HOME  CENTRAL TAIWAN DINING
COMPASS
MAGAZINE  July 2017
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Opened over six months ago, this attractive little mall near the Central Taiwan Science Park offers a variety of sizable restaurants and dining styles, as noted here.
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Taiko Japanese Restaurant
(04) 2463-5888
168, GuoAn 1st Rd, 1F, Xitun Dist
Hours: 11:30 am-3:30 pm, 5:30-10 pm; weekends 11 am-3:30 pm, 5:30-10 pm
Taiko's Japanese fusion dining choices includes robatayaki cuisine, featuring food that is slowly grilled over a charcoal stove before being served to customers seated at the counter by chefs with wooden paddles. Beside a variety of Japanese seafood and barbecue entrees, freshly made with ingredients displayed by the open kitchen, there is also a chef's tasting set meal and seasonal dishes. All can be enjoyed with various exquisite homemade, uniquely-flavored sauces. Included with sets and entrees is delectable pot rice, made in a specially imported Japanese iga-shi pot that ensures ingredients are thoroughly cooked and preserves fragrances. Taiko also offers cheaper, weekday Limited Edition Lunch sets (NT$320-450) that include pickled vegetables, miso soup and a drink. One other unique feature are Japanese sodas with special flavors like curry or banana. For those in the Science Park area, the restaurant can provide a bento box delivery service if there are at least 10 orders. --Words and translated by Yinno Yeh
 
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Find Idea
(04) 2462-0477
168, GuoAn 1st Rd, 2F, Xitun Dist
Hours: 11:30 am-2:30 pm, 5:30-9:30 pm; Sat-Sun 11:30 am-3 pm, 5:30-10 pm
Find Idea originated in Miaoli County's Shiqiang village, known for cultivating red dates. This Taichung branch offers various kinds of menu items that highlight Hakka flavors with red dates, such as a warm red date tea that refreshes with its sweet, mild taste. The succulent Braised Pork with Pickled Vegetables (NT$320), among the most famed Hakka dishes, is an excellent dining choice here and nicely paired and served with a Steaming Bun with Dates. Marinated with herbs and rice wine, Red Dates and Wine Chicken (NT$330) has a soft, tender texture, while Fish Filet in Plum Sauce's (NT$320) sweet and sour flavors is best enjoyed with aromatic, chewy Rice with Dates (NT$20/refillable) served in a wooden container. Red date-flavored jam, noodles, tea, vinegar and other foods are available for purchase on shelves here. --By Uvia Chang, translated by Anna Yang
 
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Shuang Shuang Restaurant
(04) 2462-0920
168, GuoAn 1st Rd, Xitun Dist
Hours: 11 am-10 pm (last order 9 pm)
Originally from Changhua's Yuanlin, this large stylish western restaurant's extensive menu includes six all-day brunch options like the peppery Classic Deep-Fried Chicken Pieces (NT$420) and Teriyaki Chicken Leg (NT$430), all served with salad, fruit, bread and fried eggs. Main entrees--many infused with spicier Thai and other Asian flavors--include 16 choices of both pasta (served with fettuccine or paccheri) and risotto entrees, from the new USDA Prime Spicy Grilled Beef Risotto (NT$620; add NT$150 for set meal) to Thai-Style Sauteed Deep-Fried Chicken Pieces with Lemon Pasta (NT$330). There are also various hearty sandwiches, sizable salads served with handmade dressings, and six ice cream sundaes (NT$140-180; add NT$80 for waffle). Some stand-out beverages include the popular Shuang Shuang Milk Tea (NT$130), Godiva Chocolate Milkshake (NT$200), and six French Mariage Freres teas. Customers can also relax with Orion draft beer (NT$100 470ml) or wines and various fried snacks, either inside or at an outdoor area with umbrella-covered tables. --By Douglas Habecker, translated by Anna Yang
 
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Hide & Seek
(04) 2462-5266 (reservations recommended)
168, GuoAn 1st Rd, Ground F-1, Xitun Dist
Hours: 11 am-2 pm, 2:30-5:30 pm, 6-9 pm (closed last Mon. of the month)
This spacious restaurant has a friendly, playful atmosphere that is excellent for children and their parents. Owner and mother of two Sophia has created a high-quality, clean environment featuring an attractive, carefully-designed indoor playground for children (under 140 cm) that includes a variety of static and dynamic wooden toys from German brand Haba, a playhouse with mini kitchen, "sand" pit filled with dried cassia seeds, ball pool (regularly cleaned and replaced) and other areas, plus a separate play space for kids 0-2 years old. Admission is charged by height. To maintain cleanliness, the entire facility is cleaned after a three-hour shift, when guests need to leave. Food includes pasta and risotto dishes (NT$280-400) like the most popular Roasted Rosemary Chicken with Creamy Pesto Linguine (NT$320) and Taiwanese-flavored Salted Sesame Oil Pork Neck Risotto (NT$320), plus stews (NT$300-450), kids' meals (NT$220, includes free toy), gelato and other desserts. All food and drinks are made without artificial additives. Fun kids' classes are also organized every month. --Words and translated by Tamsin Lai
  
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