Taipei Cafe

Stopped by this Taiwanese spot during a recent visit to Chicago and left with mixed impressions—but open to round two. The overall dishes were decent, though nothing particularly stood out. The dry noodle in particular felt underseasoned—lacking the punch and depth I was hoping for. It wasn’t bad, just a little flat in flavor. The staff were friendly and attentive, which made the experience more enjoyable. They kept things moving and were quick to respond, which I really appreciated. The vibe was pretty standard—not too loud, not overly decorated. It’s not the kind of ambiance that transports you, but it’s comfortable enough for a casual meal. While the first visit didn’t blow me away, I’m planning to return. Sometimes a second try reveals the hidden gems, and I’m curious to see what else they can offer.

The rice ball tasted good, but I was surprised by how small it was for the price. This was probably one of the smallest I’ve seen. The flavor was decent, but the portion size didn’t feel like a good value.

Of course, we had to get the spicy Taiwanese beef noodle soup, which was super good. The beef was pretty tender and not overcooked, which tends to be my biggest qualm with beef noodle soups. We also ordered the fantuan, which had the delightful crunchy you tiao and the savory pork floss. Nice, casual dinner in Chinatown adjacent if you’re looking for the Taiwanese classics done well!

We were craving for some Taiwanese food. It was easy to find from the GoogleMaps. The restaurant was clean and cozy. The staff were friendly. We ordered few classic Taiwanese dishes including oyster omelet, basil chicken and squid with thick broth. All of them were authentic Taiwanese dishes. They were delicious. The price was reasonable.

The best Taiwanese food in Chicago in my opinion. We’ve heard good reviews about this spot and finally gave it a try and we’re glad we did. The minced pork over rice (卤肉饭）was out of sky delicious, especially with some Taiwanese kimchi to help with the fat. We also got the fried chicken. The hotpot was okay - I think we’re gonna try more cooked dishes next time