a journal of finding good food and restaurants i love to eat in Taipei when I'm not in Los Angeles. looking forward to hearing from other food lovers about where your favorite places to eat are, so i can try them next!
Wednesday, March 30, 2022
news: 2022 ASIA’s 50 BEST
Friday, May 07, 2021
modern/japanese: i recommend LOGY spring 2021
LOGY
No. 6, Lane 109, Anhe Road, Sec. 1
MRT: Xinyi/Anhe
website: logy.tw/reservation.html
hours: lunch: Thursday - Sunday 12:00 - 15:00 (Last order 12:30)
Dinner: Wednesday - Sunday 17:30 - 19:30 (Last order 17:30)
19:30 - 22:30 (Last order 19:30)
$$$ (NT$3750 + 10% per tasting menu)
Kid friendliness: logy's website says they only allow children 12 and above
Visit reviewed: April 2021
Friday, March 26, 2021
news: 5 TAIWAN RESTAURANTS NAMED 2021 ASIA's 50 BEST
Chefs across Asia celebrated together, but separately as the 2021 Asia's 50 Best Restaurants was announced in a virtual ceremony rather in an onsite awards celebration for the second year in a row.
A record number of 5 restaurants repping Taiwan were named to Asia’s 50 Best, making us proud- Mume (15), RAW (21), new entry Logy (24), JL Studio in Taichung (26) and Shoun Ryugin (45). Team @logy.tw joins the list for the first time at #24 and chef Ryogo Tahara says “it’s a dream come true. It’s because of my team I can accomplish this goal.”
Congrats also to Singaporean chef Angela Lai, named 2021 Asia’s Best pastry chef. You can currently try her desserts at two Michelin star restaurant Tairroir.
I’ve been thinking about what it means that The Chairman is the first Chinese restaurant to be named number 1 restaurant in Asia, especially after a year where anti-Asian and anti-Chinese hate has risen around the world after a difficult year for everyone around the world. The world is a complicated place- and the gap between America where I grew up and Asia which is my home now has become so large. But to see the cross cultural camaraderie between the chefs, to witness their dreams come true, the recognition by #Asias50Best for many restaurants in Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, Thailand, Taiwan and more is a celebration for all the restaurants that have survived and strived to be places we hope to go to after we can safely travel again. It’s not a competition to see who can be best, rather it’s a way to push and lift each other up and forward, and that's what we will need to do after the pandemic.
- THE CHAIRMAN, Hong Kong
- ODETTE, Singapore
- DEN, Japan
- LE DU, Thailand
- GAGGAN ANAND, Thailand - New Entry - Aspire Lifestyles Highest New Entry Award 2021
- SUHRING, Thailand
- FLORILEGE, Japan
- LA CIME, Japan
- NARISAWA, Japan
- MINGLES, South Korea
- SORN, Thailand
- SAZENKA, Japan
- LES AMIS, Singapore
- BURNT ENDS, Singapore
- MUME, Taiwan
- VEA, Hong Kong - Gin Mare Art of Hospitality Award 2021
- NEIGHBORHOOD, Hong Kong
- INDIAN ACCENT, India
- L’EFFERVESCENCE, Japan - Beronia Highest Climber Award 2021
- NUSARA, Thailand - New Entry
- RAW, Taiwan
- FU HE HUI, China
- ZEN, Singapore
- LOGY, Taiwan - New Entry
- 25. BELON, Hong Kong
- JL STUDIO, Taiwan
- ODE, Japan
- CAPRICE, Hong Kong
- MINISTRY OF CRAB, Sri Lanka
- LA MAISON DE LA NATURE GOH, Japan
- CLOUDSTREET, Singapore – New Entry
- MASQUE, India
- 8 1/2 OTTO E MEZZO BOMBANA, Hong Kong
- 7TH DOOR, South Korea - New Entry
- NIHONRYORI RYUGIN, Japan
- BORN & BRED, South Korea – New Entry
- AMBER, Hong Kong
- TA VIE, Hong Kong
- ANAN SAIGON, Vietnam - New Entry
- LABYRINTH, Singapore - New Entry and Winner of Flor de Cana Sustainable Restaurant Award 2021
- EUPHORIA, Singapore – New Entry
- JAAN BY KIRK WESTAWAY, Singapore
- HANSIKGANGGAN, South Korea
- MONO, Hong Kong – New Entry
- SHOUN RYUGIN, Taiwan
- GAA, Thailand
- LUNG KING HEEN, Hong Kong
- SEVENTH SON, Hong Kong
- TOYO EATERY, Philippines
- WING LEI PALACE, Macau
Wednesday, March 25, 2020
news: 2020 ASIA'S 50 BEST RESTAURANTS
As we gear up for the 2021 Asia's 50 Best announcement, I wanted to post a recap of the list last year. With most of the world wrecked by coronavirus, the restaurant and travel industry got hit hard. We've been incredibly fortunate in Taiwan, and was even able to have one of the few in person food events, with the International Chef Summit Asia last December. Though I haven't traveled outside of Taiwan, I've had a chance discover more restaurants in other cities. I don't know what this year's list will look like, but hopefully one day we can all travel safely again to our favorite restaurants across Asia.
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In March 2020, Asia’s 50 Best chefs were scheduled to celebrate together in Saga Prefecture in Japan, but it was changed to an online awards ceremony due to increased travel restrictions and safety precautions for coronavirus.
Four restaurants from Taiwan earned a spot to the Asia's 50 Best - three in Taipei with Mume helmed by Chef Richie Lin at No. 18, RAW headed by Chef Andre Chiang and Alain Huang at No. 36 and chef Hieda Ryohei’s Shoun Ryugin at No. 43, and one in Taichung - JL Studio landing on the list for the first time at No. 26, with the modern Singaporean restaurant and chef Jimmy Lim honored the year before as Asia’s One to Watch in 2019.
Here’s the full list for Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2020:
1. Odette — Singapore
2. The Chairman — Hong Kong
3. Den — Tokyo
4. Belon — Hong Kong
5. Burnt Ends — Singapore
6. Sühring — Bangkok
7. Florilège — Tokyo
8. Le Du — Bangkok
9. Narisawa — Tokyo
10. La Cime — Osaka, Japan
11. Les Amis — Singapore
12. Vea — Hong Kong
13. Indian Accent — New Delhi
14. Mingles — Seoul
15. Gaa — Bangkok
16. Sorn — Bangkok
17. Il Ristorante Luca Fantin — Tokyo
18. Mume — Taipei
19. Neighborhood — Hong Kong
20. Fu He Hui — Shanghai
21. Jaan by Kirk Westaway — Singapore
22. Wing Lei Palace — Macau
23. Sichuan Moon — Macau
24. Nihonryori RyuGin — Tokyo
25. Seventh Son — Hong Kong
26. JL Studio — Taichung, Taiwan
27. TocToc — Seoul
28. Zen — Singapore
29. Sazenka— Tokyo
30. Ministry of Crab — Colombo, Sri Lanka
31. Amber — Hong Kong
32. 8 ½ Otto e Mezzo Bombana — Hong Kong
33. Lung King Heen — Hong Kong
34. Hansikgonggan — Seoul
35. Ode — Tokyo
36. Raw — Taipei
37. Locavore — Bali, Indonesia
38. Paste — Bangkok
39. Bo.Ian — Bangkok
40. La Maison de La Nature Goh — Fukuoka, Japan
41. Ultraviolet by Paul Pairet — Shanghai
42. Corner House — Singapore
43. Shoun RyuGin — Taipei
44. Toyo Eatery — Manila
45. Bukhara — New Delhi
46. Sushi Saito — Tokyo
47. 80/20 — Bangkok
48. L’Effervescence — Tokyo
49. Inua — Tokyo
50. Nouri — Singapore
Wednesday, April 10, 2019
news/michelin: 10 TAIPEI CHEFS TO WATCH (+ 1 IN TAICHUNG)
@jlstudio_tw / @jimmy_jlstudio
@impromptu_tw / @paulhwlee
@logy.tw / @ryogotahara
@orchidno.83 / @gildasperin
@verde_taipei / @cheftimothylu
@anima.taipei / @compa89
9. BENCOTTO/ Chef Iacapo Frassi
@mo_tpe / @iacopofrassi
10. SUGAR PEA / AVENUE / Chef Sandy Yoon
@sugarpea.taipei / @avenue.taipei / @sandyyoonn
11. INGE's BAR AND GRILL/ Chef Vincent Weng
@inges_taipei / @vincent_inges
I wanted to post this before the 2019 Michelin star announcements were made, so I will post first and add details later! The only two restaurants I have not been to on this list are Logy and JL Studio, but I hope to be going there SOON!!
And these are some of the chefs that earned Michelin Stars last year that you should know if you don't already. Currently, Mume, RAW and Ryugin are the three Taipei restaurants to hold the honor as one of Asia's 50 Best Restaurants in 2019.
- L'ATELIER ROBUCHON TAIPEI / Chef Olivier Jean * @olivierjean_23
- LONGTAIL/ Chef Lam Ming Kin * @longtail.taipei @kin.cooks
- TARROIR / Chef Kai Ho * @tairror @kaiho1011
- SUSHI RYU / Chef Yolong Yang*
- MUME / Chefs Richie Lin and Long Xiong * @mume_taiwan @richie_lin
- RAW / Chefs Alain Huang and Andre Chiang * @raw_taipei @alainh001 @andrechiang_sg
- RYUGIN / Chef Ryohei Hieda ** @hiedaryohei
Wednesday, March 29, 2017
news: TAIWAN RESTAURANTS LAND ON ASIA's 50 BEST
Good luck getting reservations at RAW, named Taiwan's Best Restaurant by Asia's 50 Best
Asia's 50 Best Restaurants were counted down earlier this year at an awards ceremony in Bangkok, where chefs eagerly waited to hear what place they had earned on this year's list. Nominees invited know they are guaranteed a spot in the top 50, but they do not know where on the list they rank until is announced at the ceremony.
"Even the regional chairmen don't know who the voters voted for, or who got the votes. So it is very exciting for chefs to attend." said chef Richie Lin from Mume, a new entry on this year's list from Taiwan.
RAW's chef Zor Tan recalled, "It is the time of year when you want to see your report card to know if you outdid yourself the previous year."
This year, Gaggan, a progressive Indian restaurant in Bangkok, Thailand, retained his spot at number 1 for the third year in a row- an impressive record considering that Asia's 50 Best has only been around for five years. Gaggan will be familiar to those who have seen him on Netflix's "Chef's Table" series, or spotted his emoji menu or Japanese influenced, modern Indian tasting menu on Instagram.
Taiwanese chef Andre Chiang's Restaurant Andre in Singapore moved up one spot to number 2. Third place is Amber in Hong Kong. The list includes restaurants from Singapore, Thailand, Japan, China, Taiwan, Korea, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Philippines. Chef May Chow from Hong Kong's Little Bao was named Asia's Best Female Chef of 2017 and Otto E Mezzo's Umberto Bombana was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award.
Chef Zor Tan who is involved with both Restaurant Andre and RAW said, "It's a gratifying feeling knowing both restaurants got into top 50 and best restaurant in Singapore and best restaurant in Taiwan. I am humbled that both restaurants are well accepted by our audience. It is a team effort that is recognized by our fellow peers in the industry."
Unlike the Michelin Stars Guide, which awards highly coveted stars given by anonymous food critics in specific cities, Asia's 50 Best held a series of events where the chefs could eat, party and gather together. Chef Zor Tan, "This is where we pause for a moment from our busy schedule and gather."
"The most valuable part of this experience is to connect, a chance for all the chefs to meet each other from different countries, share ideas and exchange knowledge." said chef Richie Lin.
But both lists skew towards fine dining, higher priced restaurants that serve intricately plated dishes rather than the casual, mom and pop restaurants that could arguably also be a "best" restaurant on a list. Some critics also point out the lack of restaurants helmed by female chefs, as well as voter bias towards restaurants already on the list or in cities where tourism boards actively woo voters.
Taiwan landed three restaurants on this year's list, with RAW (number 24), Le Mout in Taichung (number 28), and Mume, debuting at number 43. RAW jumped ahead from last year's 46th place past Le Mout to take over the title of Best Restaurant in Taiwan. Reservations at RAW are already nearly impossible to get through their online booking system, and with the additional publicity, diners will have an even tougher time.
Without flying to another country, you can also try the Taipei branch of Ryugin #7 and L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon which placed for its Bangkok and Hong Kong restaurants, at #40 and #41. Keep an eye out for pop ups and "four hands" collaborations with chefs from other countries, such as Restaurant Andre (#2) at RAW, or Den (#11) at Mume. Regent Taipei has also brought Sri Lanka's Ministry of Crab #29 and Seoul's Jungsik #25 to Taipei.
First time hearing about this list and these restaurants? Here's a brief introduction to the Taiwan's best restaurants, according to Asia's 50 Best.
RAW #24
Who are the chefs at RAW?: Andre Chiang, Alain Huang and Zor Tan.
What is the menu like?: RAW has a seasonal menu that changes every few months and has featured a Best of the Year menu at the end of the past two years. Comprised of eight courses, the menu lists just three key ingredients for each dish on a word puzzle like sheet. Dishes such as beef tongue shavings on top of a beef tongue cracker or miniature bbq corn are inspired by Taiwanese snacks with a modern gastronomic twist. Every menu highlights local produce, sourced with the island's local farmers, such as the spring 2017 menu's sliced tomatoes with green chili sorbet and gazpacho foam, with tomatoes from Yilan, Nantou and Yang Ming Shan.
How to make reservations: Book at a table though RAW's website. Reservations can be made two weeks in advance and are released at 12Noon everyday. Try your luck with the waitlist by messaging RAW through "Contact" on the page to snap up last minute cancellations. For an upgraded menu (at a slightly higher price) and view of the bustling kitchen, or if you have a larger party, try to get chef's table seats, which are usually released on the first Tuesday of every month at 3PM.
Check out this video interview by the Culinary Institute of America with RAW's chefs Alain Huang and Zor Tan, featuring dishes All About Duck, Taco Tako TACOS, Onion Onion Onion and Mango Snowball. I worked on this as a location producer/Taipei fixer last year for the CIA and they captured everything so beautifully.
LE MOUT #28
Who are the chefs at LE MOUT: Lanshu Chen, Jimmy Lim and pastry chef Makito Hiratsuka. Chef Lanshu Chen was named Asia’s Best Female Chef in 2014.
What is the menu like?: Modern French dishes such as Blaze mushrooms, veal sweetbread, dried tangerine rind, chestnut, rice essence or American prime filet with French goose foie gras poele and sautéed chanterelles topped with a green peppercorn sauce.
59 Cunzhong St, West District, Taichung City, Taiwan 403 +886 4 2375 3002
MUME #43
Who are the chefs at MUME: Richie Lin, Kai Ward and Long Xiong
What is the menu like?: The Modern European menu features Snacks, Small, Bigger and Sweets on an a la carte menu. Signature dishes include the waygu beef tartare with clam mayo, confit egg yolk and preserved daikon; summer salad of nearly 30 different vegetables from local producers dressed with fermented black beans and crispy amadai with
How to make reservations: Book a table through the reservation tab/link “Book a Table” on Mume's Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/mume.taiwan/). Call (02) 2700-0901 or e-mail: info@mume.tw for private dining room reservations, which seats 8-12 people serving a set menu only.
Check out this video interview by the Culinary Institute of America with Mume's chefs Richie Lin and Kai Ward . I worked on this as a location producer/Taipei fixer last year for the CIA's World of Flavors and love how these videos turned out.
No. 1 GAGGAN, Bangkok, Thailand
No. 2 RESTAURANT ANDRÉ, Singapore
No. 3 AMBER, Hong Kong, China
No. 4 8 1/2 OTTO E MEZZO BOMBANA, Hong Kong, China
No. 5 NAHM, Bangkok, Thailand
No. 6 NARISAWA, Tokyo, Japan
No. 7 NIHONRYORI RYUGIN, Tokyo, Japan
No. 8 ULTRAVIOLET BY PAUL PAIRET, Shanghai, China
No. 9 ODETTE, Singapore
No. 10 BURNT ENDS, Singapore
No. 11 DEN, Tokyo, Japan
No. 12 L'EFFERVESCENCE, Tokyo, Japan
No. 13 SUHRING, Bangkok, Thailand
No. 14 FLORILEGE, Tokyo, Japan
No. 15 MINGLES, Seoul, South Korea
No. 16 LES AMIS, Singapore
No. 17 LUNG KING HEEN, Hong Kong, China
No. 18 QUINTESSENCE, Tokyo, Japan
No. 19 BO.LAN, Bangkok, Thailand
No. 20 WAKU GHIN, Singapore
No. 21 ISSAYA SIAMESE CLUB, Bangkok, Thailand
No. 22 LOCAVORE, Bali, Indonesia
No. 23 CORNER HOUSE, Singapore
No. 24 RAW, Taipei, Taiwan
No. 25 JUNGSIK, Seoul, South Korea
No. 26 SUSHI SAITO, Tokyo, Japan
No. 27 TIPPLING CLUB, Singapore
No. 28 LE MOÛT, Taichung, Taiwan
No. 29 MINISTRY OF CRAB, Colombo, Sri Lanka
No. 30 INDIAN ACCENT, New Delhi, India
No. 31 EAT ME, Bangkok, Thailand
No. 32 JADE DRAGON, Macau, China
No. 33 TA VIE, Hong Kong, China
No. 34 HAJIME, Osaka, Japan
No. 35 GALLERY VASK, Manila, Philippines
No. 36 THE DINING ROOM AT THE HOUSE ON SATHORN, Bangkok, Thailand
No. 37 LE DEU, Bankgkok, Thailand
No. 38 LA YEON, Seoul, South Korea
No. 39 THE TASTING ROOM BY GALLIOT, Macau
No. 40 L'ATELIER DE JOËL ROBUCHON, Bangkok, Thailand
No. 41 L'ATELIER DE JOËL ROBUCHON, Hong Kong, China
No. 42 JAAN, Singapore
No. 43 MUME, Taipei, Taiwan
No. 44 SHINJI BY KANESAKA, Singapore
No. 45 RONIN, Hong Kong
No. 46 WASABI BY MORIMOTO, Mumbai, India
No. 47 THE CHAIRMAN, Hong Kong, China
No. 48 FU HE HUI, Shanghai, China
No 49 NIHONBASHI, Colombo, Sri Lanka
No. 50 TAKAZAWA, Tokyo