中信酒店

Taro shaved ice is a popular Taiwanese dessert, but the ritzy taro extravaganza sold here is hard to beat. Creamy mashed taro, chewy taro balls, mini mochi, molasses pearls and Job's tears are piled onto a bed of finely shaved sugarcane ice that imparts a faintly smoky flavour. And if that's not decadent enough for you, order extra toppings! Their hot red bean soup is another comforting classic that warms the heart and soul.

Thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows, diners can sit back and appreciate the beauty of a century-old camellia tree in the yard. The menu is mostly Hakkanese, with some Jiangzhe dishes, jazzed up by creative touches and elegant plating. The signature braised pork belly with dry pickled mustard greens boasts tender texture and succulent flavours, while pickled cucumber cuts through the richness. Also try braised napa cabbage with pork-stuffed tofu.

Poised by the entrance to the night market for over 30 years, this stall prides itself on its pancakes. Crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, they are perfect with honey mustard and basil.

Popular among locals for its breakfast since 2016, this spot appeals to regulars with cordial service and rustic, traditional flavours. In the food sector for 20+ years, the owner makes the soya milk, flatbread, egg crepe rolls and xiao long bao himself. His signature pastry bun filled with spring onion and peppered pork satisfies with its bouncy texture and aromatic filling. Ask the owner when the freshly baked flatbread is due out of the oven.

Complete with a courtyard and a high-ceilinged foyer, the interior of this luxurious mansion oozes 1930’s glamour. The menu adds a new twist to elaborate recipes available only to the elite back in the day, and which entail lashings of patience and exceptional skills. Try the roast suckling pig three ways that takes a day to prepare. Yilan speciality goza is deep-fried custard made with minced pork and shrimp. For a sweet finale, try kumquat and mashed taro.

With a Japanese façade and a Scandinavian-inspired interior, NOBUO is all about breaking boundaries. Born in Taiwan and raised in Japan, the head chef revisits his cultural roots, marrying Franco-Japanese techniques with Taiwanese produce. The single tasting menu is visually minimalist but packed in intensity. The scallops stand out in texture and umami, the meat demonstrates well-honed French technique and the curry is inspired by his childhood memories.

This pushcart near the end of the market may lack a sign but it always attracts a queue. Their shaobing, fried in oil then baked in a clay oven, comes in two sweet and two savoury varieties – try the minced pork or sugar filling.