Japoli Mitsui Outlet Park

A newly open Italian Restaurant and its located at the 2nd level of Mitsui Outlet Park, and can easily see the Japoli for people who flock the outlet mall. We thought the restaurant was very comfortable, light and airy, great open bright eating area with nice modern touches. We heard many outstanding reviews and its own and run by Japanese and our expectation also high. This restaurant serves of array Italian dishes: Pizza, Pasta, Grill! 

As for our  dining experienced, we tried the mixed tapas appetizer, was a prosciutto, smoked ham, omelette, focaccia, avocado, a small cup of savory deep fry meat served with sliced spanish onion and greens. It was simply nice thou, the tuna in tomato with pickle cucumber, capers and onion is very familiar. If you have eaten the local tuna can food with sweet tomato sauce it taste similar. You just add the pickle cucumber, onion and mixed all together and stir  with capers. There you have it!

The soup of the day was a onion soup. This is watery and tasteless onion soup we ever had.

The margherita pizza was perfect and delicious.

And for the pasta we order 2 shrimp and zucchini spaghetti. Its too heavy in oil.

The crab spaghetti in tomato sauce was simply delicious. Only the pasta it cooked a bit soft.

And for the dessert; We had a Tiramisu was bland there's no any coffee and liquor taste to it!

I simply cant resist the crepe suzette, and this is one of my favorite french sweet dessert. The crepe suzette serve with orange and dollop of ice cream. This is the worst crepe suzette we had by far. The orange sauce was just a orange juice, the ice cream was tasteless, there is no sugar or sweet flavor. We didn't eat either: our server (waiter) it seemed he didn't suprised when he collect our plates in our table. It disappointed, the crepe was submerged in fresh squeeze of orange juice.

Also we had a cup of Guetemala coffee and I cant say anymore. All in all the food some are great and some are unexpected. The crepe suzzete is tasteless, the pasta need a bit of seasoning or salt. The food served quickly, staff are helpful, environment was clean.

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Japoli 義大利餐酒館
Mitsui Outlet Park
新北市林口區文化三路一段356號1樓​
No. 356, Section 1, Wenhua 3rd Rd, Linkou District, New Taipei City, Taiwan

Kua ‘Aina

I have been away and stop writing my blog for 3 years. Just though I have to come back and share my experience dining at Kua Aina. Besides the original restaurant in Hawaii. Kua Aina has 1 branch at the Mitsui Outlet Park Linkou District New Taipei. We tried this place before shopping, its our first time to try Kua Aina, although were not a kind of burger hunters.

This burger restaurant does not have a large drinks selection is more like fast food store. And with several additional sandwiches, a choice of breads and that's it.

Me and my husband had the same order. We had the pineapple burger its was juicy.

And for my son he had a bacon burger as well. The thinly fries are crisp somehow it reminds me the potato snack Pik-NiK.

The brulee pancake made our day! It was deliciously sweet and succulent. I would love to come by again and try their sandwiches and avocado burger. If you want something different from Mc Donalds or Burger King, Mos Burger etc.etc but still fancy something American inspired, clean and very fresh ingredients, I will recommend Kua 'Aina.

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Kua 'Aina Burger
Tel No: (02)2606-8663
新北市林口區文化三路一段356號1樓​
No. 356, Section 1, Wenhua 3rd Rd, Linkou District, New Taipei City, Taiwan

Longji Hong Kong Restaurant

This place channels a simple wooden panelling and ceiling simply bolted in place to transform a modern interior setting. Even with its casual dining atmosphere still seems like a fast food to me than a Hong Kong cafe and restaurant. The menu features a variety of Cantonese food and the speciality is roasted meat. We have heard much about as one of the most renowned Cantonese restaurants in Hong Kong, London,  etc and etc . Since dim sum is one my favorite Cantonese dishes. I am constantly on the lookout for the best dim sum but I'm very disappointed no any dim sum on their menu.

After placing our order the food came so quickly. My husband wanted some soup and he had a herbal chicken soup loaded with red dried goji berries and mushrooms.

We also ordered 3 delectable roasted meat was a chicken, duck, pork and served with two dipping sauces. Though they are served a little fat and oily but one of my favorite dish on that day.

We got 2 filler item  was mixed BBQ stir fry noodles and stir fry rice with shrimps; The stir fry noodles loaded with bbq meat with spam and some vegetables. The noodles itself was excellent because each noodles were still slightly crispy and nice caramelization of  lean bbq pork. We appreciated it was actually a pretty large portion .

The stir fry rice with shrimps it was also quite nice, we enjoyed that as well.

The stewed eggplant with minced pork and shrimps in claypot was crappy. I always preferred the Taiwanese Hakka style eggplant with basil and fresh minced pork.

Then we were served a fried turnip cake with x.o sauce for free and there was not a good fry either, so they were missing those deliciously crisp and textural contrast which made it very bland.

I intend to eat healthy so I ordered hot fungus sweet soup for the finale. I'm disappointed when came out. Basically it was horrible and smell like acacia tree. I only eat a 2 spoonfuls, I just don’t like it. This one is supposedly good for cleansing the inner body. You can probably get a better tasting in other Chinese restaurants, this one is probably the worst one.The service is fast, the food was great but it doesn't astound menu and some was horrible. We definitely not to intend to go back again. The good thing is....This eatery shares a parking lot for free with other eateries within the corner.

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Longji 龍記香港茶餐廳

 No 137. Lane 28, 1st floor Yanji Street, Taipei

台北市大安區延吉街137巷28號1樓

Tel No: 02-27111500
Website:
http://www.longjihk.com.tw/

Bangkok Jam

Taipei 101 was a great place on celebrating the New Year Eve and most of the restaurants are quite packed. So we went to Bangkok Jam, the decor of the restaurant is modern bistro-styled interior with a lot of interesting wall decorations. The service it can be a bit hard to get their attention but maybe because it was too many people are waiting and dining during near midnight New Year Celebration and that they are kind of busy. They forgot our steam rice so you have to remind them, but we can relate that it was full and chaotic inside out the restaurant.

After placing our order, we were served with our drinks was a coconut juice and Thai milk tea then followed by our dishes. The crispy fried chicken on a bed of cabbage in sweet and sour sauce was extremely tasty.

Next up, the pad thai a sweet and salty stir fried of thin rice noodles with seafood it was only slightly warm and delicious.

Thai stir fried beef fillet with basil was thinly sliced tender beef fillets sauteed in sweet and sour flavor with some long beans and basil over it. Would please any beef fans.

We also try their Thai-style drunken spaghetti. This dish surprised each mouthful with the sweet and sour taste of the sauce was a striking combination.

The shrimp pancakes it was slightly a bit chewy.

The thai chicken curry and coconut sauce is one of my husband favorite dish on that night.

For the appetizer is a Vietnamese-style fresh sprig roll wrap with some vegetables and grilled pork with sweet and sour tamarind sauce to dunk each piece. A great dipping sauce that was a lovely by the way!

I ordered a small bowl of seafood in red tom yam, I love the sweetness, sourness, tanginess salty, and spicy of this soup and it was hot and comforting. The flavour’s just fantastic, all in all the food at Bangkok Jam was worth the money and the pricing are reasonable. However there was a slightly disappointment, they don't offer rice and no desserts on their menu. But would definitely be back again!

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Bangkok Jam ATT4Fun Taipei
5F, No. 12,Songshou Road, Sinyi District
Taipei City.
台北市信區義松壽路12號5樓
Tel: 02-77373886

L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon Taipei

The L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon Taipei branch is located at Bellavita is world-class in terms of quality with 3 star Michelin restaurants. We came to L'Atelier last sunday to celebrate my daughter 15th birthday. She was really excited that she was able to experience this restaurant. On arrival we were warmly greeted, and taken to our table close to the bar.

The decor of the restaurant is a very modern red and black, quite chic and sophisticated with a large counter surrounding an open air kitchen shared between each room.

We were then served their bread basket. A complimentary bread was beautiful assortment of miniature french bread. The baguette and boule was crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. Other type of the of bread was just like a croissant and buns was cold but nonetheless it was perfect. I think it was the novelty of miniature french bread loaves!

We each got a amuse bouche for our starter was a  foie gras and parmesan cheese foaming served in a small shot glass and eaten with a spoon. It was good and very pleasant taste if you are massive foie gras lover.

Our appetizers arrived soon after amuse bouche. The le petit calamar was a baby squid stuffed with brandade in sweet pepper and chorizo sauce for my son.

L’oeuf de poule, was a poached egg and spring salad Russian style topped with a crisp sesame tuile. It was very elegant!

And I have the 'La châtaigne' a chestnut soup in celery broth and chicken wing was delicious but not salty enough on my liking.

Le potiron was a pumpkin soup with country bread crouton and olive oil with the vibrant orange-yellow of the soup.

For the main dishes accompanied by mashed potato (no photo): Le boeuf for the birthday celebrant was a red wine braised beef cheek was very tender and matched perfectly with the creamy polenta.

La cote de porc, was a Milanese style pork chop with grated parmesan cheese, cherry salad and balsamic vinegar. My husband ordered this but he didn’t like it. It was slightly tough and dry, he actually disappointed! I made this kind of dish a couple of times at home and I'm confident that my cordon blue and schnitzel was slightly juicy and soft in the inside!

And I choose the le vivaneau was a steamed red snapper in broth slightly with (no photo) tomato served with garlic crouton and rouille sauce. Wonderful red snapper that was fresh and  perfectly cooked with a lovely bite from the tomatoes and other vegetables but once again it slightly less in salt on my linking.

Le napoleon was a pan-seared fish with lemongrass foam and stewed baby leeks. My son feeling disappointed, he thought that the fish it was a very small dish and still feeling hungry!!!!! So we better run to Starbucks and Ireland potato afterwards.

Up next the desserts! The la poire was a soft pear comfit cooked in red wine on a light vanilla panna cotta and cassis sorbet for my daughter. As a young girl it felt whimsical a delightful and delicious dessert.

Le muscavado was a crepe suzette flambé topped with rum. My husband really enjoying this sweet delish!

I  order the le souffle was a grand marnier souffle with orange ice cream and chocolate sauce. While the souffle was rapidly melting away and the mildly tangy orange ice cream provided the richness of the souffle and were surprisingly good!

Le mascarpone a tiramisu style with espresso sorbet is one of my son favorite dessert.

The waitress brought us a small pre-dessert came along with a complimentary raspberry mousse cake with happy birthday. We told to the staff it was my daughter birthday! So they prepared a small cake for her with a candle and  we appreciate that very much for making her day so special!

Once again, we each got and served a fruit sorbet!

And a perfect latte and cappuccinos and petite canelé's to end the meal.

Overall the staff were very attentive, the service is impeccable, professional and nice. They explained every detail of each dish patiently. What was interesting was that all the dishes I felt were the strongest to please the wide array is the amuse bouche and the desserts maybe because we amazed on their presentations. The main course fell slightly average you wouldn't say very delicious and no wow factor! I think Chez Janou in Paris and Jamie Oliver fifteen restaurant in London beat their main courses basis on my experienced and opinion. Therefore we simply couldn't compare Jamie's  Italian dishes to French creativity on the menu. However, it was still a great experience to be able to dine such a renowned and well known restaurant. The question is, if we will return,  probably we will try their Salon de Joël Robuchon for afternoon tea.

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L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon

Bellavita 5F., No.28, Song-ren Rd., Xinyi District, Taipei City

台北市信義區松仁路28號Bella Vita 5樓

Tel No: 02-8729 2628

Website:

http://www.robuchon.com.tw/