12 Best Restaurants in Taipei

Din Tai Fung has created an international chain of restaurants from something as simple as xiaolongbao (soup dumplings). The first restaurant (opened on Xinyi Road in the 1980s) was so popular that it spawned a franchise which now includes a further 4 eateries in Taipei, 4 more around Taiwan and outlets in Japan, mainland China, Singapore, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Thailand, Australia and the USA.

The restaurant and the cuisine are both traditional Chinese and relatively simple, but consistently high quality. It’s an extremely popular brand, so expect every outlet to be packed at mealtimes.

No. 168 Prime Steakhouse is 1 of the 3 restaurants of the prestigious Grand Victoria Hotel, with Chef Danny Deng (the so-called ‘godfather of Taiwanese steakhouses’) at the helm. The open-plan kitchen in a modern-rustic dining room includes 2 wood-fired ovens, which add a distinctive flavour to the top-grade imported meats.

The absolute top-of-the-range set menu includes 6 oz of USDA Black Angus Top Cap Steak, with a starter, soup, salad, roasted seasonal vegetables and a dessert for about NT$1,500. Under the expert eye of Chef Deng, it is served melt-in-your-mouth succulent and is nicely complimented by expertly selected wines.

L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon Taipei serves up fantastic French haute cuisine in chic surroundings. Opened by 3-Michelin-star Chef Joël Robuchon – the most highly decorated chef in the world – in 2009, the dramatic red and black restaurant in the elegant Bellavita mall has 36 seats around tables. The hot seats are the 32 around the central show kitchen, allowing you to enjoy watching your food being expertly prepared by the team led by executive Chef Olivier Jean before it is presented to you by the excellent service staff. Everything from the bread spread to the desserts is highly praised, as is the extensive wine cellar. Particularly recommended dishes include free-range quail stuffed with foie gras and served with potato puree.

RAW is the lifestyle restaurant by Taiwanese top Chef Andre Chiang, serving vibrant ‘bistronomy’ cuisine, which consists of haute cuisine sold at affordable prices. Specifically, it takes this French style of food and localises it, bringing new twists to Taiwanese flavours and making extensive use of locally-sourced seasoned produce.

The 50-seat restaurant is equally innovate and chic, with the central bar looking a little like a modern art sculpture and the cutlery at your table concealed in a drawer. There are only set menus available, with prices around NT$1,850 per person, but the burnt cabbage/cod/soubise is a particular favourite and recommended dish to look out for.

Despite its humble appearance, any Taipei resident will tell you that Lin Dong Fang is the place for beef noodles. The half-tendon/half-shank beef noodle soup (about NT$220) is famous. It contains generous portions of good quality meat with a clear, slightly spicy broth and al dente noodles.

The hua gan (wheat gluten) appetiser is equally famous and just as highly rated, costing just NT$30. Essentially a street restaurant and mostly serving locals, none of the signage is in English, so foreign tourists may find ordering to be a bit of a struggle, but one which is well worth the effort.

Despite being little more than a pastry shop, Sunny Hills’ remarkable popularity throughout the city and beyond makes it one of the best restaurants in Taipei. Its famous gourmet pineapple cakes are a favourite souvenir, consisting of slightly buttery pastry around a rich jam centre made from fresh pineapples from the Bagua Mountains. They cost about NT$350 for a box of 10. These so-called Sunny Delights have spread to franchises in mainland China, Japan, Hong Kong and Singapore and are considered an absolute must-try for anyone visiting Taiwan.

Hailed as Taipei’s best Shanghaiese restaurant, Shanghai Pavilion is one of 6 dining options at Shangri-La’s famous Far Eastern Plaza Hotel. The main dining room and private rooms all share a traditional red and black Chinese décor as well as great views across the city.

Notable diners who have sampled the masterfully-prepared dishes of Head Chef Tai Chung-lin include former US President Bill Clinton, who ate with former ROC President Chen Shui-Bian. The dishes on offer are noted for their contemporary accents on traditional Shanghai tastes (typically including red, wine-filled sauces on baked, braised, stewed and steamed meats) and include the notable pyramid-shaped braised sliced pork with preserved vegetables.

A family restaurant starting from just 11 tables in a back alley in 1977, there are now 5 Shin Yeh restaurants around Taipei. Each serves traditional Hokkien-style Taiwanese cuisine in modern settings. Its success and great reputation stems from the attention to every fine detail, with the experienced chefs paying close attention to the quality of the dishes they serve.

The pan-fried fragrant turnip omelette is particularly recommended as a must-try starter. The brand’s signature fried rice-noodles is also highly regarded and is included in 1 of the 7-dish set menus, which start at around NT$1,200.

Pasta West East is well known for its classy interiors along with its exotic European-style cuisine. It's a good spot for celebrating special occasions and business meetings and the kitchen creates a barbecue grill dinner bonanza at weekends. Moreover, they stock a good selection of Australian and French wines to complement your meal at this pricey but elegant restaurant.

Bellini Caffe is a classy and trendy Italian restaurant, located in the financial district of Taipei. It's one of the most popular in terms of the crowds it sees during lunch and dinner time. The menu has a plethora of options to choose from, ranging from pastas and salads to pizzas, all at reasonable rates. The cooling floor tiles and the Mediterranean feel combine to make a class act.

Kunming Halal Restaurant is a relatively humble and simple restaurant. The food here is reasonably priced and the friendly staff really make you feel at home. The interiors are certainly not flashy, but you feel comfortable here having a decent supper. In short, it is a place where you can enjoy an easy-going meal of tasty Indian cuisine, with a few other Asian dishes available to spice up the menu.

Tutto Bello is a fine-dining restaurant with commendable service and Italian food. The decent wine list ranges from the reasonably priced to extravagant. Located in the passage around the Imperial Hotel Taipei, Tutto Bello has a marvelous menu of meat and seafood. Be sure to try some of the homemade pasta. The lobster angel hair, in particular, is a great demonstration of the care the restaurant takes in its presentation, with the pasta braided to resemble to tail of the lobster.