Kiwi

On a warm Sunday afternoon, I decided to try out a place named Kiwi. My friends had been telling me all about it for quite some time, so I had to see what all their fuss was about. Even though Kiwi is somewhat hidden in between all the shops, you'll find that it has more to offer than just great cuisine. As I made my way toward the entrance, I was greeted by a handsome golden retriever; he was enjoying the sunshine on this relaxing afternoon, just like me. Inside, the restaurant had simple white decor, with votive candles decorating the tables, and soft jazz tunes in the background; all of this certainly created an unspoken feeling serenity and bliss.

This cozy eatery accommodates up to eight tables at once and the menu offerings are both diverse and original. Flipping through the pages, you'll see everything from salads and rice/noodle dishes, to au gratin bakes and snacks, as well as teas and sorbets. The unique mix of flavors that the chef uses gives customers a chance to be adventurous with their taste buds. Chef Hong recommends their Spicy Shrimp Pasta in Tomato Sauce (NT$280), which is made with numerous Italian spices and other seafood ingredients; the Clam Pasta in White Wine Sauce (NT$200) is another constant favorite among the guests. I ordered a plate of Spicy Garlic Pasta (NT$170), which is served in a simple, squarish bowl. Chef Hong noted that all of his pasta dishes are made with pure olive oil, so the flavors are even more authentic. Salad choices are also impeccable--the Chicken Salad with Au Gratin Potatoes and the Italian-style Smoked Salmon (NT$290) are the most popular.

If you are a fan of cheese, try their au gratin selections like Pumpkin Chicken (NT$260), or Chicken with Mustard and Cream Sauce (NT$260). You can have it with either rice or pasta. Pay an extra NT$130 to upgrade yourself to a set meal with salad, soup, bread and a beverage. Just recently, the restaurant introduced a couple of new dishes to welcome spring; these include the Spicy Scallop Pasta in Shrimp Sauce (NT$280), Stir-Fried Pasta with Scallops and Asparagus, and a chef's specialty, the Italian Seafood Pasta Roll (4 rolls/serving). Before summer, you can even taste their new dessert items like Tiramisu and caramel pudding.

Address:199-5, ZhongHua Rd, Sec 2

Tel:(04) 2208-5222

Web:http://www.taiwanfun.com/central/taichung/dining/0803/0803Kiwi.htm

Yu Zhuan Zhen Pin

During lunch and dinner hours, Yu Zhuan Zhen Pin is always packed with patrons lining up to dine in or grab something to go. This Chinese-style eatery is run by a culinary expert who's had a decade of restaurant experience. In this venture, he combines local Taiwanese-style delicacies with northern Chinese flavors. The chefs recommend Zhunshan Pickled Tomatoes (NT$120), made with tiny peeled tomatoes and Chinese yam slices. Their pickled dishes, like the tomatoes, have a slightly sweet-and-sour flavor and are refreshing appetizers.

The main course dishes include hot stir-fries (NT$80-NT$220) and entrees like Stewed Crab Roe and Tofu Casserole (NT$160), which is made with crab roe, clams, fresh shrimp, sea cucumber, tofu and freshly-made soup stock. If you're a fan of sea food, this dish is your match. Some of the northern Chinese delicacies here include noodle dishes and other popular choices like Steamed Soup Dumplings, Oven Baked Pork Rolls, Beef Noodle Soup, and Shanghai-Style Red Bean Cake (NT$30-110). There are also about 10 different a la carte items for customers to choose from. All noodles and oven-baked cakes are made daily by the chef, so freshness is guaranteed.

Of course, you can also try some of their famous dessert dishes like the Sweet Potato in Hot Toffee, White Fungus Sweet Soup with Red Dates and Rice Cakes, or the Lotus Seed Soup (NT$60-80), which would all make a perfect ending to your delicious meal at Yu Zhuan Zhen Pin. In addition, this place also offers a good range of freshly stir-fried seasonal vegetables and noodle dishes for vegetarian diners.

Address:462-1, LiMing Rd, Sec 2

Tel:(04) 2258-8086

Web:http://www.taiwanfun.com/central/taichung/dining/0811/0811YuZhuanZhenPin.htm

Ba Dou Shi Fu

Located on a busy corner of GongYi Road, Ba Dou Shi Fu is affiliated with Taichung's Marijuana teahouse chain, and uses lanterns, calligraphy and wooden furniture to create its traditional Chinese ambiance.

The menu lists a combination of delicacies from various parts of China and popular Hakka, Cantonese and Japanese-style dishes. Guests have a lot to choose from, from set table meals designed for big groups to a la carte dishes and individual meal sets. Dishes like Preserved Radish with Eggs and Fried Tofu and the restaurant's 31 proprietary-recipe dishes are made with simple yet flavorful ingredients and choices of beef, chicken, seafood and fish.

Diners can also sample soups specially prepared with Chinese medicinal ingredients, as well as seasonal vegetables and desserts. As you savor all these wonderful regional delicacies, enjoy the restaurant's exclusively-made plum juice and roselle tea, or other beverage choices like soda and beer.

Individual set meals come with an appetizer, main course and dessert, plus either rice, thin noodles or fried rice. Appetizer options include either Japanese-style Cabbage Slices with Sesame, Japanese-style hot-boiled dishes, Steamed Egg with Clams, chef's soup of the day, and a refreshing fruity vinegar drink.

Ba Dou Shi Fu's brilliant chefs have some exclusive delicacies to choose from. The Roasted Chicken Slices with Cucumber and Vinegar Sauce is made from indigenous chicken and has an invigorating texture perfect for any occasion. Another popular dish, Crispy Pork with Preserved Vegetables, was inspired by the well-known German delicacy. Chefs use quality pig knuckles and fry them until they are crunchy before serving them with homemade preserved vegetables and an exceptional Japanese-style vinegar sauce. The chil and garlic used in the dipping sauce for this dish has a unique flavor unlike anything you've tasted before.

Other well-liked, unique dishes include the Three-Cups Stinky Tofu, prepared with a dressing consisting of soy sauce, sesame oil, rice wine and ginger; or the Stir-fried Calamari with Garlic, a common Hakka-style dish served on a sizzling iron plate that keeps things warm and flavorful.

The chefs excel at implementing their principle of mixing old menu favorites with new, creative cooking concepts to offer innovative dishes. This helps guarantee this restaurant will remain a fresh destination that combines an extraordinary dining experience with the best traditions of tasty cooking.

Address:162, DaGuang St

Tel:(04) 2326-3322

Web:http://www.taiwanfun.com/central/taichung/dining/0901/0901BaDouShiFu.htm

Curry Dictionary

There are six kinds curry sauce served here: 1) Apple Flavor--the most popular, Japanese fruity curry sauce; 2) Heavy Spicy Flavor--a rich sauce made with Italian spices and French Mediterranean sea salt; 3) Pumpkin Flavor--a high-fiber sauce made with pumpkins from New Zealand and rose salt from the Himalayas; 4) Thai Coconut Curry; 5) Java Curry; 6) Japanese Curry--a milder curry sauce. Spiciness is measured according to amount of pepper used and categorized in seven levels, with "C-Hot" being the mildest and "I-Extremely Hot" being the spiciest. Currently, Curry Dictionary serves 22 curry rice dishes from NT$130 to NT$230; 21 handmade noodle dishes from NT$140 to NT$260; and five hot pots from NT$230 to NT$310. You can also order two flavor variations of the same dish and experience different curries at the same time, or add NT$40 to change your hot pot into a Spicied/Curried Hot Pot. The Spicied/Curried Hot Pot with Seafood (NT$350) uses a mild, fruity curry paired with a basil-scented, more spicy curry. The Rice with Curried Beef uses sauteed beef chunks braised in red wine until it is tender, plus a curry sauce made with Javanese spices. These wild spices will definitely singe your mouth before hitting your stomach. In the Fried Pork Chop with Cheese and Bacon, Curry Sauce and Rice (NT$230), the heaviness of the mozzarella cheese and the lightness of the vegetable curry nicely complement each other. The Fried Pork Chop, Stir-Fried Eggs with Curry Fried Rice (NT$230) uses curry-flavored rice. Add NT$55 to upgrade your meal to a business set which includes a house soup and beverage, or add NT$95 to upgrade it to a special set, including a house soup, salad or bread, beverage and dessert.


Address:33, JinNan St
Tel:(04) 2226-0022
Web:http://currydictionary.com.tw/

Little Pasta

Despite its diminutive-sounding name, there's absolutely nothing little about this restaurant or its menu selection. Open at its current Art Museum Parkway location for about six months now, Little Pasta is housed in a three-floor European villa-style building and seats up to 120.

Despite its size, the interior has a cozy feeling, with booth-style seating, a long open kitchen, yellow, peach and other warm colors, lots of wood and brickwork, and quaint-looking knickknacks, pictures and table lamps. A tightly-spiraling staircase climbs through a turreted structure upstairs, including the 40-person third-floor which is normally only used by reservation for special gatherings.

The young but talented head chef, May Chai, has eight years of kitchen experience and has developed a menu that offers a whopping 200-plus pasta entree combinations. Ordering, however, is quite easy: Pick from nine sauces--pesto and cream, pesto, tomato with cream, cream, spicy cream, tomato, spicy tomato, mustard and cream, and spicy garlic (spicy cream, and pesto and cream are favorites). Then pick from the 22 ingredient combinations. Finally, choose either spaghetti or penne rigate. Although entrees are usually served with 180 grams of pasta, the especially hungry need only add NT$20 to get a double-size portion.

Of the 22 topping choices, May says that the Scallop and Seafood (NT$235) and Mushroom and Chicken (NT$145) are especially popular. So is the filling NT$190 Skates and Rays option, which features an entire cooked, sliced-up ray. Other items include the Australian Choice Beef medallions (NT$175), Norway Smoked Salmon (NT$205), French Smoked Duck Breast (NT$205), and Vegetable (NT$145). Very good prices for tasty, hearty food is a big reason Little Pasta has found favor with families, white-collar workers, and students alike. And any entree can become a set with bread, soup, dessert and drink for NT$330 to NT$370 (depending on the entree's original price).

If that weren't enough, the restaurant has other main courses, including seven baked gratin dishes, served with either penne, vanilla rice, or potatoes; a dozen risottos (NT$145-205) and various beef/salmon/chicken steak and seafood entrees (NT$490-790 for sets), such as the NT$690 US Choice Sirloin. A 2:30-5:30 p.m. afternoon teatime offers a 50% discount off any drink ordered with a dessert (like brownies and tiramisu) or light meal (bagels, waffles, ciabatta sandwiches, etc.) selection. It's also worth noting that Little Pasta has a long list of Italian, Spanish, Californian and Chilean wines.

Again, it's no surprise that Little Pasta is a big hit with diners looking for quality food, good value and great ambiance.

Address:69, WuQuan West 4th St, West District 

Tel:(04) 2372-0472

Web:http://www.taiwanfun.com/central/taichung/dining/1106/1106LittlePasta.htm

Outback Steakhouse

The world's largest steakhouse chain just got bigger with its first Taichung branch, directly opposite the Taichung Police Bureau headquarters. With about 800 outlets globally, the Tampa, Florida-based Outback is well-known for its Aussie-themed ambiance and cuisine, which includes a big menu of appetizers, salads, steaks, burgers, sandwiches, pastas, desserts and drinks. Many of these come with creative names, like the signature Chocolate Thunder from Down Under (NT$280), a decadent made-from-scratch tower of brownie, whipped cream, ice cream and chocolate sauce. Check monthly Compass "What's Cooking" and Nightlife "What's On" listings for Outback specials, like the current NT$120 Mojito cocktail and NT$499 Summer Surf & Turf Specials


Address:201, WenXin Rd, Sec 2, 2F, Xitun District 
Tel:(04) 2251-8282
Web:www.outback.com.tw

Splendor Inn (Splendor Studios)

Situated in the most prosperous district in Taichung, Splendor Inn enjoys an ideal location with easy access to the main business district and the main tourist spots. The National Museum of Natural Science is about a 5 minute walk away and the JingMing 1st Street is about a 10 minute walk away. Guests may enjoy exotic dining and shopping experience at the JingMing 1st Street. For shopping lovers, the notable Feng-Chia Night Market is only 2 km away. Others attractions such as National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts, Taichung Park, Taichung Folklore Park, Chung Cheng Park, and the famous Yizhong Street are all reachable within a 12 minute drive. Whether you travel for business or leisure, Splendor Inn will be a great accommodation option for your Taiwan travel!
Location：

• Take train to Taichung Railway Station, and then take a 15-minute taxi ride to the hotel.
• Take a bus from Taipei Main Station to Taichung City (Guo Guang Bus Route 1827 exit National Museum of Natural Science, and then 3 min walk to hotel.
• Take Taiwan High Speed Rail to THSR Taichung Station, and then take a 30 minute free shuttle (China Medical University Line) ride to the SOGO Department Stop. The hotel is positioned across the street.
• P.S. The free THSR shuttles come by every 15 minutes from 8am to 10pm.

address:No.1049, Chien Hsing Rd., Taichung City, Taiwan
TEL:(04)23298899
WEB:http://www.bbhotel.com.tw/