Creative cuisine restaurants in Yilan without fixed menus are thriving — dishes are elaborate and full of surprises

Text and photos byPurple Smile

Following the fame of no-menu dining spots like Wunan, the Glass House, and LIVE Gourmet Gallery, Qiantang River has carved out its own niche in Xinan, Dongshan. This was the restaurant where my junior colleague held her wedding banquet. It’s the sister venue of the Glass House run by Chef Lai, and it became an instant hit. Like its counterpart, it’s a reservation-only creative cuisine restaurant, with price tiers of 600 NT/person, 800 NT/person, and 1200 NT/person (service charge not included).


The exterior has a low-key signboard and offers free parking.


Like the Glass House, it features large glass windows that let in plenty of light!!


The garden landscaping with flowing water is quite nice.


The view from the second floor — although not particularly design-forward, the lush green garden makes you feel instantly at ease upon entering.


This is the second-floor environment. As the first floor is small and already fully occupied by honored guests, it wasn’t convenient to take photos to share. Thanks also to my former colleagues at the table, who waited for me to take pictures before digging in — sorry about that!!


▲ Today’s V脱缤ENU.


Similar to its sister restaurant, the first dish is a seafood/sashimi welcome platter. When this arrived, it definitely drew exclamations of admiration. Sashimi, crab sticks, abalone, plus fruit carvings — it was really impressive and spectacular. It was served on a little boat in an oversized container filled with ingredients, each piece offering a different surprise. Since I was pregnant with Little Hazelnut at the time, I couldn’t enjoy the raw or seafood delicacies... all the good stuff went to Ben.


A fish prepared two ways — the other side will appear later.


The second dish: Phoenix Dance, the Beauty and the Golden Rooster Standing — such a poetic name.


It’s been too long, I’ve forgotten what this was... (I really did zone out).


The oil chicken is tender and smooth, with a hint of sweetness from goji berries.


A large earthen pot of stew — the broth is rich and delicious, not greasy at all.


This is one of their signature dishes often seen across their no-menu concept restaurants — crispy roasted German pork knuckle. This dish is simply amazing, so tasty!!!


The staff helped serve the crispy-on-the-outside, tender-on-the-inside pork knuckle. This one is paired with Thai spicy-sour sauce, German mustard, and other flavors, allowing you to enjoy three distinct tastes in one bite — brilliant.




This lotus leaf-wrapped rice is also great!! The rice carries the fragrant aroma of the lotus leaf.


This is another of their signature dishes: a seafood hotpot. The broth here is truly excellent, it’s just a shame you can’t eat too much of it.


The broth is somewhat like a milk-based soup — smooth and easy to drink, with very rich ingredients such as hairy crabs, mushrooms, scallops, cabbage, |刻酢⑿啡獍簟⒂衩住???囊还??芟肱呐氖帧＜br />



This dish, whose name I can’t match to the menu, seems like some kind of mixed seafood trio. Super nourishing, but I didn’t dare to eat it!!


Those who have dined at any of their series of no-menu concept restaurants will surely recognize this dish.


Crack open the crispy top layer, and inside is a chewy filling.


A rich and flavorful seafood soup — this one is delicious too.


Crab stir-fried in garlic — though the crab isn’t very big, the garlic crust is well-seasoned, and the crab meat is tender, making it a great drinking snack.


Tofu crisp-flavored fish — here’s the other half from earlier!! Seasoned with tofu crisp, the contrast between the crisp and the fresh fish creates an interesting texture — pretty good.


The final dessert fruit.


The mango pudding served as a sweet soup is also quite tasty!!


[Qiantang River Culinary Arts Guild]

Address: No. 61-1, Lane 90, Guangxing Road, Guangxing Village, Dongshan Township, Yilan County
Phone: 03-9611099, 03-9516998 (by appointment only)
We are Ben & Jean — we love food, travel, photography, and 3C.
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