I’ve lived in Taichung since 2000, I’m a food maniac, and I love to discover new places to eat all the time! On this page I’d like to introduce you to my favorite restaurants in Taichung. You can see a map of all those places at the bottom of this page.
Breakfast Restaurants in Taichung
Ivette Cafe
Ivette describes itself as being an Australian style green cafe (whatever that’s supposed to mean). Located in the upscale and modern Qiqi District, just across from super-posh Lin Hotel, this restaurant has become my favorite place to have my daily morning dose of caffeine.
The excellent, creative food at Ivette is obviously made with care and fresh ingredients. I always go for the sublime Avocado on Sour Dough Bread and Americano Coffee. It’s not cheap, but the experience is perfect each time. Service is top notch, cleanliness is excellent, the design and music make you not want to ever leave, and the staff know what they’re doing! Check it out.
Address: 120, Chaofu Road, Xitun District, Taichung
Hours: 8:30am to 5pm
Phone: 04 2254 5411
The Uptowner 雙城美式餐廳
100% real American-style, all-day breakfast place owned by my friends Ben and Kyle. Sandwiches, burgers, and salads also available. Live sports, bar, downtown behind Sogo, great outdoor sitting area, view on Zhong Ming Park and a small Chinese temple. Great vibe, friendly staff, public parking available across the road. The place to go for your morning bacon & eggs fix.
Address: Zhong Mei Street, West District, Taichung City 西區中美街446號
Hours: 7:00am -- 10:00pm
Finga’s
Finga’s claims to be the first foreign-owned restaurant in Taichung city. I’ve been going there since 2000, and I can highly recommend this place if you’re looking for high-quality western food and consistently friendly service. Full-breakfast menu, sandwiches, salads, burgers, pasta, soup.
Address: 173, Section 1, Xiangshang S Rd, Taichung
Hours: 10am to 10pm from Mon to Fri
8am to 10pm on weekends
Chinese Food
Shandong Dumplings 山東餃子館
Dumplings and beef noodles are in the top-five classic national dishes in Taiwan and Shandong is my favorite spot in the city to enjoy them. This place is always packed, it’s right by the Green Belt, near People’s Park. Really affordable for the quality. My wife and I always bring first-time visitors there. Grab some cold appetizers from the counter before being seated. The cold cucumbers and shredded tofu are the best!
Address: 96 Gongyi Rd, West District, Taichung
Hours: 11am to 8:30pm
Ding Wang Hotpot 鼎王麻辣鍋 (公益店)
Ding Wang is the most popular hotpot restaurant in Taichung. I’m lucky because I live right next to it, like two buildings next door. It’s a bit pricy, but the food is high-quality, service is top-notch, and the ambiance and decor is classical Chinese style. Great dining option for a birthday meal or a date. You can’t go wrong if you invite a Taiwanese person to Ding Wang. Always a good idea to book in advance. Bring a warm sweater, it’s like 15 degree inside, even in summer.
Address: 42, Gongyi Rd, Section 2, Xitun District, Taichung City
408台中市南屯區公益路二段42號
Tel: 04 2329 6828
Open every day from 11:30am to 2:30am
Dapu Teppanyaki 大埔鐵板燒
Dapu is a chain of teppanyaki restaurant which offers very cheap set meals. You sit at a counter that’s covered with a hot metal plate and the food is cooked within minutes right in front of you. You simply choose one or two main item such as beef, chicken, fish, or shrimp, and it is served with two kinds of vegetables like cabbage or sprouts. An order of beef with two veggies and rice only cost 150NT$. Nearly 20 locations around Taichung, but the following one is the most central:
Address: 50, Section 1, Meicun Rd, West District
Hours: 11:30am to 9:30pm
Pizzerias
Pizza Rock 搖滾披薩
This is my own chain of restaurants, which my wife and I started in 2011. At our pizzeria, we serve thin-crust, stone-baked pizza, Italian paninis, baked pasta, salads, beer, wine, desserts, and coffee. At this moment, we have 7 locations around Taichung City, as well as more than 20 locations around Taiwan.
Find us on Facebook | Trip Advisor | Official Website
Indian Restaurants
Spice Shop 香料屋印度料理
Indian is my favorite cuisine in the world, and the Spice Shop is my favorite Indian restaurant not just in Taichung, but in all of Taiwan. I have been ordering the exact same meal for the past 17 years and it’s consistently excellent and fresh at all times! My order is ALWAYS: garlic naan, samosa, papadam, chicken tikka masala, aloo gobi, palak paneer, rice, King Fisher beer, and chai masala tea to finish the meal. That’s for two people. Check it out if you’re in the mood for Indian tonight! Central location, easy to walk to.
Address: 1066, Jianxing Rd, West District, Taichung
Hours: 11:30am to 2:30pm and 5:30pm to 9:30pm
Japanese Restaurants
Yuli Restaurant 羽笠日式餐廳
There are tons of Japanese restaurants in Taichung, but Yuli is where I end up all the time when I crave fresh seafood, sushi, and wasabi. The dish pictured below is what I take 95% of the time -- a big bowl of rice topped with seared seafood and caviar. You can take it as a set, which comes with miso soup, a salad with soy & sesame dressing, and a small side dish of pickled veggie. Super friendly service, reasonable price, traditional Japanese decor, central location.
Address: 306 Jing Cheng Road, West Dist., Taichung
Hours: 11:30am to 14:00 and 17:30 to 22:00
Korean Restaurant
Korean on Jing Ming 1st Street
I don’t even know the English name for this place, but what I do know is that they have the most affordable (and super delicious) kimchi hot pot in town, and other inexpensive set meals that really taste like what you’d get in downtown Seoul. Outdoor seating area on a quiet pedestrian street.
Address: 87, Jingming 1st St, West District, Taichung
11:30am to 3:00pm and 5:00pm to 9:00pm
Korean on Jing Ming 1st Street
Snacks
Stinky tofu is a highly popular night snack among Taiwanese. It’s also popular with ME! I love stinky tofu! Westerners usually stay away from this dish because of the pungent smell which emanates from the deep-frier where it is prepared. The name probably doesn’t help either… It’s surely not for everybody. I took some friends to my favorite place in Taichung lately and they simply couldn’t even swallow a single bite. My wife and I could eat that every day -- it’s really delicious, and it does NOT taste like it smells. The best place in Taichung (and Taiwan) for stinky tofu is Liang Po Po. Two locations. Check them on the map below. Read more about stinky tofu in Taiwan.
312 Meitsun Rd, Sect. 1, West Dist., Taichung
187, Section 3, Dongxing Rd, Nantun Dist., Taichung
4:00pm to 11:30pm, closed on Tuesday
Taichung Restaurants Map
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For the most comprehensive listing of Taichung restaurants + restaurant maps, make sure to get a copy of Compass Magazine as soon as you arrive in the city! This indispensable mag lists more than a hundred places to dine in the city.
