11 hidden gems worth the trip across Taiwan, editor-ranked by TableJourney. All Taiwan guides.
Mountain and Sea House ★ 4.8 · Taipei
zhongzheng · No. 94, Section 2, Ren'ai Road, Zhongzheng District, Taipei City 100
Mountain and Sea House on Ren'ai Rd is the restored Japanese-era mansion in Taipei reviving 1930s Taiwanese banquet cuisine for a quiet local crowd.
Tip: Closed Mondays. Reserve through the operator's site.
Wisteria Tea House ★ 4.7 · Taipei
daan · No. 1, Lane 16, Section 3, Xinsheng South Road, Da'an District, Taipei City 106
Wisteria Tea House is a 1920s japanese timber house turned into taiwan's pro-democracy gathering place and now serves aged oolong from the cellar.
Tip: Open 10:00-22:00, closed Mondays. Reservation by phone; two-hour minimum.
Liu Shan Dong Beef Noodles ★ 4.6 · Taipei
zhongzheng · No. 14, Kaifeng Street, Section 1, Zhongzheng District, Taipei City 100
Liu Shan Dong Beef Noodles: 1949 Shandong-lineage beef noodle counter on Kaifeng Street near Taipei Main, tiny street-level room locals defend.
Tip: Open 08:00-19:30, closed Sundays. Cash only.
Coffee Sweet ★ 4.6 · Taipei
wanhua · No. 5, Lane 38, Section 2, Hankou Street, Wanhua District, Taipei City 108
Coffee Sweet is sidney kao's specialty filter counter near taipei main has been pouring 12 single-origin lots since before taipei had a third-wave scene.
Tip: Closed Sundays. Cash and mobile pay; bring patience for filter.
Ay-Chung Flour-Rice Noodle ★ 4.5 · Taipei
wanhua · No. 8-1, Emei Street, Wanhua District, Taipei City 108
Ay-Chung Flour-Rice Noodle on Emei St in Ximending is the 1975 standing-counter mianxian stall drawing second-bowl regulars from the pedestrian streets.
Tip: Cash only. Pile on chilli and black vinegar from the condiment table.
Halal Chinese Beef Noodles Da'an ★ 4.4 · Taipei
daan · No. 1, Alley 7, Lane 137, Yanji Street, Da'an District, Taipei City 106
Halal Chinese Beef Noodles Da'an is a 60-year halal beef-noodle counter tucked in an alley off yanji street, northern-style dumplings and lazy-susan dining.
Tip: Open 11:00-14:00 and 17:00-20:30, closed Mondays. Cash only.
Shin Yeh Shuanglian ★ 4.3 · Taipei
zhongshan · No. 34-1, Section 2, Shuangcheng Street, Zhongshan District, Taipei City 104
Shin Yeh Shuanglian is round-table taiwanese banquet cooking in zhongshan since 1977, the family-table standard locals book for new-year reunion meals.
Tip: Phone reservations. Service charge added.
Qing Tian 76 ★ 4.2 · Taipei
daan · No. 6, Lane 76, Qingtian Street, Da'an District, Taipei City 106
Qing Tian 76 on Qingtian St in Da'an is the 1931 Japanese professor's house serving Showa-era tatami-floor set lunches in a quiet residential lane.
Tip: Phone reservation required. Closed Mondays.
Kao Chi ★ 4.2 · Taipei
daan · No. 1, Yongkang Street, Da'an District, Taipei City 106
Kao Chi on Yongkang St in Da'an is the 1949 xiaolongbao counter that runs the shorter queue alternative to Din Tai Fung two doors down the street.
Tip: Walk-in; phone reservations for six plus.
Yu Pin Yuan Iced and Hot Tangyuan ★ 4.1 · Taipei
tonghua · Stall, Linjiang Street Night Market, Da'an District, Taipei City 106
Yu Pin Yuan Iced and Hot Tangyuan is a linjiang street stall pushing bib gourmand-listed iced sesame-syrup tangyuan, eaten standing on a back-alley counter.
Tip: Cash only. The iced version is the summer order.
Rong Rong Yuan ★ 4.0 · Taipei
zhongzheng · No. 26, Section 1, Hangzhou South Road, Zhongzheng District, Taipei City 100
Rong Rong Yuan is a 1949-wave sichuan-hunanese counter tucked off hangzhou south road, mapo tofu and dan dan canon for locals who skip the yongkang queues.
Tip: Walk-ins only; turnover is fast.