Hao-Wang Elementary School

By Winnie Tsai Translated by Ann Lee

93, ZhongCheng Street
(bordering ZhongMei St)
(04) 2326-9382
Hours: 7:30 pm-3 am
Credit cards accepted.

Being greeted by a staff decked out in school uniforms can be confusing for patrons visiting the Hao-Wang Elementary School on a Saturday night. However, don't worry as it's just part of this restaurant-bar's ambiance.

The decor, which includes a statue of Dr. Sun Yat-sen standing in the entrance with a silly scarf, revolves around a pre-1980s theme. Like a real school, the inside is decorated with large blackboards, wooden tables and chairs, and bulletin boards. A half-moon shaped bar seats about 70 customers. The lounge area is suitable for small gatherings and families. At Hao-Wang, you can also find a snack bar, karaoke area, small convenience store, and live band performances every Friday and Saturday.
For more school-day nostalgia, menus look like textbooks and have photos of entrees, appetizers and drinks. Start with Stir-Fried Calamari with Celery (NT$180), the Tangy and Dry Thai Squid Slices (NT$120), or the Nine Turn Intestines (NT$200). You can try the signature dish, Hao-Wang Hand Ripped Chicken (NT$280), or the Specially Marinated Snails (NT$200), Nine-Piece Mackerel (NT$200), Peppery Three-Layered Meat (NT$200) and Mama's Sliced Beefsteak (NT$250). The Mushroom and Chicken Soup (NT$200) serves four and is quite hearty. A set menu for six is available for NT$1,570. Three dishes in the set are Lamb in Bean Curd Sauce, Codfish with Onions (NT$150), and the Calamari with Celery.

A selection of hard liquors ranges from NT$2,000 to NT$3,500 and includes: Johnny Walker Black Label (NT$2,200), 12-Year Ballantine (NT$2,200), and Gekkeikan Sake (NT$2,000). Tiger draft beer (500ml) and Taiwan Beer are NT$150 each; Kirin, Heineken and Corona are NT$180. Many non-alcoholic drinks, like Health-Preserving Teas (Longan Chinese date or Brown Sugar and Ginger, NT$170 each) are also available.
Minimum charge is NT$200 on weekdays and NT$300 for Fridays and Saturdays. Wednesdays are all-you-can-drink nights (NT$500 men, NT$300 women).