaurants made the cut: Din Tai Fung in first place, Tainan’s Tudigong Oyster Vermicelli in 43rd, Fei Ling Restaurant in 50th, Osteria by Angie Italian restaurant in 70th, Qi Er Shi Beef Noodles in 74th, La Cocotte French restaurant in 76th, and Ironsmith Teppanyaki Izakaya in 86th. By 2014, the lineup had changed significantly. Aside from Din Tai Fung, the remaining restaurants still on the list included Taichung’s L’Atelier Marcel in 43rd, Osteria by Angi in 61st, and the ones visited by Bear and Meow this time: La Cocotte French restaurant in 73rd and Qi Er Shi Beef Noodles in 79th.

This French restaurant is considered one of Taiwan’s best value-for-money options, and many foreigners also come here to dine. Head Chef Fabien Vergé is not only French but began his culinary journey as an apprentice at the age of 17 in Michelin two-star and three-star restaurants. He later graduated from the prestigious Paul Bocuse Culinary Institute in Lyon, France, and has also worked at Paris’s Le Merici and Eno Club. The most authentic French cuisine can be enjoyed without traveling all the way to Europe — right here in the alleys of Taipei’s Yongkang District. Compared to other high-end French eateries, its lunch prices are relatively affordable and manageable for the budget-conscious. However, BearMeow would like to note that this food review was written some time ago — it’s from early July 2014 — so the interior decor and menu offerings may have been adjusted since then. It’s advisable to check again before your visit！

It’s said that La Cocotte has a beautiful love story behind it. As you might imagine, a Taiwanese girl who went to France to study pastry met a young French chef, the two fell in love, and later returned to Taiwan to open this French restaurant together. The handsome French chef and his wife jointly run this French eatery in Taipei. In addition to running the restaurant, Chef Fabien also offers cooking classes, teaching the flavors and techniques of traditional French cuisine using simple, easy-to-follow recipes, bringing everyone the full experience of French culture and culinary art.

The interior is simply and elegantly furnished. Although it has the feel of a Western restaurant, it doesn’t create a high-pressure atmosphere. The lighting and space arrangement give off a warm vibe.

The wooden furniture gives off a rustic Southern French countryside vibe, and the minimalist decor makes the space feel cozy.

The French head chef takes weekends off, with Mondays and Tuesdays closed. Weekends offer brunch service. That means if you want to enjoy the best value lunch sets, you’ll need to come between Wednesday and Friday noon！

There are quite a few lunch options...

Let’s take a look at the menu！Many people assume French cuisine must be pricey. While La Cocotte isn’t exactly cheap, the quality of the food you get is absolutely worth it — especially the lunch sets, which are the most budget-friendly. For just NT$600–700, you can enjoy a great meal, perfect for those wanting to try French food without breaking the bank.The price for lunch sets is generally either an appetizer plus main course or main course plus dessert, both at NT$680. An appetizer, main course, and dessert combo is NT$780. For a more filling option, a double appetizer, main course, and dessert combo is NT$850, though some items may incur additional charges. Drinks are priced separately, and there is no service charge.For French cuisine, these prices aren’t too steep.

It was BearMeow’s first visit, and the meal was courtesy of a generous friend, so BearMeow opted for the double appetizer set. The first appetizer chosen was pork trotter terrine in a clay pot served with a baby leaf salad — thin slices with a slightly chewy texture, offering a rather unique flavor.

The simple baby leaf salad dressed with just olive oil had a pure, delicious taste.

At this point, the server brought out European bread. The highlight of European bread is its crispy crust and soft interior — the more you chew, the more aromatic it becomes. A little butter on top makes it even more delightful.

Bear’s first appetizer was crab meat and red bell pepper bisque (an extra NT$180)
Dip it with the crispy bread served on the side — the fragrant bisque paired with the flavorful crab meat was delightfully sweet and delicious.

Meow’s baked poached egg in water with onions — just seeing this cast-iron pot being served made it look so tasty！

The fragrant poached egg sat atop caramelized onions. The silky-smooth egg paired wonderfully with the strong onion aroma.

The Lyon-style poached egg, bacon, and cheese salad — simple greens, bacon, cheese, and a poached egg made for a well-balanced starter salad. With a gentle knife cut, the yolk oozed out generously — a truly mouthwatering sight～

The handsome French head chef Fabien was hard at work in the kitchen — there’s something undeniably attractive about a man who’s focused on his craft.

Milanese-style braised oxtail (an extra NT$580)
The cast-iron pot dish is one of La Cocotte’s signature specialties. Experts recommend giving it a try — it costs extra, but it’s worth it. According to Bear, the oxtail was perfectly braised. Typically, overcooking can make oxtail too tough, but here it was tender yet springy, not at all chewy, with a well-balanced flavor. After chewing, you get a gelatinous texture without any greasiness.

As for Meow, who doesn’t eat beef, she naturally went for the most iconic dish: confit duck leg served with black olives and sun-dried tomatoes (an extra NT$580)

The duck leg was incredibly tender — a gentle poke with a fork separated the meat from the bone, practically melting in your mouth. Though soaked in fat, the flavor was rich without being greasy. The expert who guided the visit said this confit duck leg tasted exactly like the ones he’d had in southern France, making it a truly authentic, rustic French dish.

Don’t think only the main courses shine — the desserts here are also excellent. Chocolate sabayon mousse with citrus madeleine: the chocolate mousse is ultra-rich and sweet, perfect for anyone with a serious sweet tooth.

The chocolate mousse paired with the fresh madeleine balances out the slightly high sweetness, making it less cloying.

The chocolate mousse is quite sweet, so those who are sensitive to sugar might want to choose a different dessert.

The lemon tart has a sweet and tangy flavor that lingers pleasantly. The desserts are delicious, though the portions are a bit small—leaving you wanting just a little more.

Despite being a small lemon tart, it has a rich layering of flavors.

For drinks, Xiong and Miao opted for an espresso and a hot coffee respectively. For first-time visitors Xiong and Miao, every dish at La Cocotte has its own unique charm—they really enjoyed it. As far as French restaurants go, it offers great value for money.

La Cocotte French Restaurant
Address: No. 20, Lane 13, Section 2, Jinshan South Road, Da’an District, Taipei City
Phone: (02) 3322-3289
Facebook Page:https://www.facebook.com/pages/La-Cocotte-Taipei/104628699601762
Recommendation: Both the appetizers, main courses, and desserts are of a high standard—truly living up to its reputation as a well-known eatery. For those watching their budget, lunch from Wednesday to Friday offers the best value. The cast iron pot dishes are a must-try, and if you’re a fan of authentic southern French confit duck leg, this one definitely won’t disappoint.

Author: XiongMiao Rudy — a couple passionate about food who occasionally indulge in extravagant meals and outings, but generally stick to the principle of “limited funds, endless appetite.” Their blog of the same name《XiongMiao Eats the World》is updated simultaneously.