莫娜丽莎酒店

A devotee of the goddess Mazu, the owner-chef picked this space near the Grand Mazu Temple for his venture. Motifs of the goddess are dotted throughout the restaurant, from its sign to the shrine-inspired décor. Home-style cooking is kicked up a notch with a touch of sophistication. Leafy greens deftly meld the depth and umami of the fresh, salted and thousand-year egg trio. Try the squid and whelk soup, a classic banquet dish rarely found in Tainan. Closed during Mazu festivities.

This place that started out as a corner stall some 30 years ago is now a fully-fledged joint with a bright, clean room… but the friendly service and bustling ambience haven't changed! Freshly slaughtered milkfish is the main draw – as a soup slow cooked with milkfish bone and head for natural sweetness, or fried milkfish belly with crispy skin and tender flesh. Rife with rustic aromas, the garlic rice drizzled with lard is the breakfast of choice for many.

Splitting from Fu Sheng Hao, a household name in the realm of Taiwanese savoury rice pudding known as wagui, the owner started Yi Wei Pin in 2013 to amplify his grandpa’s culinary legacy. Much darker in colour than its Taipei counterparts, the wagui is made with local rice milk, freshly slaughtered pork, velvet shrimps and house-braised ground pork sauce. Try it with washabi or minced garlic also. Their milkfish thick soup is also popular.

Over 70 years ago, a stall opened by a small park and the owner would sit on a tiny stool to blanch the noodles, to be tossed in pork sauce or served in soup. Nowadays, the park no longer exists, but the owner still sits on a stool like the old days. Soup noodles are recommended – silky, al dente thin egg noodles in a flavoursome broth, topped with velvet shrimps and braised minced pork. Do order sides or braised dishes on top.

Its hallmark beef soup is simmered with beef bones, brisket, fat and onion and thin slices of lean beef are added just before serving. Pour on a dash of rice wine for extra fragrance or dip the beef in the fiery homemade chilli sauce for a kick. The broth delivers serious umami, while the sliced beef is tender and flavourful. To sample the varied textures and flavours of different beef cuts, also try cold beef appetisers and stir-fries.

Over 60 years old, this eatery has moved four times, but that hasn’t deterred its loyal followers who continue to queue up daily before opening time. Shrimp roll is a classic Taiwanese snack and a must-try for all visitors. Huang Chia’s version is stuffed with shrimp and cabbage and is dipped in a potato starch batter before being deep-fried to order, resulting in a fluffy airy crust, with thinly sliced radish on the side for contrast.

This century-old Chinese medicine shop was converted into a restaurant specialising in therapeutic food. The sixth-generation owner intentionally kept the apothecary cabinets and used some inscribed plaques as dining tables. Eight tonic soups are offered each day, all tasty and mild in herbal flavour – refer to the menu for their medicinal actions. Make it a complete meal by ordering a set – with noodles tossed in sesame oil, a drink and sweet soup.