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No trip to Taiwan is complete without indulging in its diverse culinary offerings, and in recent years, visiting Michelin-starred restaurants has become a focal point for many discerning food enthusiasts traveling to Taiwan.
Taipei
The recently unveiled "Michelin Guide Taiwan 2023" features a total of 321 establishments, including Michelin-starred restaurants, Bib Gourmand recommendations, and Michelin Guide selections. Among the 44 Michelin-starred restaurants (one, two, and three stars), 35 are located in Taipei. Noteworthy mentions include the addition of the second three-star restaurant and five new one-star establishments.
Taïrroir
Address: 6F, No. 299, Lequn 3rd Road, Zhongshan District, Taipei
Website: tairroir.com/
Taïrroir, presenting modern Taiwanese cuisine, is led by Chef Ho Shun-Kai, boasting 20 years of experience in both Taiwanese and French cuisines. Recognized by Michelin, Chef Ho skilfully utilises local ingredients, adapting to seasonal changes, and reinterprets Taiwanese cuisine. The concept of a single set menu draws inspiration from Taiwan's culinary culture, classic dishes, and childhood memories, with each dish playfully named using homophones. Taïrroir is not only the first Taiwanese restaurant globally to receive three Michelin stars but also the second three-star restaurant in Taipei after Ryugin.
A Cut
Address: 2F, No. 177, Liaoning Street, Zhongshan District, Taipei (Fubon Liaoning Building)
Website: www.ambassador-hotels.com/en/taipei/dining/a-cut-steakhouse#story
Regaining a Michelin star after relocation, A Cut focuses on premium American and Australian steak sets, offering a variety of appetisers, main courses, side dishes, and desserts. The A Cut steak, particularly from the ribeye cap, is finely marbled, tender, and deliciously flavourful.
Ad Astra
Address: No. 23, Lane 45, Zhongshan North Road Section 2, Zhongshan District, Taipei
Website: www.adastra.com.tw/
Chef Ad Astra, with extensive experience, selects Asian ingredients and combines European and Japanese techniques, showcasing intricate details and flavours in each dish. Offering 10 and 14-course omakase meals, the anticipation is especially high for the post-main course kamameshi rice dish.
Ban Bo
Address: No. 38, Lane 265, Lequn 2nd Road, Zhongshan District, Taipei
The only new one-star trendy Taiwanese restaurant in Taipei. The young chef incorporates elements of familiar Taiwanese appetisers, snacks, banquet dishes, and braised dishes into the set menu, providing a dining experience of over 3 hours, with each dish having its theme, worth savouring.
INITA
Address: No. 1, Alley 52, Lane 12, Section 3, Bade Road, Songshan District, Taipei
Website: www.inita.tw/
The restaurant's name, composed of ITALY, NIPPON, TAIWAN, reflects a fusion of the three regions' culinary cultures. The Japanese chef creates a single set menu using local ingredients, expressing his understanding and concern for these three regions.
ZEA
Address: No. 5, Alley 20, Lane 300, Section 4, Ren'ai Road, Da'an District, Taipei
Named after the Latin word for "corn," Zea emphasises the importance of crops in Latin American and Taiwanese cuisines. The Argentine chef presents a 12-course set menu featuring many local ingredients, including varieties originating from South America, delicately showcasing South American flavours.
Kaohsiung
In its second year of expansion to Kaohsiung, the "Michelin Guide Taiwan" lists a total of 53 establishments, including Michelin-starred restaurants, Bib Gourmand recommendations, and Michelin Guide selections. Three restaurants have been recognised with Michelin stars, including Sheng maintaining its one-star status, Haili making its debut with one star, and Liberté rising from one to two stars.
Liberté
Address: No. 802, Zhonghua 5th Road, Qianzhen District, Kaohsiung
Website: www.liberte.com.tw/
The name of the restaurant, meaning "freedom" in French, aligns with the seven-course set menu presented by Japanese Chef Takeda Takeshi. Combining Japanese ingredients with a foundation of French culinary techniques, the dishes are well-balanced and layered, free from constraints. Liberté is now the only two-star restaurant in Kaohsiung.
Sho
Address: 2F, No. 806, Zhonghua 5th Road, Qianzhen District, Kaohsiung
Website: www.sho.com.tw/
The first overseas sister restaurant of Japan's "Den," with the sous-chef from Den taking the lead. Utilising seasonal ingredients from all over Taiwan, the numerous delicacies infused with its lively personality include a salad featuring over ten vegetables cooked using different methods, injecting new life into vegetables, and a kama-meshi (pot rice) that lingers in the memory.
Haili
Address: 2F, No. 264-1, Chenggong 1st Road, Qianjin District, Kaohsiung
After leaving a renowned restaurant in Taipei, Chef Haili opened his establishment in the south, incorporating his experience working with Japanese chefs. His modern-style set menu, utilising Japanese and local ingredients, earned him the recognition of one Michelin star.
Additionally, this year Kaohsiung welcomes six new Michelin Selected restaurants:
Kuca Seafood
Address: No. 55, Dewei Street, Zuoying District, Kaohsiung
Operated by a father-son duo, the restaurant features humorously named dishes, boldly incorporating Western ingredients. Signature dishes like truffle-infused squid ink fried rice or the flavourful Penghu sea urchin scrambled eggs are highly recommended.
MU
Address: No. 128, Fuheng 1st Road, Xinxing District, Kaohsiung
Embracing a back-to-basics approach, the head chef presents ingredients at their best through pan-frying or grilling. The 10-course set menu includes a wealth of local traditional Chinese medicinal herbs and spices, blending elements of Taiwanese, Hakka, and indigenous cuisines.
Temperature studio
Address: No. 50, Park East Road, Gangshan District, Kaohsiung
With only six seats and no fixed menu, Temperature studio utilises seasonal fresh ingredients, combining European, Japanese, and Taiwanese elements. The chef, with a decade of high-end culinary experience, personally introduces the dishes, creating a delightful and layered dining experience.
the FRONT HOUSE
Address: No. 132, Xianzheng Road, Lingya District, Kaohsiung
Employing Eurasian-American culinary techniques and local ingredients, the FRONT HOUSE's dishes are distinctive. With nearly 20 years of high-end culinary experience, the chef combines memories from his travels and life elements into a variety of dishes presented in a single set menu, shared with diners.
Papillon
Address: 26F, No. 189, Linsen 4th Road, Qianzhen District, Kaohsiung (Cheng Yi Hotel)
Website: papillondining.com/zh/
Led by a French chef and a kitchen team from the Alain Ducasse system, Papillon Dining integrates diverse elements from different countries into its refined French style. The restaurant's name, meaning "butterfly" in French, symbolises the culinary process of metamorphosis, a wait that is worth the while.
Xian Tao Su
Address: No. 496, Minglun Road, Gushan District, Kaohsiung
After working for several years in vegetarian restaurants in Taipei, the chef returned home to open Xian Tao Su. Proficient in interpreting vegetarian cuisine using various cooking methods such as fermentation, baking, stewing, or roasting, the chef adjusts the menu according to the seasons, presenting each dish with exquisite precision.
Taichung's First and Only Three-Star Restaurant
In the "Michelin Guide Taiwan 2023," Taichung boasts six-starred restaurants, including Fleur de Sel, Oretachi No Nikuya, and Forchetta maintaining their one-star status for four consecutive years, and Sur- & La Maison de Win holding onto its one-star status for three consecutive years. Moreover, there is a remarkable promotion from two to three stars, making JL Studio the only Michelin three-star restaurant in Taichung.
JL Studio
Address: 2F, No. 689, Sec. 4, Yifeng Road, Nantun District, Taichung
Website: jlstudiotw.com
JL Studio, led by Singaporean chef Jimmy Lim, integrates local Taiwanese ingredients with the flavours of his hometown. With innovative techniques, the restaurant deconstructs and reimagines Singaporean cuisine, giving a fresh perspective to dishes like Hainanese chicken rice and chilli crab. After six years in business and three consecutive years as a Michelin two-star restaurant, JL Studio has finally achieved the coveted recognition of three Michelin stars.
The Michelin inspectors highly praised JL Studio, stating, "The menu is original, combining local ingredients, French culinary techniques, and Singaporean food culture. The use of various spices is well-balanced, creating dishes with intricate and refined flavours." Worth noting, JL Studio is the only restaurant globally to be awarded stars for modern Singaporean cuisine.
