In this age of slick lounge bars, it is nice to remember a warmer era when all pubs featured plenty of heavy wood, writing on the walls, dark lighting, name cards stuck up over the bar, and tons of bric-a-brac. With the recent closing of JD's and Napoli pubs, there are few of them left in Taichung. Together with Denver Pub, Mo Ya Tang continues to represent an older era.

Opened in 1990, Mo Ya Tang is still going strong and is as popular as ever, so much so that there is often a waiting list to get tables (though there is usually space at the bar). Customers range from the young and hip to business people. I even spotted one small child. The atmosphere is light, lively and fun, a convivial mix of all ages and types, and it is clearly a safe environment to relax and unwind.

One of the big draws is the menu, largely consisting of "shao kao" style barbeque dishes. I tried the Boneless Beef Steak Chunks (NT$200) and was very impressed. Another popular dish is the Chinese Chicken Shish-kebab (NT$130). All food items range from NT$60 to NT$260. One drink that is truly impressive is the massive 1,000cc glass of draft beer for NT$180, though other beers are available from NT$130 and up. The cocktail menu is very limited, as this is more of a beer-and-bites kind of place. The music is karaoke-style but, unlike most karaoke places, the volume isn't overwhelming and it wasn't until I'd been there for half an hour that I even noticed.

Customers should be aware that there is an NT$250 minimum charge, so be prepared to stay for more than one drink, or try some of their food.