Showing posts with label best of taipei readers' choice. Show all posts
Showing posts with label best of taipei readers' choice. Show all posts

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

5th ANNUAL 2012 Best of Taipei Restaurants Readers' Favorites Poll

Woo hoo! I didn't forget about the Reader's Choice poll this year, I've just been a little crazed. Let's see if we can get more votes in this year. Will the previous winners take the top spots again? Or will your new favorite ramen/cafe/chirashi spot/coffee shop/bistro win the votes for being one of the favorites in Taipei?

VOTING

Voting will be open from November 28, 2012 - December 20th, 2012. There must be a minimum of 5 categories filled out (with different restaurants) in order for the vote to be counted. For example, you cannot fill out the same restaurant in 3 categories and nothing else. But if you really love that restaurant, vote for it in the applicable 3 categories and fill out 4 other categories, then it will count.

It's okay if you haven't tried everywhere in Taipei! No one has. It does not have to be a restaurant I've reviewed. So just vote for your favorites! So hope all of you that have been reading and learning where the best eats in Taipei can take a few minutes to vote!

You don't have to have a google account to vote. Just enter your name or initials and fill out the boxes underneath with your answer and hit submit at the end.

Also feel free to campaign for your restaurant or favorite eatery on Facebook, Twitter or your website with a link to this page. But only votes on this post will count.

I will tabulate and hope to announce the winners with a write up by end of January 2013 (fingers crossed!).

Remember there must be a minimum of 5 categories filled out (with different restaurants) in order for the vote to be counted. For example, you cannot fill out the same restaurant in 3 categories and nothing else. I reserve the right to cancel out votes that look like cut and paste by the same person/people.

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

4th annual HungryinTaipei.com 2011 Readers' Choice Award Winners




It's a leap year! So what better day than to finally post these results?

THANK YOU everyone who voted- I really hope more and more of you will vote each year! There are a ton of repeat favorites and some new winners. It's always interesting to see the votes and what's new and what categories are close races. Some categories were unable to get votes or a consensus so I haven't named any winners, like surprisingly in the Favorite Beef Noodle Soup.

So here are the results! If you like the list or use it, leave me some love in the comments section! Or what was left off that should have been voted as Best of Taipei?

4th ANNUAL HUNGRYINTAIPEI.com's BEST OF TAIPEI 2011
READERS' CHOICE RESTAURANT POLL WINNERS


Favorite Restaurant Discovered from HungryInTaipei.com, Favorite New Restaurant Opened in 2011, and Favorite Mexican Restaurant- MACHO TACOS 瑪丘墨西哥小館
Last year was, strangely, there was a wave of Mexican food in Taipei. Lots of new players in town, some older ones changed or closed down, but one favorite emerged from the voters. With quesadillas, burritos, tacos, horchata and nachos served at affordable prices, Macho Tacos opened two locations within a year.
No. 3, Lane 126, Yanji St., (02) 2731-4489
No. 15 Pucheng St, (02) 2363-7518, machotacos.com


Favorite Restaurant You Will Miss- BURGER STOP
The 2010 winner as "favorite restaurant discovered from HungryInTaipei.com" sadly closed its doors in November 2011. Burger Stop had a short but sweet run serving burgers and milkshakes tucked in an alley off of Yanji Street, but its owners moved back to the states, so the search is back on for another In-N-Out replacement.
No. 26, Ln. 137, Yanji St., (02)2711-7079

Favorite Special Occasion Restaurant- FLAVORS 瑞典餐館
Flavors' cozy and intimate setting and service makes it a continued favorite for many. Featuring Swedish dishes by Chef Ola, be sure to order my favorites, the meatballs and apple cake if you make a reservation.
No.13 Alley 26 Lane 300 Ren Ai Rd. Sec.4, (02)2709-6525, flavors.com.tw

Favorite Restaurant to take Tourist Friends, Favorite Chinese Restaurant, Best Xiao Long Bao- DIN TAI FUNG 鼎泰豐
Winner for the fourth year in a row. There might be cheaper options or places you don't have to wait in line for, but world famous Din Tai Fung is inevitably where we'll take our friends to eat for the ultra thin skinned xiao long bao. Hands down, those of you that voted love the original bite sized XLB and wouldn't consider a trip to Taipei complete without a visit there, even if you have to line up for an hour or more. This past summer, DTF opened its largest branch in the world at Taipei 101.
No. 218, Zhong Xiao East Rd., Sec 4,(02) 2721-7890;
No. 194, Xinyi Road, Sec.2 (entrance of Yong Kang Street) (02) 2321-8928;
Fuxing Sogo, No.300, Zhong Xiao E. Rd., Sec. 3, (02) 8772-0528;
Tienmu Sogo, No.77, Sec.6, Zhongshan N. Rd., B1, Shihlin, (02) 2833-8900;
Taipei 101, No.45 Shifu Rd, B1, (02) 8101-7799
www.dintaifung.com.tw


Favorite Kid Friendly/Family Restaurant, and Favorite Unexpected Find in Taipei (tie) MAYAN GRILL
Mayan Grill offers sit down, Mexican meals in a two story restaurant with open space and balcony seats. With room to seat large groups and an extensive menu with something for everyone, this is an unexpected spot in Taipei for flautas, enchiladas or pan seared steak.
No. 6, Lane 65, Zhongshan N. Rd, Sec. 2, (02) 2511-6292 mayangrill.com

Favorite Unexpected Find in Taipei COFFEE ALLEY 咖啡弄 (tie)
The more I've been to Coffee Alley, the more I've grown to like it, and not just for their unique cotton candy & espresso with ice cream dessert. The presentation of the drinks and desserts, the decor and the quality of the coffee and teas make it a popular place for a latte or afternoon tea.
ATT 4 FUN, 3 FL, No. 12, SongShou Rd., (02) 7737-0700;
No. 45, Lane 101, ZhongXiao E. Rd, Sec. 4, (02) 2711-1912;
No. 42, Lane 187, DunHua S. Rd, Sec. 1, (02) 2711-1910;
No. 253, ZhongZheng Rd, 2 FL, Shih Lin District, (02) 2888-3322;
No. 18 GuanChian Rd, 2 FL, MRT: Taipei Main Station, (02) 2388-3000;
coffee-alley.com.tw


Favorite Late Night RestaurantNY Bagel
Before the Diner and all the western brunch places around Taipei, there was NY Bagel, serving up pancakes, burgers and bagels from morning until night. While only the RenAi location is 24 hours, it was voted your favorite restaurant to hang out late night.
No. 147 RenAi Rd., Sec. 4, (02)2752-1669;
No. 122, Xinyi Rd, Sec. 5, (02)2723-7977;
No. 306, NeiHu Rd, Sec. 1, (02)2627-2886;
Qsquare, No. 1, ChengDe Rd, Sec. 1, (02)2552-6880;
Banqiao, No. 7, XianMinDaDao, Sec. 2, 2FL, (02)8969-1669;
Hankyu Dept Store, No. 8, ZhongXiao E. Rd, Sec. 5, 2FL, (02)2723-2767;
nybagelscafe.com


Favorite Buffet/All you can eat Restaurant- CAFE AT GRAND HYATT HOTEL 台北君悅大飯店
Winner of Best Buffet in 2008, Cafe offers both Western and Eastern cuisines in its huge buffet spread- you might even miss a part of it if you're not thorough. Be sure to make a reservation during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays for their special holiday menus.
No.2, Sung Shou Road, (02) 2720-1234

Favorite Night Market- SHIDA NIGHT MARKET 師大路夜市
Beating out the previous long time winner Shihlin, the new favorite Shida Night Market is a winding collection of lanes and alleys of shops and street eats including traditional favorites like baos and fried chicken and new offerings like Yofroyo and slider burgers. It's one night market that I've been meaning to explore and write about.
Shida Road, near Taipower MRT

Favorite Place to Meet for Drinks- WOOBAR
The stylish and trendy Woobar at the one year old W Taipei Hotel transforms from an afternoon tea spot to a late night hotspot with its decked out bar, lounge seats and view of the pool and Taipei city. Not to mention the cocktails and luxe snack menu of fries with truffle sauce or the million dollar burger.
No. 10, Zhongxiao East Road, Sec. 5,(02)7703-8888 www.wtaipei.com

Favorite Delivery & Best Pizza- CHICAGO PIZZA FACTORY 芝加哥比薩 (tied)
Chicago Pizza Factory edged out last year's winner Pizza Hut for top spot of Favorite Delivery. Freshly made and loaded with toppings, Chicago Pizza Factory fills a craving for those missing Papa Johns or US style pizza (ask for extra sauce). Delivery locations are limited, but fairly quick for those in the area. It's quite close to AIT, so you can pop over for in-store specials before or after an appointment.
No. 1, Lane 11, Jianguo S. Sec. 2, (02) 2707-2121

Favorite Food Court- 101 Mall
Winner for the fourth year in a row despite the growing competition of food courts in every new mall. Grab a quick lunch while sightseeing at 101 Mall or stop by the gourmet supermarket JASONs. Offering almost every type of cuisine as well as teppanyaki, desserts and lots of familiar chains (KFC, McD's and Subway), 2011 saw the addition of the world's largest Din Tai Fung as well as the French bakery Lalos.
45 Shifu Road, Xinyi District, www.taipei-101.com.tw

Favorite Fast Food- MOS BURGER 摩斯漢堡
Another four time winner in a row, Mos Burger offers up Asian flavors at a fast food setting with rice burgers or regular burgers with a kick. Don't be afraid to eat your rice burger to go, it comes in an indestructable styrofoam pouch to catch all the sauce.
over 100 stores across Taiwan, mos.co.jp

Favorite Taiwanese Restaurant- SHIN YEH 欣葉台菜
Winner for the fourth year in a row. When even the locals line up for this Taiwanese restaurant, then you know that it's good. Shin Yeh offers Taiwanese classics like gua bao, run bing, sweet potato porridge, pan seared pork liver, or oyster omelette in an elegant, family friendly setting. For the fancied up version, make a reservation at the 101 location, which offers a bird's eye view of Taipei from the 85th floor.
No. 112 ZhongXiao E Road, Sec 4, 2FL, (02) 2752-9299;
No. 34-1, ShuangCheng St, (02) 2596-3255;
No. 12, NanJing West Road, 8F, (02) 2523-6757;
Shinyeh 101 at No. 45, Shifu Road, 85 FL (02) 8101-0185;
shinyeh.com.tw


Favorite Japanese Restaurant-MITSUI 三井
With its swanky digs and presentation, Mitsui (or San Jin in Chinese) is a favorite of many of my friends (though I have others as my own). The Dazhi location also offers bentos to go and each location has its own feel.
No.602, Mingshui Road, Dazhi, (02) 2533-8802
No. 604, Min-Shui Rd., Dazhi, (02) 25338801
No. 30, Nong-an St., 1F, (02) 2594-3394
No.45-2, Nong-an St., 1F, Taipei City
No.108, Dun-Hua S. Road Section 1, B1-1, (02) 2741-3394
mitsuitaipei.com.tw


Best Sushi/Sashimi- SUSHI EXPRESS 爭鮮迴轉壽司
Winner third year in a row. I still have yet to go, but I can see the appeal. Sushi Express's low prices and multiple locations makes it easy to find and grab a seat at the giant sushi bar. Customers can choose from a parade of sushi plates drifting by on a conveyor belt or order from the chef.
About 30 locations all over Taipei, addresses at sushi-express.com.tw

Favorite American/Western, Favorite Western Breakfast/Brunch- THE DINER 樂子
The Diner beat out last year's favorite American/Western winner Chili's, with its prices and all day breakfast menu and is the winner for the third year in a row for favorite western breakfast/brunch. By now, everyone craving pancakes and omelettes knows about the Diner, which has inspired a bevy of knock off diners and all day brunch joints. But the original still holds the top spot with its tasty pancakes, eggs benedicts, omelettes or even a breakfast burrito and added a new location in the Xinyi district this year.
No. 145 Ruian St, Taipei, (02) 2700-1680;
No. 6, Ln 103, Dunhua S Rd Sec 2, (02) 2754-1680,
No. 2, Lane 147, Alley 5, Keelung Road, Section 2, (02) 2754-1680;
at ATT4Fun, No. 12 Song Shou Rd., (02)7737-5055;
www.thediner.com.tw


Best French- SAVEURS 歐洲風味餐坊
Saveurs shows that you don't have to empty your wallet to have an amazing French meal. Tucked in the lanes off of ZhongXiao, it's one of those restaurants you'd pass by and never notice, but it's worth looking for. Advance reservations strongly recommended for lunch.
No. 14, Lane 219, Fuxing S. Rd, Sec 1, (02) 2751-0185

Best Italian- (tie) LA GIARA 義大利餐廳 & SOLO PASTA

Opened since 2002, I've heard for awhile that La Giara as the place to go for fine dining Italian. With an Italian chef in the kitchen, it tied as one of your favorite Italian restaurants in Taipei, so I'll definitely have to check it out soon.
No. 352, Fuxing S. Rd, Sec. 1, 2F, (02)2705-0345, www.lagiara.com.tw/

Solo Pasta captured my heart with my first bite of its balsamic duck pasta and I hear has become a favorite of many readers of this blog as well. A lot of flavor for a really affordable price, Solo Pasta works both as a place for a large party or just a party of one. Stick to my recommended pastas and you shouldn't be disappointed.
No. 29-1, Anhe Road, Sec. 1, (02) 2775-3645 Solo's Pasta's Facebook page

Best Indian- SAFFRON 番紅花
Winner third year in a row. Once you try Saffron, you'll realize that not all Indian curries are made the same. Offering a a wide variety of Indian fare in an upscale setting, Saffron's fragrant dishes are rich without being greasy and you can watch the chef making the naan to order in the front window. I've been told they'll also deliver via taxi for the cost of the taxi- definitely worth trying out when you can't trek to Tianmu.
No. 38-6, TianMu E Rd, (02) 2871-4842, Saffron's Facebook page

Favorite Thai Restaurant- VERY THAI 非常泰
New winner beating out Thai Town. Very Thai offers a signature menu and bar in a modern space, making it a trendy place to try some new Thai dishes, beside the usual satay and curry.
at Neo 19, No. 22 SongRen Rd, 2F, (02) 8789-6200;
No. 319 Fuxing N. Rd, (02) 2546-6745;
at Tianmu Sogo, No. 77, ZhongShan N Rd, Sec 6, 8F, (02) 2831-0188;
at Megacity, No. 28, XinZhan Rd, 9F, Banqiao (02) 6637-0038;
verythai.com.tw


Favorite Vietnamese Restaurant- SAVOY (or YUE YUAN PHO) 越苑
Winner third year in a row and opened a third location late last year. If you've never had a Vietnamese sandwich, you need to run to Savoy, which created the perfect combination of toasted french baguette, grilled chicken, pickled carrots and radishes and special sauce. Waiters wearing bright purple shirts that state "Good Pho You" bring big bowls of the Vietnamese noodle to the table that lives up to their slogan.
No. 12, Lane 155, Dun Hua N. Road, (02)2718-0660;
No. 8, Ln 103, Dunhua S Rd, Sec 2,(02) 2701-2523;
No. 10, Alley 32, Lane 216, ZhongXiao E. Road, Sec. 4, (02) 2731-9597,
www.phosavoy.com


Favorite Korean Restaurant-ARI TOFU HOUSE
Winner for the second year in a row, Ari Tofu House offers a menu full of soondubu jjigae, or as-spicy-as-you-want soft tofu stews, for those looking for some Korean comfort food. Each set menu includes stone pot rice and an array of complimentary little dishes of cold appetizers, but I recommend adding some beef or kalbi beef ribs to your set.
No. 31, Lane 280, GuangFu S. Road, 02-2721-3033, Ari's Facebook page

Favorite Dessert Cafe/Restaurant- DAZZLING CAFE 蜜糖土司專賣店
Last year, Dazzling opened a third location of its honey toast cafe, Dazzling Champagne Bar and Dazzling Shabu Shabu. It all started with the lines for the honey toast- a huge loaf of toasted bread with the insides scooped out, toasted cubes, put back in and topped with drizzled honey and ice cream- sort of like french toast on steroids if it wasn't so girly girl.
Reservation number: 02-87739229;
SUNSHINE: at Xinyi Mitsukoshi A11, No. 11, Song Shou Rd, 2F, 02-2723-0767;
PINK: No. 11, Lane 205, Alley 7, ZhongXiao E Road, Sec 4, (02 )8773-9238;
MINT: No. 3, Lane 248, ZhongXiao E. Road, Sec 3, (02) 2731-5199;
Dazzling Cafe's facebook page


Favorite Chinese Breakfast- YONG HE DOU JIANG
Everyone in Taiwan should be familiar with the Chinese breakfast- a bowl or cup of soy milk with chinese pancake, fried cruller or sticky rice ball. The most famous is in Yong He, which inspired a myriad of shops with the name Yong He Dou Jiang. While they are not all the same, here are a few to start off with.
No. 1, Lane 240, Guang Fu S. Road, (02) 2772-0642;
No. 102 Fuxing S. Road, Sec. 2, (02)2703- 5051


Favorite Ramen-RAKUMENYA 樂麵屋
Thick or thin, hard or soft, salty or spicy, rich or not? These are the questions diners have to answer when ordering ramen at Rakumenya. After options are checked off on an order form list, hot bowls of soupy ramen come to the table and the slurping begins.
No. 7, Ln 10, Yongkang St, (02) 2395-1787;
No. 10, Lane 83, DaAn Rd, Sec. 1 (02) 8772-8159


Favorite Beef Noodle Soup- No clear winner this year!

Favorite Dim Sum- CHAO PING JI 潮品集 at SAN WANT HOTEL
Winner third year in a row. Chao Ping Ji makes traditional dim sum fried and steamed to perfection, as well as offering a few unique spins on dim sum like the Sauteed Rice Roll with XO Chili Sauce and a full menu with Chao Chow specialties.
No. 172, ZhongXiao E Rd, Sec 4, 2F, (02) 2772-2687, www.sanwant.com

Favorite Hamburger- KGB (KIWI GOURMET BURGERS)
KGB has been around for awhile, but it's the first time making its mark as your favorite burger. A neighborhood nook for burgers and fries opened by two New Zealanders who have brought NZ style burgers and NZ beers to Taipei. KGB offers unique burger combinations and even lots of vegetarian options with its veggie burgers, salads and gouda fries.
No. 5, Lane 114, Shida Rd., (02) 2363-6015 www.kgbburgers.com

Favorite Hot Pot- ORANGE SHABU SHABU 橘色刷刷锅
Gourmet hotpot Orange Shabu Shabu returns as your favorite, booting out mala Tripod King. is one of the most popular. Offering luxe meats and seafood like prime rib beef or emperor crab for the customized copper hotpots, Orange also offers sashimi and cooked seafood dishes in a romantic ambiance. Be sure save room for a bowl of congee, made tableside with your hotpot's broth.
No. 135, Da An Road, Sec 1, B1, (02) 2776-1658;
No. 29, RenAi Rd, Sec 4, 2 FL, (02) 2771-0181,
orangeshabu.com.tw


Favorite Steak- No. 168 PRIME STEAKHOUSE
No. 168 Prime Steakhouse is also one of my favorite places to get steak in town and a delicious meal from start (the warm complimentary bread) to finish. With a sleek dining space and open kitchen with beech ovens or six stylish private rooms, No. 168 Prime is a splurge, but worthwhile.
at the Grand Victoria Hotel, No. 168, Jingye 4th Rd., 4F, Dazhi, (02) 6602-5678; No. 168 Prime Steakhouse's Facebook page

Best Vegetarian- MINDER VEGETARIAN 明德素食園 and JENDOW VEGETARIAN BUFFET 人道素菜百匯餐廳
At the food courts here, instead of salad bars, we have Minder Vegetarian which is a pay-by-weight vegetarian buffet of sorts. With an array of mushroom, soy, greens and vegetables to choose from, you can add a bowl of rice and soup for a little extra and feel a little healthier than your average food court meal.
Dun Hua Eslite Food Court, No. 245, Dun Hua S Road, B2
XinYi Eslite, No. 11, Song Gao Road, B2, (02) 2729-8969
Breeze Taipei Main Station, No. 3, BeiPing W. Road, 2 FL, (02) 2361-3566
XinDian shop (all you can eat on second floor), No. 137, Minchuang Road , (02) 8218-7858
No. 47, Lane 63, Dun Hua S Road, Sec 2, (02) 2325-5695
No. 3, Alley 17, Lane 300, Ren Ai Road, (02) 2707-6753
No. 30, Lane 151, Jianguo South Road, (02) 2703-3703
National Taiwan University Hospital Shop, No.7, Zhongshan S. Rd, B1, (02) 2396-3088
Taipei Veterans General Hospital, No. 201, Shih-Pai Road, 1 FL, (02) 2873-9465
XinDian Tzu Chi Hospital, No. 289, Jianguo Road, B1, (02) 2793-5202
Tri Service General Hospital, No. 325 Chenggong Road B1, Neihu, (02) 8219-2232
www.minder.com.tw


Jendow Vegetarian Buffet offers an huge buffet that rivals any other Taipei buffet in size and variety- even offering rows and rows of vegetarian sashimi, dim sum and stir fried, steamed, fried and souped up greens, mushrooms, noodles and tofus. Even meat eaters should be able to find enough to satisfy and leave full.
B1, 353 Changchun Rd, (02) 2547-4788, www.jendow.com.tw

Favorite Afternoon Tea- SMITH & HSU
Winner second year in a row. As someone who thought scones were always rock hard and dry, the warm-out-of-the-oven buttery scones from Smith & Hsu were a revelation. You can't go wrong with a bit of clotted cream, lemon curd or jam on top, and the inviting space to chat with a friend for afternoon tea. For serious tea drinkers, there are over 50 teas to select from, as they give each table a tray of bottled tea leaves to browse and there is a shop area to buy teas and tea sets.
No.33, Section 5, ZhongXiao E. Road, (02) 2747-4857;
No.103, Section 3, Minsheng E. Road, (02) 2546-6088;
Tianmu Sogo, No.177, Zhongshan N. Road, Sec. 6, (02) 2838-1828;
No. 8, ZhongXiao E. Road, Sec. 5, 6FL, (02) 8786-2877;
No. 21, Nanjing E. Road, Sec. 1, (02) 2457-6842;
smithandhsu.com


Best Frozen Yogurt- YOFROYO 友個優
Winner third year in a row. Since opening its first location at the Shida night market, Yofroyo has established itself as the frozen yogurt favorite and added three more locations. A rainbow of flavors to choose from, with fresh fruit, freshly made mochi and sweet toppings served up in a satisfying size, all for under NT$70. Open late, so you can go for a late night snack at the shop or to-go.
at Shida Night Market, No.9, Ln.59, Shida Rd., (02))2365-0188;
No. 39, Lane 187, Dunhua S. Rd. Sec. 1, (02) 2752-0767;
Ximen Eslite branch, No. 116 Hanzhong St., (02) 2370-1938;
QSquare branch, No. 1, Chengde Rd, Sec. 1, B2, (02)2558-7919;
yofroyo.com


Best Shaved Ice-TAI YI MILK KING 臺一牛奶大王
Located across from National Taiwan University, old school shaved ice doesn't get better than Tai Yi Milk King with student friendly prices for huge portions. Shaved ice options include the popular mangos or strawberries, ba bao bing, or my favorite red bean and fresh xiao tang yuan, while there are hot tang yuan or wontons for the colder days.
No. 82, Xin Sheng S. Road, Sec. 3, (02) 2362-3712

Favorite Milk Tea/Boba Shop- 50 LAN 五十嵐
Winner second year in a row. There's nothing like boba milk tea in Taipei- it's cheap, it's quick, it's customizable and comes in flavors you never knew tasted so good. At 50 Lan, I like the milk tea with small boba, less ice, less sweet and with fresh milk. With a huge menu of icy and fruity drinks, you might find yourself there often during a heatwave, or even when it's rainy and cold out. Just look for the bright blue and yellow signs.
Find locations at www.50lan.com.tw though addresses are only in Chinese

Best Bakery-breads and cakes (tie) WENDEL's GERMAN BAKERY & BISTRO
There are so many good bakeries in town, it's hard to choose one, but this year Wendel's German Bakery & Bistro got the most votes for its German style breads, bretzels, desserts and cakes. Mini versions come in a bread basket with brunch, but you can browse the counter over the drool worthy selections. Wendel's expanded from its main Tianmu bistro to new branches in DaAn and Neihu last year.
No. 28, Lane 260, GuangFu S. Rd., (02) 2711-8919;
No.5, Dexing West Rd., Tienmu, Taipei, (02) 2831-4415;
at Takashimaya branch, B1, No. 55, Sec. 2, Zhong Cheng Rd., Shilin, (02) 2834-5447;
No. 11, Alley 22, Lane 513, RuiGuang Road, (02) 8751-3708;
www.wendels-bakery.com/


Best Bakery-cakes BLACK AS CHOCOLATE (tie)
Even though their shops doesn't display their cakes, Black as Chocolate has gained a loyal following with its chocolicious cakes, ice cream and stylish packaging. I recommend trying the classic chocolate cake or the chocolate cheese cake.
No. 23, Lane 240, GuangFu S. Rd;
No. 247, LinSheng N. Road;
Eslite XinYi shop, No. 11, Song Gao Road, B2;
Tienmu shop, No. 15, Lane 38, Tian Yu St.;
No. 50, Fuxing S. Road, Sec 1,
Neihu shop, No. 282 Rui Guang Road
at Caesar Park Hotel, No. 38, ZhongXiao E. Rd, Sec. 1;
at Sogo Tianmu, B1, No. 77, ZhongShan N. Rd, Sec. 6;
at Hankyu Mall, B2, No. 8, ZhongXiao E. Rd, Sec. 5;
Service telephone number- (02) 2796-5133,
blackaschocolate.com


Another year, another round of repeat winners (adding new locations last year!) and a few new favorites. Hope you enjoy the list and leave a comment on what your favorites are or if you find this list useful. We'll do this again near the end of 2012. Happy year of the dragon and happy leap year!

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

4th Annual 2011 Best of Taipei Restaurants Readers' Favorites Poll!

2011 was a busy year and the end of the year somehow makes things even more insane. But it's that time of year again- time to reflect, time to stuff your face and time to vote for your favorites! Check out last year's results if you need a cheat sheet.

VOTING

Voting will be open from December 20th, 2011 - January 8th, 2012. There must be a minimum of 5 categories filled out (with different restaurants) in order for the vote to be counted. For example, you cannot fill out the same restaurant in 3 categories and nothing else. But if you really love that restaurant, vote for it in the applicable 3 categories and fill out 4 other categories, then it will count.

It's okay if you haven't tried everywhere in Taipei! No one has. It does not have to be a restaurant I've reviewed. So just vote for your favorites! So hope all of you that have been reading and learning where the best eats in Taipei can take a few minutes to vote!

You don't have to have a google account to vote. Just enter your name or initials and fill out the boxes underneath with your answer and hit submit at the end.

Also feel free to campaign for your restaurant or favorite eatery on Facebook, Twitter or your website with a link to this page. But only votes on this post will count.

I will tabulate and hope to announce the winners with a write up by February 2011 (fingers crossed!).

Thank you and happy holidays and happy new year!

Remember There must be a minimum of 5 categories filled out (with different restaurants) in order for the vote to be counted. For example, you cannot fill out the same restaurant in 3 categories and nothing else.

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

3rd annual HungryinTaipei Readers' Choice Award Winners!



The results are finally in! I had vowed to myself to have these posted by January this year and somehow February flew by and it's the end of March again! With a lot of new winners this year, I had a little more legwork finding addresses and translating and writing up the ones I have yet to go to. It's always interesting to see what you guys vote for and what I've heard of and what's new and what categories are close races and others that are landslides.

Thanks to everyone who took the time to vote and share their favorites- I really hope more and more of you will vote each year! Some categories were unable to get votes or a consensus so I haven't named any winners.

I look forward to trying out and revisiting the favorites that I haven't blogged about- like A-Cut, Sushi Express and Kiki's- and if you don't see your favorite, be sure to vote next year! If you find a new favorite from this poll, don't forget to to mention that you found out about it here! And as usual- please double check any information first if you are going to a new restaurant for the first time- locations change, restaurants close down, and bloggers do their best in translating and typing! :)

3rd ANNUAL HUNGRYINTAIPEI.com's BEST OF TAIPEI 2010
READERS' CHOICE RESTAURANT POLL WINNERS


Favorite New Restaurant in 2010, Best Mexican/Tex Mex- OOLA MEXICAN GRILL
In some ways, this blog was started as a cry for help for good Mexican food in Taipei and it seems that many of you were craving the same thing. Oola Mexican Grill was one of the first to bring counter service burritos, carnitas and fresh guacamole to Taipei and won your vote for favorite new restaurant in 2010. It seems to have changed ownership with the new year and the reopening has added burgers and pizza to Oola's menu.
No.3 Ln. 136, Alley 1, Roosevelt Rd. Sec. 4 , (02) 2363-1111, Oola's facebook page

Favorite Cheap Eats- Night Markets
Taipei is famous for its night markets and for good reasons- the multitude of late night offerings for the price of the change in your pocket. Hot, icy, bite sized, giant and fried, stinky or on a stick - each night market has its own specialties as well as the usual suspects.

Favorite Special Occasion Restaurant, Favorite Romantic (tied)-
ABU and FLAVORS

I just went to Abu, last year's winner of Favorite New Restaurant of 2009, to celebrate a special occasion myself (my birthday!) and I can't wait to go back. Not only did our set menu include many of my favorites, but the French Italian dishes were executed so beautifully that each dish left me wanting more and looking forward to the next dish. Don't miss out on the foie gras and souffle if you can order it.
No. 28 Siwei Rd, (02) 2707-0699

It's been awhile since I first tried Flavors and I'm due back for a visit. An intimate setting and Swedish cuisine menu to wine and dine your sweetheart, Flavors still is a spot for readers to celebrate a special occasion with that special someone. Just don't forget to order the apple cake!
No.13 Alley 26 Lane 300 Ren Ai Rd. Sec.4, (02) 2709 6525, flavors.com.tw

Favorite Restaurant to take Tourist Friends, Favorite Chinese Restaurant, Best Xiao Long Bao- DIN TAI FUNG
Winner for the third year in a row. There might be cheaper or fancier options, but world famous Din Tai Fung is inevitably where we'll take our friends to eat as voted best xiao long bao. Hands down, those of you that voted love the original bite sized XLB and wouldn't consider a trip to Taipei complete without a visit there.
No. 218, Zhong Xiao East Rd., Sec 4,(02) 2721-7890;
No. 194, Xinyi Road, Sec.2 (entrance of Yong Kang Street) (02) 2321-8928;
Fuxing Sogo, No.300, Zhong Xiao E. Rd., Sec. 3, (02) 8772-0528;
Tienmu Sogo, No.77, Sec.6, Zhongshan N. Rd., B1, Shihlin, (02) 2833-8900;
www.dintaifung.com.tw


Favorite Kid Friendly/Family Restaurant L'IDIOT
Winner third year in a row. L'Idiot swept the votes for best new restaurant in 2008, offering seasonal but simple Western fare, with special menus for the holidays. The weekend brunch and open space that can seat large groups and offer space for kids to run around make it a family favorite.
No. 156, Minsheng E Rd Sec 3, (02) 2545-6966, lidiotrestaurant.com

Favorite Night Market- SHIH LIN NIGHT MARKET
Winner for the third year in a row. Eat at the covered, indoor part of Shih Lin Night Market or follow the crowds to the street eats near the theater or tucked inside the alleyways. Offering all the classic night market foods from oyster omelette to stinky tofu to baos to shaved ice or random food on a stick, Shih Lin barely edged out Shida for favorite night market.
Near Chien Tan MRT station

Favorite Place to Meet for Drinks- MARQUEE
Located across from 101, Marquee has Happy Hour specials, Ladies Night and hotspot lounge bar atmosphere to make it the readers' choice place to meet for drinks into the wee hours of the night.
No. 16-1, Xinyi Rd., Sec. 5, (02) 2729-5409 www.marquee-taipei.com

Favorite Delivery- McDONALDS and PIZZA HUT (tied)

Not that McD's will ever replace my favorite Thai take out place in LA, but the thought of having hash browns and mcnuggets without having to leave the house, on that rare occasion, sounds pretty good. Just practice ordering "su bing" and "ji kuai" in Chinese! Order NT$399 of food and the delivery is free.
(02) 40-666-888, mcdonalds.com.tw

I've definitely been guilty of ordering from Pizza Hut when it's crazy raining outside and I'm craving Hawaiian pizza. You can decide if you want the traditional Supreme, or something wilder like Japanese Takoyaki or Korean Kimchi BBQ.
(02) 412-9889, 35 multiple locations, check pizzahut.com.tw for addresses

Favorite Food Court- 101 Mall
Winner for the third year in a row. Grab a quick lunch while sightseeing at 101 Mall or just go for the variety. Offering almost every type of cuisine as well as teppanyaki, desserts and lots of familiar chains (KFC, McD's and Subway), you can also hit up JASON's Supermarket for some hard to find (but pricey) items before you head home (or back to your hotel).
45 Shifu Road, Xinyi District

Favorite Fast Food- MOS BURGER
Winner for the third year in a row, Mos Burger beat out McDonald's as your favorite stop for a quick bite. Hamburger or rice burger, Mos Burger offers up Asian flavors at a fast food setting. Don't be afraid to eat your rice burger to go, it comes in an indestructable styrofoam pouch to catch all the sauce.
over 100 stores across Taiwan, mos.co.jp

Favorite Neighborhood/Area to Eat- SHIDA
Near a college campus you'll always find lots of cheap and good eats and Shida is no different. Voted favorite neighborhood/area to eat, it's one that I have to do a lot more exploring in!

Favorite Restaurant Discovered from HungryinTaipei.com- BURGER STOP
I'm always excited to discover authentic Western eats and to share them with you and happy when I hear that you guys agree with what I think. Burger Stop was voted as your favorite find from HungryinTaipei.com , as well as tied for Favorite Burger, and it was one of mine last year as well with its burgers and milkshakes fulfilling a craving for those of you missing a certain burger chain from the states! Rumor has it that they've added banana splits to the menu!
No. 26, Ln. 137, Yanji St., (02) 2711-7079, burgerstop.com

Favorite Taiwanese Restaurant- SHIN YEH
Winner for the third year in a row. When even the locals line up for this Taiwanese restaurant, then you know that it's good. Shin Yeh offers Taiwanese classics like gua bao, run bing, sweet potato porridge, pan seared pork liver, or oyster omelette in an elegant, family friendly setting. For the fancied up version, make a reservation at the 101 location, which offers a birds eye view of Taipei from the 85th floor.
No. 112 Zhong Xiao E Road, Sec 4, 2FL, (02) 2752-9299
No. 34-1, ShuangCheng St, (02) 2596-3255
No. 12, NanJing West Road, 8F, (02) 2523-6757
Shinyeh 101 at No. 45, Shifu Road, 85 FL (02) 8101-0185
shinyeh.com.tw


Favorite Japanese Restaurant-MITSUI
With its swanky digs and fresh sashimi, Mitsui (or San Jin in Chinese) is a favorite of many of my friends. I've only been to the Dazhi location which also offers bentos to go (and such dim lighting that it drives my camera crazy and I can't take good photos!)
No.602, Mingshui Road, Dazhi, (02) 2533-8802
No. 604, Min-Shui Rd., Dazhi, (02) 25338801
No. 30 & 34, Nong-an St., 1F, (02) 2594-3394
No.45-2, Nong-an St., 1F, Taipei City
No.108, Dun-Hua South Road Section 1, B1-1, (02) 2741-3394
mitsuitaipei.com.tw


Best Sushi/Sashimi- SUSHI EXPRESS
Winner second year in a row. Sushi Express adds a little fun to catching your 'fish'- customers choose from a parade of sushi plates whizzing by on a conveyor belt. I admit I was slightly surprised to see this as the winner, but with multiple locations and plates as low as NT$30, you can create your own omasake without the usual damage to the wallet. I've never been, so I'll have to try it out.
About 30 locations all over Taipei, addresses at sushi-express.com.tw

Favorite American/Western, Favorite Western Breakfast/Brunch- THE DINER
The Diner beat out last year's favorite American/Western winner Chili's, with its prices and all day breakfast menu and is the winner for the third year in a row for favorite western breakfast/brunch. By now, everyone craving pancakes and omelettes knows about the Diner, which has inspired a bevy of knock off diners and all day brunch joints. But the original still holds the top spot with its tasty pancakes, eggs benedicts, omelettes or even a breakfast burrito and added a new location this year.
No. 145 Ruian St, Taipei, (02) 2700-1680;
No. 6, Ln 103, Dunhua S Rd Sec 2, (02) 2754-1680,
No. 2, Lane 147, Alley 5, Keelung Road, Section 2, (02) 2754-1680
www.thediner.com.tw


Best French- L'ATELIER DE JOEL ROBUCHON
Those wanting to treat themselves to a gourmet meal in a restaurant opened by Robuchon, who currently holds the most Michelin stars in the world, no longer have to leave Taipei. I've heard that the set menu and experience is worth splurging for, despite the high price tag, and is just as divine as dining at any of his other L'Ateliers around the world (Paris, Hong Kong, London, New York, Las Vegas, and Tokyo) with the stylish open kitchen and luxe ingredients. I can't wait to confirm it with my own tastebuds.
at Bellavita, No. 28, SongRen Road, 5 FL, (02) 8729-2628, joel-robuchon.net

Best Italian- (tie) PAPA GIO and SOLO PASTA

Papa Gio offers classic Italian housemade pastas, thin crust pizzas and authentic family style dining by an Italian chef and owners. I've always passed by while running around the alleys behind ZhongXiao E. Road, and will have to stop by for a meal sometime soon.
No. 22, Alley 6, Ln 170, Zhongxiao E Rd, Sec 4, (02) 2711-8720, www.papagio.com.tw

Solo Pasta captured my heart with my first bite of its balsamic duck pasta and I hear has become a favorite of many readers of this blog as well. A lot of flavor for a really affordable price, Solo Pasta works both as a place for a large party or just a party of one. Stick to my recommended pastas and you shouldn't be disappointed.
No. 29-1, Anhe Road, Sec. 1, (02) 2775-3645 Solo's Pasta's facebook page

Best Indian- SAFFRON
Winner second year in a row. Once you try Saffron, you'll realize that not all Indian curries are made the same. Offering a a wide variety of Indian fare in an upscale setting, Saffron's fragrant dishes are rich without being greasy and you can watch the chef making the naan to order in the front window. I've been told they'll also deliver via taxi for the cost of the taxi- definitely worth trying out when you can't trek to Tianmu.
No. 38-6, TianMu E Rd, (02) 2871-4842

Favorite Thai Restaurant- THAI TOWN
Winner second year in a row. Thai Town makes it easy to like them- lots of locations, offering upscale casual dining, good service, and consistently delicious Thai food. Choose your favorites from the menu (I love their chicken curry with Thai white rice, satay and pineapple fried rice) or get their pre-combined set menus of their most popular dishes.
No. 49 Ren Ai Road, Sec 2, (02) 2351-0960
No. 15 Nanjing W. Road, (02)2542-7277
No. 133 Anhe Road, Sec 2, (02) 2735-9638
No. 9 Song Shou Road, at Xin Yi Shin Kong Mitsukoshi, A9, 7th FL, (02) 2723-9987
No. 116 Tien Mu West Road, (02) 2826-4852
No. 68 Tien Mu East Road, at Tianmu Shin Kong Mitsukoshi, Building A, 7th FL, (02) 2873-6680
No. 22 Jingye 3rd Road, 2nd FL, at Miramar Mall, Dazhi, (02) 2175-3355
No. 128, Beishing Road, Sec 2, 2FL, XIndian, (02) 8913-5153
No. 65 Wen Hua Road, Sec 1, Banqiao, (02) 8965-1155
No. 659 Zhong Zheng Road, Yonghe, (02) 8231-1257
No. 122 Zhong Shan Road, Sec 1, Zhonghe, (02) 7731-7778
No. 95 Jengyi North Road, Sanchung, (02) 2989-8088
thaitown.com.tw


Favorite Vietnamese Restaurant- YUE YUAN PHO
Winner second year in a row. If you've never had a Vietnamese sandwich, you need to run to Yue Yuan Pho, which created the perfect combination of toasted french baguette, grilled chicken, pickled carrots and radishes and special sauce. Waiters wearing bright purple shirts that state "Good Pho You" bring food to the table that lives up to their slogan.
No. 12, Lane 155, Dun Hua N. Road, (02)2718-0660;
No. 8, Ln 103, Dunhua S Rd, Sec 2,(02) 2701-2523;
Yue Yuan Pho's Facebook page


Favorite Korean Restaurant-ARI TOFU HOUSE
Ari Tofu House offers a menu full of soondubu jjigae, or as-spicy-as-you-want soft tofu stews, for those looking for some Korean comfort food. Each set menu includes stone pot rice and an array of complimentary little dishes of cold appetizers, but I recommend adding some beef or kalbi beef ribs to your set.
No. 31, Lane 280, GuangFu S. Road, 02-2721-3033, Ari's Facebook page

Favorite Dessert Cafe/Restaurant- DAZZLING CAFE
With almost 100,000 likes on Dazzling Cafe's Facebook page, it's no wonder there are continuously long lines for their infamous honey toast. What's honey toast? A huge loaf of toasted bread with the insides scooped out, toasted cubes, put back in and topped with drizzled honey and ice cream- sort of like french toast on steroids. Oh yeah, Dazzling also serves food.
Reservation number: 02-87739229
PINK: No. 11, Lane 205, Alley 7, ZhongXiao E Road, Sec 4, (02 )8773-9238
MINT: No. 3, Lane 248, ZhongXiao E. Road, Sec 3, (02) 2731-5199
Dazzling Cafe's facebook page


Favorite Chinese Breakfast- YONG HE DOU JIANG
Everyone in Taiwan should be familiar with the Chinese breakfast- a bowl or cup of soy milk with chinese pancake, fried cruller or sticky rice ball. The most famous is in Yong He, which inspired a myriad of shops with the name Yong He Dou Jiang. While they are not all the same, here are a few to start off with.
No. 1, Lane 240, Guang Fu S. Road, (02) 2772-0642;
No. 102 Fuxing S. Road, Sec. 2, (02)2703- 5051


Favorite Ramen-RAKUMENYA
Thick or thin, hard or soft, salty or spicy, rich or not? These are the questions diners have to answer when ordering ramen at Rakumenya. After options are checked off on an order form list, hot bowls of soupy ramen come to the table and the slurping begins.
No. 7, Ln 10, Yongkang St, (02) 2395-1787;
No. 10, Lane 83, DaAn Rd, Sec. 1 (02) 8772-8159


Favorite Beef Noodle Soup- LIN DONG FANG
What's so special about beef noodle soup that it inspires a whole festival and competition every year in Taipei? Comfort food for some, everyone has a different place for their favorite bowl. This year, voters chose Lin Dong Fang for the springy noodles, tender beef and housemade chili paste that transforms the broth.
No. 274, Section 2, BaDe Rd, (02) 2752-2556

Favorite Dim Sum- CHAO PING JI at SAN WANT HOTEL
Winner second year in a row. Chao Ping Ji makes traditional dim sum fried and steamed to perfection, as well as offering a few unique spins on dim sum like the Sauteed Rice Roll with XO Chili Sauce and a full menu with Chao Chow specialties.
No. 172, ZhongXiao E Rd, Sec 4, 2F, (02) 2772-2687, www.sanwant.com

Favorite Hamburger- (tie) BURGER STOP and 1885 BURGER STORE
If Burger Stop = In-N-Out then 1885 Burger Store = Red Robin. One is a fast food burger and shakes shop and the other is sit down with more burger topping options and fat french fries. Both stand out of the pack of the burger rush of restaurants that have opened in the last few years with their juicy patties and good prices.
No. Lane 137, Yanji St, (02) 2711-7079, burgerstop.com
No. 24-1 Pucheng St, (02) 2367-8258 www.1885burgerstore.com


Favorite Hot Pot- DING WANG or TRIPOD KING
Spicy hotpot or mala hotpot is another must try for those visiting Taipei, and Tripod King is one of the most popular. Tripod King gets its name from its special hot pots, huge metal pots with three short, strong feet, which can hold two flavors of soup, so that those who can't handle spicy can share a meal. Don't giggle when the waitresses bow every time they leave your table or forget to take home a bag of the leftover broth to make some more hotpot at home.
No. 89, Guangfu N Rd, (02) 2742-2116, tripodking.com.tw

Favorite Pizza- (tie) ALLEYCATS and MARYJANE PIZZA
For the third year in a row, locally founded Alleycats wins votes with its stone oven baked pizzas, thin crusts and fresh toppings. One of my favorites is the "Napoletana" with fresh tomatoes, goat cheese, anchovies, olives and spinach (and I switch out the anchovies for mushrooms).
No. 6, Li Shui Street, B1, (02) 2321-8948
No. 285, Song Ren Rd, (02) 8780-5421;
Da An- No. 2, Lane 248, Zhong Xiao E Road, Sec 4, (02) 2731-5225;
Tien Mu- No. 31, Lane 35, Zhongshan N. Rd Sec. 6 , (02) 2835-6491;
Nei Hu- No. 67-1 Cheng Gong Road, Section, 5, (02)2630-6278;
Xi Men- No. 49, Alley 10, Cheng Du, 2FL, (02) 2370-8858;
www.alleycatspizza.com


With affordable prices and huge menu of toppings, Maryjane Pizza fits the bill for those looking for classic pepperoni or those looking for something different. Artichokes, jalapenos, blue cheese, squid, carmelized onions, sunnyside egg and smoked salmon are all options for more unusual toppings and if you don't find what you want from the preset combinations, you can make your own. With two locations near college campuses, the third newest location is in Dazhi.
No. 25, Lane 44, TaiShun St., (02) 2368-5222
No.89, WenZhou St., (02) 2369-5333
No.8, Ln.62, DaZhi St., (02) 2533-5200
maryjanepizza.com


Favorite Steak- A-CUT STEAKHOUSE at the AMBASSADOR TAIPEI HOTEL
Winner second year in a row. I've been hearing a lot about A-Cut for years when I asked about the best steak in Taipei, and it seems that the readers agree. Also chosen by Taipei Times as one of the staff's favorite restaurants of 2007.
at the Ambassador Taipei Hotel, No. 63, ZhongShan N Rd, Sec 2, B1 (02) 2571-0389; ambassadorhotel.com.tw

Best Vegetarian- MINDER VEGETARIAN
At the food courts here, instead of salad bars, we have Minder Vegetarian which is a pay-by-weight vegetarian buffet of sorts. With an array of mushroom, soy, greens and vegetables to choose from, you can add a bowl of rice and soup for a little extra and feel a little healthier than your average food court meal.
Dun Hua Eslite Food Court, No. 245, Dun Hua S Road, B2
XinYi Eslite, No. 11, Song Gao Road, B2, (02) 2729-8969
Breeze Taipei Main Station, No. 3, BeiPing W. Road, 2 FL, (02) 2361-3566
XinDian shop (all you can eat on second floor), No. 137, Minchuang Road , (02) 8218-7858
No. 47, Lane 63, Dun Hua S Road, Sec 2, (02) 2325-5695
No. 3, Alley 17, Lane 300, Ren Ai Road, (02) 2707-6753
No. 30, Lane 151, Jianguo South Road, (02) 2703-3703
National Taiwan University Hospital Shop, No.7, Zhongshan S. Rd, B1, (02) 2396-3088
Taipei Veterans General Hospital, No. 201, Shih-Pai Road, 1 FL, (02) 2873-9465
XinDian Tzu Chi Hospital, No. 289, Jianguo Road, B1, (02) 2793-5202
Tri Service General Hospital, No. 325 Chenggong Road B1, Neihu, (02) 8219-2232
www.minder.com.tw


Favorite Afternoon Tea- Smith & Hsu
As someone who thought scones were always rock hard and dry, the warm-out-of-the-oven buttery scones from Smith & Hsu were a revelation. You can't go wrong with a bit of clotted cream, lemon curd or jam on top, and the inviting space to chat with a friend for afternoon tea. For serious tea drinkers, there are over 50 teas to select from, as they give each table a tray of bottled tea leaves to browse and there is a shop area to buy teas and tea sets.
No.33, Section 5, Zhong Xiao E. Road, (02) 2747-4857
No.103, Section 3, Minsheng E. Road, (02) 2546-6088
Tianmu Sogo, No.177, Zhongshan N. Road, Sec. 6, (02) 2838-1828
No. 8, Zhong Xiao East Road, Sec. 5, 6FL, (02) 8786-2877
smithandhsu.com


Best Frozen Yogurt- YOFROYO
Winner second year in a row. Since opening its first location at the Shida night market, Yofroyo has established itself as the frozen yogurt favorite and added three more locations. A rainbow of flavors to choose from, with fresh fruit, freshly made mochi and sweet toppings served up in a satisfying size, all for under NT$70. Open late, so you can go for a late night snack at the shop or to-go.
at Shida Night Market, No.9, Ln.59, Shida Rd., (02))2365-0188
No. 39, Lane 187, Dunhua S. Rd. Sec. 1, (02) 2752-0767
QSquare branch, No. 1, Chengde Rd, Sec. 1, B2, (02)2558-7919
Ximen Eslite branch, No. 116 Hanzhong St., (02) 2370-1938
yofroyo.com


Best Shaved Ice-MEET FRESH
Meet Fresh, otherwise known as Xian Yu Xian, quickly gained a name when it opened over 100 outlets across Taiwan. Besides shaved ice topped with condensed milk, various tapioca balls and colorful QQ bites, you can also get a variety of hot or cold dessert soups, herbal jellies, sweet tofu pudding or teas at the popular dessert shop.
Breeze branch, No. 62, Fuxing S. Rd, (02) 2775-3395
No. 36 An Ju St., ( 02) 2377-6788
No. 443, JinZhou St., (02) 2502-7023
No. 18, ChongQing S. Rd, Sec. 1, (02) 2389-1278
No. 20-1 LuoSiFu (or Roosevelt) Rd., Sec. 1 (02) 3322-2616
No. 239, NeiHu Rd, Sec. 1, (02) 2627-4322
No. 737, Lane 45, NeiHu Rd, (02) 2799-3638
No. 968 ZhongXiao E. Rd, Sec. 5 (02) 2789-0711
No. 214, XiYuan Rd, Sec. 1 , (02) 2336-2800
No. 105, ZhiNan Rd, Sec. 2, (02) 2938-1919
No. 210-3, Zhong Zheng Rd, (02) 2832-3006
www.meetfresh.com.tw


Favorite Milk Tea/Boba Shop- 50 LAN
There's nothing like boba milk tea in Taipei- it's cheap, it's quick, it's customizable and comes in flavors you never knew tasted so good. At 50 Lan, I like the milk tea with small boba, less ice, less sweet and with fresh milk. With a huge menu of icy and fruity drinks, you might find yourself there often during a heatwave, or even when it's rainy and cold out. Just look for the bright blue and yellow signs.
Find locations at www.50lan.com.tw/ though addresses are only in Chinese

Best Bakery-breads PAUL
There are so many good bakeries in town, it's hard to choose one, but this year Paul got the most votes for its breads, pastries and sandwiches made with ingredients shipped from France. The fancy chandelier setting and extended brunch menu including crepes, quiche and sandwich & soup sets make it a popular spot too, despite its pricey fare.
No. 107, Ren Ai Rd, Sec. 4, (02)2771-3200
Shin Kong Mitsukoshi, A9, No. 9, Song Shou Road, 2FL, (02) 2722-0700
paultaiwan.com


Best Bakery-cakes BLACK AS CHOCOLATE
Even though their shops doesn't display their cakes, Black as Chocolate has gained a loyal following with its chocolicious cakes, ice cream and stylish packaging. I recommend trying the classic chocolate cake or the chocolate cheese cake.
No. 50, Fuxing S. Road, Sec 1, (02) 2796-5133
No. 123, BaDe Road, Sec 4
No. 247, Lin Sheng N. Road
Eslite XinYi shop, No. 11, Song Gao Road, B2
Tienmu shop, No. 15, Lane 38, Tian Yu Street
Neihu shop, No. 282 Rui Guang Road
blackaschocolate.com


Finally! I'm done! Hope you enjoy the list and leave a comment on what your favorites are or if you find this list useful. We'll do this again at the end of 2010 and see if I can ever get the list out by January!

Friday, November 05, 2010

2010 Best of Taipei Restaurants 3rd Annual Readers' Favorites Poll!




It's nearing the end of the year and I figure if I give you guys a head start in voting then I can have a head start in tabulating and researching and writing and then hopefully we can have the results out in January 2011 (eek!) rather than early spring! haha. Now with Facebook and Twitter and more of you reading, I'm hoping more of you will vote!! Copy and paste the area below, fill in the ones you want to vote for and paste in the comments section. If you need a refresher, check out last year's faves.

VOTING

Voting will be open from November 5th - December 3rd, 2010. There must be a minimum of 5 categories filled out (with different restaurants) in order for the vote to be counted. For example, you cannot fill out the same restaurant in 3 categories and nothing else. But if you really love that restaurant, vote for it in the applicable 3 categories and fill out 4 other categories, then it will count.

It's okay if you haven't tried everywhere in Taipei! No one has. It does not have to be a restaurant I've reviewed. So just vote for your favorites!

You don't have to have a google account to vote. Just pick the "name" or "anonymous" option and put in your first name or initials if you don't want to put in your name. (Thanks to Booyah for recommending Google Surveys- I'm giving it a try!) Just fill out the boxes underneath with your answer and hit submit at the end.

Also feel free to campaign for your restaurant or favorite eatery on Facebook, Twitter or your website with a link to this page. But only votes on this post will count.

I will tabulate and hope to announce the winners with a write up in January 2011 (fingers crossed!).

Friday, March 26, 2010

2nd Annual 2009 Best of Taipei Readers' Choice Poll Winners



Hi everyone! After many a sleepless nights of tabulating, writing, bleary eyed researching and fact checking and google translating, I finally have the results!

Another year of eating, another year for the HungryInTaipei.com's Readers' Choice poll! Thanks to everyone that took the time to collect their thoughts and write down/vote what their favorite restaurants are. To see how people voted, you can see the comments at this Best of Taipei categories post. Some categories were unable to get votes or a consensus so I haven't named any winners- such as for Favorite Late Night Bites and Favorite Delivery.

I look forward to trying out and revisiting the favorites that I haven't blogged about- like Abu, Sushi Express and Kiki's- and if you don't see your favorite, be sure to vote next year! If you find a new favorite from this poll, don't forget to to mention that you found out about it here! And as usual- please double check any information first if you are going to a new restaurant for the first time- locations change, restaurants close down, and bloggers do their best in translating and typing! :)

2nd ANNUAL HUNGRYINTAIPEI.com's BEST OF TAIPEI 2009
READERS' CHOICE RESTAURANT POLL WINNERS


Favorite Restaurant in Taipei, Favorite Special Occasion Restaurant, Favorite Unexpected Find in Taipei, Favorite Romantic- FLAVORS
Swedish food in Taipei? Flavors is the winner for the 2nd year in a row for Favorite Unexpected Find in Taipei, and after I visited it last year I discovered why. An intimate setting, friendly owners and swedish meatballs and apple cake that will inspire hard core fans. Apparently, a few readers agree and voted it their favorite restaurant and special occasion restaurant too.
No.13 Alley 26 Lane 300 Ren Ai Rd. Sec.4, (02) 2709 6525, flavors.com.tw

Favorite New Restaurant in 2009- ABU AUTHENTIC CUISINE
I've been hearing a lot about Abu and can't wait to try it. Fans of the owner and head chef from Tutto Bello (last year's winner for Best Italian) have followed him here, and advance reservations are recommended.
No. 28 Siwei Rd, (02) 2707-0699

Favorite Cheap Eats- Night Markets
Taipei is famous for its night markets and for good reasons- the multitude of late night offerings for the price of the change in your pocket. Hot, icy, bite sized, giant and fried, stinky or on a stick - each night market has its own specialties as well as the usual suspects.

Favorite Restaurant in a Hotel, Favorite Japanese Restaurant- SUMIE NOUVELLE CUISINE at SAN WANT HOTEL
Winner for the second year in a row. I always get the multi-course set menu and my friends new to the restaurant always are dazzled by Sumie's plating and presentation of every dish. Don't let the upscale modern interior scare you away from some of the freshest sashimi and best lamb chops in Taipei.
No. 172, Zhongxiao E Rd Sec 4, 4 FL, (02) 2781 6909, www.sanwant.com

Favorite Western Breakfast/ Brunch- THE DINER
Winner for the second year in a row. The first time I ate at the Diner, I couldn't decide what to eat- but in a good way. Offering a wide selection of Western brunch/breakfast options all day, it's definitely the place to go if you're missing tasty pancakes, eggs benedicts, omelettes or even a breakfast burrito. Just be prepared to wait for a table and don't forget to try the dessert menu.
No. 145 Ruian St, Taipei, (02) 2700-1680;
No. 6, Ln 103, Dunhua S Rd Sec 2, (02) 2754-1680,
www.thediner.com.tw


Favorite Chinese Breakfast- YONG HE DOU JIANG
Everyone in Taiwan should be familiar with the Chinese breakfast- a bowl or cup of soy milk with chinese pancake, fried cruller or sticky rice ball. The most famous is in Yong He, which inspired a myriad of shops with the name Yong He Dou Jiang. While they are not all the same, here are a few to start off with.
No. 1, Lane 240, Guang Fu S. Road, (02) 2772-0642;
No. 102 Fuxing S. Road, Sec. 2, (02)2703- 5051


Favorite Kid Friendly/Family Restaurant L'IDIOT
Last year's multiple winner L'Idiot swept the votes for best new restaurant in 2008, offering seasonal but simple Western fare as well as impressed voters with its desserts. The weekend brunch and open space that can seat large groups and offer space for kids to run around makes it a family favorite.
No. 156, Minsheng E Rd Sec 3, (02) 2545-6966, lidiotrestaurant.com

Favorite Romantic Restaurant- (tie) VILLA 32 and FLAVORS
Complete your romantic evening with some hot springs or a couples massage, or just wine and dine your honey at ultra-luxe Villa 32's Euro restaurant, tucked in Beitou, about an hour outside of the city.
No 32, Zhongshan Rd, Beitou, Taipei, (02) 6611-8888, villa32.com

Favorite Buffet/Favorite Afternoon Tea- CAFE at GRAND HYATT HOTEL
Winner for the second year in a row for favorite buffet, first time for favorite afternoon tea. Cafe offers both Western and Eastern cuisines in its huge buffet spread- you might even miss a part of it if you're not thorough. The make your own waffles are tucked in the corner away from the wall of food. Afternoon tea at Cafe will be more than tea and finger sandwiches- it's the Grand Hyatt's buffet, so you can get your fill of fruits, ice cream, desserts, dim sum and pastries. I've only been to Cafe for brunch, but I expect the variety and quality to be just as great any time of the day.
No.2, Sung Shou Road, (02) 2720-1234, taipei.grand.hyatt.com

Favorite Night Market- SHIH LIN NIGHT MARKET
Winner for the second year in a row. Eat at the covered, indoor part of Shih Lin Night Market or follow the crowds to the street eats near the theater or tucked inside the alleyways. Offering all the classic night market foods from oyster omelette to stinky tofu to baos to shaved ice or random food on a stick, no visit to Taipei is complete without a visit to this night market.
Near Chien Tan MRT station

Favorite Restaurant to take Tourist Friends, Best Xiao Long Bao- DIN TAI FUNG
Winner for the second year in a row. There might be cheaper or fancier options, but world famous Din Tai Fung is inevitably where we'll take our friends to eat as voted best xiao long bao. I'm guilty of it, you're guilty of it- but only because it's worth the wait.
No. 218, Zhong Xiao East Rd., Sec 4,(02) 2721-7890;
No. 194, Xinyi Road, Sec.2 (entrance of Yong Kang Street) (02) 2321-8928
No.300, Zhong Xiao E. Rd., Sec. 3, (02) 8772-0528
www.dintaifung.com.tw


Favorite Place to Meet for Drinks- A-PLUS SUSHI AND SAKE BAR
Choose from over 30 kinds of sake and relax on the lounge-like sofa seating at A-Plus Sushi and Sake. If you're hungry, you can also get some spicy tuna rolls or one their small plates while you enjoy your cocktail hour.
No. 33, AnHe Rd, Sec 1, (02) 2731-9266; www.aplusdiningbar.com.tw

Favorite Food Court- 101 Mall
Winner for the second year in a row. Grab a quick lunch while sightseeing at 101 Mall or just go for the variety. Offering almost every type of cuisine as well as lots of familiar chains (McD's and Subway), you can also hit up JASON's Supermarket for some hard to find items before you head home.
45 Shifu Road, Xinyi District

Favorite Fast Food- MOS BURGER
Winner for the second year in a row, Mos Burger beat out Subway as your favorite stop for a quick bite. Hamburger or rice burger, Mos Burger offers up Asian flavors at a fast food setting. Don't be afraid to eat your rice burger to go, it comes in an indestructable styrofoam pouch to catch all the sauce.
over 100 stores across Taiwan, mos.co.jp

Favorite Taiwanese Restaurant- SHIN YEH
Winner for the second year in a row. When even the locals line up for this Taiwanese restaurant, then you know that it's good. Shin Yeh offers Taiwanese classics like gua bao, run bing, sweet potato porridge, pan seared pork liver, or oyster omelette in an elegant, family friendly setting.
No. 112 Zhong Xiao E Road, Sec 4, 2FL, (02) 2752-9299
No. 34-1, ShuangCheng St, (02) 2596-3255
No. 12, NanJing West Road, 8F, (02) 2523-6757
Shinyeh 101 at No. 45, Shifu Road, 85 FL (02) 8101-0185
shinyeh.com.tw


Favorite Chinese Restaurant- KIKI
WIth authentic Sichuan spiciness, Kiki wins with its bold flavors. It looks like they have added locations since I first went there over five years ago before I started the blog, so it looks like I'm due for another visit.
No. 47, Lane 280, GuangFu S. Road,1F, (02) 2781-4357 / 2781-4250;
No. 396, XinYi Road, Sec. 4, (02) 2700-2777;
No. 51, DongFeng St, (02) 2709-9078;
No. 28, FuXing S. Road, Sec. 1, (02) 2752-2781 / 2752-2791;
www.kiki1991.com


Best Sushi/Sashimi- SUSHI EXPRESS
Sushi Express adds a little fun to catching your 'fish'- customers choose from a parade of sushi plates whizzing by on a conveyor belt. I admit I was slightly surprised to see this as the winner, but with multiple locations and plates as low as NT$30, you can create your own omasake without the usual damage to the wallet. I've never been, so I'll have to try it out.
About 30 locations all over Taipei, addresses at sushi-express.com.tw

Best French- SAVEURS
I can't keep this place a secret anymore, since Saveurs is the winner of Best French Restaurant in Taipei. Saveurs offers a rustic French lunch set, which is a steal at NT$400, with a soup, salad, main dish and dessert, made by chef Patrick Cabirol. The lamb shank and warm chocolate moelleux will make you want to come back for more with friends.
No. 14, Lane 219, Fuxing S. Rd, Sec 1, (02) 2751-0185

Best Italian- MACARONI GRILL
Huge family style sized salads, pastas, pizzas and desserts are meant to be shared at Macaroni Grill, and though it's a little more than what we'd pay in the states, there's nowhere else in town you'd get table side opera with your bruschetta and eggplant parmesan.
at Neo 19, 30 Sung Shou Road, (02) 2722-4567; macaronigrill.com

Best Indian- SAFFRON
Once you try Saffron, you'll realize that not all Indian curries are made the same. Offering a a wide variety of Indian fare in an upscale setting, Saffron's fragrant dishes are rich without being greasy and you can watch the chef making the naan to order in the front window.
No. 38-6, TianMu E Rd, (02) 2871-4842

Best Mexican/Latin/Spanish-EDDY's CANTINA
Located all the way out in Danshui, Eddy's Cantina gives readers a reason to make the day trip- such as baked enchiladas topped with cheese and carnitas with freshly made tortillas. All the recipes used at Eddy's Cantina come from the owner's Mexican family to satisfy those craving "real Mexican food" in Taiwan, and frozen deliveries are available throughout Taiwan.
No. 151-1, Zhong Shan Road, Danshui, (02) 2628-2638
eddyscantina.com


Favorite Thai Restaurant- THAI TOWN
Thai Town makes it easy to like them- lots of locations, offering upscale casual dining, good service, and consistently delicious Thai food. Choose your favorites from the menu (I love their chicken curry with Thai white rice) or get their pre-combined set menus of their most popular dishes.

No. 49 Ren Ai Road, Sec 2, (02) 2351-0960
No. 15 Nanjing W. Road, (02)2542-7277
No. 133 Anhe Road, Sec 2, (02) 2735-9638
No. 9 Song Shou Road, at Xin Yi Shin Kong Mitsukoshi, A9, 7th FL, (02) 2723-9987
No. 116 Tien Mu West Road, (02) 2826-4852
No. 68 Tien Mu East Road, at Tianmu Shin Kong Mitsukoshi, Building A, 7th FL, (02) 2873-6680
No. 22 Jingye 3rd Road, 2nd FL, at Miramar Mall, Dazhi, (02) 2175-3355
No. 128, Beishing Road, Sec 2, 2FL, XIndian, (02) 8913-5153
No. 65 Wen Hua Road, Sec 1, Banqiao, (02) 8965-1155
No. 659 Zhong Zheng Road, Yonghe, (02) 8231-1257
No. 122 Zhong Shan Road, Sec 1, Zhonghe, (02) 7731-7778
No. 95 Jengyi North Road, Sanchung, (02) 2989-8088
thaitown.com.tw


Favorite Vietnamese Restaurant- YUE YUAN PHO
If you've never had a Vietnamese sandwich, you need to run to Yue Yuan Pho, which created the perfect combination of toasted french baguette, grilled chicken, pickled carrots and radishes and special sauce. Waiters wearing bright purple shirts that state "Good Pho You" bring food to the table that lives up to their slogan.
No. 12, Lane 155, Dun Hua N. Road, (02)2718-0660;
No. 8, Ln 103, Dunhua S Rd, Sec 2,(02) 2701-2523;
Yue Yuan Pho's Facebook page


Favorite Korean Restaurant- HAPPY KOREAN
One of the only places in Taipei that I've found to have delicious cold noodles in soup just like I had in Korea, Happy Korean delivers very affordable and authentic Korean food. Lunch time specials offer discounts off of already low prices off of dishes like the bulgogi beef bowl, and there's even a small play area for kids.
No. 1, Lane 99, Xin Yi Road, Sec 3, (02) 2703-9237

Favorite American/Western- CHILI's and TGIF (tie)
Chili's and TGIF look, feel and taste just like they do in the US- big portions, a dizzying menu of food and cocktails to choose from, and a family friendly atmosphere that can seat all of your large group needs (ie all your relatives/co-workers/baby shower/birthday guests). Tied for winner of Favorite American/Western, Chili's and TGIF are often your best bet to find Tex-Mex, ribs, macaroni and cheese, or sweet-enough-desserts in Taipei.

CHILI's at Neo 19 Building- No. 22, Sung Shou Road, 2F, (02) 2345-8838;
Tianmu Mituskoshi- No. 200, ZhongZhen Rd., section 2, 2FL, (02) 2875-4838


TGIF at tgifridays.com.tw
No. 94 Chungching S Rd, Sec 1, (02) 2389-3579
No. 2, Lane 49, Zhong Xiao E Rd, Sec 4, (02) 2711-3579
XImen- No. 72, Wuchang St, 2FL (02) 2388-0679
No. 150, Dunhua N. Rd, (02) 2713-3579
Xinyi/World Trade Center- No. 7, Keelung Rd, Sec 2, (02) 2345-2789
Miramar Mall- No. 22, Jingye 3rd Road, 2FL,
No. 297, Zhong Xiao E. Road, Section 5, 2FL (02) 2528-3579
Global Mall- No. 122, Zhongshan Road, Zhonghe, 4FL (02) 2225-3578


Favorite Ramen-AKASAKA RAMEN
Sometimes a bowl of noodles is the best comfort food, and if ramen is your noodle of choice, then Akasaka Ramen offers over 15 different kinds to choose from, including swirls of char siu, braised pork, kimchi, corn or soft boiled eggs. Or see if their award-winning TV Champion ramen bowl lives up to its name.
No. 49 Hanzhong Street, 2nd Floor, 02-2381-0829
No. 140 Nanking East Road, Section 1, No. 2 F 02-2567-6373
No. 4 122-1 Chung Hsiao E. Road, Taipei, 2nd Floor 02-2752-0786
No. 147 Bade Road, Sec 02-2747-7737
No. 96 Chongqing South Road, Taipei, No. 2 F 02-2370-7396
No. 52 Xinglong Road 02-2932-3504
udesign.com.tw/akasaka


Favorite Beef Noodle Soup- YONG KANG NIU ROU MIAN
Voted the dish you miss most while you aren't in Taiwan, beef noodle soup is a must try for new and returning visitors alike. Everyone has their favorite beef noodle soup place, and voters chose Yong Kang Niu Rou Mian over last year's winner Lao Zhang. Whether you get the braised beef noodle soup or clear broth noodle soup, be sure to add some of the sweet, pickled vegetables and order the steamed pork and yams.
No. 17, Lane 31, Jinshan S. Rd., Sec.2, (02)2351-1051

Favorite Dim Sum- CHAO PING JI at SAN WANT HOTEL and PLUM BLOSSOM ROOM at BROTHER HOTEL (tie)
Chao Ping Ji makes traditional dim sum fried and steamed to perfection, as well as offering a few unique spins on dim sum like the Sauteed Rice Roll with XO Chili Sauce and a full menu with Chao Chow specialties.
No. 172, ZhongXiao E Rd, Sec 4, 2F, (02) 2772-2687, www.sanwant.com

Order some siu mau, cha siu bao and har gow to your heart's delight as Brother Hotel has an array of carted dim sum favorites. Even with two floors of tables, prepare for a wait on the weekend without a reservation.
No. 255 Nanjing East Road, Sec. 3, 2F/3F, (02)2712-3456, brotherhotel.com.tw

Favorite Hamburger- CALIFORNIA GRILL
Winner second year in a row. Since opening its second branch behind Dun Hua Sogo, California Grill has captured new customers and established itself as the best hamburger in Taipei among quite a lot of competitors. Offering a "So-cal" or Southern California spin on its burgers (beef, chicken, salmon or even tofu) and salads, once you try their lunch special you might be hooked.
53-1 Yong Kang St., (02) 2343 5111
No. 1, Lane 238, Dun Hua S Road, Sec. 1, (02) 8771-9423;
californiagrill.com.tw/


Favorite Hot Pot- ORANGE SHABU SHABU
Winner second year in a row. If there was gourmet shabu shabu, Orange Shabu Shabu would be it. Offering luxe meats and seafood like prime rib beef or emperor crab for the customized copper hotpots, Orange also offers sashimi and cooked seafood dishes in a romantic ambiance.
No. 135, Da An Road, Sec 1, B1, (02) 2776-1658;
29, RenAi Rd, Sec 4, 2 FL, (02) 2771-0181;
orangeshabu.com.tw


Favorite Pizza- ALLEYCATS
For the second year in a row, locally founded Alleycats wins votes with its stone oven baked pizzas, thin crusts and fresh toppings. One of my favorites is the "Napoletana" with fresh tomatoes, goat cheese, anchovies, olives and spinach (and I switch out the anchovies for mushrooms).
No. 6, Li Shui Street, B1, (02) 2321-8948
No. 285, Song Ren Rd, (02) 8780-5421;
Da An- No. 2, Lane 248, Zhong Xiao E Road, Sec 4, (02) 2731-5225;
Tien Mu- No. 31, Lane 35, Zhongshan N. Rd Sec. 6 , (02) 2835-6491;
Nei Hu- No. 67-1 Cheng Gong Road, Section, 5, (02)2630-6278;
Xi Men- No. 49, Alley 10, Cheng Du, 2FL, (02) 2370-8858;
www.alleycatspizza.com


Favorite Steak- A-CUT STEAKHOUSE at the AMBASSADOR TAIPEI HOTEL
I've been hearing a lot about A-Cut for years when I asked about the best steak in Taipei, and it seems that the readers agree. Also chosen by Taipei Times as one of the staff's favorite restaurants of 2007.
at the Ambassador Taipei Hotel, No. 63, ZhongShan N Rd, Sec 2, B1 (02) 2571-0389; ambassadorhotel.com.tw

Best Vegetarian- YU SHAN GE
If you think vegetarian, you might think salad bar or tofu burger, but Yu Shan Ge elevates the vegetarian dining experience to an entirely different level. The presentation of the set menus are delicate and stylized, and the meal is an adventure into new flavors and foods.
No. 14, BeiPing E. Road, (02) 2394-5155; www.yu-shan-ge.com.tw

Best Desserts, Best Frozen Yogurt- YOFROYO
Taipei has finally caught up to the frozen yogurt craze, and Yofroyo leads the pack. A rainbow of flavors to choose from, with fresh fruit, mochi and sweet toppings served up in a satisfying size, all for under NT$60. Open late, so you can go for a late night snack and then browse the alleys of the Shida night market.
at Shida Night Market, No.9, Ln.59, Shida Rd., (02))2365-0188; yofroyo.com

Best Ice Cream- MOVENPICK
Everyone has their favorite ice cream flavor and mine might be the mint chocolate chip from Movenpick. Drool!
No. 12-1, QingCheng St, (02) 2546-7126;
Breeze Center (02) 8772-5457;
DaZhi- Miramar Mall, 3rd FL at 22 Jing Ye 3rd Road, (02) 21753608;
Banqiao- Far Eastern Dept Store, 13 FL (02) 29568291;
Kung Kuan MRT Station, (02) 2362-0906 ;
Taipei 101 B1 (02) 8101-8525 and 89th FL (02) 8101-0156 ;
Xin Yi Shin Kong Mitsukoshi, A4, B2 (02) 2723-6030
www.movenpick-icecream.com.tw/


Best Shaved Ice- ICE MONSTER
Sadly, repeat winner Ice Monster closed a few months ago after years of popularity on Yong Kang St. It'll be difficult to find an equal substitute for Ice Monster's monster mango ice- piles of mango topped with a snowball of mango sherbert sitting upon a mountain of shaved ice.
No. 15, Yong Kang Street, (02) 2394-8279; www.icemonster.com.tw

Best Coffee/Tea Shop- STARBUCKS
With 95 locations across Taipei, it's no wonder Starbucks won "Best coffee/tea shop" with its familiar green signs and menu of lattes, frappucinos, and my favorite, their chocolate chip muffin. The sofas and stools to lounge on don't hurt either.
Find locations at starbucks.com.tw though addresses are only in Chinese

Best Bakery- FLAVORFIELD

There are so many good bakeries in town, it's hard to choose one, but this year Flavorfield got the most votes for its Japanese style European fresh breads, pastries and sandwiches.
at 101, No. 45, Shifu Road, B1; at Fuxing Sogo, No.300, Zhong Xiao E. Rd., Sec. 3

Food you guys miss most when you are not in Taipei- Beef Noodle Soup
Food that you want brought to Taipei- good Mexican food (me too!)
Favorite restaurant that needs to open a branch in Taipei- Cheesecake Factory and In and Out


Whew! That was a mouthful! We'll do this again at the end of 2010! If you like the list, hope you will leave a comment below!

Wednesday, December 09, 2009

news: vote vote vote

hi everyone!

I know there are more of you out there itching to vote for your favorite restaurants in Taipei! Don't hold out on me! If you've ever found last year's Best of Taipei list useful, or my blog, please do share a few of your favorites so it's not just people I know! Even if you've only visited, it's great to know what you loved and where you would eat at again.

Also, I'm in the running for Taiwan Best Blog Awards.



If I've helped you find a new place (or three) to eat, or you enjoy drooling over stinky tofu or shaved ice from afar, please take 5 seconds to vote for my blog by clicking on the plus sign.Voting is allowed once every 24 hours from the same computer.

THANK YOU!!!!!

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

2nd Annual 2009 Best of Taipei Restaurants Readers' Favorites Poll



It'a that time of year again! I had a lot of fun finding out what your favorite eats in Taipei were last year and I'm hoping more readers will share this year. Copy and paste the area below, fill in the ones you want to vote for and paste in the comments section.

I've added a few fun categories that I hope you guys will participate in... I know some of you are visitors, so you can share what you miss when you're not here!

VOTING

Voting will be open from November 24th - December 26th. There must be a minimum of 5 categories filled out (with different restaurants) in order for the vote to be counted. For example, you cannot fill out the same restaurant in 3 categories and nothing else. But if you really love that restaurant, vote for it in the applicable 3 categories and fill out 4 other categories, then it will count.

I changed it from "best" to "favorite" because some people told me it was too much pressure to declare something the "best" when they hadn't eaten everything. It's okay if you haven't tried everywhere in Taipei! No one has. It does not have to be a restaurant I've reviewed. So just vote for your favorites!

You don't have to have a google account to vote. Just pick the "name" or "anonymous" option and put in your first name or initials if you don't want to put in your name.

Also feel free to campaign for your restaurant or favorite eatery on Facebook, Twitter or your website with a link to this page. But only votes on this post will count.

I will tabulate and announce the winners by January 15th, 2010 (fingers crossed!).

2nd ANNUAL HungryInTaipei.com's
2009 BEST OF TAIPEI RESTAURANTS READERS' CHOICE AWARDS

Favorite Restaurant in Taipei
Favorite New Restaurant in 2009
Favorite Cheap Eats
Favorite Special Occasion Restaurant
Favorite Restaurant in a Hotel

Favorite Western Breakfast/Brunch
Favorite Chinese Breakfast
Favorite Late-Night Bites
Favorite Kid Friendly/Family Restaurant
Favorite Romantic Restaurant
Favorite Buffet
Favorite Night Market
Favorite Restaurant to take Tourist Friends
Favorite Unexpected Find in Taipei
Favorite Place to Meet for Drinks
Favorite Delivery
Favorite Food Court
Favorite Fast Food

Favorite Taiwanese Restaurant
Favorite Chinese Restaurant
Favorite Japanese Restaurant
Favorite Sushi/Sashimi
Favorite French Restaurant
Favorite Italian Restaurant
Favorite Indian Restaurant
Favorite Mexican/TexMex/Spanish Restaurant
Favorite Thai Restaurant
Favorite Vietnamese/Southeast Asian Restaurant
Favorite Korean Restaurant
Favorite American/Western Restaurant

Best Ramen
Best Beef Noodle Soup
Best Xiao Long Bao
Best Dim Sum
Best Hamburger
Best Hot Pot
Best Pizza
Best Steak
Best Vegetarian
Best Afternoon Tea
Best Desserts
Best Ice Cream
Best Frozen Yogurt
Best Shaved Ice
Best Coffee/Tea shop
Best Bakery- Breads
Best Bakery- Cakes

Favorite Food I Miss When I'm Away From Taipei
Favorite Food That Needs to Be Brought To Taipei
Favorite Restaurant that Needs to Open a Branch in Taipei

:)