Restaurant Reviews

Original Din Tai Fung location on Xinyi Road in Taipei, Taiwan

Busy workers making thousands of dumplings a day, Din Tai Fung, Taipei, Taiwan

I have an obsession with Din Tai Fung. Visiting the original location of Din Tai Fung was at the top of my list of must do things in Taipei. Founded in 1972, the dim sum restaurant today has branches in Hong Kong, Mainland China, and eleven other countries including the United States, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, China, Malaysia, and Thailand. The restaurant has become an international phenomenon for their Taiwanese soup dumplings known as xiao long bao. Many claim that …

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Jin Feng, best Lu Rou Fan (Minced Pork Rice) in Taipei, Taiwan

Braised Ground Pork, also known as Lu Rou Fan, Jin Feng, Taipei, Taiwan

Located just outside Exit 2 of Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall MRT Station is Jin Feng, considered by many to serve the best lu rou fan in Taipei, Taiwan. You can find lu rou fan (滷肉飯), a simple Taiwanese dish of braised pork rice, at countless restaurants and street food stalls across Taipei and Taiwan. Jin Feng (金峰魯肉飯) might be the most famous. For over 30 years, Jin Feng has perfected the art of the pork and rice dish along with …

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Popcorn Fried Chicken at Ji Guang Xiang Xiang Ji in Taipei, Taiwan

Chefs frying chicken in hot oil, Ji Guang Delicious Fried Chicken, Taipei, Taiwan

For over 40 years, locals have considered Ji Guang Xiang Xiang (继光香香鸡), also known as J&G Chicken, to have the best fried chicken in Taipei. Since opening in Taichung in 1973, J&G Chicken, or Ji Guang Delicious Fried Chicken, has become a household name. Over the years, the restaurant has continued to expand across Taiwan and currently has international branches in China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Singapore. Waiting in Line J&G Chicken was located in a prime location at the …

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Lan Jia Gua Bao: The best Gua Bao in Taipei, Taiwan

The best Gua Bao (Steamed Pork Bun) in Taipei, Lan Jia Gua Bao in Taipei, Taiwan

If you are looking for the best gua bao in Taipei, you go to one place, Lan Jia Gua Bao. Gua bao, sometimes called the Taiwanese hamburger, is usually made by stuffing a steamed bun with braised pork belly, pickled vegetables, cilantro, and peanut powder. Nowhere prepares this popular Taiwanese snack better than Lan Jia Gua Bao. Popular with locals, tourists, and pork lovers, you will usually find a line of hungry people waiting patiently out front of this tiny …

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Lin Dong Fang: Best Beef Noodle Soup (Niu Rou Mian) in Taipei

A delicious bowl of beef noodle soup, Lin Dong Fang in Taipei, Taiwan

Out of all the beef noodle shops in Taipei, none are more well-known than Lin Dong Fang. At any hour of the day, you can expect to find a line of locals and tourists waiting outside this tiny hole-in-the-wall restaurant to try a bowl of their famous niu rou mian or beef noodle soup. Beef noodle soup is an iconic dish of Taiwan. It’s the national dish. If you have never had it, a typical bowl consists of braised beef, …

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Jingzun Peking Duck Restaurant: Best cheap roast duck in Beijing

The specialty, the Beijing Roast Duck, Jingzun Peking Duck Restaurant, Beijing, China

Jingzun Peking Duck Restaurant, located in Beijing, China, is a casual restaurant famous for its affordable and delicious Peking duck. In a city with roast duck restaurants on every corner, this is my favorite. And don’t just take my word for it, as the restaurant is popular with locals and tourists. Peking duck is a specialty in Beijing. Add it to your bucket list if you’re a foodie headed here. Eating roast duck is often a special occasion, meaning it …

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Sveitagrill Miu (Mia's Country Grill) in Skogar, Iceland: Fish and chips

Cod Fish and Chips from Sveitagrill Miu (Mia's Country Grill) in Skogar, Iceland

While searching for places to eat in Iceland, I discovered Sveitagrill Miu (Mia’s Country Grill), a tiny fish and chips food truck located near Skogafoss waterfall. Iceland, waterfalls, fish and chips. In my opinion, it doesn’t get better than that. If you aren’t familiar with Skogafoss, make sure you add it to your list of must visit places to see in Iceland. At 200 feet tall, Skogafoss is one of the biggest and most powerful waterfalls in the county. With …

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The EATery at Mammoth Brewing Company in Mammoth Lakes

The Philly Steak Sandwich, officially known as the It's Not a Philly Cheese Steak Sandwich, The EATery, Mammoth Lakes, California

Before Mammoth Brewing Company and The EATery, Whiskey Creek was one of the most popular restaurants and happy hours in Mammoth Lakes. When I found out Whiskey Creek would be closing, I almost cried. For years, I stopped by Whiskey Creek for a drink or bite to eat after a long day of snowboarding at Mammoth Mountain in the winter or fishing in the summer. Luckily, Mammoth Brewing Company and The EATery took its place, continuing the tradition of Whiskey …

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Jim's Original in Chicago: Polish Sausage and Pork Chop

Burgers, pork chops, sausages, and mountains of onions on the grill

If you are looking for the best polish sausage in Chicago, you come to Jim’s Original. This institution has been serving the Original Maxwell Street Polish Sausage Sandwich since 1941. When something has been around for that long, you know it has to be good. Everyone seemed to recommend that I try Jim’s Original at least once on my trip to Chicago. They said it’s the best place for a sausage in the city. Hours after landing in Chicago, I …

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Maro's Shrimp House in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico: Steak and seafood

Lobster, steak, and shrimp

Everyone told me, if you come to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, you have to go to Maro’s Shrimp House for the lobster, steak, and famous Bulldog drink. At first glance, the restaurant seemed like an overpriced tourist trap. But with great reviews on both TripAdvisor and Yelp, I decided to ignore my preconceptions and see what the fuss was all about. Maro’s Shrimp House is a hole-in-the-wall seafood restaurant. From the outside, the restaurant looked like a shack. There is …

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