THE EIGHT HAPPINESS KITCHEN 203, Peihsing Street

Diners seeking an attractive, medium-size restaurant selling a variety of good Chinese food at reasonable prices will want to check out this new establishment on Chungteh Road, just north of the intersection with Chinhua North Road. The menu, nicely laid out in Chinese and English, provides a broad selection of Chinese cuisine, starting with cold dishes, like the NT$198 sashimi combination. There are shark’Z8;s fin and abalone specials from NT$288 to NT$368, seafood, three cups, dishes from NT$168 to NT$298, sand pot dishes like the NT$158 beancurd with seafood in sand pot, soups, stir-fry dishes, tofu dishes and various snacks, like steamed buns with stuffing or various dumplings. Monday through Friday, a changing list of NT$148 set lunch meals are also offered and come complete with rice, soup, vegetables and dessert. Diners can sample different kinds of authentic Chinese teas—Z0;all served in nice covered white porcelain cups—Z0;for only NT$28 each. Given the very good prices, it is a bonus that the Eight Happinesss Kitchen also provides a very classy ambiance. Private side rooms are available for parties of up to five or six tables. An extra convenience is a parking lot, located just across Chungteh Road from the restaurant. For those dining near the Taiwan Museum of Art, there is another, smaller branch of the restaurant at 486, Meitsun Road, section 1 (tel. 04-2376-5758, Open).