Taipei City - 吉峰 香菇魯肉飯 - JiFeng mushroom and pork

Value for money: 7/10

Cleanliness: 6/10

Service: 7/10

Quality of food: 6/10

Overall: 6/10

I'm a sucker for this stuff, I think in my past life I was Taiwanese...

An unassuming place.

I enjoy watching them plate it up as the gravy drips down the side of the bowl and onto the rice. It just looks gluttonous, don't you think?

It could do with a make-over, but I guess it does the job.

The menu, and what we ordered:

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Mushroom and pork gravy over rice

香菇魯肉飯 (小)

xiāng gū lǔ ròu fàn 

$30

A solid start. When it arrived, you could smell the gravy and the mushrooms. It's clearly been cooked for a long time, and for a small bowl, this one was packed full of both rice and gravy. I was quite happy, indeed. As for the flavour: it wasn't overly salty, but it still had plenty of flavour coming through from the pork and mushrooms. Expect to chow down on silky smooth fat - yum!

Oily Tofu

油豆腐

yóu dòu fǔ 

$15

A poor translation, but nonetheless, not a bad dish. I probably wouldn't order it again, as I have had better elsewhere. But, it's still alright. There was too much sauce for my liking, but when you've let the salty sauce drain off, the flavour from the tofu is just fine.


Bamboo shoots

筍絲

sǔn sī 

$25

Again, it isn't going to set the world alight with news of incredible bamboo, but it's a tasty way to get your veggies in for the day.


Squid
魷魚焿
yóu yú gēng 
$50

I do enjoy squid, this one was very distinctly average, though. My recommendation: don't bother. Check out RaoHe nightmarket's squid stall, instead.

Pork belly soup

豬肚湯

zhū dǔ tāng 

$50

It's tough to decide whether this or the mushroom and pork gravy over rice are the best dishes, so why not just have both? It's no secret that I love me some pork belly (I even cooked it for Christmas day!), and done this way in individual soup pots really intensifies the broth flavour and forces the meat to become effortlessly delicate. The flavour is good, the texture is good and the soup is clean and lovely - top marks.

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My final thought
If you're in the area, then drop by. If you live far away, then there are possibly better alternatives if your craving is for the pork gravy over rice, such as: JinFeng in GuTing or ChangJi pig blood soup near YuanShan. 


Tel:
02 2579 5606

台北市松山區八德路3段144號

No. 144, BaDe Road, Section 3, SongShan District, Taipei City

Happy Eating!

Taipei City - 徹思叔叔抹茶咖啡 Matcha Ways

Value for money: 7/10

Cleanliness: 9/10

Service: 8/10

Quality of food: 7/10

Overall: 7/10

Matcha ways - pretty good matcha ice cream! $80 #Taipei #Taiwan #eatingintaipei #eattaipei #matcha #Japanese #eat #eating #food #foodie #icecream #tea #dessert #delicious #Sunday #funday #weekend #matchaways #love #ilovetea #photography #photooftheday #picoftheday #green #happy #ilovefood #cheapeats

A photo posted by Eating in Taipei (@eatingintaipei) on Sep 3, 2016 at 11:30pm PDT

We're not looking at the highest quality matcha, nor the nicest atmosphere (fairly busy, inside the department store and facing the main road), but Matcha Ways is pretty good.

The menu is a good size, offering most of what you would want...

We didn't get the cheesecake, this time, but I have had it in the past and it is delicious! 

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抹茶重乳酪起司培 mǒ chá zhòng rǔ lào qǐ sī tǎ 

Matcha custard tart

$50

+

抹茶即拿 mǒ chá jí ná 

Matcha pastry puff

$25

The matcha puff was alright - light pastry, enough filling and not very sweet. But, honestly, I would pay an extra $25 and go for the tart instead.

The pie was pretty good, and gone fairly quickly (always a sign of deliciousness). You can see that the pastry is thin and crispy and that the matcha custard filling is in no way dry - it gets 2 thumbs up!


徹思叔叔聖代 ché sī shū shū shèng dài 
Uncle Tetsu's matcha bowl
$150

I still maintain that the matcha bowl at 平安京茶事 round 1 / 平安京茶事 round 2 is far superior to any other I have tried, to date. However, this one is much less expensive! 

The make up: copious amounts of thick, rich matcha ice cream - pretty good, but the matcha flavour is fairly weak. We also have two sticky mochi balls (not much flavour, but great for texture), red beans (sugary, sweet, earthy, delicious) and some matcha jelly (more bitter than the ice cream, and a good contrast because of this). 

抹茶霜淇淋 mǒ chá shuāng qí lín 
Matcha ice cream
$80

Definitely miles better than a convenience store special ice cream flavour and much better than a few other places I have tried. But, the matcha flavour isn't very strong. It is rich and delicious, but not very bitter.

The bottom line: 

If you want quality, go to: 平安京茶事 round 1 / 平安京茶事 round 2

If you want convenience and still a fair level of quality, then here is your ticket.

Opening Times:
Monday - Sunday
10:30 - 22:00

Tel:
02 2563 6529


台北市松山區南京東路3段337號

No. 337, NanJing East Road, Section 3, SongShan District, Taipei City

B2 and 1F both have places, but this is a review of 1F

Happy Eating!

Taipei City - 京鼎小館 Jing Ding Steamed Dumplings

Value for money: 8/10

Cleanliness: 9/10

Service: 10/10

Quality of food: 9/10

Overall: 9/10

What we ordered:

烏龍茶小籠包 wū lóng chá xiǎo lóng bāo 

Oolong Tea steamed dumplings

$220

肉絲蛋炒飯 ròu sī dàn chǎo fàn 

Pork and egg fried rice

$110

炒高麗菜 chǎo gāo lí cài 

Stir-fried cabbage

$140

蝦仁燒賣 xiā rén shāo mài 

Shrimp Shaomai

$280

棗泥小包 zǎo ní xiǎo bāo 

Date steamed dumplings

$190

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烏龍茶小籠包 wū lóng chá xiǎo lóng bāo 

Oolong Tea steamed dumplings

$220

I have yet to see this on any other menu - if you know a place, please tell me!!!

They are awesome

The green skin is slightly thicker than that of DinTaiFeng, but still much better than others I have had! 

Once split open, the juice is green, too! The juice isn't a strong oolong flavour, but you definitely know it is oolong tea - perfect.

The pork is soft and succulent, and it ticks every box in anyones book! 

肉絲蛋炒飯 ròu sī dàn chǎo fàn 

Pork and egg fried rice

$110

What a strikingly yellow colour! I can tell you right now, that if you use organic free-range eggs from well looked after hens, that this is the colour you will get. The egg flavour actually comes through and smacks you in the mouth, the pork is plentiful and deliciously chewy, and the scallions mixed in give it a crunch of flavour - 10/10 fried rice in my book!

炒高麗菜 chǎo gāo lí cài 

Stir-fried cabbage

$140

Too expensive for a plate of stir-fried cabbage, I feel. It is clearly well sourced and packing bags of fresh flavour.

I do love eggplants done like this. The skin is manages to maintain the shape whilst the flesh inside just melts away into silky smoothness. Smothered in garlic and thick soy sauce, this is a winner, too! 

蝦仁燒賣 xiā rén shāo mài 

Shrimp Shaomai

$280

What a sight to behold!

Delicious at every bite, but a bit too expensive for what they are, I feel. The skin on these is thicker than that of the oolong tea steamed dumplings, too. 

棗泥小包 zǎo ní xiǎo bāo 

Date steamed dumplings

$190

The big reveal...

Beautiful and delicately wrapped steamed desserts - 10 of them!

Bursting with mashed dates, there is a smoky flavour that isn't too sweet, backed up by a richness that just makes these so moreish.

Don't forget your tea!

A beautiful oolong tea to wash it all down with, refilled when you leave the top of the teapot open - top! 


Opening Times: 
Monday - Friday
10:30 - 14:00 and 17:00 - 21:00

Saturday and Sunday
09:30 - 14:30 and 17:00 - 21:00


Tel:
02 2546 7711


台北市松山區敦化北路155巷13號

No. 13, Lane 155, DunHua North Road, SongShan District, Taipei City

Happy Eating!

Taipei City - 饒河夜市 RaoHe Nightmarket

Over 250 years old stands the CiYou Temple 慈祐宮 on the east side of the RaoHe Night market. It is what will great you if you arrive by MRT from SongShan Station 松山捷運站. It was built over 250 years ago, and dedicated to the Mazu Goddess 媽祖, protecting seafarers on their journeys.

Without a doubt one of my favourite night market snacks, especially here! $50 #Taipei #Taiwan #eatingintaipei #eat #eating #food #foodie #travel #nightmarket #tasty #delicious #photography #picoftheday #photooftheday #pork #stall #stand #love #ilovefood #instafood #instapic #tandoor #baked #taipeieats #exploretaiwan #taipeitasty #cheapeats #台北 #饒河夜市 #胡椒餅

A photo posted by Eating in Taipei (@eatingintaipei) on Sep 5, 2016 at 7:50am PDT

福州世祖胡椒餅

Immediately after coming in, you will arrive at this place in the center. Line up. No matter how long the line is, line up! 

This place has been here over 20 years, and there is most definitely a reason why...

This is the 胡椒餅 - Pepper Cake. You can see at the back, they are rolling the dough and preparing it to be filled. 

Next, they get a healthy portion of minced pork and pack plenty of scallions/spring onions on top, encasing it in the bun, later to be baked.

The top is patted with water, then sesame seeds, where it is then stuck on the inside of the tandoor (which is what it essentially is) below...

A short while later, it emerges as this majestically beautiful pepper cake!

Give them your $50 and prepare your mouth for 1. Incredibly hot pepper cake, 2. Well seasoned and put together peppery filling, 3. Get ready to line up again...

For the taste, you should expect: a crunchy outer-casing of fairly neutral bread. On the inside, expect a searingly hot pork and spring onion mixture which oozes with fresh pork juices. Be aware that the meat steams inside the bun and as you bite in, the juices could (will) come oozing out! 

This place doesn't really cater much for customer service when paying, but it's probably because it is always very busy and they cannot look to engage each customer in conversation when a line of 50+ people are behind. But, simply either show your fingers for how many you would like, or here is what to say 

 一個 yī gè (1) , 兩個 liǎng gè (2), 三個 sān gè (3),   四個 sì gè (4), 五個 wǔ gè (5).

福州世祖胡椒餅 unofficial FB page

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This place looks pretty good, check out that platter of meat inbetween bean noodles (left) and hot and sour soup (right).

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These are very popular, too, at nightmarkets. But, I am not that bothered about them, personally. The steak is heated slightly from the bottom but its main cooking comes from a blow torch from the top. Yeh, it's alright, but the quality often isn't that good.

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I was getting thirsty by this point

Grass jelly drink - $35. Minty, healthy and wet. It hits the spot!

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In the mood for abalone or snails? Nah, me neither...

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These look good, though.

家賀魷魚大王

Squid, squid, squid!

This place is really friendly, make sure you stop by here for a bowl of delicately cooked and fresh squid.

This family run business has been here over 20 years. They say that the reason they have maintained regular customers for so long is that they offer and authentic taste of Taiwanese squid, a traditional flavor which many others don't offer...

The squid is dropped into boiling hot water (only water). 

How to order: 一份 (1 portion) yī fèn 

Choose your level of spice - 微辣 wēi là 

，小辣 xiǎo là ，中辣zhōng là ，大辣 dà là 

I wasn't fancying going upstairs to their seating area an awful lot...

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金林三兄弟藥燉排骨

Possibly better in winter, but don't discount it in summer, either. Their soup is slightly sweeter (in my opinion a little more palatable) than other Chinese medicine soups I have tasted. This is another stand that has stood the test of time with 20+ years!

藥燉排骨 yào dùn pái gǔ 

Medicinal broth with pork ribs

$70

There's plenty of pork to get your fill, here. The soup is also plentiful. Chinese medicine can often be a little bitter, but this one is slightly sweeter and easier to take. For the seasoned Chinese medicine soup drinking pro, it could be too sweet. But, if it's your first time, check this one out to see if you like the flavour.

藥燉羊肉 yào dùn yáng ròu 

Medicinal broth with lamb

$80

Lots of ginger accompanies this dish, along with plenty of lamb! Expect the same broth, but with New Zealand lamb, instead of Taiwanese pork. 

金林三兄弟藥燉排骨 FB page

台北市松山區饒河街

RaoHe Street, SongShan District, Taipei City

Happy Eating!