Posted By Saimatkong on Sep 30, 2015 | 0 comments
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Ximending (西門町) is known as the “Harajaku” or “Shibuya” of Taipei (台北). This area is one of the most popular tourist spots in Taipei with endless choices for shopping, food and entertainment. I always prefer to stay around Ximending when visiting Taiwan coz it has everything; from entertainment, food and also shopping. When you’re around Ximending, you basically don’t have to think “what to eat” or “what to buy”, so when people ask me where to go for good food and shopping in Taipei, I’d say “Ximending” hehe
Ximending is definitely one of the happening places in Taipei – flashing neon billboards and giant screen TVs can be seen almost everywhere in Ximending.
One of the many busy streets in Ximending. There are plenty of food choices around Ximending, so eat till your heart content and be prepared to pile on weight 😀
Sushi Express (爭鮮迴轉壽司)
Sushi Express is a conveyor belt sushi restaurant serving sushi at affordable price. Everything on the conveyor belt (including sashimi) and menu is NT$30. Sushi Express is definitely the place to go for good tasting and cheap sushi in Taipei.
Some of the sushi and sashimi ehich I’ve tried at Sushi Express. I wouldn’t say its super yums but for NT$30, I think its decent and possibly the cheapest sushi that you can find in Taipei.
Sushi Express (爭鮮迴轉壽司)
Address: 2F, No. 42, Hanzhong St., Wanhua District, Taipei City, Taiwan
Tel: +886 2 2375 6828
Opening Hours: 11:00am – 9:30pm
Ay-Chung Mee Sua (阿宗麵線)
Ay-Chung Mee Sua (阿宗麵線) is always crowded with both locals and tourists but trust me, its totally worth the wait for their mee sua is superbly delicious! There are no tables, only limited stools so it’s no surprise to see people standing, sitting on stools or even squatting with a bowl of mee sua 🙂
Ta-dah!!! The famous Ay-Chung Mee Suah! The mee suah with thick starchy broth is served piping hot which is best for breakfast, lunch, tea time, dinner or even supper. Oh yea, remember to add condiments – chilli sauce, minced garlic and vinegar to your mee sua.
Ay-Chung Mee Sua 阿宗麵線
Address: 8-1, Éméi St, Wanhua District (Ximending), Taipei City
Nearest MRT: Exit 6, Ximen MRT station
Tel: +886 2 2388 8808
Opening Hours: 11:00am – 10.30pm (Mon – Thu); 11:00am – 11pm (Fri – Sun)
KFC Portuguese Egg Tart
Portuguese Egg Tart in Taipei? I know this sounds weird but the Portugese egg tart from KFC in Taipei is a must try when you’re visiting Taiwan 🙂 The Portuguese egg tarts are very popular and are sold out fast, so you probably have to wait for the next batch of tarts if you’re lucky or come another day.
I managed to grab one on my first visit. The egg tart is fresh from the oven; hot, eggy and has a flaky crust. I must say that it was quite good so I went back the next day and bought half dozen back to hotel for supper. Haha. I wouldn’t say it’s better than the Portuguese egg tart from Margaret’s Cafe e Nata (马嘉烈葡挞店) in Macau but still, it’s good enough to satisfy your Portuguese egg tart craving! The egg tarts are available at all the KFCs in Taiwan, not just the KFC in Ximending 😉 Do give it a try when you’re visiting Taiwan 🙂
KFC Portuguese Egg Tart
Location: All KFC in Taiwan
Tian Tian Li (天天利美食坊)
Lu Rou Fan (魯肉飯) which is basically braised minced pork over rice is a Taiwanese cuisine commonly found throughout Taiwan. Tian Tian Li (天天利美食坊) serves a variety of delicious Taiwanese cuisine such as Lu Rou Fan, Carrot Cake, Meatball Soup, Fried Oyster Omelet and etc. This eatery is just a few shops away from the famous Hot-Star Large Fried Chicken (豪大大雞排) in Ximending.
I highly recommend you to try the Lu Rou Fan (魯肉飯) and Meatball Soup at Tian Tian Li (天天利美食坊). Their fried oyster omelet (or chien) is not exactly fantastic (I prefer the crispy type) but it’s not bad too.
Tian Tian Li (天天利美食坊)
Address: Address: No. 4, Hanzhong St., Wan-Hua District (Ximending), Taipei City
Chengdu Starfruit Juice Shop (成都楊桃冰)
Established since 1966, Chengdu Starfruit Juice Shop (成都楊桃冰) is a very popular juice shop in Ximending. The 3 signature drinks include carambola (starfruit), mei and pineapple juice.
Bought a cup of the famous Chengdu Starfruit juice. The juice is sourish-sweet, the ‘wake me up’ kind of drink! Refreshing and you should give it a try when you’re in Ximending.
Chengdu Starfruit Juice Shop (成都楊桃冰)
Address: No. 3, Chengdu Rd., Wanhua District, Ximending, Taipei city
Nearest MRT: Exit 6, Ximen MRT station
Tel: +886 2 2381 0309
Opening Hours: 10:00am – 10:00pm
Ji Guang Delicious Fried Chicken (继光香香鸡)
Hot-Star Large Fried Chicken (豪大大雞排) and Ji Guang Delicious Fried Chicken (继光香香鸡) are both Taiwan’s famous fried fried chicken. While Hot-Star are known for their XXL chicken cutlet, Ji Guang’s fried chicken are bite-sized, similar to popcorn chicken and it kinda reminds me of Chicken Karaage (Japanese version of fried chicken).
The fried chicken is super moist, tender and juicy. It’s packed in a paper bag, making it a perfect on-the-go snack! Besides fried mushroom, they also have crispy fried oyster mushroom, french fries with green onion and garlic and chicken fillet.
Ji Guang Delicious Fried Chicken (继光香香鸡)
Nearest MRT: Exit 6, Ximen MRT station
Yong He Dou Jiang Da Wang (永和豆漿大王)
Yong He Dou Jiang Da Wang (永和豆漿大王) is a popular serving traditional Taiwanese breakfast such as you tiao, shao bing, fan tuan, soya milk, carrot cake and etc. We went to their branch in Ximending coz it’s located very near the hotel we stayed 🙂
I absolutely love the shao bing with egg; it’s crispy and quite oily but who cares about calories especially when you’re traveling right? They have two types of soya milk – sweet and savory. I ordered both to try and I prefer the sweet soya milk. The savory version taste quite funny.
Yong He Dou Jiang Da Wang (永和豆漿大王)
Address: No. 30 Hankou Street | Zhongzheng District, Taipei
Nearest MRT: Exit 6, Ximen MRT Station
Yu’s Almond Tofu (于記杏仁豆腐)
Yu’s Almond Tofu (于記杏仁豆腐) is well known for their almond shaved ice and almond tofu pudding. Since the shop is located pretty near our hotel, it’s pretty convenient for us to go there for dessert. Their almond drink and almond tofu pudding was really good that we went back there several times during our recent trip in Taipei.
Yu’s Almond Tofu (于記杏仁豆腐)
Address: No. 101, Hengyang Road, Zhongzheng District, Ximending, Taipei
Nearest MRT: Exit 4, Ximen MRT Station
Website: http://www.yustofu.com.tw
Fong Da Coffee (蜂大咖啡)
Established in 1956, Fong Da Coffee (蜂大咖啡) @ Ximending is probably one of the oldest coffee shops in Taipei. This cosy coffee place is the first in Taipei to offer iced coffee. Besides coffee, Fong Da also sell a variety of delicious biscuits such as walnut cookie, green bean cakes, nougat, peanut cakes and chicken biscuits which I thought makes good souvenir to bring back home for your family and friends 🙂
Fong Da Coffee (蜂大咖啡)
Address: 42 Chéngdū Road, Wanhua District (Ximending), Taipei City
Tel: +886 2 2371 9577
Opening Hours: Mon – Sun 8.00am – 10:30pm
