All-American satisfaction at Swensen's 396-398, TaiZhongGang (Taichung Harbor) Road, Sec. 1 (04) 2317-4112 Hours:11 am-11 pm Credit cards accepted.

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-- By Tammy Huang Translated by Cara Steenstra

For quite some time, Swensen's has been a very familiar name for most local diners, Taiwanese and foreign, thanks to over 20 years of existence and experience on the island. This longevity alone is testament to the appeal and quality of this American family restaurant chain.

Swensen's history dates back to 1948, when Earle Swensen opened his first Ice Cream Shoppe in San Francisco, serving ice cream touted as "Good as Father Used to Make". In the 50-plus years since then, Swensen's not only created 180 ice cream flavors but expanded into a chain of restaurants that numbers over 200 around the world.

Here in Taichung, Swensen's sole outlet, a landmark on the corner of ZhongMing and TaiZhongGang roads, continues that tradition by offering a great all-American menu that ranges from breakfast to pasta, steaks, burgers and, of course, an outstanding selection of sundaes and floats. The setting is vintage American, too, with warm lighting, hanging Tiffany lamps, lots of wood and comfortable seating in booths and tables.

The first thing that visitors see when walking through the door is a freezer containing the restaurant's many ice cream varieties, with interesting flavors like Lychee Sherbert and Blueberry Cheesecake. Well-loved by adults and children alike, a scoop (or two) of ice cream or one of the many sundaes or floats is a must-have treat, either after a meal or by itself.

Swensen's main courses are a big draw, too. The House Sampler (NT$325) is one of their most popular dishes, with Spicy Buffalo Wings, Loaded Potato Skins, and Mozzarella Sticks. The Lasagna with Meat Sauce (NT$295) is a must try, prepared with layers of pasta and meat sauce, covered with cheese and baked till golden. To do it this well is not easy, making it worth trying here. The Chicken Thighs (NT$350) are prepared with chicken selected for meat quality, first marinated then baked until crispy on the outside and simply divine on the inside. Try this with their special dipping sauces for an altogether different sensation.
Swensen's also now offers business lunches between Monday and Friday for NT$215, with a choice of main courses. For just NT$10 extra you can have either a soup or a salad for a satisfying meal.