Commune - Campus Accommodation

"Tai Tsai" is a homophone of "Taiwanese cuisine" in Chinese. The owner missed his home island's classic braised pork rice so much that he opened his own shop. He cooks the signature rice dish in Taipei style, adding sugar in moderation, and with hand-diced pork belly slow-cooked in aromatics and soy for up to four hours. Top it with onsen tamago or soft-boiled egg. The pepper salt popcorn chicken and boba tea are also well made. Arrive early to beat the crowd.

The shop has a traditional feel to it. Green wooden window frames on the wall are reminiscent of old-time Hong Kong. Dumplings are handmade daily and only the freshest ingredients are used in the fillings. Try their most-ordered item lamb and Peking scallion dumplings. Or surprise yourself with the specialty, such as mackerel dumplings and cuttlefish dumplings. Shandong roast lamb and meat pie are also recommended.

It’s inside a local market but easy to spot, thanks to the big yellow sign. Watch the kitchen at work through the glass wall as noodles are made the traditional way – with the chef seesawing on a bamboo pole to painstakingly knead the egg-rich dough for that stringy texture. Secret techniques are deployed to remove the soapy taste of lye and accentuate the eggy flavour. Don’t miss the signature noodles tossed in shrimp roe and oyster sauce.

Since 1956, this branch (and the original shop around the corner) has been packed with customers buzzing in and out. The third generation of the family business still kneads the noodle dough with a bamboo pole, just as it used to be done, for that springy texture. Wontons are made on site with whole prawns and pork; even the crunchy radish pickles are made in-house. Try the signature tossed noodle with shrimp roe and braised beef brisket and tendon, too!

Since 1893, this much-loved shop has been making its own tofu that exudes a deep, rich soy aroma. The tofu pudding is a must-try. With murals that depict tofu being made, the room is styled to attract a younger crowd.

Lined by multi-tier fish tanks, the entrance showcases live seafood from around the world – Hokkaido scallops, Thai marble goby, even Hanasaki crab if you're lucky. Chicken dishes are another strong suit. To avoid disappointment, it's best to pre-order signatures such as double-boiled chicken soup with conpoy and Yunnan ham, braised chicken stuffed with abalone and sea cucumber, stock-poached leafy greens with chicken liver or chargrilled suckling pig.

One of the early branches of the chain, it offers over 20 dim sum on the menu, all skilfully made and attractively priced. Some items rotate every two to three months to keep them fresh. Don’t miss their shrimp dumplings, baked buns with barbecue pork filling or steamed beef balls with tangerine peel. The spruce interior takes up two floors and the unflappable team operates seamlessly and swiftly, keeping waiting times down to a minimum.