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New in town/drinks: JAMBA JUICE

October 29, 2015, 6:06 pm
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JAMBA JUICE TAIPEI
at Xinyi Vieshow 


Jamba Juice has finally arrived to Taipei! They are going to try to make some noise by creating a line a la Krispy Kreme-  first 200 people in line will get free Jamba for 1 month (though number 1 will get it for 1 year, someone was already waiting for that). If you have time to wait in line this Friday morning at Xinyi Vieshow, it's gonna happen in an hour or two. lol! I'll definitely be giving it a try, but I'm curious to see if Taiwanese girls will drink cold smoothies through the winter when often times they drink warm water and won't touch ice water. Who else has been craving Jamba?




After my screening of THE WALK last night, I spotted them setting up the event and numbered line up. 




Do you think they would notice if I moved this? Haha! 



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korean: I recommend MOM's CHICKEN AND KIMBAP

November 2, 2015, 2:46 am
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MOM's CHICKEN AND KIMBAP 
馬咪炸雞塊&馬咪捲
No. 6, Lane 5, Tianmu W. Road
台北市士林區天母西路5巷4弄6號
(02) 2877-1223

MRT: Zhishan (but looks like 30 min walk from there)

Website: http://momscnk.com/store

Kid friendliness: kids can eat the non-saucy fried chicken or popcorn chicken. The kimbap is a good way to them to eat veggies 

Visit reviewed: 10/31/2015 and 10/26/2015


Opened a few weeks ago in Tianmu, Mom's Chicken and Kimbap focuses on  Korean fried chicken and kimbap aka Korean sushi, made by a few Korean moms using their moms' recipes, or so I heard from my friend who told me her friend opened it. 




Go for the addictive, saucy Korean fried popcorn chicken, Mom's Chicken Pop (NT$109) which comes in a convenient cup and lid to eat on the go. The owners say the sticky sweet sauce isn't spicy, and though it's more sweet than spicy, I think it does still have a kick to it. Korean fried chicken reminds me of orange chicken, but a fired up version. For those who are more sensitive, you can try the non-saucy version. Either way, the fried batter, the crunch, the juicy morsel of meat inside, it all works. If you've never had Korean fried chicken, it's fried twice so that it is irresistibly crispy and the batter doesn't fall apart from the meat and isn't too bready. 

Mom's Korean Chicken regular packages are family packs of wings and legs for NT$599-639 with fries and onion rings, or NT$399-439 for just the Korean fried chicken. I like the boneless popcorn chicken since I can eat it right away on the go, and don't have to get my hands dirty. The two bites of rice cake are also just enough to satisfy, but not feel overly heavy. 



Mom's BBQ kimbap (NT$118) wasn't what I thought it would be and the pork inside was dry. I wish they offered bulgogi kimbap, which I first tried at my friend's house. My friend's homemade kimbap is tastier. Otherwise, kimbap is not a bad way to get your veggies on the go, with carrots, cucumbers, pickled radish, egg inside. 


Mom's Chicken and Kimbap is in the alley right in front of McDonald's near the Tianmu circle for those of you in the neighborhood. Once you're in front of that alley, you will spot the bright orange sign. I love the name and the eye catching sign- it's quite clear what they are selling. Tiny space inside, only few spots for eating inside. Mostly for to-go orders. Owners spoke Chinese, Korean and English. Everything is made to order, and expect to wait at least 10 minutes or more for your order. They also have a stamp card, so make sure you get that.  I've been twice in one week which doesn't happen often, so I strongly recommend their #4 Mom's Chicken Pop, will have to try their Mom's Korean Chicken soon. I would give the whole shop a strongly recommend, but wavered because of the kimbap. I know there quite a few Korean fried chicken places in Taipei, especially after the popularity of You Who Came From the Stars, but most of them are sit down chicken and beer spots (Oppa, Chimac, Chicken in Bok and Beer, Ovenmaru, Palgoo Beer Chicken) and sometimes hard to get a table. This is easier to order and go, and now I'm addicted.
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chinese: i strongly recommend QIN JIA BING DIAN

November 8, 2015, 6:39 am
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QIN JIA BING DIAN 秦家餅店
No. 12, Lane 6, Siwei Rd.
台北市大安區四維路6巷12號
(02)2705-7255

MRT: ZhongXiao/ DunHua

website: Qin Jia Bing Dian's FB page 

Hours: 11:30AM - 7PM

Visit reviewed: 11/6/2015


I was walking around the lanes behind Renai circle after lunch when I found a little shop that specializes in handmade chinese leek boxes, or  jiu cai he zi, that are cooked on a griddle without oil, as they are typically fried. At first glance when I was peering into the window, I couldn't tell what was in the steamer when the solitary white haired woman lifted the bamboo lid for another customer- they almost looked like handmade tortillas or empanadas- so I had to come in the shop to try it. 


As I was trying to decipher the signs for what the shop was selling, I observed to see what the people in front of me were ordering so I could gauge what was the popular item here. One customer asked the auntie, "what did you make yourself? I  only want to try things you made herself." She mentioned she still personally makes the braised beef as well as the dumplings which you have to preorder. Their Facebook page has a few videos of her inspecting a table full of chinese leeks as well as explaining how to steam one of their frozen items when the customer got home, with a real Taitung rice cooker. 



I've had chinese chive pie or chinese leek box before, but this shop's version is griddled without oil, and is a revelation. The wrapper is supple and chewy, like a doughier pita pocket or handmade naan, while the contents inside are still moist. Some online googling revealed that the secret in the dough is that they use cold water with the flour when making it.

I folded the flat pie in half as advised and demonstrated by the owner when she was packing it for me, so the chopped #chineseleek and glass noodles were bundled on one side. 


The portion is just right for a snack and it's not as greasy as the usual fried #chinesechivepie. I almost devoured the whole thing before remembering to take a photo (NT$45) 





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snapshot/chinese: it's HAIRY CRAB season! i recommend CHAO PING JI

November 11, 2015, 3:09 pm
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CHAO PING JI 潮品集  
at San Want Hotel, 2 FL
No. 172, Zhong Xiao East Rd., Sec. 4 
台北市忠孝東路四段172號

MRT: ZhongXiao/DunHua or SYS Memorial Hall


Visit reviewed: 11/5/2015
Previous review: 12/2008


It's hairy crab season!! 

You would think that I would have had enough crab after feasting on Alaskan crab legs and Dungeness crab for three days in a row when I went to Alaska this past summer (yay Disney cruise), but when my friends reminded me that it was time to eat hairy crab, I couldn't say no. Although if you think about it, hairy crab is mostly for those that enjoy crab roe since its body and legs are tiny and thus yield less crab meat. San Want's Chao Ping Ji has different crabs from Shanghai, the ones we ate that day were from the infamous Yangchen Lake. We also had swimmer crabs, which had a fair amount of sweet crab roe and much more meat, and cost less. To be honest, you could skip the hype and just get swimmer crabs, or you could order and eat one of each.  

Don't forget to order some dim sum on the side. My favorites at Chao Ping Ji are the XO fried radish cake, Chiu Chow noodles (pan fried into a flat pancake and cut into slices then served with vinegar and sugar) and the stir-fried green beans with olive leaves. 



Hairy crab season is Sept - Dec, with the peak season now. It's best to reserve in advance since they get shipped in from Shanghai. 

These are swimmer crabs, as you can see from their legs. 




Half a swimmer crab compared to a hairy crab. Yum!! You can see the black fuzz on the claw of the hairy crab, aka mitten crab, named because of their unique claws. Next time I'll take some pictures of how to eat a hairy crab and use the scissors to cut the legs and squeeze the meat out. Served with black vinegar to dip in and ginger tea to offset the "cold" energy you get from eating the crabs.


Where else have you guys found hairy crab in Taipei? 
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November 14, 2015, 8:35 am
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Been glued to the news since waking up to the horrific news about Paris this morning. This quote from Time Magazine struck me: 

"Within a week of the (9-11) attacks, French President Jacques Chirac flew to the U.S., the first foreign head of state to meet with President George W. Bush in the wake of the attacks. After his meeting at the White House, he flew to New York, where the scene made him “feel like crying.” “France… will not stand aside in a fight against a scourge that defies all democracies,” the BBC quoted him as saying at the time. “Today it is New York that was tragically struck, but tomorrow it may be Paris, Berlin, London.""

Taipei 101 was lit up in red, white and blue, joining other world landmarks in a show of support. I've never been to Paris, I hope to be able to visit someday. My thoughts are with Paris, with France and the other parts of the world where there is conflict and war. Let's pray not only for Paris, but also for Beirut, Baghdad, Russia, Egypt, Syria...for the world. Let's talk about what also happened in these other cities instead of watching the same news cycle on a loop. The lights of these buildings give me hope that people won't close their hearts and minds because of fear. #educatenothate 

http://www.vox.com/2015/11/14/9734536/paris-isis-origins-video
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new in town/mall food: i recommend BREEZE XINYI

November 14, 2015, 11:54 pm
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BREEZE XINYI 微風信義 
No.68, ZhongXiao E. Road, Sec. 5
110台北市信義區忠孝東路五段68號

MRT: Taipei City Hall (exit #3)

Hours: 11AM - 9:30PM / Thurs- Sat 11AM - 10PM

Visit reviewed: 11/12/2015


Opened last week, Breeze XinYi joins the crowded luxury mall space near Taipei 101 (not be confused with the nearby sister shopping centre Breeze Song Gao). With a prime spot on Zhongxiao East Road, it's right at the Taipei City Hall MRT as well as across W Hotel. Like the original Breeze Center, Breeze Xinyi is full of shops that you'd spot in Beverly Hills, such as Givenchy, Marc Jacobs, Chiara Ferragni, Max Mara,  Moschino, Red Valentino, Frette, as well as Taiwan's first Crate and Barrel, selling those drool worthy table settings, cheese and cake plates, baking supplies and furniture that feels more grown up than IKEA.

After window shopping and making a wish list at Crate and Barrel, I had to see what eats were available at Breeze Xinyi. Even the "food court" is upscale, instead with a floor full of sit down restaurants on the fourth floor, from casual to fine dining, including Osteria by Angie, Ben Teppanyaki, Anzu, Ramen Champ, Paradise Dynasty, Champion Beef Noodles, Trine and Zen and a lot of other Japanese/Korean eats. Some restaurants will take reservations, but only on weekdays, while others like Paradise Dynasty will only seat first come, first serve.

It's really impressive what they've been able to do with Breeze Songgao and Breeze Xinyi, and make both shopping center's dining options distinct from what already exists in Xinyi area. They'll even open Cova (from Hong Kong) and Morton's Steakhouse on the 45th floor later this year. 

Here's a peek at Breeze Xinyi. 



Kenzo pop up coffee truck


Instead having a basement food court like most Taipei malls, they have a restaurant floor called Master Chef's Kitchen on the fourth floor. 


TRINE AND ZEN 




MOTTO YAKINIKU 牧島燒肉
Japanese fusion barbecue





MAPO KING KOREAN BBQ  韓斤麻浦
02-2723-6066





GRILL DOMI KOSUGI 
02-2723-6498

Originating in Roppongi Hills, Grill Domi Kosugi has western dishes like hamburger and steak served Japanese style. There's also omurice, omelette rice, curry and combinations in a casual setting. This is their first branch outside of Japan. 




PARADISE DYNASTY 樂天皇朝
(02)2772-6545

Move over Din Tai Fung... there's another more photogenic xiao long bao in town. Paradise Dynasty's rainbow colored dumplings have been flooding my instagram feed for the last week and it was one of the restaurants that was busy even on a weekday afternoon.



BEN TEPPANYAKI 犇鐵板燒
02-8786-0203 

Ben Teppanyaki has two private rooms that seat 8 that can be combined into one room, as well as a main open teppanyaki area. For those craving luxe waygu, top cap steak, lamb chops or lobster, served in set menu form.




I thought it was cute how their bathrooms had little signs sticking out to signal that they were bathrooms. Also they are easy to spot and not hidden in a back hallway.


QUAN ALLEY 寬巷子
02-8780-6617

Quan's elaborate entrance is very eye catching and its creative menu displayed a lot of equally elaborately presented dishes, but on instagram it seemed the main draw for Quan was its dual hotpot with slices of blush pink pork origami'ed like roses and vegetables presented as miniature gardens. When the door opened, I got a peek of the inside which looked very moody and private.



THAI BAZAAR  泰集創意料理
02-2722-8618 




ICHIZEN 一膳食堂
02-2722-0657Unagi bowls and Japanese food



RAMEN HERO 
02-2723-7085




TSUJIRI



WAN SUSHI 丸壽司


This sushi conveyor belt shop has outlets at Breeze Center and Taipei Main Station as well.


ANZU TONKATSU 
02-2725-3339



TSUKUMI 
02-2720-3296



CHAMPION BEEF NOODLES 晶華冠軍牛肉麵坊
02-8786-8799




OSTERIA BY ANGIE 
02-2722-3618

Third location of this popular Italian fine dining eatery. My review for them is long overdue 😁



CRATE AND BARREL

I have been waiting for Crate and Barrel for months ever since I heard they would open at Breeze Xinyi. Located on B1, it's slightly smaller than I expected, but there are still a lot of drool worthy things to imagine in your house. 






MOKUOLA DEXEE DINER
(02)2723-7837

This is one of the few restaurants not on the 4th floor, instead it is on B1. In Taipei, people don't seem to eat waffles and pancakes for breakfast- instead they tend to have them for dessert or afternoon tea. So Mokuola was busy in the afternoon, with a display of whip cream and fruit covered topped pancakes for diners to choose from, coming out of the pink neon lit pancake bar. Originated in Tokyo, the Japanese Hawaiian inspired menu also offers curries, loco moco, yakisoba and colourful cocktails. Named after Coconut Island in Hawaii, this is the first branch in Taiwan, they have other branches in Tokyo and Bangkok.





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modern/gastronomy: i strongly recommend MUME

November 16, 2015, 7:02 pm
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MUME
No. 28, Siwei Rd
四維路28號
(02) 2700-0901

MRT: DaAn or XinYi/AnHe

website: Mume's FB page

Hours: 6PM -12AM (last order at 10PM). Closed Mondays

Visit reviewed: 8/2015



Seeing that I am playing a never ending game of catch up on my blog, I'm going to work backwards with Mume. By the time I've posted this, Mume already has a bevy of new menu items to drool over and try, but I still would like to post the previous meals to compare and contrast. For those of you who haven't heard of Mume yet, it's a "modern European restaurant" for casual fine dining, founded by Hong Kong born chef Richie Lin, Australian chef Kai Ward and Asian American chef Long Xiong, opened almost a year ago in December 2014. They bring to Taipei their experiences from Noma in Denmark, Per Se in New York and Quay in Sydney, and sometimes their colleagues, such as when they let Per Se's Chef Frederico Ribeiro take over the kitchen and do essentially a pop up menu of collaborative creations. 


I luckily got some last minute seats at Mume for Chinese Valentine's Day back in August (yes, that's a thing), and you can't have a Valentines day without a "special menu" (translation- more expensive than usual. Half joking!). It's kind of cool that each of my visits has been quite different- my first visit was in the first few opening months when they still did a set menu (memorably with duck hearts and beets). My second visit was when they first started doing their a la carte menu. My third visit was during Per Se's Chef Frederico's take over, and now hearts and champagne and delicious oysters and shrimp brains and chocolate cookies.


The Valentines day tasting menu started off with Gillardeau oyster, cauliflower couscous, Taiwanese bacon and celery. Yum.



Shrimp toast using fresh prawns, baby avocado, pickled peppers and salsa verde. 




I liked this a lot, but wished the toast was more like toasted bread rather than a crouton (if I had to nitpick that would be one of the only things I could say about the meal). Despite the description it wasn't spicy at all so you could taste the sweetness of the prawn. Got a sneak peek at the baby seedless Taiwan avocado which was long like an small eggplant, but cut into miniature circular slices, perfect for finger food. It was creamy and not stringy like typical Taiwan avocados and so it made for a perfect pairing. So fascinating! Will have to look for it at the market Chefs Richie Lin and Kai Ward found it. Served with the prawn heads so we ate the shrimp brains.




Mume's delicious hot out of the oven country bread served with beer butter, sea salt and smoked beef fat butter


Drunken chicken - zucchini / chicken consomme gelee / ginger cream. Delicious. 




Loved this next dish, could have licked the bowl clean. Instead used my last bite of seared scallop to mop up all the sweet caramelized carrot purée underneath. With crispy kale, crunchy watermelonradish and edamame



Hard to pick a favorite dish of the night but might have been this one- crispy amadai / charred cucumber and brussel sprouts / smoked ricotta. Wanted more of everything, especially the brussel sprouts. This version was for last night's special set menu, but thankfully they have amadai on their regular a la carte menu.





Short rib with black garlic sauce, lily bulb stem and Tokyo turnip. 

I've had variations of this short rib before and the sauce was a bit oily for me for the already marbled short rib. I liked the black garlic sauce though that had a smoky sweetness.



Refreshing dessert with jasmine ganache, fig leaves ice cream and apple granita. Gently tap the shell to reveal the ice cream inside.




Ended the amazing dinner with brownie like warm triple chocolate freshly baked cookies. The perfect ending to an awesome dinner.



This was my fourth visit to Mume and definitely not my last. Mume is a worthy replacement for the space on Siwei Road which previously housed one of my favorite restaurants Abu, who was doing French techniques with local ingredients before the craze of RAW and Mume. Mume's dining area is not large, so if you have a bigger group you might have to sit in the private room in the basement or make early arrangements. They are also only open for dinner, so sometimes it can be hard to get reservations.

I often get asked, where should I go RAW vs. Mume? And the answer is, Taipei is lucky to have both and you should go to whichever one you can get seats at. I like going to places that are under the radar and while RAW got a lot of the attention early on, Mume has been building equal footing. I think being able to order dishes ala carte and sharing them with friends helps since you are able to try more dishes, while RAW has been continually a set menu. Mume's menu isn't overwhelming long, so with a few friends (or one hungry one) you could potentially try everything on the menu. Mume's desserts are also consistently wayyy better than RAW's. RAW is notoriously difficult to get reservations for, but their menu lasts a few months before changing to the next one.

Mume was recently voted as one of the top 101 restaurants in Asia by dailymeal.com panelists (including me), but as with any review, you should try the restaurants for yourselves to see if it's your thing. And with a wave of new restaurants like Achoi, Savor, Ephernite, and Roots Creative, doing modern casual fine dining and "bistronomy" in Taipei (and Le Mout in Taichung), you don't have to choose between just RAW and Mume for your gastronomic dinner date. Pretty soon, I'm thinking Taipei might have some Michelin stars of its own. 


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revisited/korean: I recommend HONEY PIG

November 18, 2015, 8:37 pm
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HONEY PIG
No. 415-3 XinYi Road, Sec. 4
台北市信義區信義路四段415號-3
(02) 2725-5757

MRT: Taipei 101

website: Honey Pig Taiwan's FB page

hours: 24 hours! (although I feel like sometimes when I drive by it doesn't look open 24 hours)

$$ (about NT$600/person)

Kid friendliness: high chairs available, as well as scissors to cut meat for kids

Visit reviewed:  11/12/2015
Last Visit reviewed: 1/9/2015


Round 1- kalbi, beef brisket, sliced pork belly, fresh pork belly


Round 2-spicy pork belly, spicy sliced pork belly, bulgogi, fresh pork belly, kimchi 


Revisited Honey Pig with some friends last week and was happy to find that I could make reservations over the phone fairly easily. The only thing is that they told me that the 12noon reservations for that day were full, so I had to choose 11AM or 12PM. It seems they stagger their seating so that the servers can cook for the tables at different times, as when we sat down there were only a couple other tables seated at 11AM.

The menu is slightly expanded from my last visit, with more soups and cooked foods available, as well as fresh romaine lettuce to wrap your bbq'd meats in.




There are also combos now that they didn't have at my last visit, during their opening weeks. They are a good deal if you have more people, but I wanted more kalbi and less thick cut pork belly slices. So if you're choosier about what you want, you should stick to ordering ala carte. We ended up with the Pork and Beef combo NT$2332 which saves you a few hundred NT and was two rounds on the grill and enough for 6 people. 


Fresh romaine (NT$100) 


Japchae Korean Stir fried noodles (NT$219)
This was good, with sizeable strips of meat and vegetables with the noodles. We wanted to get the kimchi fried rice, but they make it on the grill and the servers insist on making it after they cook your meat, so of course by the end of the meal we were too full to order it.


The servers are still a bit hard to wave down and the music was a bit too loud for some of my friends (especially if you sit near the speakers), but they are not as crazed and chaotic and overwhelmed as my previous visits when they first opened. 

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dessert/froyo: LLAO LLAO

December 3, 2015, 7:37 pm
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LLAO LLAO
at XinYi Vieshow
No. 20 SongShou Road
松壽路20號

MRT: Taipei 101

Kid friendliness: Yes kids will love to choose their own sugary toppings

Visit reviewed: 


Newly opened Llao Llao frozen yogurt at Xinyi Vieshow sits across from the newly opened Jamba Juice giving us more options for icy snacks during this very cold Taipei winter. Can Llao Llao succeed where other froyo shopsin Taipeihave not? 


It all looks familiar- the Pinkberry-esque glossy white and green signage, an array of fruit, candy, berries and nut toppings to choose from, as well as fruit and chocolate sauces too. But the taste of the frozen yogurt here tastes quite different than the tarter Pinkberry/Yogurtland flavor that I'm used to- maybe more milky and sweet and less tart? Can't put my finger on exactly what it is.

Because of the grand opening they are handing out bitesized samples as well as coupons with trivia questions on them to win a free topping. Multiple choice questions like how do you pronounce the companies name, Llao Llao, to help initiate customers into familiarity to the Spanish froyo chain. (The answer by the way is that it's pronounced Yao Yao with the double Ll making a Y sound)

Available are mini (NT$69), small (NT$89 +one topping), medium (NT$119 +3 toppings), large (NT$139 +3toppings) and sanum, which has fruit and topping options buried in the center kind of like McDonald's berry parfait, as well as smoothies. I had a free coupon thanks to my friend P so I decided to give it a try with some friends.


Toppings include oreo cookies, white chocolates, muesli, candied pecans, chocolate smarties, dried cranberries and chocolate covered peanuts. 





I was happy to see strawberries and blueberries included in the fruit toppings. There were also cantaloupe, kiwi, grapes, watermelon, pineapple and (ewwww) tomatoes?!!! Hopefully the berries don't disappear after a few months as I've seen that happen at other froyo places here. 



The sanum (NT$139) is the largest of the options with three fruits, two toppings and one sauce. I probably wouldn't order it again, (I'd get a small instead) but it was the only option for my free coupon. I tend to stick to berries for frozen yogurt- so it was blueberries and strawberries for us. I only had a couple bites, but my friends enjoyed it a lot. For those of us used to the tart version of frozen yogurt might have a harder time getting used to the different flavor of Llao Llao. But maybe that is preferable to locals who like their desserts sweet instead of sour. If frozen yogurt and smoothies aren't your thing, you can run across Vieshow to Krispy Kreme and Ireland Potatoes for donuts and french fries. 







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my kitchen: Thanksgiving leftovers turkey soup

November 26, 2015, 10:43 am
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I looked up a bunch of recipes on how to make turkey soup with my thanksgiving leftovers and everyone single one described the first step being that you make stock from the bones. I was too impatient to simmer for hours and make a stock and then make the soup, so I just made it one pot soup, adding carrots, onions, garlic, tomatoes, broccoli, green beans, potatoes, salt, pepper to the turkey carcass and water, then some pasta, alternated boiling and simmering, and it was ready in an hour. The secret is adding one can of tomato paste to give it that depth quickly. I also cooked some quinoa separately and added that in whenever I made a bowl for myself. Winter has finally hit Taipei this week, so this is the perfect meal.

One pot thanksgiving soup


Scooped in the quinoa before stirring it in 






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pizza: i recommend BIG BOYZ PIZZA

December 22, 2015, 8:21 pm
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BIG BOYZ PIZZA
No. 38, Lane 256, Nanjing E. Road, Sec. 3, Songshan District
南京東路三段256巷38號
(02) 2721-9797

MRT: Nanjing/Fuxing

website: Big Boyz Pizza's FB page

hours: 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM,5:30 – 8:30 PM; closed Mondays

$$ (NT$300-400 a person)

Kid friendliness: room for strollers. NY style as well as deep dish pizzas available. no high chairs spotted.

Visit reviewed: 12/3/2015




For some strange reason, two new deep dish pizza places opened in Taipei within the six past months. Either it was just a matter of time or the universe is telling us something- Taipei NEEDS deep dish pizza. After trying Love at First Bite a few weeks ago, a number of instagram readers suggested trying Big Boyz Pizza as well (in the alleys down the street from Breeze Center). 


So a few weeks ago, I headed to the three month old Big Boyz with a few friends who also hold Zachary's (from Oakland/Berkeley CA)as the benchmark standard for our deep dish pizza cravings. I was a bit surprised to see it completely empty, but it is only a few months old. (There's also an NCIS express down the street)
Big Boyz's Taiwanese chef trained at the Scuola Italiana Pizzaioli in SF, as demonstrated by the diplomas that hang on the wall.



The menu's focus is on pizza- deep dish and NY style pizza, with a few fried appetizers and drinks to add to the meal. No salads or desserts (which Love at First Bite has both, as well as some tasty ribs). But if you're there to enjoy the pizza, then you should save your stomach space for pizza! If you've never had deep dish pizza, it's like a stuffed pizza you eat with a knife and fork- the crust is taller like a pie and there's usually a mound of toppings underneath the cheese and sauce. Part of the reason I love Zachary's Pizza is the layer of crushed tomatoes atop so it feels a bit more fresh. Would love to see that in Taipei as an option!

 

Because we ordered the pizza when I made the reservation in advance (as suggested), the pizza was made already. So when we were about 20 minutes late in arriving and sitting down, the pizza was kept warm in the oven and a bit past its optimal state. I would have preferred the satisfaction of eating it hot out of the oven with stringy cheese. But the pizza was still tasty- the cornmeal crust was buttery and the toppings aplenty and flavorful. I got the recommended Pizza No. 1 with mozzarella, provolone, homemade italian mild sausage, bacon, pepperoni, mushroom, bell pepper and caramelized onions. The pizza was slightly smaller than I expected NT$799 for 8 inches, but still very filling for three people. 

Also on the menu for deep dish pizzas are the Chicago Classic (mushroom and pepperoni), Hot Summer (with chorizo, mushrooms, jalepenos, onions, olives), Bacon and Mushroom, and Veg Barrel (vegetarian).  Twelve inch pizzas are available for NT$1299-1499. NY Pizzas are available in 12 inch and 18 inch in NT$300+ and NT$560-790 range. There's more variation to the NY Pizzas with garlic shrimp or bbq chicken options along with the more traditional margherita and pepperoni toppings.



You can see the cheese has cooled off and is not stringy anymore. 






When you go to Big Boyz, I would recommend that you ask them to let them know when you want the pizza ready (right at your time of reservation, 20 minutes after, etc?) and not to precut it until it's served. Personally I would ask they bake the pizza to be ready 15-20 minutes after my res to let everyone settle in. They deliver to neighboring area, but they are closed Mondays. Between the two deep dish spots in Taipei (Big Boyz vs Love at First Bite), I would come to Big Boyz again to try the pizza hot as I liked their crust better and try their NY pizza, but if you have some people who want to eat other things then you're better off at Love at First Bite. Who would have ever thought that Taipei would have not just one, but two deep dish pizza places!
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News: LES BEBES CUPCAKES closing

December 30, 2015, 4:11 am
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Farewell @lesbebescake

Farewell my favorite red velvet and peanut butter chocolate cupcakes in Taipei

Farewell my favorite grilled veggie salad and prawn risotto

Hopefully we'll see you again someday... (or maybe you can just keep the cupcake shop near Yong Kang open!!!!? Let's petition them here!!!!) If you've ever been a fan of Les Bebes' cupcakes or cafe, it's time to hurry and get your last bite ever at one of their two shops. They will CLOSE DOWN their stores after 12/31 (tomorrow!)!!!

So these are my last cupcakes of 2015 and my last bite of Les Bebes' wonderful flavors, textures and cuteness for awhile. I was waiting for them to announce it on their social media before sharing the news, but I can't put off letting you guys know any longer. I usually find out about these closings too late, and I think they should feel the love and sadness their closing is going cause all of us hungry in taipei! Thanks for being one of the best cupcake shops in Taipei for the past few years, your cupcakes have been a part of many celebrations in my life and we'll miss you!

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dessert/japanese: I recommend TSUJIRI

January 3, 2016, 7:38 pm
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TSUJIRI 
at SONGSHAN CITYLINK
松山旗艦店
No. 11 SongShan Road 2F
(02) 2747-6338

MRT: SongShan

$ (about NT$150) 

Kid friendliness: yes

Visit reviewed: 1/3/2016



Happy new year!

Tried Tsujiri's matcha shaved ice for the first time yesterday. The cup of shaved ice has chunky ice soaked in sweet matcha syrup, a bit of condensed milk atop and a layer of sweet Azuki red beans in the middle and two chewy mochi balls. There's a larger version that serves 4-6 people for NT$250, or you can choose to have it topped with matcha or vanilla soft serve. You can see the similarities to Hawaiian shaved ice when you eat Japanese style ice-- less cluttered with toppings, and all about the flavors and intensity of colors of the syrup soaked ice. Their shop at Songshan Citylink has a sit down area as well as savory foods like green tea soba that I didn't spot at their smaller shops at Hankyu mall and Breeze Xinyi. Tsujiri has apparently been around since 1860 in Japan and they have three shops in Japan vs the four that are in Taipei!

Couldn't think of any other places with Japanese style kakigori shaved ice in Taipei-- any recommendations?





OTHER LOCATIONS:

Hankyu Mall
No. 8 ZhongXiao E. Road Sec. 5 B2
(02) 2723-8458

Breeze Xinyi
No. 68 ZhongXiao E. Road Sec. 5
(02) 2722-6786

Sogo (on ZhongXiao)
No. 45 Zhongxiao E. Road Sec 4 B1

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afternoon tea/taipei cafe: i strongly recommend CAFE DE RIZ CAFE

January 5, 2016, 7:48 pm
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CAFE DE RIZ CAFE 米販咖啡 
No. 9, Lane 119, Heping E. Rd, Sec. 3
台北市信義區和平東路三段119巷9號1樓(全安公園旁) 
(02) 2736-6166

MRT: Liuzhangli

website: Cafe De Riz Coffee Shop's FB page

Hours: 11AM - 7PM 

Kid friendliness: no high chairs spotted, some room for strollers, but it is a smaller space

Visit reviewed: 9/15/2015



Not to be confused with Cafe de Riz's other location on Anhe Road (which used to serve mainly chirashis and seafood rice bowls), this Cafe de Riz is a coffee shop/cafe serving dessert for the eyes and mouth. I was invited to a blogger tasting, where they introduced their new collaboration with French pastry chef Roumanille Yann (previously at three michelin starred Pierre Gagnaire and Dalloyau in Paris).  





I don't know if it was the sugar high or the plating or the French accent, but I felt a tiny bit transported away from Taipei. My favorite  plate included the delicious and delicate butter cookies, caramels and meringues for their new signature sweets (NT$150). Taste from light to dark. Loved this. 





Let's imagine we are in France for a few hours, and eat meringues, caramels, sable, guimauve and gateau au citron. 


Caramels and chocolate biscuits made from Marou chocolates, made from Vietnamese cocoa. Marshmallow with shiso. 



Lemon pound cake (NT$150) 



Hojicha creme brûlée (NT$180)  not as photogenic, but still very delightful




Ahh love natural lighting for photographs!


Chocolate tart (NT$160) 


Onigiri lunch sets are also available for a light lunch (which I'll have to come back to try!), or packaged biscuits and cakes would make great hostess gifts. If you're lucky, they might have cinnamon rolls in stock. Thanks @cafederiz for the tasting and for the delicious treats!

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taiwanese: i still strongly recommend SHIN YEH

January 10, 2016, 7:27 pm
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SHIN YEH 欣葉台菜
112 Zhong Xiao E Road, Sec 4, 2FL 
台北市大安區忠孝東路4段112號2樓
MRT: ZhongXiao/DunHua

website: shinyeh.com.tw

hours: 11 am-3:30pm, 5-10:30 pm

$$

Kid friendliness: high chairs and kids dining ware available. lots of kid friendly dishes and kids will enjoy the chewy almond tofu

Visit reviewed: 12/1/2015
Previous visits reviewed: 8/2008 & 9/2006


Din Tai Fung might be the most popular restaurant in Taipei for tourists, but if you have a Taiwanese relative visiting, it's very likely you'll end up at Shin Yeh, as I did with during my last lunch with my aunt visiting from NY. A perfect choice for those looking to try family style classic Taiwanese dishes in a modern, comfortable setting, I've taken many a group of friends from the states who dug the stir fried vermicelli, the soupy loofah squash with clams and the upscale version of the street snacks guabao andrun bing. Even with just the three of us (and my grandma doesn't even eat that much), we ended up with a table full of my Googoo's favorite dishes and a bagful of leftovers she could enjoy for a midnight snack. If you want to go all out and fancy, Shin Yeh has a branch on the 85th floor of Taipei 101. Shin Yeh 101 has set menus and window seats for a premium to dine with bird's eye view of Taipei (though I prefer their ala carte menu over their sets).

Stir fried noodles with seafood (NT$195)






Wok seared pork liver with coriander (NT$280) 



Crispy fried fresh oysters dip (NT$300) salt and peppa dip!



Sauteed shrimp with pineapple (NT$395)



Fresh spring roll filled with cabbage, bean sprouts and grand? ground peanuts (NT$160)


Deep fried pork roulade with coriander (NT$185)





Original Branch 
No. 34-1, ShuangCheng Street 
台北市中山區雙城街34-1號 
(02) 2596-3255 
Hours: 11 am-1 am 

NanXi Branch 
No. 12, NanJing West Road, 8F 
台北市中山區南京西路12號8F 
(02) 2523-6757 
Hours: 11 am-9:30 pm 

Shin Yeh 101 
No. 7, XinYi Road, Sec. 5, 85F
台北市信義區信義路5段7號85F 
(02) 8101-0185 

Xinyi Mitsukoshi A9 
No. 9, Songshou Rd., 8 Fl 
台北市信義區松壽路9號8樓 
(02) 8786-1234 

No. 21-2 Shuangcheng Street 
台北市中山區雙城街21-2號
(02) 2592-5966
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japanese/hotpot: i recommend HELLO KITTY SHABU

January 22, 2016, 2:36 am
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HELLO KITTY SHABU SHABU
No. 17, Alley 27, Lane 216, ZhongXiao E.   Rd, Sec. 4
台北市大安區忠孝東路四段216巷27弄17號

MRT: Zhongxiao/ Dunhua

website: Hello Kitty Shabu FB page

hours: 11:30AM - 10PM

$$ (about NT$500-700 per person)

Kid friendliness: booster seats available

Visit reviewed: 2/20/2016


Before my childhood friend Jenny even got to Taipei, she messaged me from LA, "Can we go to Hello Kitty Shabu?" And being the good host, friend and curious food blogger, I said, "Of course!" A reservation and few days later, we found ourselves wandering the alleys near Zhongxiao near Lane 216 looking for it.


Once you get closer, the glow of Hello Kitty's face beckons and a lifesized Hello Kitty greets you at the door, ready for selfies (also in that alley, NCIS Sushi, Hoshina udon and a new branch of dessert spot Monteur Cafe).




The inside decor seems to be casual Japanese, with lots of small tables for individual hotpot and a side area with tatami-style, lower seating for bigger groups. 



Reservations at Hello Kitty Shabu Shabu are limited to one and half hours, and when we arrived at 5:17pm, we were a little late. In Taipei, busy restaurants will usually tell you, you have a ten minute grace period before you potentially lose your table, i.e. If people are waiting there. Sometimes the restaurant will call you, or if you call them sometimes they'll be nice enough to hold it for you. I didn't call and they didn't call us, so when we told them our reservation was for 5pm, the girl told us we were late and it seemed like she was going to tell us we lost the table. But since the restaurant wasn't full and there weren't people in line, I emphasized that my friend had flown all the way from LA to eat Hello Kitty hotpot, and after some discussion between her and another server, they directed us to a small table in the back. 

Tables for four are divided with a removable divider, which is smart for the restaurant but crowded for us. Even though no one sat next to us, you can see there isn't a lot of space, so you have to do some Tetris-like maneuvering to make everything fit with your hotpot, once your veggies, meat and steamed egg comes. 





Hello Kitty Shabu offers individual yuan yang hotspots, so you pick two broths out of four choices- regular kombu, pork bone broth, tomato or Mala. Then you choose your meat- there's three kinds of beef or pork available or chicken or seafood. Then you pick noodles or Hello Kitty shaped rice. Everyone gets their own veggies and fish cakes, and additional hello kitty-fied fish cakes are available to add on. 



There's also fried shrimp, chicken and croquettes to order on the side, and a colorful drink menu. 



Once you've ordered, let the photo ops begin!! (Haha the only reason you're here right?) The servers asked us if we were done taking photos before whisking away the bow adorned wooden lids.



Complimentary pre-meal amuse bouche- I think it was konjac- but I found it inedible and tasteless.. 


I ended up choosing the pork broth and tomato. Next time I would skip tomato (it intensified when cooking) and choose the plainer kombu or go for spicy Mala. 


Additional fish cakes we added filled with mentaiko. You can also pick cheese filled. (NT$160 for 2)


The vegetables are quite bountiful- with chinese cabbage, cabbage, various mushrooms, corn, one piece of pumpkin, broccoli, taro and some tofu skin and fish cake.. And then topped with a Hello Kitty thing-- we think it was some sort of tofu soy thing with the HK face burned in, which actually gave it a smoky burned flavor that was kind of unpleasant. But oh, it makes for a cute photo. Lol. 


See how we barely managed to fit everything on the table, and it fits just so. I got the beef (NT$550) which wasn't as tender as the short rib (NT$650).


I loved this little apple bowl and cover with the spoon. I would maybe buy a set if they sold them there. The steamed egg inside was decent too. 




Of course most of you know how Shabu works, but in case you don't, you basically cook the meats and veggies in the hotpot until it's to your liking. You can dip in the sesame or soy sauce, but pork broth was actually quite flavorful already. 



Lots of chopped veggies at the bottom of the large bowl. Sometimes restaurants cheat and it's actually empty or raised inside, but I was pleasantly surprised to find plenty. 


Cooking and eating.. As for the mysterious Hello Kitty faced tofu, it was a spongy, mysterious bite and tasted a bit burnt from what I'm guessing is the char from imprinting the face onto the tofu. I took one bite and wasn't sure if I wanted to take another. 


Dessert at the end included in the set are a few bite sized, brown sugar mochi..


All in all, it wasn't a bad meal as shabu spots go. Would I recommend it? Sure, I'd come back with other Hello Kitty loving friends- I like how they give you a lot of veggies, broth options and steamed egg on the side. And if you're a Hello Kitty fan, then you kind of have to experience it for yourself. It's not as bling and overly cute like Hello Kitty Sweets (now Hello Kitty Kitchen) so now Hello Kitty fans have two places to choose from, three if you count Hello Kitty Bubble, four, if you count the Hello Kitty food souvenir shop next to Ice Monster I have to write up. I was surprised to see an older couple next to us eating (and chilling) who didn't appear to be Kitty fans, but maybe they just liked the food. Also there were empty seats in the restaurant during our hour and half so maybe they save spots for walk ins. It will be interesting to see if Hello Kitty Shabu becomes popular- on one hand, Taiwanese people love hotpot, especially in the winter time. On the other hand, because they loved hotpot, the hotpot game in Taipei is fierce- there's super cheap version and fancy, luxe versions, spicy mala, all you can eat, vegetarian only, herbal broth, the list goes on and on, and now, you can add Hello Kitty Shabu to it. 
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news: RESTAURANT ROUNDUP WINTER 2016

February 29, 2016, 10:21 pm
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Oh my poor blog. I've neglected you for over a month, but it doesn't mean I haven't been thinking about you. I've just been traveling (LA, SF, Vegas, Hong Kong, Guam) and away from my computer. I can blog from my phone, but it just takes longer. Not to mention I have been busy with the very important exploration of recipes for my new slow cooker, watching the last season of American Idol, new episodes of the Good Wife, Scandal, Grey's, Younger, and getting some sleep.

So how to ease back into it? I want to post pictures of the new winter menu at RAW, dishes from Mume's one year birthday dinner, long due photos of Achoi, or about new spots in Taipei to get steak frites, chicken and waffles, deep dish pizza, and cheesy fried squid korean rice cakes. There have a been a slew of new-ish burger, steak and fusion cafes the past few months. Or updated pictures from the night markets, some posts which need updates badly. And SO MANY SUSHI BARS to write about. Or a food court round up. My indecision results in procrastination which leads to over a month of staring at the Hello Kitty Shabu post. Sigh Sigh Sigh. This is when I have at least 100 places in my drafts folder, some places that sadly closed since my last restaurant round up. Ok let's start with that.. and then see if we can get the motivation back.

NEW AND NOTABLE- WINTER 2016

Uncle's Taiwan
Le Blanc
Revel Eatery and Juice Bar
Morton's Steakhouse
Ramen Hero (and all the restaurants at Breeze Xinyi)
Paradise Dynasty
Dim Dim Sum
Breeze Nanjing
Moustache Cafe
Jamba Juice
Llao Llao frozen yogurt
Origines
Hello Kitty Shabu
Yum Yum Cafe
Ebisoba Ramen
Zorro Steak
TK Steak at Hotel Proverbs
Beer and Cheese (moved to a new location on Keelung)
Habibi Macaron
Love at First Bite
Big Boyz Pizza
Alexander's Steakhouse
Purplehood
Fly's Kitchen
Wayo
Cova
Triple A Burger
Hai De Lao
Garrett Popcorn
Quelques Patisserie
O Rose Ice Cream
Purebread Bakery
VVG Hideaway
C25 Plus
Palsaik Korean BBQ
Baptong Korean


CLOSED (I know there's more than this.. I'll add to it when I remember)

California Pizza Kitchen (which turned to Sonoma which also ended up closing). Now there's a huge Anzu tonkatsu in that space
Les Bebes Cafe
EIEIO Gastropub
Brklyn
Juice 8
Woogo Juice (original location closed, but other branches popped up at Citylink mall and other malls)
Juanitas
Quiznos on Fuxing
added 3/19/2016
Swensens
Juicy Diary


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korean: i recommend UNCLES TAIWAN

March 18, 2016, 8:37 am
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UNCLES TAIWAN 엉클스대만
No. 31, Lane 260, GuangFu S. Rd
光復南路260巷31號
(02) 8771-8097

MRT: SYS Memorial Hall

hours: 11:30AM- 3:30PM; 4:30PM- 11PM 

website: Uncles Taiwan's FB 

$$ (about NT$300-500/person) 

kid friendliness: not a lot of non-spicy options for non-spicy eating kids

Visits reviewed: 11/19/2015 & 3/17/2016



OMG! The moment I saw this on Instagram, hot, melty, stringy cheese bookended by deep fried giant squid on a bed of spicy Korean tteokboki rice cakes, I knew I must try it. I counted down the minutes until I could go the very next day (last November). The first time I went, Uncles Taiwan had been opened for less than one week. A popular tteokbokki restaurant from Korea, Uncles Taiwan is located in the alleys across from SYS Memorial Hall. Uncle's Taiwan was brought in by TKK (Taiwan's KFC) so they know how to make deep fried goodness.







Live out your construction worker fantasies with pseudo uniforms, hard hats and wands to light up and wave down the waiters. 



On the first visit, the Chinese only menu can be a little confusing, but you basically choose the base (step 1) (spicy saucy rice cakes or a stir fried version), opt for cheese or without (YOU MUST CHOOSE CHEESE for the full experience) and what you will top it with- fried squid, pork belly or chicken wings, and the prices are added together accordingly. There only one portion size, and I would say probably best suited for 3-4 people. They don't pack up leftovers so go hungry or with friends. There's also Korean instant ramen, seafood pancake and rice balls. FYI there's a minimum per person fee of NT$300.



Spicy chicken feet with rice cake or Korean fishcake oden





Seafood Pancake (NT$290) Last fall when we tried the seafood pancake, it was quite disappointing, served a bit too thick and underdone. This time, my friend asked for it to be extra crispy. It was better than before, and there's a decent amount of shrimp, oysters and squid inside, though it's a bit pricey for the size. 


Seaweed, mentaiko rice balls (NT$80) This is the only rice option, which isn't really necessary since you're getting a pan full of starchy rice cakes, but if there's someone who doesn't eat spicy at the table or kids, then this is one of your few choices. It's not bad, it's just something you could totally do yourself at home. Depending on what server you get, they will offer to mix up the hot rice for you and form little rice balls, or leave the plastic glove and ball on the table for you to do yourself.




I've been to Uncles Taiwan three times and I still get a tiny thrill seeing the monster squid coming to the table. This is the before of the must order dish at Uncles Taiwan... Crispy whole squid atop mozzarella cheese and spicy Korean ricecake tteokbokki, fishcakes and hardboiled egg. The squid legs dangle off the pot and you wonder how you are going to eat it, but they cut the body and legs for you into pieces after they've pulled it apart into oozing melted cheese. (NT$390 cheese rice cakes + fried squid NT$250 = NT$640). On my second visit, I went with more friends so I could try more of the menu. But we still all liked the deep fried squid over cheesy Korean rice cakes the best. The low spicy/xiao la still has a kick and tinge of sweetness.


First they have to light the fire (that's when you have to get your camera ready for the MOMENT)...


Say cheese. Click here to see my instagram video of the cheesy magic.



You can opt to stir it all together, or just scoop up the parts you want to eat. Low spiciness is pretty dang spicy. 




Buried underneath is the rice cake (tteokbokki) and


thin strips of fish cake...


Some thoughts after three visits- skip the ramen- unless you want to try to add it into the tteokbokki. Make sure your squid is hot when it comes to your table, if that's important to you. On my third visit, I instinctively touched the squid when the dish didn't appear to be hot and I was right when it wasn't. So we sent it back a new one because what's the point of wasting calories when it's not hot out of the fryer. I also missed the cute, helpful waiter from our first visit-- this time the servers were all clumped together at the bar, not looking toward the customers and we often had to walk over and wave them down. Also different servers will create different experiences, and since this dish is a bit interactive, then it's even more important that the servers provide a good experience for repeat business. 

I'm sure I'll be back when another friend tells me that they want to go, there's nothing else like it in Taipei that I know of.  I know there are quite a few Korean restaurants that have the cheesy spicy Korean rice cake hotpot available, including the not-so-new Tiger Tteokbokki, but in a city where often the nachos and sandwiches and dishes need to up their game on their cheese factor, Uncles Taiwan seems to know what we want.


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breakfast/taiwanese: i recommend O BY LOCOFOOD

March 20, 2016, 7:31 pm
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O BY LOCOFOOD 
No. 492 Fujin St
台北市富錦街492號
(02) 2762-0538

MRT: Nanjing Sanmin 南京三民站

website: O by Locofood's FB page

hours: 7AM - 4PM

$ (Cash only)

kid friendliness: stool seating only, but lots of kid friendly options on menu

visit reviewed: 1/14/2016


Welcomed myself back to Taipei back in January, with crispy dan bing (or dubbed "crispy omelette" here at O by Locofood), a thin crepe rolled and stuffed with egg, cabbage shreds, German sausage and cheese, pan fried until the outside layer is pliable yet delivers a satisfying crunch. (NT$75) I noticed this colorful shop before my short trip to the US when my parents insisted we visit the bakery next door.

The menu is in Chinese only (except for the daily specials on the wall which have English). Even in Chinese, the names like "Paul's favorite" or "Grandma's " aren't clear what's inside- so I had to ask repeatedly about "what's in this one? what's in this one?" Luckily the server was fairly patient in answering the questions, but I'd be frustrated if there was a line of people asking repeatedly about the menu while I was waiting. Luckily, there was no wait at all, though apparently this is a branch of Locofood, which reportedly has a 30-60 minute wait at its original location. So for the crispy omelette aka dan bing, the other fillings include tuna, bacon, ham, chicken nuggets and hash browns.

Almost like a Taiwanese breakfast burrito made this way, but eaten with a fork. This is a branch of the popular Locofood, but I hate to wait and this place has yet to be discovered by the masses, so it was a quiet place to grab breakfast. As someone commented on instagram, the colorful hanging skillets, decor and serving skillets given Taiwanese breakfast a "hipster" vibe. The dan bing here are slightly more expensive than you'd find at your local Taiwanese breakfast joint, but there is more variety of ingredients to stuff your crispy omelette and one dish is quite filling.











Crispy egg #danbing served in #locofood's signature mini cast iron pan. Great w a touch of ketchup. 


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news/hello kitty: HELLO KITTY TAROKO EXPRESS TRAIN

March 24, 2016, 11:08 am
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Hello Kitty is slowly taking over the world, or at least as many Taiwan transportation modes as she can, one at a time. First were the Hello Kitty planes and airport check in stations for Eva Air. Now the Hello Kitty-fied Taroko Express will run several times a week between Taipei and Taitung, complete with cute Hello Kitty train conductor porkchop bentos for NT$120. 

As for the 328 missing Hello Kitty head covers on the first train ride a few days ago on March 21st? Maybe the TRA should consider just building in the cost of a disposable headrest cover into the cost of each ticket so people can just take them home.. Or sewing them permanently into the seats so they won't be stolen. China Post states they might make the same design into napkins, which could become a souvenir substitute. 

What's next? Hello Kitty taxis? 

For more photos, check out 
http://edition.cnn.com/2016/03/23/travel/taiwan-hello-kitty-train/index.html http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/peoplesdaily/article-3505833/Feline-like-holiday-Hello-Kitty-train-unveiled-Taiwan-carriage-food-conductor-styled-cartoon-character.html http://m.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/2016/03/23/461549/TRA-mulls.htm







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