French restaurant Sel Fleur has moved to Taichung’s 7th Redevelopment Zone — an ever-changing à la carte dining experience

▲ Taichung’s Sel Fleur French restaurant has moved to the 7th Redevelopment Zone. (Photo provided by Sel Fleur)

Reported and photographed by Huang Shiyuan, Taipei

Taichung’s top French fine-dining restaurant Sel Fleur has relocated. The new venue is located in the newly developed commercial district of the 7th Redevelopment Zone, yet the standalone white building, inspired by salt crystal designs, is tucked away among a Starbucks, Texas Roadhouse steakhouse, and Taiwan’s largest relaxation spa KARUIZAWA l⒅?. It offers a more exclusive and intimate vibe.

▲ The low-key TAPAS BAR. (Photo provided by Sel Fleur)

The restaurant interior is divided into two sections. Upon entering, you’ll first see the low-key TAPAS BAR, while the other part is a bright and elegant FINE DINING restaurant. The TAPAS BAR currently serves a variety of Spanish-style small plates, mainly à la carte. Chef Li Yu-jun hopes that through the TAPAS BAR, first-time guests can get a preliminary taste of their cooking style, and then return to try the à la carte fine dining at the FINE DINING restaurant. However, Chef Li mentioned that the TAPAS BAR may eventually switch to an à la carte format in the future, though the timing is not yet decided.


▲ Three appetizers.

The FINE DINING restaurant offers an à la carte menu, with lunch sets starting from NT$1,580 and dinner à la carte courses starting from NT$2,880. Regarding the à la carte concept, Chef Li Yu-jun believes that every ingredient has its optimal ripeness and best time to be enjoyed, so using seasonal fresh ingredients is the best way to bring out their flavors. Chef Li also emphasized that the dishes served daily will vary depending on the ingredients procured.


▲ Bamboo clam with green asparagus.

Not only is the food carefully prepared, but Chef Li Yu-jun also pays great attention to tableware, utensils, and interior design. He invited an overseas designer to create an aesthetic space, where a gray-blue color scheme is complemented by numerous titanium metal sculptures. Most striking is a full wall resembling textured gold, made from individually cast and assembled titanium-plated metal pieces, costing over a million Taiwanese dollars. The soft satin-like finish adds a gentle atmosphere to the restaurant. The knives, forks, and cutlery were all personally selected by Chef Li to match the overall style of the new venue.


▲ Duck liver shaped like an apple — resembling an apple on the outside, but slicing into it reveals rich, creamy duck liver. It can be eaten as is or paired with the bread provided by the restaurant.

Additionally, some small details in the restaurant hide stories from the chef. For example, the SHOW PLATE on the tables is a textured stone that Chef Li Yu-jun wanted to bring the natural scenery he saw in the sel gris fields into the restaurant. The coffee machine used in the restaurant is an old model purchased when founding the PAPAMIO Italian restaurant, and the coffee cups are from Chef Li’s personal collection of ILLY brand.


▲ Iberian pork loin with bone, topped with pumpkin purée and served with yellow passion fruit sauce underneath.


▲ Rose soufflé.

Generally, restaurants aim to have as many seats as possible, but Chef Li Yu-jun is very particular about the size and design of the kitchen. Half of the entire restaurant’s area is dedicated to the kitchen, with hot and cold kitchens completely separated. The equipment used is also from world-class brands. Chef Li believes that in the best kitchen, one can naturally cook with the most joy and produce excellent dishes.

When Chef Li founded the restaurant and named it “Sel Fleur,” it was because the French take their cuisine so seriously that even “salt” must be the rare and intricately produced sel gris (flower of salt). She hopes her restaurant can be like sel gris — understated, yet capable of delivering a lasting and profound flavor experience.

Sel Fleur French Restaurant
Address: No. 581-1, Zhèngshì Lù, Xītún Dìqū, Táiběi Shì
Phone: 04-2372-6526