Garden Business Hotel

Sur- moved to Central district in 2023 and now occupies the third floor of a quaint building. The minimalist room dotted with wooden furniture and vintage couches sports dark colours. The owner-chef elevates everyday Taiwanese ingredients to haute cuisine using traditional techniques like tempering, charbroiling and smoking in the tasting menu that changes every season. The wine and zero-proof pairings are highly recommended.

This paradise for beef lovers is just the ticket for discerning connoisseurs. The young owner-chef knows his cattle inside out and sources prize-winning breeds from all over Japan, including Akage Wagyu from Kumamoto and some rare ones not found elsewhere. Both the set and à la carte menus showcase premium cuts that are perfectly grilled to your order by the highly-skilled team. They also explain every cut in detail, together with where they source their produce.

The chef worked in France and Italy for 30 years before opening her restaurant in 2003, relocating to this elegant space in 2017. She uses mostly local ingredients in seven- to nine-course prix fixe menus with a choice of mains. Changing every season, the precisely executed menus never fail to surprise with their whimsical ideas and vivid colours. Her signature use of wine, Asian spices and herbs lends her dishes exceptional depth and aromas.

Concrete walls, dark green drapes, wooden furniture and local handmade pottery work nicely together in this elegant room that spans two floors. The young chef, who honed his skills in France, excels in modern French fare with an Asian twist. Try his chargrilled scallop with kombu, peas and parsley sauce for a delightful mix of textures. Desserts made à la minute and tea brewed with herbs that you pick yourself end the meal on a decadent note.

The swanky setting seamlessly melds East-meets-West eclecticism with modern elegance. The chef team revisits Taiwan’s food heritage and culture, adding a sophisticated spin to family favourites. The Tasting Set Menu allows diners to pick from the main menu for each course, whereas the Chef’s Menu, served omakase style, needs pre-ordering. The iconic sweet Lukang roasted wheat flour soup is creatively mixed with almond milk imparting a creamy, nutty kick.

A Chinese herbalist by training, the owner hails from Shanghai and was spoilt by his grandpa who made him all sorts of treats. After he moved to Taiwan, he spent three years trying to recreate the most authentic pan-fried buns from memory and opened this shop in 2009. The pork buns boast soupy filling with the perfect ratio of fatty and lean meat. The veggie buns are light and flavourful, filled with bok choy, dried tofu and mushrooms.

This genuine institution has been around since 1933 and holds a special place in every Taichungese’s heart because of its no-frills tasty food and bargain prices. There are only three items on the menu. The meatball is a big translucent dumpling stuffed with peppery ground pork, topped with thick soy and a sweet white sauce made with sticky rice and cassava flour. Pair with either fish ball soup or glass noodle soup for a satisfying meal. Irregular opening hours, so call beforehand to check.