Taipei East District Italian Restaurant: Seafood Pizza with Rich Cheese Flavor

Text & Photos /Xiao Hu’s Dream Food Blog

People used to say, “Want to ruin someone? Tell them to start a magazine.” Nowadays, people say, “Want to ruin someone? Tell them to open a restaurant.” Running a restaurant these days isn’t easy, especially in the fiercely competitive East District. That’s why we joke, “If you can keep a restaurant open for two or three years without shutting down in the East District, you must be doing something right.” And “WaPasta義磚義瓦” not only hasn’t closed—it’s even opened several branches. Their strength speaks for itself. I’m sure if you’re active in the East District, you’ve eaten here before. Now let’s check out Xiao Hu’s belated review xd

Also, people say the area around Lane 223 in the East District is a so-called first-tier battleground for eateries, especially near Exit 3 of Zhongxiao Dunhua Station, the alley behind Ming Yao Department Store—you can find almost any type of cuisine you want there. For Italian food, “WaPasta義磚義瓦” is pretty well-known and quite popular, at least that’s what I’ve heard from many friends. I was even teased by a friend I was meeting that day: “This place is so famous and you’ve never eaten here? Seriously?” xd

My friend said the entrance is a favorite spot for girls to take selfies. If it’s not too hot, sitting there reading a little book for an afternoon doesn’t sound half bad either (laughs).

The dining space in the shop is honestly not very large, so you usually have to wait a little during peak hours. If you don’t want to wait, I suggest making a reservation around 1:30 pm like I did xd

When I say it’s not big, that’s just relative—and the overall lighting and decor of the shop are quite relaxed. If you prefer brighter lighting, sit by the window.

Many friends who recommended this place to me said their ingredients and oils are relatively better quality and more expensive. Customers who like them can even take these good oils, good pasta, and good ingredients home.

Here you can order à la carte as you please, or like many young people, you can order a set meal based on the number of people and share. These set meals include not only main dishes but also salads, soups, drinks, and desserts.

Additionally, different special “set meals” are available on different days of the week featuring different ingredients—those more price-sensitive might want to check those out.

That day we chose the double set meal (choose any two main dishes, plus 389 NTD for a choice of four salads, two fried items, and two drinks [large size]). The mixed seafood tempura is apparently a new item, mainly featuring shrimp and squid, and it’s super super crispy—but surprisingly not greasy and actually quite fragrant. If you find the flavor a bit plain, dip it in some ketchup. You can also choose “Fried Spiced Chicken Leg with Tartar Sauce” and “Flavored Fries with Truffle Sauce.”

The salad in the set meal is only one option, but it’s a fairly large portion suitable for two people. There are four choices: “Squid and Potato Salad,” “Caesar Salad,” “Niçoise Salad,” and “Aged Balsamic Mushroom Warm Salad.” This salad is on the refreshing side—the dressing isn’t strong, but you can really taste the flavor of the ingredients themselves. After all, most people these days don’t like overly seasoned dressings.

Among them, the most unique is the purple potato. It has a firmer, creamier texture, sweet with a hint of healthy bitterness, which then returns to the starchy sweetness you’d expect from potatoes. It’s quite special, and apparently it’s also more nutritious.

The Mediterranean White Shrimp Seafood Pasta comes with a full four sweet and chewy shrimp. The seasoning is mainly garlic and black pepper, along with the fragrant oil from stir-frying the shrimp shells, and the sauce is well-reduced.

I wonder if you’ve noticed—nowadays, many Italian restaurants proudly advertise that they use “BARILLA,” a well-known Italian brand with over 130 years of history.

Honestly, I really like the texture of the noodles from this brand. Though not as firm as freshly made noodles, they’re definitely much tastier than cheap, generic ones. For example, I’ve never been a fan of flat noodles, but these have a decent bite. The sauce clings well—not too watery or too dry and greasy. Really quite delicious.

PS: The sun-dried tomatoes are small and not many, but they’re really tasty.

Our other main dish was the “Green Pesto Fresh Oyster and Shrimp Risotto” for 330 NTD.

All the ingredients and sauces here clearly indicate their sources, reflecting the shop’s dedication and care.

Compared to the Italian brand pasta earlier, the rice used in this risotto is high-quality rice from Miaoli. Speaking of “Wu Shui Chi,” anyone who values good rice has probably heard of or tried it—I heard about it from a good friend in Yuanli a while back.

As for the risotto itself, I personally prefer green pesto, especially when it’s cooked until it’s nice and sticky. It looks warm and comforting—just the look of it says “delicious!”

The texture of this risotto is indeed as thick and sticky as it looks. The grains aren’t undercooked but also not overly mushy—the heat control is pretty good. The flavor of the green pesto is a bit mild for my taste (I like stronger flavors), but the creamy cheese flavor is just right. Also, the juicy oysters inside aren’t many, but they add an excellent accent. I usually don’t eat much for lunch, but I ended up eating 3/4 of the plate by myself. Truly recommended—I love it.

For drinks, we had slushies made fresh in-store. They’re apparently very popular with young people, especially with the hot summer coming up. These slushies are somewhere between a milkshake and a slush—they’re smooth with a slight iciness and a pleasant melting texture. It’s a bit like eating shaved ice, a bit like ice cream, and visually they resemble American-style cocktails, adding a cute touch.

Blue is “Blue Rhapsody” with ice cream and gin flavor; pink is “Berry Good Life” with mixed berries; and there’s also “Very Mango” which is mango-flavored.

In terms of taste, my friend and I had our own favorites. She loved the cool minty (blue) and gin flavors, which she said cut through the richness. But I preferred the tart-sweet combo of blueberries and bananas, especially with the generous whipped cream adding a smooth texture—it felt like eating melted ice cream. Delicious and no worries about getting it all over your hands. A big sip is super satisfying.

Next, let’s introduce a few other popular set meals at the shop. For example, the visually impressive Tomahawk series—we went with the Tomahawk Pork Chop for 580 NTD.

Besides the eye-catching tomahawk pork chop, it’s surrounded by various vegetables—because you gotta have veggies with your meat. My favorite purple potato is there too (big heart). It’s drizzled with a simple vinaigrette and served on a wooden plate—super appetizing.

The texture of the meat is much less greasy than I expected, quite firm. The first couple bites were a bit dry, but as you chew, the juices gradually release, and the sweetness is quite good—especially considering the low oil content.

Finally, let me introduce the pizza series that’s very popular with young people here. The prices range from 250 to 400, and we ended up choosing the seafood medley.

Although it’s called a seafood pizza, the overall flavor leans more towards a simple Margherita tomato base. The cheese used is mozzarella, and there’s a generous amount of it — the chewy, stretchy texture is especially satisfying. Cheese lovers will definitely enjoy this. The seafood ingredients are also a highlight; seeing the whole shrimp alone is a treat. As for the crust, the outer layer is slightly crispy and chewy with a nice bite, while the middle part is soft and slightly melted — it’s like enjoying two textures in one slice of pizza, XD.

Lastly, there’s the signature tiramisu that my friend highly recommended — I don’t know why it’s served in a wooden container, but it just feels extra delicious somehow.

Tiramisu is also one of my personal favorite desserts. This version has a richer, denser texture, which is a bit different from my preference for a softer, mushier consistency. But fortunately, it’s not as cloying or dry as some other versions. It has a good balance of oily aroma and layered cookie texture, and it’s not overly sweet. The coffee flavor, which is most important to me, has a slight bitterness at the end that I really like.

WaPasta義磚義瓦
Fan page
Address: (Mingyao Branch) No. 59, Lane 233, Section 1, Dunhua South Road, Da’an District, Taipei City
Phone: 02 2731 7499
Business Hours: 12:00–15:00, 17:30–21:00

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