Taichung 台中

Refined Taiwanese set meals, taro-and-chicken dishes and tea. The polished Taiwanese meal of the trip.

Creative Taiwanese sharing dishes in a more polished setting.

Nostalgic family-style Taiwanese cooking with a 1960s atmosphere. The gua bao combines braised pork belly, bamboo shoot, pickles and ground peanuts; also braised pork belly and stir-fried beef.

Affordable Taiwanese small plates, rice and noodles.

Sesame-oil chicken soup simmered a whole day, plus egg noodles with a sauce of dried Keelung shrimp slow-cooked in scallion oil.

Contemporary Taiwanese sharing plates.

Taiwanese dishes inside the Miyahara building - a useful combination of food, architecture and location near Taichung Station.

Inexpensive local noodles: dry noodles, pork rice, wontons and cheap side dishes.

Beef noodles, dumplings and Taiwanese noodle dishes.

Dry noodles, wonton soup and braised sides.

Beef noodle soup and dumplings.

Braised pork-belly rice, gua bao and herbal soups; open 24 hours.

Taiwanese imperial-style hotpot with multiple broths. The Taichung hotpot experience.

Large hotpot restaurant with meat, seafood and spicy broths.

Tofu and spicy dual-broth hotpot.

More traditional individual hotpot.

Stylish but reasonably priced individual hotpot.

Spicy hotpot with tofu and braised ingredients.

Popular Taichung yakiniku brand; reserve well ahead. Rating is branch dependent - verify before going.

🥬 Vegetarian. Vegetarian xiaolongbao, dumplings and Chinese sharing dishes.

🌱 Vegan. Affordable build-your-own noodles.

🌱 Vegan. Refined Asian plant-based food.

🌱 Vegan-focused. Contemporary plant-based set meals.

🥬 Vegetarian. Fine dining and special occasions.

🥬 Vegetarian. Pizza, pasta, sandwiches and Western comfort food.

🥬 Vegetarian. Polished Chinese vegetarian meal.

🥬 Vegetarian. Indian curries and breads.

🥬 Vegetarian. Attractive restaurant for Chinese and Asian vegetarian dishes.

🥬 Vegetarian. Affordable vegetarian comfort food.

🌱 Vegan bakery. Plant-based cakes and baked goods.

🥬 Vegetarian. Casual vegetarian lunch and café food.

Modern Singaporean. Taichung's three-Michelin-star destination restaurant, retained in the 2026 guide.

Italian–Asian-European. Large, attractive restaurant for groups and celebrations.

Fujian-style seafood, noodles and sharing plates.

Traditional French cooking in a neighbourhood restaurant.

Italian. Pasta, risotto, wine and a vegetarian lasagne.

Upscale Italian, particularly seafood pasta.

Casual pasta and contemporary Italian food.

Burgers and Taiwanese craft beer; one of the best casual Western meals in the city.

Grilled food, mezze and cocktails.

American breakfast, burgers and comfort food.

Reliable Indian curries, tandoori dishes and vegetarian choices.

North Indian food with substantial vegetarian choice.

Affordable Thai sharing dishes.

Japanese omakase. Intimate sushi counter; reservation essential.

Small, chef-led Japanese tasting menu.

The city's coffee-nerd essential: beans, espresso and pour-overs.

Excellent espresso and carefully brewed single origins.

Established local roaster with a broad bean selection.

Consistent speciality coffee in a clean modern space.

Coffee-nerd experience and speciality beans.

Late-opening pour-over and coffee bar.

Quiet neighbourhood coffee shop.

Espresso and alternative brewing.

Small local roasting operation.

Intimate roastery and hand-brewed coffee.

Friendly local café recommended by Taichung residents.

Coffee and city views from the 26th floor.

Design-led café atop the National Taichung Theater.

Attractive independent café near central Taichung.

Substantial brunch and coffee.

Quiet, design-conscious afternoon café.

Coffee, desserts and an atmospheric old building.

Spacious contemporary café.

Reliable Western-style brunch.

Homestyle brunch and breakfast plates.

Casual breakfast and coffee.

Taichung sun cakes - the most important local pastry to try.

Traditional Taiwanese baked gifts and pastries.

Choux pastries, cakes and elegant desserts.

Cheesecakes.

American-style cookies and cakes.

French cakes and laminated pastries.

Creative plated desserts and cakes.

Fruit tarts and individual desserts.

French bread, pastries and brunch.

Naturally leavened sourdough.

Bread, cakes and sit-down afternoon tea.

Vegetarian-friendly. The world's first Michelin-starred ice-cream restaurant. Reserve the tasting menu, or use the downstairs takeaway counter.

Vegetarian-friendly. Taiwanese tea, chocolate and fruit ice cream with elaborate toppings, inside a restored 1927 eye clinic. Worth entering even if the line is long.

Vegetarian-friendly. Miyahara ice cream with easier seating and often shorter queues.

🌱 Vegan. Fully plant-based Italian-style gelato.

Small-batch Italian gelato; ask by flavour.

Neighbourhood gelato with an unusually strong rating; ask by flavour.

Gelato, coffee and light food; ask by flavour.

Seasonal handmade gelato; ask by flavour.

Tiny local ice-cream shop; ask by flavour.

The priority bar: vending-machine entrance and Singaporean-Taiwanese cocktail storytelling. No. 14 on Asia's 50 Best Bars 2026 and Best Bar in Taiwan, using longan, taro, tea and pepper-crab-inspired flavours.

Seasonal drinks built around Taiwanese tea, mountain herbs, dried fruit and native teas. Best Bar in Central Taiwan at the 2024 Taiwan Bar Awards.

Refined speakeasy-style cocktails and a quiet jazz atmosphere.

Cocktail bar combined with an art-gallery setting.

Dark, concealed speakeasy with creative drinks.

Friendly hidden bar with approachable custom cocktails.

Intimate, polished bar with bartender-led drinks.

Small cocktail bar away from the main nightlife strip.

Livelier late-night bar with cocktails and music.

Coffee-to-cocktail venue with food.

Bartender-led custom cocktails.

Small natural-wine shop and bar.

Natural wine in a relaxed neighbourhood setting.