Taipei’s European-style afternoon tea: saffron seafood risotto & tiramisu!

Text & photos by /Wisely

Although I used to work in Neihu for a while, to be honest, I wasn’t very familiar with the area. But now this district is developing rapidly, with many unique restaurants and hotels popping up. The ‘Yijia Hotel JS DINER’, which I visited for this interview, is one such example. When I arrived, I realized its environment is on par with first-class hotels—the interior decor of the restaurant is quite beautiful, the prices are reasonable, and the food is delicious!

Yijia Hotel is located right next to the Tri-Service General Hospital in Neihu and is also quite close to Songshan Airport. It’s about a 10-minute walk from WenDe Metro Station. On the day of my visit, I also saw quite a few foreign tourists staying here.

The dining area is located next to the lobby on the first floor at “JS DINER,” which currently offers lunch, afternoon tea, and weekend brunch. Dinner is served by reservation as a private chef service.

Connecting the lobby entrance to the dining seating area is a small bar, which looks luxurious and where the bartenders demonstrate good skills.

The interior has great lighting, and the overall environment is bright and clean with the ambiance of a high-end European-style restaurant. Every angle offers a different surprise, and the seats are very comfortable. The napkins folded into the shape of shirts on the tables are also quite interesting.

My friend D and I chose a window seat to dine by, looking out at the bright street, which made us feel much more cheerful.

The average cost per dish is around NT$300–500. Trying their business lunch is actually quite a good deal, and individual rice dishes or pasta are around NT$350, which is quite reasonable. Other items like drinks and desserts are around NT$200–300.

This ‘Asparagus and Salmon Tartare’ is an alcoholic appetizer, made with Norwegian smoked salmon, American asparagus, and fine chives, combined with various sauces. Tasting it alone might feel a bit strong, but it pairs very well with white wine.

The classic Italian salad ‘Tomato Concerto with Buffalo Mozzarella and Modena Balsamic Vinegar Caviar’ mainly features tomatoes with mozzarella, basil, and is seasoned with olive oil, salt, and pepper. The most interesting part visually is the bubbles made from basil and milk, and the molecular gastronomy-style Modena vinegar caviar adds a nice touch.

Their ‘Traditional French Onion Soup’ is one of the best-tasting onion soups I’ve had. The carefully caramelized sweetness combines perfectly with beef broth, making it richly flavorful. Topped with cheese bread, it not only enhances the aroma but also adds to the satiety—something I still think about long after eating it.

The ‘Tsukiji Saffron Seafood Risotto’, centered around saffron, is quite impressive. The chef made a slight twist on Spanish paella. While it still includes large shrimp, American scallops, Chilean mussels, clams, and Canadian squid, the saffron dominates the overall flavor, giving the risotto a texture that balances Taiwanese and Western styles. It’s definitely worth trying for risotto lovers.

The ‘Four-Cheese Meat Sauce Lasagna’, made with mozzarella, ricotta, gruyère, and parmesan, is also a truly traditional European dish. The four cheeses blend to create a wonderful aroma and texture. Mixed with slow-cooked beef, bacon, concentrated tomato, onion, garlic, and other ingredients, the meat sauce is smooth, flavorful, and not at all greasy.

This ‘Toffee Apple French Toast’ arrived when we were already too full to finish it. Though the French toast has a strong eggy aroma, and the toffee sauce with sautéed apple bits is appealing, eating so much starch was a bit heavy. However, it is part of the brunch menu, and those interested can try it. The toast and salad also look lovely, though I think it’d be even better with some bacon skewers.

My favorite, the ‘Classic Tiramisu’, is one of the JS DINER dishes I highly recommend. The coffee-soaked ladyfingers are moist, and the mixture of mascarpone cheese and other ingredients creates a rich yet blissful aroma—making you want to have another bite.

For drinks, the ‘Wild Berry Daiquiri’ made with fresh strawberry, blueberry, and raspberry jam, elderflower syrup, and fresh cream is refreshing. The ‘Blue Hawaii’ cocktail, based on rum, with a hint of coconut from Mailbu and pineapple juice, is visually and tastefully charming. Their coffee is also great—the simple roasting flavor makes it very satisfying after a meal with dessert...

Overall, I’m very satisfied with the food and service at Yijia Hotel JS DINER. The chefs may look young, but you can feel their dedication in every dish. The ingredients are solid and offer great value. I look forward to staying here again next time and trying different private chef dishes.

Yijia Hotel JS DINER
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Address: No. 512, Section 2, Chenggong Rd., Neihu District, Taipei City
Phone: 02-27956777
Hours: Lunch / Mon–Fri 11:30–13:30, Brunch 11:30–17:00
Website:http://www.lamaisonhotel.com/news-detail-33.html

Wisely
A Piscean man who records food, travel, and life,
Who enjoys writing about the little moments in everyday life.
Always yearning for the rich and colorful stories of others,
So he earnestly documents his own life in his blog,
Ensuring the footsteps he's experienced and explored are not just left in his mind.
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