10 Restaurants Guaranteed by Japanese Travel Expert Aoki Yuka (Part 1)

Text and photos © Aoki Yuka, authorized by Sharp Point Publishing

These are the carefully selected restaurants that Ms. Aoki Yuka frequently visits, hosts gatherings at, and loves so much she can’t resist them. Use these picks to decide where to eat during your two- or three-day trip.

Rooftop Cat Private Kitchen – A fusion of Japanese, Chinese, greenery, and delicious food in a completely private, intimate setting

“The food, interior design, and hospitality were all perfect.” What made Ms. Aoki so happy was Rooftop Cat Private Kitchen, which operates out of the private home of chefs Pangpang and ROY. It’s so popular that reservations are required months in advance. Located on the fifth floor of an apartment building with no sign, but once you step inside, you’re greeted by lush green plants, playful cats, sunlight and breezes streaming in through the balcony windows, and the aroma of delicious food wafting through the space. It feels like stepping into a secret oasis. [br]

▲ Taiwanese noodles with pan-fried chicken and a smooth, mellow green onion sauce.

In the adjacent kitchen, you can see Taiwanese ingredients such as winter melon and mackerel being prepared using delicate French cooking techniques. While waiting, you feel as if you’re being welcomed as a friend. The menu includes cold chicken soup seasoned with sansho pepper, bracken fern jelly, and more. The refined flavors and elegant plating will absolutely captivate you. What kind of mood should you be in to enjoy such luxury?


▲ The interior design was created by the duo themselves.


▲ The plating is inspired by inspiration from a trip to Kyoto.

[Rooftop Cat Private Kitchen]
Address:5F, No. 29, Lane 190, Section 1, Dunhua South Road, Da’an District, Taipei City
Business Hours:Lunch 12:00–, Dinner 19:00–　
Consumption Notice:Fully reservation-only (minimum 6 guests, maximum 10. English email reservations are welcome)
royflower.lo@gmail.com). Irregular holidays; credit cards not accepted.


Hakka Tavern – A restaurant that excels in flavor, surprise, and atmosphere

Just a 15-minute taxi ride from central Taipei, you’ll find this vibrant restaurant nestled in a quiet residential area full of greenery. Ms. Aoki says, “This is a creative Hakka cuisine restaurant, but the flavors are light, and the small side dishes displayed at the counter are also delicious!” Traditional Hakka cuisine often features preserved eggs, pickled items, squid, and similar ingredients, resulting in heavier tastes. However, Hakka Tavern manages to bring out the inherent deliciousness and texture of these ingredients to create a refined and mature flavor profile.


▲ The high ceilings give the dining space an open, airy feel.

For example, in summer when bamboo shoots are in season, Ms. Aoki’s most anticipated dish, “Golden Sapphire Green Bamboo Shoots,” combines fresh bamboo shoots, asparagus, and thin-skinned preserved eggs lightly coated and pan-fried, finished with preserved egg seasoning. The high-quality preserved egg has no off-putting taste and instead offers a delightful, surprising flavor. If you want to escape the hustle and bustle and enjoy refined Taiwanese cuisine, this is the place to come.


▲ The restaurant’s popular dish, “Braised Chicken with Chinese Cabbage,” requires advance reservation.


▲ Ms. Aoki’s favorite “Golden Sapphire Green Bamboo Shoots,” 420 TWD.

[Hakka Tavern]
Address:No. 22, Zhiguang Street, Yonghe District, New Taipei City　
Phone:02-3151-7777
Business Hours:11:00–13:30, 17:00–20:30 (last order) 　
Spending Tips:Closed during Lunar New Year holidays, no credit card payments accepted.


Fenghua Xiao Guan – Exquisite ingredients and broth are incredibly delicious without weighing down your stomach.

Ms. Aoki says: “This is a restaurant highly recommended by friends who love tea ceremony – it really feels like winning a prize. Located in Banqiao District, about a 20-minute taxi ride from downtown Taipei, it’s also a very popular area lately.” The stylish interior space and lush green surroundings make it a comfortable spot for mature adults, and the flavors of the dishes are relatively light, using carefully simmered broths to add layers of taste.


▲ Lion’s Head Chicken Soup “Ham White-Braised Lion’s Head,” made with Taiwanese black pork, seasoned with the saltiness of Jinhua ham, and also includes glass noodles and bamboo shoots, 460 TWD.

The main dishes are certainly delicious, but the shop’s carefully prepared specialty dishes using high-quality vegetables are also highly recommended. Ms. Aoki’s must-order items include “Ham and Broad Beans,” made by steaming broad beans and ham with the restaurant’s homemade broth along with bamboo shoots, and “Bitter Melon and Salted Egg,” where bitter melon slices are dried to alter their texture before being stir-fried with salted egg. Even if you know the original flavors of the ingredients, the resulting dishes here offer unexpectedly surprising deliciousness. It’s more economical to visit with four or more people.


▲ Seasonal special “Ham and Broad Beans.”


▲ “Bai Hua Niang You Tiao,” deep-fried dough sticks stuffed with shrimp and stir-fried with XO sauce, 420 TWD.


【Fenghua Xiao Guan】
Address:No. 209, Section 2, Shuangshi Road, Banqiao District, New Taipei City　
Phone: 02-8252-9789
Business Hours:11:30–14:00 (last order), 17:30–20:30 (last order 20:00) 　
Spending Tips:Closed twice a year at irregular times and during Lunar New Year holidays. Credit cards accepted, Japanese menu available, beer and red wine served. Reservation required.


Luguang Xiao Guan – Timeless “Military Dependents’ Village Cuisine”

Ms. Aoki says: “It’s rare to find such a popular, affordable, and delicious place in trendy East Taipei.” The biggest feature of this restaurant is its family-style dishes known as “military dependents’ village cuisine.” The soldiers who followed General Chiang Kai-shek from mainland China to Taiwan back then, during the era of food rationing, did their best to recreate the flavors of their hometown dishes, focusing on dumplings, noodles, and braised snacks.


▲ The walls are adorned with portraits of Chiang Kai-shek, giving the place a strong nostalgic vibe.

The chef, who grew up in a military dependents’ village, says: “This is my hometown flavor!” The super-popular dumplings come in two flavors: leek and napa cabbage, which pair perfectly with black pork. There are also dishes like potato strips seasoned with vinegar and chili, and stir-fried napa cabbage with garlic and chili – every dish transforms common ingredients into “delicious” meals that are sure to excite. No stir-fried dishes are served at lunch, only noodles, dumplings, cold dishes, and braised snacks.


▲ Dumplings, 6 TWD each, minimum order of ten, or five leek and five napa cabbage dumplings also available.


▲ Spicy Stir-Fried Cabbage, 80 TWD.


【Luguang Xiao Guan】
Address:No. 103, Section 4, Civic Boulevard, Songshan District, Taipei City
Phone:02-8771-8855
Business Hours:11:30–14:00 (last order), 17:30–21:00 (last order)
Spending Tips:Closed on Mondays and during Lunar New Year holidays. No credit cards accepted, Japanese menu available, beer served.


Sichuan Spice – A Taiwanese hot pot that’s fiery on the tongue but gentle on the stomach

Ms. Aoki, a huge fan of hot pot, says: “This is absolutely the best hot pot in Taiwan!” What she confidently recommends is “Sichuan Spice.” Must-tries include the red spicy broth made with 20–30 kinds of Chinese herbs plus Sichuan peppercorns, and the white broth simmered for over eight hours with pork bone, chicken, green onions, and ginger. There’s also the “Sichuan Cold Pot Fish,” where you can enjoy both broths at once, and you just need to add your favorite hot pot ingredients to cook in the pot yourself.


▲ After the numbing thrill of the red broth, soothe your palate with the sweet white broth — “it’s truly addictive”!

“The broth is so delicious you could drink bowl after bowl, and treats like squid balls that wrap the sweet flavor of seafood and simple fried bean curd are really tasty too!” Eating spicy hot pot in the sweltering summer heat is especially satisfying, or you can mix some white broth into the red to adjust the spiciness. The fish in the pot is already tender enough to melt in your mouth, so be sure not to overcook it and eat it while it’s fresh. “I come here for the hot pot every time, but the Sichuan dishes here are also delicious and varied — you can’t miss either!”


▲ Alongside the hot pot feast, don’t miss this spicy appetizer “Garlic Pork Slices” for 200 NT.


▲ The must-order mixed platter for 320 NT.


【Sichuan Spice】

Address:No. 114-1, Section 4, Civic Boulevard, Da’an District, Taipei City　
Phone:02-2771-9962
Business Hours:17:30–2:00 AM (next day) (last order at 1:00 AM)　
Consumption Notes:Closed on Mondays and during Lunar New Year. No credit cards accepted, beer available, 10% service charge added.

※ The above is excerpted fromThe Best of Taiwan, a book written by popular Japanese author Aoki Yuka, introducing interesting and fun spots in Taiwan from a Japanese perspective, along with many hidden gems even locals don’t know about.More info~~