No matter how long the wait, it’s worth it — 5 popular must-queue restaurants in Greater Taipei

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

For delicious food, many people are willing to queue up in the middle of the night or early in the morning, even if it means waiting 2 to 3 hours. The Japanese specialty store

▲ Kaneko Hannosuke’s Edo-style soba<.(Photo by Huang Shiyuan)

Kaneko Hannosuke
Japanese queuing favorite “Kaneko Hannosuke” soba< finally opened its first Taiwan branch on the 10th at Breeze Taipei Station (inside the station)! This Taiwan outlet offers not only the “Edo-style tempura soba” from the flagship store in Nihonbashi, Tokyo, but also “Tempura Soba” and “Topped Soba,” totaling three types of signature dishes. The “hamo (pike conger eel)” used in the Edo-style tempura soba is imported directly from Japan, and each piece is longer than a palm. As for Kaneko Hannosuke’s secret sauce—its key flavoring ingredient—it is also prepared in Japan and then shipped to Taiwan.

Address: 2F, No. 3, Beiping W. Rd., Zhongzheng District, Taipei City (inside Breeze Taipei Station)
Phone: 02-2314-0298
Business Hours: 10:00–22:00


▲ Haidilao Hot Pot Taiwan No. 1 Branch is now officially open, operating daily from 11:00 AM to 4:00 AM. (Photo / Huang Shiyuan)

Haidilao
The well-known mainland Chinese hot pot chain Haidilao has officially launched in Taiwan, with its biggest highlight being its “over-the-top service.” Free services in the waiting area include manicures, massage chairs, and shoe shining, while fruits, herbal teas, and ice cream are all complimentary. In the dining area, fruits and congee are also free. Since manicures take about 40 minutes, the nail technicians will give you a number and even kindly call you when it’s your turn. Interestingly, Haidilao staff mentioned that even non-diners can book manicure services — they say it’s all about “customer-first” service.

Aside from attentive service — constantly asking if you’d like tea, a massage, or a manicure — the most unique offering is “babysitting.” Haidilao has a roughly 5-tsubo (approx. 165 sq ft) playroom. Parents who worry about their kids getting burned or simply want to enjoy their meal in peace can leave their children in the playroom, which features a small ball pit and staff dedicated to looking after the kids and playing with them.

Address: 6F, No. 12, Songshou Rd., Xinyi District, Taipei City
Business Hours: 11:00–4:00 AM (next day)
Phone: 02-77431855 / 02-77431899

Tsuruichi Tokyo Shoyu Ramen Ranmaru
Located at the intersection of Yanji St. and Bade Rd. in Taipei, the ramen shop “Tsuruichi Tokyo Shoyu Ramen Ranmaru” is so popular among ramen enthusiasts that many are willing to wait 1 to 2 hours, knowing the wait might be long. This is the third ramen shop opened by Ryuuho Ryuuichi. He chose this location on Yanji St. and Bade Rd. because he noticed there weren’t many dining options around — so if locals get hungry late at night, at least they have a ramen shop to go to. The shop has just six seats, all at the counter. Ryuuho explained that many ramen shops in Japan are small with just a counter, and he wanted to bring that authentic feel to Taiwan. Ranmaru’s broth comes in two styles: clear and rich. The clear broth is simmered with soy sauce and pork belly for 2.5 hours, while the rich broth is made at the main shop but is slightly lighter in flavor.

Address: No. 2, Yanji St., Songshan District, Taipei City
Business Hours: 11:30 AM–2:00 PM; 6:00 PM–10:30 PM

▲ The selection of fresh seafood in the chirashi sushi changes daily. During our visit, it included salmon, tuna, red snapper, barramundi, scallops, shrimp, sea urchin, and salmon roe — an abundant and satisfying combination. (Photo / Reporter Chen Tzu-yin)

Little Six Dining
Little Six Dining is beloved by nearby office workers for its fresh sashimi, which isn’t over-handled, preserving the natural flavors of the seafood. Their “omakase-style” courses offer great value and surprising flavors, often leading to lines forming well before opening time, all for the chance to taste their fresh and delicious sashimi dishes.

Address: No. 8, Lane 259, Songjiang Rd., Zhongshan District, Taipei City
Phone: 02-2506-0065
Business Hours: 11:30 AM–2:00 PM, 6:00 PM–9:00 PM (Closed on Sundays)

▲ The line here is still pretty mild — at its craziest, it can even stretch outside to the building’s front entrance. (Photo / File photo)

Fuhang Soy Milk
Fuhang Soy Milk is a well-known breakfast spot in Taipei. While it mainly sells soy milk, baked sesame pancakes, and fried dough sticks, its popularity has soared recently among tourists, leading to early-morning queues. By 8 or 9 AM, office workers and students join the line, making the long queue a common sight. Many praise their “thick sesame pancakes” for having a crispy exterior that’s not dry, still moist when bitten into, while the “thin sesame pancakes” are also a hit for their crispiness, even without the chewy texture.

Address: 2F, No. 108, Section 1, Zhongxiao East Road, Zhongzheng District, Taipei City
Phone: 02-2392-2175
Business Hours: 05:30~12:30

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