This restaurant has become one of our favorites that we visit almost once a week! Do you have any other restaurant suggestions that rank just as high in value/quality? The neighborhood doesn’t matter nor does the cuisine. We trust your taste.
Thanks for the kind words.
By neighborhood, do you mean in Taipei general or just Ximending?
Presenting the info is somewhat of a challenge. The “favorite restaurant” thread is kind of unwieldy because it has everything from lunch boxes to lobster. I’m still working on a useful solution. 
I had meant any neighborhood in central Taipei, but I guess anywhere along the green, blue, or brown MRT lines would probably be ideal. I love those neighborhood restaurants that aren’t necessarily known by everyone, but still offer delicious, reasonably priced food. In fact, none of our local Taiwanese friends knew about the Sichuan restaurant, but all were very excited to come eat with us.
Since we have no kitchen, we basically eat out every meal and enjoy finding places where we can sit down to eat a tasty, affordable dinner. Any suggestions are more than welcome!!
I agree. The “favorite restaurant” thread is a bit unwieldy and somewhat dated. Not to mention that everyone has their own taste, and I’ve learned that when you find someone who matches yours, stick to him : )
I’z can now has blush?
Thanks again, I’m working on it. And you just gave me a good idea!
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Looking for recommendations on where to take a friend of a friend who I just found out is visiting Taipei this week. His first time in Taiwan, I think, and he is staying on Zhongshan N Road Sec 2 near the Regent in a small hotel. But his tour drops him off at Ximending so we agreed to meet there for dinner.
Most of the food that I know about in Ximending is street food - like bing (ice) or food carts on the pedestrian street. Can anyone help recommend some places that would be of interest to a first time visitor?
The Red House is close by where we will meet, so that’s a natural place to start - TripAdvisor’s blurb reads: “Full of tourists, but with street performances and shows to entertain kids and adults alike. A fun and affordable place to shop for souvenirs and eat street food.”
I remember from a lifetime ago before the MRTs, before Warner Village (then entire Xinyi area), geez, even pre-Internet - I was at Ximending almost every weekend. Where else would you take a date, especially on a budget? We would start at Tower Records and then head over to particular places where the newspaper movie listings would be posted on the street so we could check showing times. Often, we would aim to hit 2 different movies, and occasionally 3 in an evening.
There was a paigufan restaurant across Zhonghua Road from Ximending in the area north of the foreign police station. That place was always packed. The pork slices were thick and the seating was worn, and more than one date had told that their parents used to go there back in their day. But that was really hearty meal. I also remember a favorite Sichuan place on Yangping Road S Road that I took my parents to when they visited me in Taipei – it was where I first had 豆酥鱈魚 (Dòu sū xuěyú) Crispy Bean Cod
Can anyone suggest other sitdown restaurants at or near Ximending?
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It’s a little cramped, and it’s in the basement, but food is good.
This Sichuan is good, and pretty cheap en all:
真川味2店 ; No. 39-1號, Lane 25, Kangding Rd, Wanhua District, Taipei City, 108
2 Locations across the street from each other, the bigger one with the basement on the right is the better one to go to, but both are good.
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Go straight upstairs and have a seat in the Japanese style room.
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- 我家川菜 (old school Taiwan Sichuan, solid)
- 鴨肉扁 (Sells goose not duck. Price has gone up a lot in recent years. Excellent)
- 北平一條龍餃子館 (old school northern Chinese food. Not just dumplings. Solid)
- Marugame Udon Eslite Ximen (maybe better for lunch, solid)
Of these, I would take an international visitor to the second one unless he is a vegetarian. The only place in Taiwan where I have had goose that compares in Minxiong. And this is very different. Very Taiwanese and very renao despite many tourists.
Red House is in fact a major bar and cafe center for Taipei gay life. Nice place to hang for a bit and have a drink of some kind. The best places are toward the back on west side near Xining Road.
If you guys drink, I’ve heard from informed denizens of the Taipei nightlife that 獅鬥cdou bar 台北港式酒吧. is a good spot.
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This place is a good choice for well prepared Taiwanese/Chinese dishes. Nothing fancy. They do serve 豆酥鱈魚.
For drinks and great snack food, this is an excellent bar to hang out.
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I am familiar with some sit-down restaurants that are quite decent and could be a safe choice for a first-time visitor.
- Saizeriya Ximen Restaurant
- TGI FRIDAYS Ximen Restaurant
- Totto Ramen
- Meat Up
- 樂野食
- Power of Meat Ximen Emei Branch
- Momoya Wagyu BBQ
This one has a limited number of seats, but it is operated by an Indian couple and offers exceptionally delicious food.
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An Izakaya in old Japanese house.
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Wooloomooloo West reopened.
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Traditional dim sum, map says they’re closed but I think they’re open.
It’s still there and going strong.
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Hope I’m not too late to this 13 years gravedig of one of my favourite topics ^^
There’s an old style (eg not fancy looking) sushi restaurant in ximending, two branches across from each other. Google ratings are not phenomenal, but I remember it as affordable and very enjoyable. They have an english Menü, as well as photos, and they will help fill out the order sheet if necessary.
Also has huge beers on tap, if one wants to impress the date by finishing 1.8 liters (230NTD) in one go ^^
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