Taipei's density of restaurants is on par with that of Tokyo, meaning they are literally everywhere, in virtually every street and alley citywide. The quality of the food is extremely good, and you'd be hard pressed to find anything comparable in mainland China. Although Chinese is the main fare, Japanese, Thai, European, and American cuisine is also easy to find.
The best range of restaurants is in eastern Taipei and especially along Dunhua and Anhe roads, where there are loads of malls and smart standalone cafés and restaurants. In addition, the Shilin district, just to the north, features the popular Shilin Night Market where there are myriad cheap stalls and the expat-centric Tianmu area.
The Shilin area of Taipei has by far the best options for gastronomes and is known for the Shilin Night Market. There are so many eating options here with tastes from the entire region that it is hard to decide where to eat. Tianmu (to the north) has a variety of upscale restaurants and is especially popular with expats.
Many big attractions are in Xinyi, such as the Taipei 101 building and Sun Yat-sen, and it is also one of the top shopping and dining areas in the city. Those with a penchant for American chain restaurants will particularly enjoy Xinyi, while shopping malls come with food courts.
Taipei's CBD has more sophisticated and expensive dining. There are plenty of restaurants here that cater to the moneyed and business types and it is also popular with tourists. Min Sheng East Road and Dun Hua North Road are where it's at.
Daan is a buzzing region of downtown Taipei that is part residential, part commercial and has lots of shopping and eating along Zhong Xiao East Road. Here there are many coffee shops and snack bars and you will also find top-end, late-night restaurants.
Din Tai Fung
194 Xinyi Road (Section 2)
Phone: +886 2 2321 8928
This Chinese eatery is one of the town's finest and has even been listed by the New York Times as one of the world's best. This one, Din Tai Fung in Xinyi, is the original and does the best steamed dumplings.
Tainan Tan-Tsu Mien
676 DaDun Road
Phone: +886 2 2320 8899
One of Taipei's best seafood eats, Tainan Tan-Tsu Mien has been in town for decades, offering banquet-style dining in a stunning European-style setting. The food, décor, attention to detail and staff are all top drawer.
Shinyeh's Table
201 Zhongxiao East Road (Section 4)
Phone: +886 2 2778 8712
Located near Zhongxiao Fuxing MRT station in Tongling Department Store, Shinyeh's Table (Taiwanese) is a fairly new kid on the block, yet it is nonetheless highly acclaimed and has an English menu.
Shan Xi Dao Xiao Mien
Lane 118, Heping East Road (Section 2)
Phone: +886 2 2378 7890
Another of Taipei's best eateries is the Chinese Shan Xi Dao Xiao Mien, which is near Taiwan National University and is best known for its chewy noodles. Although the menus are Chinese only, the food is cheap and the quality assured.
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