8 best spots for a comforting meal

Most remember Check In Taipei for its hip and neon-lit space at Hollywood Road. And while that location has since closed, many new branches emerged, outgrowing its OG spot. Ditching the vibrant, frenzy colours are warm and inviting tones. The spot offers the same Taiwanese fare with a contemporary twist. It’s creative and certainly breaks the mould of a ‘traditional’ feast, so much so, that they earned a loyal following. Despite their trendy rendition, the time-honoured techniques are very much intact, and diners can still find classics like Beef Noodles and Crispy Fried Chicken. There are also some creative elements, with founder Jacky Ng, merging Taiwanese signatures with Hong Kong favourites.

LSA recommends:

Crispy Fried Chicken, Salted Egg Yolk Taro Balls, Mentaiko Taiwanese Fish Cakes, Homemade Milk Mochi

Get a taste of Taiwan’s famous night market here at Yuan is Here with the best Taiwanese street food on offer. Sure, the famous beef noodle soup may be missing from the menu but there are plenty of other dishes to try. Take, for instance, the Braised Pork Rice that comes with pickled radish. The result is a harmony of soft braised pork and crunchy pickles zhencing in your mouth. Don’t miss the Tainan-style Danzai Noodles too as well as the Pork Floss and Cheese Egg Crepes. The restaurant also comes with glowing red lanterns, a kitchen set-up reminiscent of a food stall, and old-school signage that truly feels like you’re in Taiwan. Since opening, this humble eatery has amassed a loyal following which culminated in a recent Bib Gourmand recognition.

LSA recommends:

Ah Yuan’s Signature Braised Pork Rice, Pork Floss and Cheese Egg Crepes, Tainan-style Danzai Noodles, Fried Chicken

Duan Chun Zhen is known for its tasty Taiwanese beef noodles. With the opening of its new location at The Southside, it now has five branches across the city. In expanding its footprints, the restaurant continues to showcase the Duan family legacy of preserving authentic flavours from Sichuan. Duan Chun Zhen boasts humble beginnings starting with its eponymous owner who arrived in Taiwan from Sichuan in 1945. From there, she started selling noodles from a bicycle stall and passed the recipe to her family. The rest is history. At the heart of the restaurant is the house-special beef noodles. It boasts a broth that takes 18 hours to perfect combined with 23 different spices and herbs. Not a fan of noodles? They also have a couple of rice dishes including the famous Taiwanese Braised Minced Pork Rice.

LSA recommends:

Braised Beef Shank Noodles, Chicken Borth Noodles with Drumstick, Taiwanese Braised Minced Pork Rice

Its name might have ‘noodles’ in it but this place doesn’t just churn out noodles. We argue that their offering is much more on the haute side but with affordable prices. The star of Kiki Noodle bar is its noodles, but you’ll be surprised at the variety. The sun-dried instant noodles are available in various renditions, giving birth to Taiwanese-Sichuan fusion dishes. Take your pick from the popular Chicken Mixed Noodles with Sesame Sauce to classic Sichuan-style Beef Noodles. Along with the noodles, make sure to try the different Taiwanese snacks, desserts, and bubble teas as well. They have seasonal tea flavours on offer so there’s always an excuse to come back for another round.

LSA recommends:

Chicken Mixed Noodles with Sesame Sauce, Sichuan-style Beef Noodles, Fish Maw and Octopus with Sesame and Spicy Sauce, Sichuan Spicy Tofu Noodles in Soup, Duck Blood and Sliced Pork

Jiu Fen Full translates to ‘90 per cent full’ but we guarantee that you’ll be 101 per cent full after a meal here. This quaint Taiwanese restaurant whips up a comforting range of food that will surely delight your palate. Dig into soul-soothing dishes like Braised Beef Noodles, Taiwanese Danzai Noodles, and Minced Pork Over Price. Sounds familiar? They’re classic Taiwanese dishes that beckon nostalgic memories. Or if you’re new to the cuisine, there is a whole new variety of dishes to love. True to its offering, the ambience also evokes the charm of old-school Taiwanese street markets.

LSA recommends:

Braised Beef Noodles, Braised Pork Rice, Taiwanese Omelette, Marinade Platter

San Kinn has plenty of competition in the city, after all, hotpot is all the rage here, even in summer. But this Taiwanese hotpot restaurant is holding its own, even recently opening a new outpost at Metro Plaza. It continues to bring the Taiwanese culinary flavours to Hong Kong which tickle the tastebuds of Hongkongers. Each branch also has a new unique concept with the Kwai Fong store drawing inspiration after Alishan, complete with a customised 1:1 locomotive. Come and dine in train-like seating that will give you feels of travelling around Taiwan. Choose from different soup bases such as Coconut Chicken Soup, Pickled Cabbage White Meat Soup, and more.

LSA recommends:

Winter Melon Clam Soup (limited to the Kwai Fong store), Green Pepper Soup, and Taiwanese-style Fresh Pineapple Mushroom Tomato Soup

The only cute thing you’ll be seeing here is the assortment of Taiwanese dishes. If you’re on the lookout for an affordable meal that doesn’t compromise on quality, you’ve come to the right place. With its vibrant, warm, and casual ambience, Meet Cute is luring in lots of lunch-goers and weekend diners. Dig into the street snacks or meal sets featuring favourite Taiwanese dishes. You can even get a mini hotpot which is perfect for solo diners. Its good-for-value options truly lure in loyal customers in local neighbourhoods. Worth a visit if you need a less crowded option, although we can’t guarantee peak times won’t have a queue.

LSA recommends:

Night Market Platter, Egg Pancake Roll with Bacon and Cheese, Shilin Salted Egg Yolk and Taro Mash Cake, Danshui Braised Pork Gua Bao, Hantou Steamed Pork Patty and Egg with Rice

It seems right to include TeaWood on this list given that it paved the way for more Taiwanese restaurants in Hong Kong. Long before the numerous options we have now, TeaWood was the ‘go-to’ for affordable yet good quality Taiwanese food. And while many new places have popped up over the years, the OG deserves a spot. It’s where friends gush about their lives, families come for gatherings, and couples have pick-me-up dates all in the comfort of their favourite Taiwanese dishes. With its laid-back ambience and selection of light bites, you can’t go wrong with the ‘TeaWood’ experience.

LSA recommends:

Braised Beef Noodles, Strawberry Ice Cream Honey Toast, Rice with Fried Ribs and Marinated Minced Pork, Snacks Combo in Taiwanese Style