Best Michelin-starred & Michelin Guide restaurants in Taipei

Taipei's food scene is a feast for the senses. From street food favourites like oyster mee sua (vermicelli), delicate braised pork rice and stinky tofu, to Michelin-starred and Michelin Guide-featured restaurants, this bustling city offers a wide range of culinary delights that cater to all palates. For those looking for a more upscale dining experience complete with exceptional service, we've rounded up some of the city's best fine dining restaurants for you to indulge in for your next visit.

1. Taiwanese culinary delights at Taïrroir: A seasonal gastronomic journey

Go on a fun culinary journey at Taïrroir, where Chef Kai transforms contemporary Taiwanese cuisine and recreates it with French influences. The word Taïrroir is fused by ''Taiwan'' in English and ''Terroir'' in French. This three-starred Michelin restaurant offers seasonal menus, ensuring a fresh and exciting dining experience with each visit.

Indulge in a seven-course meal that showcases the best of local Taiwanese ingredients transformed into innovative culinary creations. The dishes are also creatively named – for those who understand Chinese, you’ll appreciate the clever puns that the team came up with.

The restaurant also features a see-through kitchen, where guests can witness the busy kitchen behind a glass panel while dining. Taïrroir also offers optional champagne and wine pairings (western wines) to elevate the dining experience.

Cost: NT$3,880 (S$165) per person for the set meal
Address: 10462, Taiwan, Taipei City, Zhongshan District, Lequn 3rd Rd, 299號6樓

2. Exquisite Cantonese dining at Le Palais: A feast for the senses

This three-starred Michelin restaurant serves traditional Cantonese food, fine-dining style. The restaurant’s dark but beautiful interiors and ornate traditional Chinese decor creates a captivating ambiance for your meal.

As you settle into your seat, the servers will offer you an extensive tea menu for selection, served in exquisite, ornate tea ware to complement their beautiful tableware. Don't miss the chance to try teas from Alishan, a Taiwanese specialty in the region.

Kickstart your meal with some dim sum. The steamed Chinese spinach and salty egg dumplings with century egg is a must-try – the combination of flavours, wrapped in crystal dumpling skin, is a unique take on the traditional crystal dumpling.

The highlight of Le Palais is undoubtedly its signature dish – the duck course, presented in four ways. The chef will first present the roasted duck and slice it in front of you. Begin with the duck pancakes – crispy duck skin in a wrap, with crisp cucumber and green onion. Next, savour the succulent duck leg, served whole with luscious duck jus and a refreshing ice plum sauce for dipping. For the mains, experience the comforting taste of duck in porridge. Finally, feast on wok-fried diced duck breast, water chestnuts, and pine nuts – and wrap it in a cabbage leaf.

Save room for its exquisite desserts! The deep-fried cheese pastry, shaped like traditional Taiwanese tofu, surprises with a delightful filling of cheddar and mozzarella that melts in your mouth. The black sesame balls are filled with luscious coconut cream, creating a harmonious blend of flavours.
 

Cost: The Roast Duck Course is NT$5,880 (S$250) for the whole duck, done four ways. 
Address: 103, Taiwan, Taipei City, Datong District, Section 1, Chengde Rd, 3號17樓

3. A sushi lover’s paradise at Sushi Nomura

For sushi enthusiasts, Sushi Nomura is an absolute must-visit. Helmed by Chef Nomura, who moved to Taiwan years ago, this one-starred Michelin restaurant serves aged fish on sushi in an Omakase menu. 

According to the chefs, its rice is cooked in Mount Fuji spring water – imported in gallons. The same water is also used to make their green tea, and it was the most refreshing, intense green tea I’ve ever tasted. There are two kinds of rice that the chefs use – the white rice is paired with fish that are lighter in taste; while the brown rice from Kochi is paired with fish that have stronger flavours.

Beyond sushi, Sushi Nomura also offers other small plates such as grilled dishes (I had grilled toro belly), and flavourful soups (I tried the miso soup boiled with seafood) that showcase the diverse flavours of Japanese cuisine.

 

Cost: NT$8,000 (S$340) or NT$10,000 (S$426) per pax, depending on whether you choose the basic or premium Omakase menu. 
Address: 103, Taiwan, Taipei City, Datong District, Section 1, Chengde Rd, 3號17樓

4. A grilling delight at Dawan Yakiniku

As a Michelin Guide recommended restaurant, Dawan Yakiniku offers an extensive, mouth-watering selection of perfectly cooked meats. Be sure to reserve in advance for an unforgettable dining experience that pairs delicious cuts with a curated wine selection.

As soon as you step through the doors, you are greeted by the warm smiles of the chefs, who are passionate about their craft. Throughout your meal, the friendly staff will grill each piece to perfection at your table while engaging in lively conversations, explaining the different cuts of meat and explaining their choice of cooking methods to bring out the flavours.

If you’re here for the first time, go for the set menu, where you can choose from various entrees, mains, and side dishes. You can also go for wine-pairing, reasonably priced at NT$1,200 (S$51) for three wines, to go with your meats.
 

Cost: NT$3,380(S$144) per pax for the Set Meal.
Address: 104, Taiwan, Taipei City, Zhongshan District, Jingye 2nd Rd, 199號5樓

5. Modern European cuisine with a Taiwanese twist: MUME

MUME, a Michelin Guide recommended restaurant located in Da'an District, is known for its contemporary European cuisine with a distinct Taiwanese twist. The restaurant’s name is the Latin word for “plum blossom”, with their dishes garnished with herbs and flowers. Chef Richie Lin, who honed his skills at Noma (voted The World's Best Restaurant multiple times) and Quay (one of Australia’s most awarded restaurants), offers a seasonal tasting menu with fresh Taiwanese ingredients. Expect innovative dishes that burst with flavour, depending on the season.

According to MUME, they work closely with local food producers – this means greater support for the Taiwanese food supply chain and reducing the need to rely on imports and its resulting carbon emissions. For its efforts, MUME was awarded the Flor de Caña Sustainable Restaurant Award as part of Asia's 50 Best Restaurants 2022. MUME also earned a spot in Asia's 50 Best Restaurants list for 2023.

Reservations are available online 30 days in advance, so remember to book early!

• Cost: NTD$3,980 (S$168) per pax for the seasonal tasting menu.
• Address: 1 1F, No. 28, Si-Wei Road, Da-An District, Taipei City, Taiwan

6. [Bonus] Freshest seafood & more: Addiction Aquatic Development

Other than the more high-end restaurants, there is one special food spot that is my go-to for every Taipei trip – the Addiction Aquatic Development. This isn't your typical fish market. It's a seafood lover's dream, overflowing with the freshest catches imaginable. Picture glistening tuna, live crabs in tanks, and rows of plump oysters – a feast for the eyes before you even start shopping.

The market is divided into different sections, offering a wide range of fish, shellfish, and even premium cuts of meat. Head upstairs to discover specialty vendors offering everything from hot pot bubbling away to sizzling seafood barbecue.

But the real star of the show is the dedicated sushi and sashimi counter. Here, skilled chefs prepare a variety of platters featuring the season's best catches. Choose from pre-made options or create your own custom platter with your favourite cuts.
 

Cost: Prices will depend on what you decide to purchase. Sashimi platters usually have displayed prices.
Address: 188, Section 5, Zhongxiao E Rd, Zhongshan District, Taipei City, Taiwan 104

 

Taipei's dining scene is a culinary journey that every food lover should experience, and one should not restrict themselves to just the well-known street food or night markets! Whether you’re planning a special night out at a fine dining restaurant or want to indulge in the exceptional service of a Michelin Star establishment, Taipei promises an endlessly fulfilling foodie adventure ahead.

Plan ahead and book at least one month in advance to secure a reservation at these top-rated fine dining restaurants for an unforgettable gastronomic adventure!

(Psst, caught the Taiwan travel bug yet? Plan your perfect Taiwanese getaway with useful guides on cycling from Kaohsiung to Taitung and kid-friendly activities in Taiwan!)

 

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