You might not get a table even if you want to eat here: Taiwan’s 10 hardest-to-book popular restaurants

▲ Han Lai Harbor Restaurant tops the list of Taiwan’s 10 hardest-to-book restaurants. (Photo / Reporter Chen Ruizhong)

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

Taiwanese people are extremely passionate about food. They’re willing to wait in line for hours just to satisfy their cravings—no matter how long it takes, they’ll do whatever it takes to secure a reservation, or else they’ll wait on-site.DailyView Online Temperature MeterReleases Taiwan’s 10 hardest-to-book restaurants, making them both loved and hated. Those who want to eat here must have the patience and time to wait up.

This popularity survey wasbased on how often netizens specifically mentionphrases like “so hard to book,” “can’t get through on the booking line,” or “online bookings sell out in seconds”when talking about these restaurants.The types of restaurants on the list are diverse,with all-you-can-eat buffet restaurants being the most popular,along with cartoon-themed restaurants, family-friendly restaurants, creative cuisine spots, Japanese restaurants, conveyor belt sushi, and more,showcasing Taiwanese people’s broad acceptance of various cuisines.。

1. Han Lai Harbor Restaurant
Coming in first place is Han Lai Harbor Restaurant, which has six branches across Taiwan. It boasts the richest variety of seafood in the country, regularly updating ingredients based on seasons. The restaurant also offers a wide range of international and local cuisines, divided into nine themed dining areas, including a seafood cold station, international cuisine, Asian dishes, Japanese grill and fried foods, freshly prepared dishes, soups, desserts, and more. Currently, reservations can be made by phone or online, with two-month-ahead online bookings opening at 10:30 AM on the 1st of every month.

Dunhua Branch
Address: 6F, No. 246, Section 1, Dunhua S. Rd., Taipei City
Phone: 02-87736656

2.Rilakkuma Café
Ranked second is the Rilakkuma Restaurant, one of the hottest cartoon-themed restaurants in Taiwan. Its ultra-healing Rilakkuma-shaped dishes are the biggest draw. The restaurant is filled with adorable Rilakkuma, Little White Bear, and chick characters, and even the seats are adorned with themed character pillows—it's simply adorable. Currently, all reservations must be made online, with the next month’s slots opening at noon on the 20th of each month—super competitive and in high demand.

Address: No. 3, Lane 248, Section 4, Zhongxiao E. Rd., Taipei City
Phone: 02-27730303
Business Hours: 11:30 AM – 10:00 PM

▲ Rilakkuma Themed Restaurant. (Photo / From the official Japanese Rilakkuma Facebook page リラックマ Rilakkuma SAN-X)

3. Regent Taipei’s Park Lane
Regent Taipei’s Park Lane is one of the most popular restaurants in Taipei’s Zhongshan shopping district. After renovation, the restaurant space has been completely refreshed. Known for its refined dishes, Park Lane organizes its cooking styles into sections: boiled, steamed, stewed, stir-fried and deep-fried, grilled, teppanyaki, and seafood stations. During its reopening period, the phone lines were so busy they peaked at over 20,000 calls, showing just how popular it is.

Address: No. 3, Lane 39, Section 2, Zhongshan N. Rd., Taipei City
Phone: 02-25238000 ext. 3870

▲ The Ballroom at Regent Taipei. (Photo / Reporter Huang Shiyuan)

4.HELLO KITTY Shabu-Shabu
Opened in July 2015, HELLO KITTY Shabu-Shabu has attracted numerous fans. To fully immerse visitors in the HELLO KITTY theme, the décor, tableware, and even the menu are all designed in the iconic style—ensuring fans can spot HELLO KITTY everywhere they look. While the richness of the hotpot ingredients may not be the main focus, it’s said that some fans had to call over a hundred times just to secure a reservation.

Address: No. 16, Lane 27, Alley 216, Section 4, Zhongxiao East Road, Taipei City
Phone: 02-27115216
Business Hours: Monday to Sunday, 11:30 AM to 11:30 PM

▲ HELLO KITTY Shabu-Shabu. (Photo / Reporter Huang Shiyuan)

5.RAW
Renowned for being extremely difficult to book, RAW Restaurant features distinctive interior design, a blend of European aesthetics and culinary trends, the reputation of Michelin three-star chef André Chiang, and creatively crafted fine cuisine. It’s no wonder the place is so popular. Currently, all reservations must be made online, with bookings only available from the current day up to two weeks in advance. If you want to try these signature dishes, you’ll need to act fast.

Address: No. 301, Lequn 3rd Road, Taipei City
Phone: 02-85015800
Business Hours: Lunch 11:30 AM–2:30 PM, Dinner 6:00 PM–10:00 PM (Closed Mondays and Tuesdays)

▲ RAW Restaurant. (Photo / Reporter Huang Shiyuan)

6. The buffet at Grand Hyatt Taipei’s Café Kafe
Located next to the lobby on the first floor of Grand Hyatt Taipei, Café Kafe is a buffet restaurant that pioneered the concept of an open kitchen. It offers a wide variety of international cuisines and has long enjoyed immense popularity in the Xinyi District. After renovation, the space was divided into 10 themed dining areas, serving over 160 classic dishes daily. Although online reservation forms are now available, securing a spot during peak holiday periods is extremely challenging, so it’s advisable to book well in advance.

Address: No. 2, Songshou Road, Taipei City
Phone: 02-27201230

▲ Grand Hyatt’s Café Kafe. (Photo / Reporter Chen Ziying)

7. Kura Sushi
Kura Sushi from Japan offers an interactive dining experience where you can collect empty sushi plates to exchange for a chance to win prizes from the capsule toy machines—a concept that’s incredibly appealing to Taiwanese diners who love novel experiences. Reservations can currently only be made via their app or by collecting a same-day queue number on-site, and spots fill up almost instantly when bookings open, making it extremely sought-after.

Songjiang Nanjing Branch
Address: B1, No. 101, Section 2, Nanjing East Road, Zhongshan District, Taipei City
Business Hours: Weekdays 11:00 AM–10:00 PM, Holidays 10:30 AM–10:00 PM

▲ Kura Sushi. (Photo / fromKura Sushi Taiwan’s Songjiang Nanjing Branch Facebook page)

8. Le Méridien Taipei’s Discovery Kitchen
The highly acclaimed Discovery Kitchen at Le Méridien Taipei features artistic interiors and refined elegance. The dishes are exquisitely prepared and diverse, complemented by a visible open kitchen that ensures diners of food safety. However, popular time slots during weekends are often fully booked one or two months in advance, and phone lines are hard to get through. It’s recommended to use the online reservation form on the official website for a smoother experience.

Address: No. 38, Songren Road, Xinyi District, Taipei City
Phone: 02-66228000

▲ Delicious hairy crabs at Discovery Kitchen. (Photo / Provided by Le Méridien Taipei)

9.NB子亲子义式餐厅
Located near the Taichung City Council, NB子亲子义式餐厅 (NB Kids & Parents Italian Restaurant) stands out with its eye-catching exterior featuring several giant green snails and white little snails. Inside, the spacious venue includes a play area for families, creating a comfortable overall atmosphere. Although it’s a family-friendly restaurant, it also attracts many non-family groups. Reservations are hard to secure, and bookings are only accepted up to six days in advance—so plan ahead if you want to dine here!

Address: No. 6, Fuhuiyuan Road, Xitun District, Taichung City
Phone: 04-22540691
Business Hours: Monday–Sunday 8:30 AM–10:00 PM

▲NB子亲子义式餐厅。（图／取自X子粉丝专页）

10.小六食堂
Situated near Xingtian Temple MRT Station, 小六食堂 (Xiao Liu Dining) serves fresh and delicious sashimi as well as N<饭价钱超亲民，CP值超高！尤其是店内的“无菜单料理”，更是充满味蕾惊喜。热门程度是常常还未到用餐时间，店门口就挤满了排队人潮，据说电话订位还有开放时段，更别说开放时段内究竟打不打得进去了！

Address: No. 8, Lane 259, Songjiang Road, Zhongshan District, Taipei City ‎
Phone: 02-25060065 ‎
Business Hours: 11:30 AM–2:00 PM, 6:00 PM–9:00 PM (Closed on Sundays)

▲Xiao Liu Dining’s casual seafood N<。（图／麻吉小兔）