How many have you tried? A lazy guide to new restaurants that opened in Greater Taipei in the first half of 2016

Reported by Huang Shiyuan, Taipei

Compared to 2015, the F&B market in the first half of 2016 remained bustling. In addition to new restaurants from local brands, there were also highly popular BBQ restaurants from New York and the arrival of New York’s “Breakfast Queen,” as well as Menya Itto, which ranked third in Japan’s “Tabelog” list of the 50 most delicious ramen shops, opening a branch in Taipei. Out of the 20 new restaurants that opened in the first half of the year, how many have you tried?


▲BAKE CHEESE TART from Hokkaido went on sale on June 15. (Photo / Huang Shiyuan)

BAKE CHEESE TART
Selling one in less than two seconds, the legendary cheese tart brand BAKE CHEESE TART, which sold 20 million units in a year, will open its first store in Taiwan on June 15 on the first floor of Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Taipei Nanxi 3rd Store. Each BAKE CHEESE TART is priced at NT$70, and a box of six costs NT$390. BAKE CHEESE TART focuses on a “one-brand, one-product” concept, specializing solely in cheese tarts. It uses Japanese cheese from Hakodate and Bekkai, along with French salted cheese, blending the three in specific ratios to create a unique mousse filling. The tart shell is pre-baked once during production and then baked again with the filling upon arrival, a “double-baking method” that results in an exceptionally crispy crust.

Address: 1F, No. 12, Nanjing W. Rd., Zhongshan Dist., Taipei City (Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Nanxi 3rd Store)
Phone: 02-2567-3825

▲Sarabeth's classic eggs benedict. (Photo / Huang Shiyuan)

Sarabeth's
Sarabeth's, known as the “Breakfast Queen of New York,” finally opened its first Taiwan branch on May 31, located on B1 of Taipei SOGO Dunhua. It has its own separate entrance and exit, allowing it to operate independently of the department store’s hours — opening as early as 9 AM, a location requirement insisted upon by founder Sarabeth Levine. As for the menu, the signature classic eggs benedict is priced at NT$360, plus a 10% service charge bringing it just over NT$400, while the French toast is priced at NT$480, exceeding NT$500 after the service charge.

Location: B1, 246 Section 1, Dunhua S. Rd., Taipei City (Taipei SOGO Dunhua)


▲The nigiri sushi in the omakase set at Marumoto, with the leftmost piece being the premium tuna belly (otoro) nigiri. (Photo / Huang Shiyuan)

Marumoto
Operated by the Breeze Group, the Japanese restaurant Marumoto began trial operations on May 18 after six months of preparation. Head chef Iwaki Tsutomu, who trained under the venerable Edomae-style sushi restaurant Tsukiji Sushi Iwa and brings 20 years of experience, stated that he hopes to offer Taiwanese customers authentic and delicious Japanese cuisine through Marumoto. Located on the 45th floor of Breeze XinYi, Marumoto offers daytime views of blue skies and green mountains, and nighttime vistas of Taipei’s beautiful city lights, making it the highest-altitude Japanese restaurant in all of Taiwan.

Address: 45F, No. 68, Section 5, Zhongxiao E. Rd., Xinyi Dist., Taipei City (Breeze 45F)
Phone: 02-6639-7786


▲The steamed shrimp goldfish dumplings at Wangyuelou look incredibly lifelike. (Photo / Huang Shiyuan)

Wangyuelou
Located on the 48th floor of the 101 Building (Pai Yang Building) next to Taipei’s Breeze XinYi and New Taipei City’s tallest building, Wangyuelou offers window-side tables with stunning day and night views. It features three exclusive and private VIP rooms: Banqiao Hall (24 people), Fuzhong Hall (12 people), and Nanya Hall (10 people), in addition to other regular seating for a total of 100 guests. The restaurant specializes in Cantonese cuisine with elements of Sichuan and Hunan styles. Each dish starts at NT$280, while five types of set meals range from NT$1,000 to NT$4,800 per person. During lunch, refined Hong Kong-style dim sum is specially offered, starting at NT$120 per piece. Officially opened on May 24.

Address: 48F, Pai Yang Building, No. 16, Xinzhan Rd., Banqiao Dist., New Taipei City
Phone: 02-7705-9700

“Kumamon” Japanese-themed Restaurant
Another Kumamon-themed restaurant has arrived. In 2015, the Kumamon-themed café made a splash in Taiwan, thrilling local fans. This time, the Kumamon-themed restaurant “KUMA Sushi” focuses on Japanese seafood cuisine, featuring six different types of...<饭，常见的生鲑鱼N<饭、?N<、散蛋N<、大腹N<、鲑鱼亲子N<、三色N<。

Address: No. 6, Lane 222, Dunhua N. Rd., Taipei City
Phone: 02-8712-5353


▲Taipei’s popular Kaizaimen Dry Pot Duck Head opens a northern branch. (Photo / from Kaizaimen Dry Pot Duck Head - Taipei Dunhua Facebook)

Kaizaimen Duck Head Dry Pot Taipei Dunhua Branch
Taipei foodies who love duck head dry pot can rejoice — the popular Kaizaimen Duck Head Dry Pot from Kaohsiung has opened a branch in Taipei. Starting May 7, the Taipei Dunhua branch is now in operation. In addition to the classic duck head dry pot, you can now also try the dry pot red... option. After finishing your duck head dry pot, you can add the broth to a spicy pot and throw in vegetables, seafood, lamb, or beef for a second delicious way to enjoy the meal.

Address: No. 8, Lane 232, Section 1, Dunhua S. Rd., Taipei City
Phone: 02-8772-1447


▲ Spanish vegetable paella from The Bears' School Happy Kitchen. (Photo / Huang Shiyuan)

The Bears' School Happy Kitchen
Are you a fan of the Japanese picture book “The Bears' School”? Now you can get even closer to Jecci and her 11 brothers. The bear-themed restaurant “The Bears' School Happy Kitchen” began soft opening on June 15. ETtoday EBC was the first to give everyone an exclusive look. Jecci can be spotted all over the restaurant, including on the water dispenser on the table, chairs, cushions, and wall decorations. There’s also an outdoor dining area, and the shop has set up a small sandbox for kids.

The Bears' School Happy Kitchen
Address: No. 191, Section 5, Minsheng East Road, Songshan District, Taipei City (behind the post office, near Xindong Street)


▲ The hakuretsu warm salad features locally sourced Hokkaido hakuretsu cheese melted fresh on-site in the “cheese oven.” (Photo / Huang Shiyuan)

HuauQ Ranch
The ultra-popular Hokkaido cheese delicacy and must-buy souvenir from Japan, “HuauQ Ranch,” is making its Taiwan debut. Its first branch, “HuauQ Ranch Café,” has started soft opening in ATT 4 FUN, Xinyi District, Taipei. Aside from enjoying classic dishes such as triple-cheese pasta made with award-winning cheese, customers can also shop for popular Hokkaido flavors in the retail section. HuauQ Ranch is known for its fresh, additive-free dairy products. Its hakuretsu cheese, produced at its own ranch in Hokkaido, even won the championship at the All Japan Natural Cheese Contest. To deliver the authentic taste, the cheese is flown directly from Hokkaido to Taiwan. Dishes include the hakuretsu warm salad and the championship triple-cheese pasta made with three award-winning cheeses. Additionally, the popular Hokkaido egg tart is also available in Taiwan.

Address: 4F, No. 12, Songshou Road, Xinyi District, Taipei City (ATT 4 FUN)
Phone: 02-77378860


▲ The popular Japanese and Korean dish, ball steak, is coming to Taiwan. (Photo / Provided by Oh! My Stone)

Oh! My Stone
Taiwan’s first “ball steak” restaurant, “Oh! My Stone,” opened on May 21. This is a new food trend recently emerging in Fukuoka, Japan, and Seoul. Using a high-temperature black stone cast iron, spherical beef patties are directly grilled on the stone surface, offering a new experience that combines yakiniku and stone grilling. Guests can enjoy the fun of DIY cooking. The ball steak and other ingredients are served on a regular iron plate, but the highlight is the black stone cast iron heated to 500 degrees. Customers place the ground meat directly on it to grill — one stone can cook about one ball steak.

Address: No. 16, Lane 6, Alley 553, Section 4, Zhongxiao East Road, Taipei City (near Taipei City Hall MRT Station & Songshan Cultural and Creative Park)
Phone: 02-2769-5757

Taïrroir French Restaurant
Showcasing the culinary spirit of Taiwan’s new generation, combining ingredients, terroir, and attitude in its cuisine.

Address: 6F, No. 299, Lequn 3rd Road, Taipei City
Phone: 02-8501-5500


▲ Special thick seafood tsukemen. (Photo / Reporter Huang Kexiang)

Menya Itto
Ranked 3rd among the 50 most delicious ramen shops in Japan by the Japanese food website “Tabelog,” Menya Itto’s first Taiwan branch opened on April 18. Their signature rich seafood tsukemen is also called the championship tsukemen. The broth is made by simmering chicken bones, chicken feet, chicken fat, ground meat, and five different types of seafood. It also offers Japan’s first low-temperature-cooked chicken and pork chashu. Owner Sakamoto Yukihiko proudly stated that this type of tsukemen cannot yet be found in Taiwan.

Address: No. 29, Section 1, Nanjing East Road, Zhongshan District, Taipei City
Phone: 02-2581-1711


▲ Yuanshan Steakhouse officially opened on the 28th. (Photo / Lin Yuling)

Yuanshan Steakhouse
After a 22-year hiatus, Yuanshan Steakhouse reopened on April 28. Its biggest feature is the use of popular dry-aging and wet-aging techniques to make the beef more tender. Dry aging retains the inner tenderness of the meat, concentrating its flavor. It is then stored in a refrigerator kept between -1 and 3 degrees Celsius to maintain humidity, resulting in a softer texture and more pronounced flavor. Wet aging involves vacuum-sealing the beef to preserve its original sweetness and moisture. Chef Tseng Chia-hsing explained that both dry and wet aging rely on the beef’s natural enzymes to enhance its flavor, tenderness, and juiciness.

Address: No. 1, Section 4, Zhongshan North Road, Zhongshan District, Taipei City
Phone: 02-2886-8888 ext. 1250


▲ Beef brisket from McDique Restaurant. (Photo / Huang Shiyuan)

McDique Restaurant
Mighty Quinn’s Barbeque, one of New York’s most popular BBQ restaurants, opened its first Taiwan branch on April 18. Combining the characteristics of Texas and North Carolina-style BBQ, it uses slow smoking over a long period to preserve the most authentic flavors and juices. The main dishes include beef brisket, beef plate, and dinosaur beef ribeye steaks, as well as classic offerings like pulled pork and pork ribs.

Address: No. 109, Section 4, Ren’ai Road, Da’an District, Taipei City
Phone: 02-27726174
Business Hours: 11:30 AM – 11:00 PM

Tori no Hitoyoshi Ramen
The American Japanese ramen brand Tori no Hitoyoshi Ramen is set to officially open on April 24. The menu includes Tori no Hitoyoshi White Soup Ramen, Tori no Hitoyoshi Spicy Ramen, Tori no Hitoyoshi Miso Ramen, Tori no Hitoyoshi Spicy Miso Ramen, Tori no Hitoyoshi Vegetable Ramen, Tori no Hitoyoshi Vegetable Spicy Ramen, and Tori no Hitoyoshi Thick-Cut Ramen. Founded in 2004, “Tori no Yakitori” was a hidden gem in the backstreets of New York, using free-range chicken. The large amount of chicken bones left after processing led to the development of “chicken white soup,” which was then refined into chicken white soup ramen by master ramen chefs from Japan—this is the origin of Tori no Hitoyoshi Ramen.

Address: No. 9, Lane 5, Alley 107, Section 1, Fuxing South Road, Da’an District, Taipei City
Phone: 02-2778-9866


▲American Angus Black Angus Ribeye Steak Set for Two. (Photo by Huang Shiyuan)

Duoyi Steakhouse
“Duoyi Steakhouse,” the new brand launched by “Xiangbin Catering Group,” which owns brands such as Xiangshi Paradise, Kaifan, Guoran Hui, and Xiangtaidu, officially announced its entry into the Western cuisine market. Scheduled to open on April 28, the restaurant is located on the 7th floor of Taipei’s Uni-President Department Store in Xinyi District.

In recent years, Taiwan has seen a surge in high-end steakhouse popularity, with both local and international brands opening. As steak guru Deng Youkui put it, even though Taiwanese Western restaurants offer a variety of dishes, around 70% of customers still prefer steak—showcasing just how much Taiwanese people love it. Recognizing steak’s strong appeal, Xiangbin Catering decided to enter the Western steak market with their new brand, Duoyi Steakhouse.

Address: 7th Floor, No. 8, Section 5, Zhongxiao East Road, Xinyi District, Taipei City
Phone: 02-2758-8898


▲Kongling One Chicken is now available in Taiwan too！(Photo by Huang Shiyuan)

Kongling One Chicken
Many are eagerly awaiting the April opening of the Korean dish Kongling One Chicken. Owner Rui YongfY explained that the soup base for Kongling One Chicken is made by simmering over 10 types of vegetables for 5 hours, resulting in a lighter taste compared to regular chicken broth. As for the chicken, 45-day-old free-range birds are used, yielding especially tender meat. If one chicken isn’t enough, you can add knife-cut noodles (NT$60), plain rice (NT$20), or seaweed egg congee (NT$60). For the congee, the recommendation is to finish the chicken first, then use the remaining broth (staff will refill if needed), adding rice, eggs, and seaweed to slowly cook into a savory porridge.

Address: No. 14, Lane 83, Section 1, Da’an Road, Da’an District, Taipei City
Phone: 02-2781-8181

▲Penang Duck Egg Fried | Crackery Thing | Sweet & Savory Delights (Photo by Huang Shiyuan)

Mamak Stall
Mamak Stall is a common Malaysian street food, born from the cultural fusion of Chinese, Indian, and local Malay communities. It offers uniquely local dishes such as Nasi Lemak (coconut rice, beloved by Malaysians and even suitable as breakfast), tall, napkin-like crispy roti, and curry laksa. Now, you can enjoy it in Taipei’s Eastern District too！

Address: 1F, No. 72, Lane 187, Section 1, Dunhua South Road, Taipei City
Phone: 02-27316086

▲COVA’s desserts and cakes are made fresh daily. (Photo by Huang Shiyuan)

COVA
The century-old Italian patisserie COVA from Milan finally opened officially on February 18. Here, you can savor authentic Italian coffee, cakes, and chocolates. Small pastries (like cream puffs) are NT$70 each, daily featured cakes are NT$220 per slice. As for COVA’s signature chocolate products, the Goodnight Chocolate is NT$35 per piece, the Gold Brick Chocolate is NT$70 per item, and filled/truffle chocolates are NT$80 each regardless of flavor.

Address: 2F, No. 68, Section 5, Zhongxiao East Road, Taipei City
Phone: 02-2722-7655

▲Jumbo Pork Loin Cutlet. (Photo by Huang Shiyuan)

Yaba Miso Pork Cutlet
The long-established tonkatsu (pork cutlet) restaurant “Yaba Miso Tonkatsu,” a must-try for travelers visiting Nagoya, Japan, has officially opened in Taipei’s Yongkang commercial district. Since its founding in 1947, the shop has been operating for 75 years. To faithfully reproduce the authentic Japanese flavors, Yaba Tonkatsu’s secret miso sauce and the crucial breadcrumb ingredient for frying the pork cutlets are all flown in from Japan. Additionally, Japanese head chef Hirotomo Chino will be stationed at the store during the opening period to prepare the signature Nagoya-style miso tonkatsu.

Address: 1F, No. 171, Section 2, Xinyi Road, Zhongzheng District, Taipei City
Phone: 02-2341-8810



▲ Japan’s No. 1 popular freshly baked semi-melted cheese tower PABLO is now available in Taiwan after January 15. (Photo / Huang Shiyuan)

PABLO
Japan’s No. 1 popular freshly baked semi-melted cheese tower PABLO officially opened its first Taiwan branch on January 15 at HOYII Taipei Main Station, launching a flagship store that combines dine-in (including takeout counter), takeout service, and retail in one “triple-format flagship outlet.” In addition to freshly baked semi-melted cheese towers and gold medal cheese towers, the desserts offered also include cheese puff pastries, sandwich cookies, and two types of mille-feuille exclusive to overseas markets. Beyond the original flavors, PABLO has launched chilled cheese towers for the first time. These cool, semi-melted cheese towers not only feature their unique “semi-melted” baking technique but also use PABLO’s proprietary rapid chilling technology to quickly cool down the warm cheese towers. The result is a melt-in-your-mouth, cool, and creamy texture reminiscent of pudding.

Address: 1F / B1, No. 36, Section 1, Zhongxiao West Road, Zhongzheng District, Taipei City
Phone: 02-2370-3678

▲ Roast duck. (Photo / Huang Shiyuan)

Chaofang Hong Kong-Style Dim Sum Buffet
Kaohsiung’s Daba Catering Group, which established “Chaofang Hong Kong-Style Dim Sum Buffet” in 2010 in Kaohsiung, has officially expanded into Taipei, with its Breeze Nanjing branch opening on January 9. The biggest highlight of Chaofang Hong Kong-Style Dim Sum Buffet is its dim sum buffet format, combined with freshly made stir-fried dishes, offering a hundred different dishes. Especially attractive are the weekday lunch price of NT$479, and the weekday dinner as well as weekend lunch and dinner prices of just NT$549, which are considered extremely affordable in the greater Taipei area.

The Chaofang Taipei Neihu InBase branch also officially opened on March 8. With a seating capacity of 350, it is the largest branch in Taiwan and twice the size of the Nanjing branch. In addition to more seats, many new dishes have been added, such as spicy crab stir-fry, freshly cooked fish slice soup, freshly made satay seafood vermicelli hot pot, and limited-time, quantity-controlled servings of Hong Kong-style braised beef shank.

Nanjing Branch
Address: 4F, No. 337, Section 3, Nanjing East Road, Songshan District, Taipei City
Phone: 02-8712-8800

Neihu InBase Branch
Address: 2F, No. 68, Xinhu 2nd Road, Neihu District, Taipei City
Phone: 02-8792-2345