One-second trip abroad!* Taipei’s European-style retro gastropub – chicken breast with rich milk aroma and spicy cod roe

Text & photos byFoodCraving, PhotoSnap

The Villa Herbs Restaurant is an elegant dining spot tucked away in a quiet alley in Liuzhangli. To me, it was a beautiful surprise. That day, my friend “Demon King Pei” and I had planned to try a popular hipster egg pancake shop, but when we rushed over, we found it was unexpectedly closed for the day. Feeling a bit disappointed, we quickly decided to head to a nearby Shanghai-style soup dumpling spot run by Chef Shao. But along the way, we were drawn to this stunning house that looked completely out of place in the surrounding residential area. The Villa Herbs Restaurant, from afar, looks like a holiday inn you’d expect to find in Hualien or Taitung, but it’s actually a gastropub with a European retro vibe—both romantic and classy.

/ Cherry.

Located on Le Li Road in Qingning, Da’an District, the area around it is a quiet residential neighborhood. Though it’s a bit of a walk from the nearest MRT station, there are still plenty of restaurants along this street.

The Villa Herbs Restaurant is the most eye-catching eatery on the entire block. It covers a large area and is a standalone building—something quite rare in crowded Taipei. With “Villa” written on it, the exterior really does look like a holiday retreat, and that’s exactly what drew us in with its laid-back yet mysterious charm.

The Villa Herbs Restaurant has a spacious semi-outdoor area in front, somewhat like a bar—I wonder if it has a different vibe at night. In the sunlight, it feels like the living room of a Southern European home. I imagine sitting on one of those sofas, sipping red wine, and truly enjoying the moment. In the adjacent garden, the restaurant grows its own herbs, which are used in both dishes and drinks. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to try any of those special touches that day, but I’ll definitely save that for next time—Up!

As soon as we stepped inside, we fell in love with the atmosphere. After taking a quick look around, the two of us decided to sit at the beautiful long table by the display cabinets and floor-to-ceiling windows. Thankfully, there weren’t many customers during the weekday daytime—I imagine evenings are the prime time at The Villa Herbs Restaurant. A night out here with friends must be incredibly relaxing and enjoyable.

I absolutely love the red brick walls paired with all the antique furniture—it feels like you’re visiting the home of a European count.

Heading up to the second floor, I discovered an even more enchanting space. It’s hard to imagine that such a beautiful restaurant exists in Taipei. The entire Villa Herbs Restaurant feels like a home, with different rooms and dining tables. During the day, sunlight streams through the windows, casting a soft and warm glow. I imagine the atmosphere here might turn a bit more intoxicating at night, making me want to come back for a drink or two.

The picture frames have no paintings—the red bricks themselves have become the art on display.

I’m also a big fan of the red wooden chairs by the long table. Their patterns carry a touch of aristocratic flair, and dining here somehow feels oddly prestigious—ha ha.

Looking up, I noticed that there’s even a tree growing right on the long table, with branches holding up pendant lights, creating a uniquely mysterious beauty.

Back at our table, I realized the handles of the utensils were designed to resemble ferns—how lovely, and it also matched the garden and forest-like feel of the restaurant perfectly. As for the menu, The Villa Herbs Restaurant offers quite a variety of dishes, including set meal options. Since we had gone hungry after our earlier plan fell through, we each ordered a set meal.

Starter: Duck cheese ball

This is an exquisite dish that can be enjoyed in one bite. At first glance, it looks like a cheese or mashed potato dish, but surprisingly, it contains duck meat inside—quite a unique design. The first bite brings a rich burst of cheese aroma, and as you chew further, you can taste the delicate texture of the duck meat, gradually revealing its savory flavor. It’s recommended to pair it with the accompanying red wine vinegar sauce and salad for a more layered taste experience.

Salad

A combination of greens and fruits, topped with honey lemon dressing, and featuring my favorite quinoa. The portion was quite generous, so it was quite filling. The flavor was pleasant enough, though I found the lettuce a bit lacking in crispness and freshness—slightly disappointing.

Soup + bread (bread refills available)

The presentation of the soup was also quite refined, especially the little croissants on the side, which I loved for their cute shape and good texture. They tasted even better when paired with the thick soup. The soup of the day was a creamy eggplant soup, but I didn’t really get much eggplant aroma or texture—instead, the milk flavor was quite strong. For me, the taste was rather ordinary and not very memorable.

Pan-seared spicy cod roe chicken breast – NT$380

I can never resist spicy cod roe—it’s just too tempting, and I absolutely love dishes with it. This dish features chicken breast wrapped around spicy cod roe, then rolled and fried until crispy. The outer layer is delightfully crunchy, while the chicken breast (though it is breast meat) isn’t overly dry. The chicken pairs well with the aroma of the spicy cod roe, enhancing the overall flavor. Inside, there’s also mozzarella cheese, adding a rich, milky aroma.

Spicy tomato seafood medley – NT$420

I’m usually not a big fan of tomato-based dishes, but this seafood dish with a tomato-based flavor turned out to be quite tasty. Since it was ordered by my friend, I only sneaked a few bites (quite openly, of course). The seafood selection was fairly generous, including fresh fish, shrimp, clams, and squid. I particularly liked the shrimp—the tangy tomato sauce brought out the sweetness of the shrimp meat, and the texture was firm. Paired with the broccoli on the side, it was really delicious. Since the tomato sauce was well-prepared, we both thought this flavor would go great with pasta or risotto too.

Dessert

My dessert was a sesame and herb ice cream served with nutty cookies. The ice cream itself had a nice flavor, but the texture wasn’t very rich or smooth—it was a bit hard. The cookies were also on the harder side, usually better paired with hot coffee, so I found this dessert to be just average, personally.

Oven-baked phyllo tart with taro – NT$150

We also ordered an additional dessert—we both love sweets. It was the first time I’d seen a dessert combining phyllo pastry with taro, resembling the texture of a pastry tart. The outer phyllo crust was fragrant and crispy, while the inside was a steaming, sweet taro paste. There was a decent amount of taro filling, but you have to be careful when eating it as it’s extremely hot. Overall, it was a bit too sweet, but it made for a great post-meal dessert. I think taro lovers would really enjoy this one.

Slow-brewed fresh fruit tea – NT$200, Latte – NT$180

The fruit tea is on the sweeter side, but it comes in a generous portion with plenty of fruit, making it enjoyable from the first appetizer all the way to the final dessert. The latte is fairly standard—I personally found the milk flavor a bit too strong, which somewhat overshadowed the aroma of the coffee.

We unexpectedly came across The Villa Herbs Restaurant, which delivered impressive performance in both ambiance and dishes. The atmosphere, in particular, was wonderful, making it a great spot to celebrate holidays with friends—like sharing a big meal in a garden villa. After enjoying the fragrant daytime vibe, we’d also love to return to experience the herb garden at night to see what kind of enchanting atmosphere it offers.

The Villa Herbs Restaurant
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Address/Add: No. 30, Lane 11, Le Li Road, Da’an District, Taipei City (Liuzhangli Station)
Phone/Tel: 02-2732-3255
Business Hours/B.H.: 11:30 - 2:00 AM (open until 3:00 AM on Fridays and Saturdays)

Food Cravings, Captured Moments
Navigating through the bustling yet laid-back life of Taipei residents.
Loves uncovering hidden gourmet spots in the city, alleys, and right by your doorstep, and enjoys exploring corners filled with stories.
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