Comfort food at the Taiwan Restaurant
Partly because of my busy schedule, partly because of the lack of good Vietnamese food in Berkeley, I haven’t had Vietnamese food for months. I miss it, of course. Luckily, the neighboring cuisines share so much similarities that my “comfort food” category has steadily expanded to enclose most of East Asia. If for some reason America and I don’t get along, I think I can happily merge into Taiwan and Japan (not sure about Korea – their food is too spicy…).
So when I crave comfort food, if it’s Sunday or Monday and Musashi is closed, I go down University Avenue to the Taiwan Restaurant. It’s the purple building next to Anh Hong, and it’s another case of generic-names-hence-don’t-go-there type of restaurant. However, two Taiwanese told me that it was “good enough” – the owner of Asha Tea House across the street, and Kristen. As with any Asian eating establishment, you have to know what to get at the Taiwan Restaurant, otherwise you end up with oily overload. I haven’t strayed once out of the usuals. It’s comfort food, there’s no need to change it. In fact, I come here just for one type of soup: the pickled cabbage soup with tripe.
Currently, this is my favorite soup in the whole Bay Area (not counting noodle soups, of course!). Nowhere else serves it. (The second time I ordered it, the waiter skeptically asked me if I knew what it was.) The pickled cabbage (Chinese pickled cabbage, similar to Vietnamese dưa muối) makes the broth sour and clear, the pork tripe is chewy and smooth. I would drink it to the last drop, and it delights even a grumpy stomach.
I’ve never seen such a spoon before.
Much to Mom’s chargrin, I pay no heed to the cleanliness behind the scene when I order at restaurants. Pig ears are crunchy and not so fatty – good enough for me (^_^).
Kristen introduced me to this dish – fried pork cutlet on rice with sweet pickled greens. It’s actually pretty oily, but the rice is soaked with the sweet and savory pork sauce… I intended to save half for the next day but in the end I cleaned up the bowl.
The last time I went, I paid a little more attention to the decoration (because the server forgot to bring me my pork, and I was just sitting there nibbling on the pig ears pretending to be cool). It looks rather classically Chinese – red lanterns and red table-clothed tables, all faded into a shade of cerise – hinting at some forgotten intention of being on the higher end. At the very least, it was set up to be a restaurant, not a simple food shack. Yet the food is cheap (these 3 dishes plus tip cost a meager $20.66), the atmosphere is utterly casual, and customers like me don’t ever think of its food as more than comfort food. The Taiwan Restaurant is, as its website claims, “the first restaurant in this country to serve Taiwan’s version of China’s epicurean delights”. I felt somewhat sad thinking that it has lost the glory that it might have once had.
The most pleasant surprise that prompted me to write about it was actually its tea. You know how all Chinese restaurants serve some kind of watered down “tea”, usually jasmine-flavored? The Taiwan restaurant actually serves Baochong. Watered down, but it’s still a legitimate Taiwanese oolong. I don’t know why I didn’t notice this before, but now that I have, I have enough reasons to recommend this restaurant to everyone. It is indeed “good enough”.
Address: Taiwan Restaurant
2071 University Avenue,
Berkeley, California
(510) 845-1456
Hiya, I’m really glad I have found this info. Today bloggers publish only about gossips and web and this is actually frustrating. A good blog with interesting content, that’s what I need. Thanks for keeping this web-site, I’ll be visiting it. Do you do newsletters? Cant find it.
1I don’t even know how I ended up here, but I thought this post was good. I don’t know who you are but certainly you’re going to a famous blogger if you are not already 😉 Cheers!
2Hey there would you mind letting me know which hosting company you’re utilizing? I’ve loaded your blog in 3 different internet browsers and I must say this blog loads a lot quicker then most. Can you recommend a good hosting provider at a fair price? Cheers, I appreciate it!
3What’s Happening i’m new to this, I stumbled upon this I have discovered It positively helpful and it has helped me out loads. I’m hoping to contribute & help different customers like its aided me. Good job.
4Wonderful work! This is the type of information that should be shared around the internet. Shame on Google for not positioning this post higher! Come on over and visit my web site . Thanks =)
5Wonderful website. Lots of helpful information here. I’m sending it to some pals ans additionally sharing in delicious. And of course, thanks to your effort!
6Thank you for another wonderful article. Where else could anyone get that type of info in such an ideal way of writing? I have a presentation next week, and I am on the look for such info.
7You should take part in a contest for one of the best blogs on the web. I will recommend this site!
8Very interesting details you have remarked, thankyou for posting.
9Hello my friend! I wish to say that this article is amazing, nice written and come with almost all vital infos. I would like to look extra posts like this .
10Very interesting topic, thanks for posting. “All human beings should try to learn before they die what they are running from, and to, and why.” by James Thurber.
11I like the valuable information you provide in your articles. I will bookmark your blog and test again here regularly. I am fairly certain I’ll learn many new stuff right right here! Best of luck for the next!
12Keep up the wonderful piece of work, I read few articles on this web site and I think that your site is rattling interesting and contains sets of great info .
13It’s hard to find knowledgeable people on this topic, but you sound like you know what you’re talking about! Thanks
14I saw a lot of website but I believe this one contains something special in it in it
15What’s Happening i am new to this, I stumbled upon this I have found It positively helpful and it has helped me out loads. I hope to contribute & help other users like its aided me. Great job.
16Hello my family member! I wish to say that this post is awesome, nice written and include almost all vital infos. I’d like to look more posts like this .
17I’ve been exploring for a little bit for any high-quality articles or blog posts on this kind of area . Exploring in Yahoo I at last stumbled upon this web site. Reading this information So i’m happy to convey that I have an incredibly good uncanny feeling I discovered just what I needed. I most certainly will make sure to don’t forget this web site and give it a look regularly.
18Definitely believe that which you said. Your favorite justification seemed to be on the internet the easiest thing to be aware of. I say to you, I certainly get annoyed while people think about worries that they just don’t know about. You managed to hit the nail upon the top and defined out the whole thing without having side-effects , people could take a signal. Will likely be back to get more. Thanks
19I’ve been browsing on-line greater than 3 hours nowadays, but I never found any fascinating article like yours. It’s lovely value sufficient for me. In my view, if all site owners and bloggers made just right content material as you did, the internet will be a lot more useful than ever before.
20Keep functioning ,terrific job!
21Fantastic site. A lot of useful info here. I’m sending it to a few friends ans also sharing in delicious. And obviously, thanks for your sweat!
22I’ve learn several just right stuff here. Certainly price bookmarking for revisiting. I wonder how a lot attempt you place to make such a fantastic informative site.
23I do agree with all of the ideas you’ve presented in your post. They are very convincing and will definitely work. Still, the posts are too short for starters. Could you please extend them a bit from next time? Thanks for the post.
24I have not checked in here for some time because I thought it was getting boring, but the last several posts are great quality so I guess I will add you back to my daily bloglist. You deserve it my friend 🙂
25Thanks – Enjoyed this blog post, can you make it so I receive an email whenever you publish a fresh article?
26Appreciating the time and effort you put into your site and detailed information you present. It’s awesome to come across a blog every once in a while that isn’t the same outdated rehashed material. Fantastic read! I’ve saved your site and I’m including your RSS feeds to my Google account.
27Hi there are using WordPress for your site platform? I’m new to the blog world but I’m trying to get started and set up my own. Do you need any html coding knowledge to make your own blog? Any help would be greatly appreciated!
28I went over this website and I believe you have a lot of great information, saved to my bookmarks (:.
29Incredible! This blog looks exactly like my old one! It’s on a completely different topic but it has pretty much the same page layout and design. Excellent choice of colors!
30Very excellent visual appeal on this internet site, I’d value it 10 10.
31I’ve been absent for a while, but now I remember why I used to love this website. Thank you, I’ll try and check back more frequently. How frequently you update your web site?
32As I website owner I conceive the subject matter here is rattling superb, regards for your efforts.
33Yay google is my world beater aided me to find this great internet site! .
34I’m not that much of a internet reader to be honest but your sites really nice, keep it up! I’ll go ahead and bookmark your website to come back down the road. All the best
35Im now not sure the place you’re getting your info, but good topic. I needs to spend a while studying much more or figuring out more. Thanks for magnificent info I was on the lookout for this information for my mission.
36Needed to post you a bit of note so as to thank you over again on the fantastic tricks you’ve contributed above. It has been quite strangely open-handed of you in giving freely all many people could possibly have advertised for an e-book to get some profit for their own end, principally seeing that you might have done it in case you wanted. The advice additionally served as a good way to be sure that other people online have the identical fervor just like my personal own to understand many more when it comes to this problem. I am sure there are a lot more fun periods ahead for many who see your blog post.
37Youre so cool! I dont suppose Ive read anything like this before. So nice to search out someone with some unique ideas on this subject. realy thank you for starting this up. this website is something that’s wanted on the web, someone with a little bit originality. helpful job for bringing one thing new to the web!
38I really enjoy studying on this site, it has got good articles. “Something unpredictable but in the end it’s right, I hope you have the time of your life.” by Greenday.
39I’m no longer sure where you are getting your information, but great topic. I must spend a while studying more or understanding more. Thanks for wonderful information I used to be looking for this information for my mission.
40I’ll immediately seize your rss as I can not find your e-mail subscription hyperlink or e-newsletter service. Do you have any? Kindly let me know so that I may subscribe. Thanks.
41Hi my loved one! I wish to say that this article is amazing, great written and include almost all significant infos. I would like to look more posts like this .
42It’s a shame you don’t have a donate button! I’d definitely donate to this superb blog! I guess for now i’ll settle for book-marking and adding your RSS feed to my Google account. I look forward to brand new updates and will share this blog with my Facebook group. Chat soon!
43Some genuinely select blog posts on this site, saved to my bookmarks.
44This really answered my drawback, thank you!
45I love your blog.. very nice colors & theme. Did you create this website yourself? Plz reply back as I’m looking to create my own blog and would like to know wheere u got this from. thanks
46I’m still learning from you, while I’m trying to achieve my goals. I certainly enjoy reading everything that is posted on your blog.Keep the tips coming. I loved it!
47Thanks for every other magnificent article. The place else may anybody get that type of information in such a perfect way of writing? I have a presentation next week, and I am at the search for such info.
48Greetings I am so happy I found your web site, I really found you by mistake, while I was searching on Bing for something else, Nonetheless I am here now and would just like to say thank you for a remarkable post and a all round entertaining blog (I also love the theme/design), I don’t have time to go through it all at the moment but I have bookmarked it and also added in your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read much more, Please do keep up the excellent work.
49I’m not that much of a online reader to be honest but your blogs really nice, keep it up! I’ll go ahead and bookmark your site to come back later on. Cheers
50