A vintage apartment transformed into a Southern European bistro — pure, passionate Spanish cuisine

Text & Photos byGrandpa and Little Wife

The angel shrimp calmly gazes at diners: “You... have you been to Zhongzheng District before?”

Me? Zhongzheng District in Taipei City? Unless you’re a long-time Taipei local or frequently commute from Keelung to Taipei, you probably don’t know where Zhongzheng is. It’s roughly around the area of Section 2, Bade Road. Zhongzheng gives off the vibe of 1980s Taipei frozen in time, full of old shops, old shopping streets, and old noodle stalls. The pace is a little slower, moving like an iron tiger at a leisurely gait, as if everyone is sipping calm black tea, watching the turbulent waves of change outside while quietly waiting.

“There’s a Spanish seafood restaurant here? In the old Zhongzheng District of old Taipei?” I was genuinely surprised to learn that PURO PURO is in Zhongzheng. Without chasing crowds in Songshan (the former name of East District) or picking places in Ximending, it embodies the essence of “PURO” — delivering “pure Spain” and “meticulous Japan” to offer “joyful, spirited drinks,” bringing a blush-inducing, lively new “night” to the “calm old Taipei.”

“PURO PURO Traditional Spanish Seafood Restaurant” was designed by a Japanese-trained architect who skillfully transformed a two-story vintage apartment into a passionate Southern European bistro. PURO not only conveys the purity of Spain but also means “professional and meticulous” in Japanese. The “PU” sound is derived from Puhui Construction, and PURO also represents Puhui Architecture.

The first floor serves Spanish specialties such as Spanish omelet, garlic shrimp, and sautéed mushrooms, along with various tapas to pair with drinks. “PURO PURO” Traditional Spanish Seafood Restaurant is one of Puhui Architecture’s key ventures into the F&B industry. They invited Japanese head chef Masamichi Shinosaki to Taiwan to bring Taipei’s tapas enthusiasts a taste of gourmet delights.

We had dinner this time, but we’ll definitely come back next time to try the first-floor bar snacks.

“Fresh Fish with Spanish-Style Salad” — an Andalusian dish featuring tuna sashimi topped with pipirrana sauce and finished with golden premium olive oil. It tastes like a refreshing version of salsa, with tender, sweet fish that's perfect for about 3–4 people. This meal is ideal for that group size and is best enjoyed with pairing wine.

“Garlic Mushrooms” — a classic Spanish tapas whose origins are unclear, though tapas history spans about 200 years, showing how long this dish has been around. The rich aroma of frying seeps into the olive oil, making it perfect to enjoy mushrooms and olive oil on bread.

“Garlic Shrimp” — like the garlic mushrooms, it’s also part of the long-standing tapas tradition. The flavors of garlic and shrimp blend perfectly together; the shrimp are fresh and crisp.

The staff also recommend dipping the garlic mushrooms and garlic shrimp in bread for extra aroma.

“Spanish Garlic Soup” — a representative soup of Spain, with flavors typical of the central region.

It looks thick but is actually refreshing, with the smoky flavor of ham infused into your soul. What tastes like cotton is actually bread.

“Basque-Style Grilled Grouper” — using grouper, clams, angel shrimp, and green beans, sprinkled generously with parsley for fragrance. It features a simple sauce without cream, yielding tender fish, fresh clams, and sweet, delicious broth. Adding an angel shrimp and some green beans offers a refreshing touch. The only downside is that the fish scales weren’t fully removed, so eat carefully.

Angel shrimp come from the cold, deep waters of the South Atlantic, wild-caught, pure and unpolluted. Once cooked, their flesh is sweet, delicate, and rich in umami-rich roe. Their orange-red color is highly appetizing, making them a popular ingredient in modern cuisine.

The service is really considerate — as soon as guests finish peeling shrimp, a waiter promptly replaces the plate and offers a wet napkin to clean your hands.

“Sherry Braised Oxtail” — made with oxtail, bell peppers, carrots, and green beans, served over crispy french fries. The fries are salty, crunchy, and satisfying.

Good oxtail takes all day to braise. Before serving, sherry is added for flavor. The meat becomes incredibly tender, falling off the bone. If there’s still bread around, dip it in the sauce — perfect.

“Spanish Seafood Pasta” — uses angel hair pasta and saffron, along with three large shrimp, mussels, clams, squid, and fresh fish. The saffron flavor is strong, and the al dente texture of the pasta is impressive.

The waitstaff will plate the food for you at the table.

“Dessert” — custard tart and handmade chocolate ice cream sprinkled with hazelnut powder. It’s quite luxurious to make the ice cream by hand.

The cured ham displayed near the kitchen — Spanish cured ham not only has concentrated meaty aroma but also carries nutty and citrus notes. For Spaniards, cured ham is a staple for all three meals. It’s simple to eat: just slice and pair with wine or toss into a salad.

We feel the whole meal pairs excellently with a few bottles of red or white wine (not just one). Remember: “Don’t drink and drive, don’t drive if you’ve been drinking.”

● ETtoday News Cloud reminds you: Don’t drink and drive, don’t drive if you’ve been drinking.

The second floor has private rooms, perfect for group gatherings. The minimum spend is NT$10,000, and up to ten people can fit — averaging just NT$1,000 per person.

It’s also great for business meals, giving off a vibe of “easy to discuss business, business discusses well, good business gets talked about.”

Each dish starts at around NT$300, with no 10% service charge. There are also set meals starting at NT$1,000 and NT$1,500 for those wanting a taste.

“PURO PURO Traditional Spanish Seafood Restaurant”
Phone: (02) 2778-4818
Address: No. 265, Section 2, Bade Road, Zhongshan District, Taipei City
Business Hours: (Closed every Sunday)
First Floor Afternoon Tea 14:00~17:00
First Floor Dinner 17:30~23:00
Second Floor Dinner 17:30~22:00
(Last order time is one hour before closing)

Menu available on PURO PURO’s Facebook photo album
Facebook FB → https://www.facebook.com/pyct.puropuro?fref=nf

Grandpa & Little Wife
☆ Love food, travel, and spa — a sweet duo on the go ☆ ★

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