Visit "Puzzle Food Library" again！The spicy beef pizza is fragrant and delicious as ever

Text and photos byGui Xiaosun

Is there a place that, even after several years, still leaves a very deep and good impression on you—one you’d confidently recommend to others? For me, "Puzzle Food Library" is pretty much just like that. Of course, please remember that all articles reflect my personal feelings—whether you like it or not is entirely up to you. And I only write about my own life and stories, waiting to gather those who share the same interests—or maybe I just want you to understand life, and how to enjoy it.

Puzzle Food Library used to be called Puzzle Pizza. Back then, it was a small shop on the first floor (I don’t remember if there were seats on the second floor), so small it felt like the ground floor of a residential building. But when I saw it mentioned in an article about mountains, clouds, and blue skies, I went there with friends twice in a row, and would even occasionally bring some for my elders at home.

Later, I didn’t go for a while because, although the food was delicious, the prices were relatively high—it wasn’t something you could have often unless you were in a big group. Then, I discovered in Shan, Yun, and Lantian’s posts that they had moved. Ever since, I’d been planning to check it out. I deliberately chose a weekday noon, met up with a friend, and used my phone to find it—it’s located right across from COSCO in Taichung.





So I trusted this location would be bustling with families on weekends. That day, sitting on the first floor, the ample natural light and high ceilings made the space feel spacious and comfortable—a much nicer atmosphere compared to the old, smaller shop (though I really did like that little place too). Also worth mentioning, I’ve always loved their flyers—the photography is beautiful, every image is intriguing, almost like a professional foreign magazine.




Taking the spiral staircase up to the second floor, my heart instantly lit up. The space here is at least two or three times larger than the first floor, and the interior design—from the tables to the chairs—is like art. I was also completely captivated by the expansive windows.


Like a child discovering something new, I wandered over to the window seat with my camera. The sunlight that day was like a studio light, illuminating the bottles of red wine, their pale green and deep green hues glowing. The hanging lights—do you know? I absolutely love them.


No one says everything in the world is black and white, and no one says every story you see online is true. We’re all adults, and we all have our own thoughts. I just want everyone to remember to judge your own preferences—don’t just follow what others like.


I’ll share new and unique things, and I’ll also share old classics. I’ll eat very local Taiwanese snacks, and I’ll also wait in line for fresh, trendy new items. These are all part of my lifestyle—embracing new things and asking myself "why" they succeed, while cherishing traditional things and finding out "why" they’ve stood the test of time.

These are all things in life that can inspire us.


Choosing a weekday is a great idea—if you work different hours from most people, this kind of timing is perfect.

Pick a seat, bask in the sunlight streaming in, surrounded by those charming chairs, with no time constraints—slowly enjoy a dish you love, sharing quiet moments with friends or your other half.


There are plenty of seats on the second floor that can accommodate ten people, and I’m already thinking about how many friends I can invite for the next gathering.

One more thing I must mention—the service staff at Puzzle are all so polite. Their tone of voice, facial expressions—they still left me very satisfied that day. Both the first and second floors had quite a few staff, and their professional quality made me willingly tip my service fee XD.



I walked around quickly—because I was hungry, because I love taking photos, and because I love eating. I’ve trained myself to take photos very fast, which always surprises my friends. XD They often say, “Is that it?!”


Oops, I don’t seem to have a habit of photographing menus XD. The previous photo was purely because I thought the menu itself looked beautiful. But I should emphasize—back then, Puzzle only offered à la carte options, but now they have set meals. So that day, we ordered a two-person set: 1280 TWD (there are 888, 1280, and 1480? I’m not sure about the last one).

You can choose from appetizers, pizza, pasta, and desserts, with soup and salad included (drinks are ordered separately). First to arrive was hot, freshly baked bread—truly hot—with buttery flowers on top, incredibly fragrant and chewy.


The salad’s greens were all fresh, paired with what tasted like an orange-based dressing—definitely my kind of flavor, and the portion was just right for two.


That day’s chef’s soup was potato soup. My friend really liked it, kept telling me it had a rich, fresh potato taste, like freshly blended fruit. I thought besides potatoes, there might have been mushrooms? I couldn’t quite tell, but it was really warming and delicious.

For pasta, I immediately looked at the menu photos and went for the one with seafood XD.


The portion was definitely enough for two, especially since we also had pizza and an appetizer. The seafood was sweet and fresh, including small scallops, and the shrimp seemed grilled and slightly dried—making the sweetness even richer.


The flat noodles had more texture, both the seafood and noodles were flavorful, but we didn’t dare finish it all at once—we were afraid we’d be too full by the time the pizza arrived XD.

We also added a fruit tea, which left a deep impression on me. Puzzle’s drinks are like three-dimensional paintings—the vibrant, rich colors made me stare at them again and again. Of course, the rich flavors were exactly what I liked. How they mix such a masterpiece, I think they must put a lot of care even into these small drink details.


And now, the main event!! Spicy beef pizza—yes. My top pick for pizza in Taichung is right here.


That day, I chose this flavor, and the conclusion is—it’s still delicious. It has onions, chili peppers, beef slices, green onions, and probably some other ingredients I can’t name XD. The aroma hit me as soon as it was served, and I thought: yep, this is it.

Here’s a cheesy, stringy shot XD. The beef had those unbroken strands, just like the cheese, with a spicy kick. What can I say—I even love spicy pizza, and it gets tastier the more I eat.


By the time we finished the pizza, we were already about 90% full. Then the waiter brought out the appetizer, and we both looked at each other at the same time: oh right, there was this too—forgot the full name, but it ended with OOO squid.


We were shocked when we saw it — we had completely forgotten about it, were already almost full, and I had been thinking it would be an appetizer, so not a big portion. But it turned out to be a whole “big squid”!

The big squid used here is the kind you see at night markets — the larger, more expensive ones. And wow, it was so beautiful~ Another reason I loved this dish was that it wasn’t just delicious but also visually appealing. I couldn’t stop taking pictures of that squid. Notice its thickness — it was super chewy and springy, a texture you only get with super fresh ingredients. Basically, I ate almost the whole thing myself because my friend was already done in XD!


In their done-in state, they still managed to finish eight slices of pizza and even took three slices home. When I saw the staff carefully packing the pizza and the sticker on the bag, I snapped a photo right away. That sticker has the simple charm I love.




After clearing the table, the desserts were served. When I saw the serving dishes, I fell for them again — one was a baked crème brûlée, the other a sesame rice cheese. I personally prefer the rice cheese.

These two desserts, which most places wouldn’t think much of, were given a beautiful finishing touch with elegant tableware. You’ve got to admit, that’s both smart and thoughtful.

Seeing those Japanese-style dishes, after being full, I felt like I’d paused — quietly admiring and savoring them. The rice cheese had a sesame aroma, with some sesame at the base, and the top resembled popcorn or puffed rice, offering a nice crunch and fragrance. I took a photo of the two together — doesn’t it give off the vibe of a Japanese tatami room, with a cup of matcha waiting on the low table?


Finally, I’m back at this place — my top pick for pizza when anyone asks. From way back then till now, I still love it.


Now, it’s even bigger, with a space that feels perfect for big gatherings. It’s even more beautiful now, especially the second floor — every little corner has its own charm, and I’m already thinking about when I’ll come back next.

Author of this article: [Enjoy life without getting bored. By Xiao Sun]

[Puzzle Food Depot]

Address: No. 281, Wenshin South Road Section 3, Nantun District, Taichung City
Contact number:(04)2475-5855