Our Favorite Vegetarian Restaurants in Taiwan 2
Part 2
This is the continuation of “Vegetarian Restaurant Recommendations” – We will share five vegetarian restaurants that are not only delectable but also ambient. Let’s try them out!
This is not a sponsored blog post, only real thoughts from personal experiences😋
Lab33 Restaurant & Bar
(Source: Lab33 Facebook)
Dadaocheng is a historical place rich in culture and heritage, and Lab33 Restaurant & Bar just happens to be located inside a century old mansion. The classic architecture with the vintage murals and décor really sets a unique atmosphere – we can especially feel it looking out the wooden framed windows.
The restaurant is spacious with various plants placed around corners, tables, and lights – establishing a relaxing atmosphere in the middle of a busy city. There are multiple selections for alcoholic beverages and coffee. Dine in besides meal times and enjoy select beverages with desserts. There are gluten-free cinnamon rolls available for those who are allergic to gluten!
We like to bring friends here after a main meal to enjoy afternoon tea time with desserts and specially crafted rice wine. Whether it’s meeting up with friends or working quietly by ourselves, we can all find comfort in this establishment.
Mukuchi Kitchen & Bar
(Source: Mukuchi Kitchen & Bar Facebook)
Mukuchi Kitchen & Bar is also located in Dadaocheng, and it specializes in gourmet street food: ramen and curry.
Being inside an old and petite building, this restaurant reminds me of a Japanese specialty eatery. Since seating is limited, a party of two or one is suitable for this restaurant - the perfect place to spend some “me time” after work.
There are two soup bases to choose from for ramen: “Oat milk broth” is similar to that of a tonkotsu broth – it is rich, creamy, and especially hearty during winter months. The chef uses white wood ear, a variety of fried mushrooms, cabbage, daikon, oat milk, and tofu etc. to make this as authentic as a Japanese ramen. The other soup base “Salted sugar cane” is similar to that of a pork bone fish broth – it is much lighter and is especially developed to cater to customers who don’t enjoy eating mushrooms!
I like to order one bowl of ramen and an additional side dish. Oven baked vegetables and tofu patties are also amazing menu items as well. The juicy tofu patties are made with nearly 10 different plant and vegetable varieties such as nuts, tofu, sweet roots, edamame, enoki mushrooms – packing quite a palatable combination.
Mukuchi Kitchen & Bar actually started out as a curry specialty restaurant. However, at the end of 2022, this establishment separated the ramen and curry aspect as two different brands. Check out the curry brand after Chinese New Year!
Gorou Fine Japanese Cuisine
(Source: Gorou Fine Japanese Cuisine Facebook / Soul Barn)
Gorou Fine Japanese Cuisine was actually another Japanese establishment. The owner painstakingly developed this new style of omakase vegetarian Japanese restaurant by combining traditional Japanese culinary arts with innovative molecular gastronomy.
It is already difficult to change the form of vegetarian ingredients into a variety of shapes, but it is even more challenging to transform them into food items that are commonly found in a traditional Japanese restaurant such as seafood, sashimi, caviar, oysters etc.
Interestingly enough, because the restaurant uses vegetarian ingredients to emulate traditional Japanese cuisine, every bite will present a different sensation. This place is great for couples to enjoy fine Japanese cuisine while guessing the ingredient that composes the final product. For example, the pumpkin and dried mangoes are used to emulate the texture and aftertaste of uni, and red peppers are soaked in kombu broth to simulate the flavor of a tuna. Our favorites include eel hand roll and pan-fried scallops. Lucky ones might even get a chance to enjoy hidden menu items!
Gentle reminder: Gorou Fine Japanese Cuisine is a petite restaurant located by Kaohsiung Arena. There are only a certain number of customers allowed at one time so please remember to make a reservation in advance~
Red Room Rendezvous
(Source: Red Room Rendezvous Facebook)
Located in the bustling area of Taipei, Red Room Rendezvous is mysteriously contrasted by the busy traffic of pedestrians and cars outside.
The exquisite vegetarian restaurant, the design of the bar, and foreign waitstaff all make us feel like we are in New York.
The most impressive of all menu items is the “Phat and Furious Burger”. It is made with Beyond Meat and is as juicy and delicious as a regular burger. The “Peace & Cheese Cake” is also a must have vegetarian dessert. One other notable aspect about the Red Room Rendezvous is its pasta dishes. The gluten-free gnocchi option is available for those allergic to gluten.
There are many contemporary art hung on the walls in this restaurant and new art pieces are installed periodically so customers can enjoy them while dining. There are also band performances on some weekends! Dining in the Red Room Rendezvous is not only satisfying to the palate but fulfilling to the visual and auditory senses as well.
Herban Kitchen & Bar
(Source: Herban Kitchen & Bar Facebook)
Located within the alleys of Eastern district in Taipei in an inconspicuous corner, Herban Kitchen & Bar is both a restaurant and a bar.
In contrast to other bars, Herban Kitchen & Bar brings out a more welcoming atmosphere. The earth tones and wooden décor is the motif of the interior design, combined with ample greenery to create a relaxing ambience.
Seating is limited, but there are plenty of outdoor seating available. We recommend outdoor seating on days of good weather along with desserts made from scratch and craft cocktails – a perfect way to enjoy the night.
There are multiple menu item selections, all of which are fusion of western and eastern cuisine influences. The owner is particular about ingredient selection so the majority of the menu items are made with seasonal, fresh produce including non-GMO soybeans, grass-fed butter, non-rennet cheese. The Spinach Cashew Fried Wontons, Vegetarian Mac & Cheese, Spicy Thai Pasta. are all superb, unforgettable dishes that allow us to taste innovative flavor combinations with foods that we are familiar with.
I love to bring my family to enjoy these restaurants where we can spend quality time together and bring these fond memories home. To me, vegetarian cuisine is not only nourishing for the body but also de-stressing for the mind and soul. It is even more interesting for me to discover the chef’s creative journey in creating these innovative dishes that bring out so much flavor and surprise.
Please share with us more vegetarian restaurants that you love!
About the Author
Alma enjoys music, science, and creative things.
She enjoys hiking with her family, or trying out new recipes in the kitchenon the weekends.
Recently she’s started practicing Qi Gong and Tai Chi.
Currently seeking exciting outside the box experiences.
Article translate by Victor Su
