HOME  CENTRAL TAIWAN DINING
COMPASS
MAGAZINE  August 2010
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By Douglas Habecker
Translated by Sho Huang
One of the earliest "exotic" varieties of cuisine to come to Taichung was Mexican food, arriving as far back as the 1980s. Today, a number of older and newer establishments continue to offer Mexican--often better described as "Tex-Mex"--and other Latin American dishes.
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Aztec Mexican Restaurant
166-49, XiTun Rd, Sec 3; (04) 2461-6219
Hours: 11:30 am-2:30 pm, 5:30-9:30 pm (open all day weekends/holidays)
No service charge. Credit cards not accepted.
NT$60 minimum charge/person.
Offering Taichung's most authentic Mexican ambiance, this attractive, brightly-decorated place and its sister restaurant, Red & Green, are completely dedicated to Tex-Mex cuisine. Interesting new additions include the Fish with Tomatilla Green Sauce (NT$280 set with soup/drink) and the massive 50-centimeter, five-pound Sierra Madre Burrito, named after the mountain range. Anyone who finishes this, plus the fries and 1,500ml Coke, within 45 minutes doesn't have to pay the NT$600 contest registration fee (advance order required). Local diners enjoy the two-person NT$520 "Aztec In Love" set meal (NT$499 at Red & Green) which comes with a Taco Bowl Salad, Quesadilla and Fries, two sauces, Burrito, Chicken Leg (or Pork Rib for NT$60 extra), two soups and two drinks. Foreign patrons especially favor the NT$180 Big Burrito, with ground beef, grilled chicken, pork, and fried bell pepper/onion/tomato options. In addition to Tacos, Tostadas, Quesadillas, Enchiladas and Fajitas, be sure and try the Fried Ice Cream (NT$100) and Sopaipilla puff pastry dessert, served with cinnamon sugar, honey and whipped cream.
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Finga's Base Camp
(04) 2327-7750
61, ZhongMing S Rd
Hours: 10 am-10 pm (opens 8 am Sat/Sun)
Credit cards accepted for purchased over NT$300.
No service charge.
Taichung's first foreign-owned restaurant, Finga's has included popular Tex-Mex dishes amongst its very broad range of menu selections since around the mid-1990s. Today, Kiwi owner Dereke Bruce and his staff continue this trend with a variety of items, including the specially-popular Quesadillas (NT$210-260). Served with a tasty salsa, sour cream, refried beans and chips, quesadilla varieties include Cheese & Jalapeno, Vegetable, Tuna, Chicken (pictured), and Beef. Besides this, there are also a similar variety of Nachos (NT$160-200), Enchiladas (NT$210-260) and Burritos. Last but not least on the Mexican list is a Soft Fish Taco with Refried Beans (NT$240).
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Frog Restaurants
(04) 2321-1197
105, HuaMei W St, Sec 1
Hours: 6 pm-2 am
No service charge. Credit cards not accepted.
Arguably Taichung's longest-running pub/restaurant business, the Frog has also long made Tex-Mex dishes a major part of its menu. A big favorite with diners are the truly tasty NT$280 beef or chicken Enchiladas (pictured) and Burritos (NT$250). Frog also offers all the other Mexican standard items, including beef or chicken Tacos and Soft Tacos (NT$250), Quesadillas, Fajitas (NT$310), Tortilla Chips, and Cheese Nachos (NT$140). This also being a popular watering hole, all this can be washed down with a NT$130 Corona or numerous other beverages.
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PJ's Cafe
(04) 2325-2457
23, DaYe Rd
Hours: 6 pm-12 am (opens 12 noon Sat/Sun)
No service charge. Credit cards not accepted.
Another long-running, early Taichung destination for Tex-Mex food, PJ's Cafe and its American owner PJ McKenna please the palate with a number of good options, with the Quesadillas being especially popular. PJ is now offering a traditional-style quesadilla (small/one toritilla NT$100, large/two tortillas NT$195), served in three slices. One unique item is the NT$195 Taco Salad (pictured), a good warm-weather dish with bean, chicken or combination options. There are also Nachos (NT$195); the large NT$150 Chips & Salsa (pictured), and the bean, chicken, steak or combination Burritos.
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Pizza Buena
(04) 2302-8083
206, MeiCun Rd, Sec 1
Hours: 11 am-10 pm
No service charge. Credit cards not accepted. Take-out available.
This place might not sound like it belongs in this cuisine category, but it actually offers a very unique Latin American specialty, the Empanada. As owner Vigi Yu explains, the tasty, flavor-filled little turnovers that her restaurant offers are baked, Argentinian-style, versus fried empanadas found in other South American countries. Because they only cost NT$20 each, you can sample Pizza Buena's entire empanada range, including Chicken, Beef, and Ham and Cheese, finishing off with the Banana/Chocolate dessert empanada. Sister restaurant Pasta Buena (87, DaYe Rd; tel. 2329-6518) also offers empanadas paired with Iced Fruit Tea as part of an all-day NT$85 teatime special.
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Tapa Tapa Spanish Restaurant
(04) 2325-2457
23, DaYe Rd
Hours: 6 pm-12 am (opens 12 noon Sat/Sun)
No service charge. Credit cards not accepted.
Another long-running, early Taichung destination for Tex-Mex food, PJ's Cafe and its American owner PJ McKenna please the palate with a number of good options, with the Quesadillas being especially popular. PJ is now offering a traditional-style quesadilla (small/one toritilla NT$100, large/two tortillas NT$195), served in three slices. One unique item is the NT$195 Taco Salad (pictured), a good warm-weather dish with bean, chicken or combination options. There are also Nachos (NT$195); the large NT$150 Chips & Salsa (pictured), and the bean, chicken, steak or combination Burritos.
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