Burger Guide 101: Uncle Raymond's Mega Big Mac at Xingtian Temple MRT Station in Taipei

Text/Photos byBear-Miao Rudy

American-style burgers are all about size—and when it comes to Taiwan’s burger scene, the undisputed king is Uncle Raymond’s Mega Big Mac at Xingtian Temple MRT Station.

I found out about this place thanks to my friend Xiao Hu from the forum. To put it simply, I got totally hooked after reading his food review—what goes around comes around, huh (sigh...). So, Bear, who’s always been a beef lover and burger enthusiast, just had to drag Miao along to give it a try.

But regular readers of the Bear-Miao blog probably know that Miao doesn’t eat beef—even though Bear looks like a burly tough guy (actually quite the opposite...), there was no way he could finish the 101 burger all by himself. So this time, Bear-Miao rounded up two power-eating dining buddies: Bear’s younger brother and his girlfriend. Let’s give them a warm welcome (clap clap clap clap—but no taking responsibility for any weight gain)!

The restaurant is long and narrow, almost like a towel, with entrances at both the front and the back. The kitchen and counter are on one side, while the other side is lined with customer seating. I’d say it’s semi-open kitchen style—it’s got a certain design flair. The walls are decorated with plenty of picture frames, which is pretty common in American-style diners. And of course, no American diner would be complete without a chalkboard menu, featuring a big burger illustration and the list of dishes. (It’s really well drawn—I lack artistic talent, so I’m quite envious).

Let’s take a look at the menu. First up are the pork ribs, along with a choice of two out of three sides. But our group of four came here for the burgers, so we’ll skip this for now. There are also some great promotions you can take advantage of while dining here—an excellent strategy to boost the average spend per customer. Up. There are some nice-looking appetizers. After discussing among Bear-Miao, Bear’s brother, and his girlfriend, we decided to go with the Mushroom Planet (NT$220,photo below) for a try. The onion rings that look like the Leaning Tower of Pisa also seemed pretty amusing—this kind of quirky food always catches Bear-Miao’s eye—but everyone decided to save their stomach space for the 101 burger and leave the challenge for next time.

Finally, we get to the burger section. Beef and beef-chicken combos. Shrimp burgers and the Big Eater Burger. Hehe, this time we set our sights on Uncle Raymond’s Invincible Mega Big Mac (NT$588). Just thinking about it gets our blood pumping... (Ooooh, Bear’s growl just kicked in). There are also Mexican dishes. Thin-crust pizzas—we were tempted to try those too, but honestly worried we wouldn’t be able to finish them. There’s also a good selection of risottos and turmeric rice, plus plenty of pasta options.

Miao, who doesn’t eat beef, opted for the Parilla Tomato Chicken Omelet (NT$280, choose your bread, sides, and drink), plus a croissant with sides. There are plenty of kids’ meals, desserts, and drinks... (to conquer everything, you’d probably need to come dozens of times!!) The drinks even come in Mega Big Mac-sized portions—looks like Uncle Raymond is all about going big, not small... There are also options for couples and groups of four, with lots of choices and combinations.

First up is Mario’s Mushroom Planet (NT$220, portion,top-left photo). Being a fried dish, it was super fragrant and tempting as soon as it arrived hot. The lightly colored batter is very appealing, and up close, you can really sense its aroma and juiciness. When you cut into the mushrooms while they’re hot, you get that sweet mushroom flavor—it’s a great appetizer. Then there’s Miao’s iced latte (NT$130, cup, top-right photo), but if you order a drink with your main meal, you get a 50% discount, so this one only cost NT$65!!

Next is the dish ordered by Bear’s brother’s girlfriend—this one is called Hulk Seafood Medley Risotto (NT$290, portion,top-left photo). It has a rich pesto base, going for a bold seafood flavor. Overall, the grilled pesto risotto is naturally crowd-pleasing, and with a good amount of fresh seafood, it performs really well. This dish will definitely satisfy seafood and grilled rice lovers.

Then there’s the Parilla Tomato Chicken Omelet (NT$280, choose your bread, sides, and drink,top-right photo). This is the omelet dish Miao deliberated over for quite a while before choosing. Overall, Uncle Raymond’s style is a mix of American and Mexican, so this omelet also has some Tex-Mex flair—the egg is topped with a bit of balsamic vinegar for extra flavor, and the inside feels a bit like a warm salsa. Paired with veggies and juicy chicken, it’s quite suitable for those who love bold Mexican-American flavors, though the omelet here isn’t soft and runny—it’s more solid and chewy.

And now, the absolute highlight of the day!! When it arrived, it was genuinely thrilling—so astonishingly tall, the 101 of the burger world has arrived!! This is Uncle Raymond’s special creation: the Invincible Mega Big Mac (NT$588, portion).

What makes it mega is the three beef patties and two chicken cutlets inside—absolutely over-the-top and super filling (Bear and Miao were genuinely getting scared; we survived this time thanks to Bear’s brother and his girlfriend, otherwise Bear-Miao would’ve definitely been carried out). The price is a bit high, but the overall level of fullness is more than double that!! (It can also be shared between two or three people). Previously, Bear-Miao had just tried another HUGE mega burger, but that one was more spread out in area—very different from Uncle Raymond’s towering style. Both are mega in their own ways, Up. Here’s Miao’s arm (top-right photo), though there’s also a photo with a head for scale. But the head was just too big, so we decided not to include it (too embarrassing).

Using an arm as a scale isn’t very professional—of course, we had to break out the tape measure (left photo). As a car mechanic-turned-food blogger who’s always hunting for fun content, it’s only logical to have a tape measure (and a hammer) around. As they say, pictures don’t lie—even though America’s mega burgers aren’t as jaw-dropping as that 30-cm Turkish behemoth, this one still measures around 22 cm (that’s the pride of burgers, digressing a bit...). The sides are fries, and there’s a decent portion—four people can barely finish them. Thankfully we didn’t order any other fried items or we’d really be in trouble. (Bear’s voice: Actually, we already are).

If you were to follow the normal procedure and just open your jaw wide to take a bite of the burger, I think aside from a python, no small creature could manage it (but how could Bear and Miao give up?). We asked the server how to eat it, and she said to peel it apart layer by layer from the top—that actually makes sense. If we encountered an overly strict boss who insisted customers had to open their mouths wide to take a bite, this place might turn into a hub for jaw dislocation cases. Thankfully, the young and adorable waitress didn’t say anything like that.

Just the beef patty and chicken cutlet are divided into three small plates (Left image), wow!! Just looking at them is already super satisfying!! Next, let’s talk about the flavor and texture of the beef patty. Overall, it’s seasoned, and it’s pressed a bit more tightly—not the kind that’s thick and hollow with bursting juices. When you bite into it, there’s saltiness, and both the juiciness and meat quality are at a medium level. Taking a big bite of the two layers is really quite satisfying.

As for the chicken cutlet, it has even more juice, and with its substantial thickness, it’s more elastic to eat. However, the seasoning is slightly lighter, with some hints of Italian herbs, making it suitable for those who prefer a milder taste. So overall, the rich beef patty paired with the milder chicken cutlet creates a nice sense of balance too!

In terms of price, for four people it came to a total of 1638 NT (about 400 RMB), which isn’t exactly cheap, but the portion size should be enough for around five people (since we couldn’t finish it all and had leftovers to take home).

So if you’re someone with a big appetite, or want to challenge yourself to finish a giant burger with just two people, definitely give Uncle Raymond’s a try (though the chances of taking it to-go are probably pretty high...).

Author of this article: Xiongmao RudyA couple who loves food, occasionally go wild spending lots on eating, drinking, and playing, but generally stick to the principle of “limited money, endless appetite.” Their blog of the same name"Xiongmao Eats the World"is also being updated simultaneously.

【Uncle Raymond’s Kitchen for the Culinary Novice】

Address: No. 1, Lane 313, Songjiang Rd., Taipei City (Take Exit 3 of Taipei Arena MRT Station, turn into the hotpot alley to find it)
Phone: (02)25177684
Business Hours: Monday to Friday 11:30–22:00, Saturday & Sunday 9:30–22:00 (Open every day)

Recommendation: The pricing is mid to slightly high, but the portions are quite large. Overall, it’s suitable for big eaters and beef lovers. As for the beef, the flavor is medium with good solidity, lightly seasoned, and saltiness is just right. The chicken cutlet is a bit lighter in flavor but still tender.