Taipei, Taiwan: Hot Spring, Bei Tou, Dan Shui, Yu Ren Ma Tou, Aranzi Cafe, Wu Lao Guo (Part 3)

Today we head to Beitou(北投) for the hot spring.  We chose the hot spring based the review online as well as the stars of the hotel offering the hot spring.  The result is the Grand View Resort Beitou (北投丽喜温泉酒店).  They offer a free shutter service from Beitou(北投) station to the hotel, it is just a 5-8mins ride.

The hotel does have a very atas (aka grand) feel on top of a mountain overlooking the greeneries.  We head to the reception to check in to the room for our hot spring.  They only have 8 rooms catered for non-hotel guest so do book in advance if you intend to head there especially on weekends.  We chose the biggest room to pamper ourselves.

This is the Li Chi (麗池), costing NT$3,200.  The time given for the choice of the Li Chi is 120minutes.  There is a living area, a small pantry behind the tv partition, a huge cupboard beside the pantry and of course the hot spring tub with bathroom and toilet.

Remember not to fill the whole tub with spring water as it is scorching hot.

I was very disappointed with the hot spring, with such a atas place and high price tag I am expecting a hot spring tub overlooking the nature from the top of the mountain.  However all the 6 rooms are actually facing a road outside the lobby of the hotel and you are often disrupted by the buses and cars passing by; a total turn off.

10mins before the time is up we got a call from the reception that we have only 10 mins left.  We left the hotel on their free shuttle bus to 新北投 station.  

It time for lunch, we headed to a shop recommended by shi shang wan jia (食尚玩家) for their famous beef noodles.

We ordered a bowl of beef noodles and a bowl of sesame oil chicken noodles.  The chicken noodles taste very good, the portion of chicken is pretty generous, the broth is very rich in taste and noodles with the right texture not too soggy nor tough.  My partner said that the beef noodles is quite good but not the best she had tasted.  After filling our stomach we head to shop at dan shui(淡水), not many photos taken here.  

We bought the usual dan shui tie dan as well as the famous yu shu(鱼酥) recommended by the locals.  How can we not visit yu ren ma tou(渔人码头) when we are at dan shui so we took a boat there.  There is a family in front of us who bargain for TWD100 per person for a return trip so we got the same deal.

It is a good location to take pictures of the sunset but the last boat is at 7:30pm hence we left after a short stroll and some pictures taking.  Come earlier if you intend to shop around the area and have a drink while watching the sun set.

After taking the boat back to dan shui we decided to head back to Zhong Shan station  We had made a booking at bu lao guo(无老锅) for dinner and there is still some time hence we shop around at Xin Guang San Yue(新光三越). 

We came across this interesting café called Aranzi Café with some interesting looking cakes.

We ordered 2 cakes to share (坏东西双色浓巧克蛋糕 and 熊猫哥巧克力蛋糕), both at TWD180 each.  They taste normal but the design and how they put it on matching plates is pretty interesting.

The other design of cakes they serve.

Finally heading to the highly recommended steamboat place(无老锅) by the local.

We had a choice of 2 types of soup base and yuan yang.  We chose the non-spicy soup base.  The soup base is very good and with lots of ingredients in it.

They are also very thoughtful to provide 4 bottles of soup base on the table so we can add as and when we require without waiting for the waiter/waitress.

Egg Dumplings (蛋饺) － TWD280

 Boneless Chicken (鸡肉) - TWD 188

You Tiao (油条) - TWD 60

Signature Pork (无老肉)－TWD328

Escalope of shoulder butt (小麦梅花香猪肉)  － TWD 280

Squid(墨鱼片) - TWD 188

The meat are all very fresh and good.  However I find the squid a bit tough.  Overall a very satisfying dinner, highly recommended, do remember to make a booking way in advance as chances are low for walk-in unless very late into the night.

We took a cab back to hotel and call it a day.

Location:

Grand View Beitou Resort

北投麗禧溫泉酒店

112台北市北投區幽雅路30號

Tel:  02-2898-8888 

栗家牛肉麵

北投區永興路一段二號

Tel: 02-2893-7803

淡水阿婆铁蛋

台北市淡水镇中正路135号之一

Tel: 02-2625-1625

许義鱼酥

台北縣淡水鎮中正路184號

Tel: 02-2621-1414

Aranzi Cafe阿朗基咖啡 (新光三越百貨南西店二館)

台北市中山區南京西路14號4樓

Tel：02-25224608

無老鍋

北市市民大道三段143號

Tel: 02-2731-7927

Taipei (Other Parts):

Part 1: Taipei, Taiwan: Taoyuan Airport, Wu Fen Pu and Raohe Night Market (Part 1)
Part 2: Taipei, Taiwan: Ding Tai Feng, Ximending, Barbie Cafe, Shilin (Part 2)
Part 4: Taipei, Taiwan: Hello Kitty Cafe, Dian Shui Lou (Part 4)
Part 5: Taipei, Taiwan: Hello Kitty Gate, Silver Kris Lounge (Finale)

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Taipei, Taiwan: Ding Tai Feng, Ximending, Barbie Cafe, Shilin (Part 2)

As we woke up quite late on the 2nd day, we decided to skip the hotel breakfast and head to the original Ding Tai Feng at Xinyi (信義) for brunch.  We took the MRT to Dongmen (东门) Station and exit via exit 5, walk along the road until you cross Yong Kang (永康) Street and you will see Ding Tai Feng, it is just a 5 mins walk from the station.

At the entrance you will be greeted by the Ding Tai Feng mascot.  We reach at about 10.40am, although it is crowded but there are still empty tables so we didn't have to queue.

And of course the must order Xiao Long Bao.  I don't know if it is psychological but I feel that it is better than Singapore branch however it doesn't have the wow factor which have me coming back for more.

The drunken chicken wasn't as good as Singapore's though the portion is bigger, the meat is abit on the tough side but they do use sufficient wine which taste quite good.

The guo tie (锅贴) is crispy on the top (or bottom depends how you see it) and soft on the other side which is very well done.

This is something I always order, 炸酱面. The noodles is still 'crunchy' not too soft just the right texture, taste wise its ok very similar to Singapore's branch.

Next we head to Ximending (西门町) and shop around the area until evening, didn't take any pictures there.  Just take the metro to Ximen station (西门) and once you exit there are lots of shopping and food.  The famous Ah Zhong Mee Sua (阿宗面线) is located there as well.  Oh ya there is a Stay Real Shop (open by 阿信 from Mayday) in that area also.

Its close to evening and we wanted try some of the famous theme restaurant in Taipei so we headed to the Barbie Cafe (not my choice though).  We took the MRT from Ximen Station to Zhongxiaodunhua(忠孝敦化) Station and take exit 6.  After exiting cross the road and there should be a standard chartered bank not too far and you can see the Barbie Cafe on the 2nd floor.

The whole place is so pink and Barbie......

This is the Chocolate Brûlée (TWD120), very chocolaty but I prefer more bitter chocolate however it tasted quite good.

The mixed fruit mousse cake (TWD120) tasted not bed as well, will be better if there are real fruits of bite size inside.

Last we had the Barbie Classic Chocolate Honey Toast (TWD 250).  This seems like something everyone order when they are there.  The mix of fruit and chocolate ice-cream on the bread is heavenly however the bread is too tough, would be good if it is silky soft but I guess the whole structure will collapse when it is cut if it is silky soft :D

If you like Barbie and want some dessert in the afternoon or early evening it is a recommended place.  Although we did make a booking in advance but it is very empty at 6pm on a Sunday as you can see from the photos above.

To me the dessert are just like tea break which doesn't satisfy my dinner quota.  So we head to Shilin Night Market.  Take note that Shilin Night Market nearest metro station is Jiantan(剑潭) NOT Shilin(士林).  Surprisingly it is super crowded on a Sunday night, don't they sleep early before starting work the next day?  Anyway as it is already quite late we didn't shop much but wanted to head for some food.  The food stalls are no longer along the streets but instead they have been moved to an underground "Food Court", there's no more night market feel when eating there not sure why they did that.

I had a craving for oyster, in the afternoon I though the mee sua is suppose to have oyster but it didn't, so I wanted to have the egg omelette with oyster (蚵仔煎).  The first stall that we see when we enter the 'food court' sells 蚵仔煎 so we decided to give it a try and it tasted good, I am now drooling while I think of it.  Its not too costly at TWD55.

I have always heard about this 大肠包小肠 and wanted to try it.  I must say that I am abit disappointed when I finally get to try it, not because it doesn't taste good but its totally not what I expected.  All along I thought it made using the pig's big and small intestine (which I quite like) wrapping a sausage, but turn out I was only right about the sausage part (but its taiwanese sausage which I don't really like). For those who don't know what is it, it is actually glutinous rice made into sausage like (which makes up the 大肠) and they wrapped this together with some asparagus and a taiwanese sausage (which makes up the 小肠) calling it 大肠包小肠.  It cost TWD50.

Ended off the dinner with crab (香酥螃蟹), shishamo(黄金鱼) and squid(五味鱿鱼).  All of them tasted quite good if I wasn't as sleepy then I might order some Taiwanese beer to go with it.  Each of the dishes cost TWD150, so total damage is TWD450.

After the satisfying dinner its time to head back to hotel for a good rest before exploring more of Taiwan.

Location:
Ding Tai Feng (Xinyi)
No. 194, 信義路二段
Taipei City, Taiwan 106
+886 2 2321 8927

Ah Zhong Mee Sua (阿宗面线)
No. 8-1 Emei Street, Wanhua District
Taipei, Taiwan

Stay Real (Ximending)
108, Taiwan, Taipei City, Wanhua District, 武昌街二段85-4號
Taipei, Taiwan

Barbie Cafe
2F, No.128 Section 4, Zhongxiao East Road, Da'an District
Taipei, Taiwan

Shilin Night Market

Taipei (Other Parts):
Part 1: Taipei, Taiwan: Taoyuan Airport, Wu Fen Pu and Raohe Night Market (Part 1)
Part 3: Taipei, Taiwan: Hot Spring, Bei Tou, Dan Shui, Yu Ren Ma Tou, Aranzi Cafe, Wu Lao Guo (Part 3)
Part 4: Taipei, Taiwan: Hello Kitty Cafe, Dian Shui Lou (Part 4)
Part 5: Taipei, Taiwan: Hello Kitty Gate, Silver Kris Lounge (Finale)

Taipei, Taiwan: Taoyuan Airport, Wu Fen Pu and Raohe Night Market (Part 1)

Arrived at Taoyuan Airport, Taipei, Taiwan at around 4.30pm at Gate D4 Terminal 3.  There seems to be quite a few tour group from China arriving at that time from other flights and immigration queue is very long.  After clearing immigration we wanted to get the local prepare sim card so we can still contact each other via call or whatsapp.

When you exit from the sterile area into the public area right in front is the taiwan tourism counter where you can get brochures for buses, different part of taipei or even ask the counter staff for assistance.  If you want to get the local sim card like me, turn to the left once you exit (note this information is for Taoyuan Airport terminal 3) and walk to the end you will see a few counters selling them.  Actually their plan and price are quite similar just different provider.

I got the card from the taiwan da ge da counter as that has the longest queue and turn out that it is also one of the bigger ones in Taipei.  The plan are as follows:

The sim card is valid for 6 months and you can top-up if the pre-paid plan has been exhasted.

If do not need a local sim card and want to proceed to the main city (i.e. Taipei main train station) you will turn right once you exit from the sterile area into the public area.

After turning right and walking further down you will see signs for Bus to city.  I took the Kuo Kuang Motor Transport (as recommended by the staff at the taiwan tourism counter) to Taipei main train station.  Its bus 1819 and cost NT$125, the frequency is 15-20mins.  The bus journey is about 1hr 30mins to the Taipei main train station.

We took a cab from Taipei main train station to our hotel at ChangAn area which cost just NT$70.  After checking-in we head out immediately to Wu Fen Pu.  The nearest met to Wu Fen Pu is Houshanpi station but it isn't so near that you can see Wu Fen Pu after exiting from the station.  Once you reach Houshanpi station take exit 1 and walk along Zhongpo North Road (中坡南路) till the intersection of Zhongpo North Road and Yongji Road (永吉路) and Wu Fen Pu is towards your left.

As it is already dinner time and we are very hungry we decided to eat our dinner first before proceeding to Wu Fen Pu.  We ate at this shop at the intersection of Zhongpo North Road and Yongji Road.

Formosa Chang (胡须张) which is famous for it braised meat rice (卤肉饭), so we decided to give it a try.

This is a half portion braised meat rice, quite a small bowl for me.  The taste is not bad but I wouldn't say that it would have me coming back for more.

Also ordered a plate of bean sprouts, which couldn't go too wrong.  As we wanted to go to Raohe night market later hence didn't eat alot.  After this we proceed on to Wu Fen Pu.

This is the only photo taken there, the place wasn't too crowded although its a Saturday night.  Not a place for guys, most are selling ladies fashion.

So we made our way to Raohe Street Night Market, it is about 15 minutes leisure walk from Wu Fen Pu.  From Wu Fen Pu you should be walking towards Songshan train station (not MRT) to get to Raohe Street.  There isn't much sign around, I used google map to navigate there.

This is the famous pepper bun (胡椒饼), super long queue.

You can see 4 people making the bun here, there is still an army of people behind hence the queue clear quite fast.  Basically it is just a bun with spring onions and pepper minced pork, again it taste not bad but I do not crave for it.

 Next we tried the egg prawn ball, which has quite a queue also.

How is the egg prawn ball made?  They crack an egg (those small ones) into the hole in the metal tray and put a prawn into it, they will squeeze a sauce onto the balls depending on what flavour your ordered.  A good snack to eat and shop at the night market.

Again another egg snack which has a long queue.  This is one of the shop that has been recommended on a taiwan show (食尚玩家).

Basically they will fry the egg into a long square roll and depending on the flavour you order they will put different ingredients on top of it.  We realise that most of the stalls which has long queue are selling eggs related snack, we need to watch our cholesterol level so decided to give the rest a miss.

Didn't take much pictures that night as we were eating as we walk and its very packed.  Don't be mistaken that this night market is very small, it is quite a long stretch but of course not as big as Shilin.  After walking the entire stretch we decided to call it a day and head back to hotel.

Locations:

1) Taoyuan Airport, Taipei, Taiwan

2) Formosa Chang, No.146 Section 4, Chongqing North Road, Taipei, Taiwan

3) Wu Fen Pu

4) Raohe Night Market

Taipei (other parts):
Part 2: Taipei, Taiwan: Ding Tai Feng, Ximending, Barbie Cafe, Shilin (Part 2)
Part 3: Taipei, Taiwan: Hot Spring, Bei Tou, Dan Shui, Yu Ren Ma Tou, Aranzi Cafe, Wu Lao Guo (Part 3)
Part 4: Taipei, Taiwan: Hello Kitty Cafe, Dian Shui Lou (Part 4)
Part 5: Taipei, Taiwan: Hello Kitty Gate, Silver Kris Lounge (Finale)

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