HaoWeiDao Soup Dumpling
Posted: February 23, 2011 Filed under: Chinese, Dining, District, East, Late night, Low, Shanghai, Taiwanese | Tags: dumplings, east district, Food, haoweidao, noodles, Restaurant, soup dumplings, Tainan, Taiwan, tangbao, xiaolongbao， tainan food, 台南 Leave a comment »Soup Inside your Dumplings
|
Style: Taiwan/Shanghai
Dishes: 60~150NTD
Noodles: 60~150NTD
Beverages: 30NTD
Hours: 9:30am-12:30am Mon-Sun English Menu: Full Pros: Open all day, Good tasting soup dumplings |
When I arrived in Tainan, Haoweidao (literally: good flavour) or “The yellow soup dumpling restaurant” on DongAn Rd. was the first restaurant I ever went to. It was this tiny little place where the workers would make dumplings outside. This place was busy – it had wooden tables that sit 6 people and if you only had 2, you were sharing your table with another couple or family. After renovating 4 years ago in the same location, Haoweidao has become a spacious restaurant, triple the size of its former self.
It’s main attraction is xiaolongbao (Literally: little dragon dumplings) – a dumpling with soup and pork filling within originally hailing from the Shanghai region. These dumplings are usually diped is sauce that contain soy sauce, vinegar and fresh ginger slivers although the sauce is up to your personal preference. I’ve been taught there are a number of different ways to eat the dumplings as well. I have friends that suck the soup out first, then dip the rest in their sauce. Others prefer putting the ginger slivers on top, then dipping before popping the whole dumpling in their mouths. Whichever way you prefer, there’s no denying that these are tasty.
My other favorite dish is the “dry” noodles or noodles without soup that come in both a regular and spicy version. I’d recommend the regular noodles – for flavour and taste. Quite honestly, I haven’t found another restaurant with this type of noodles yet and are definitely worth trying. Another option is the soup noodles with pork if you feel like getting your “meat” on. As well, various kinds of dumplings are also available which are okay, but not as good as their signature soup duplings.
Although Haiweidao’s prices are higher than the other restaurants with similar food, it’s still relatively cheap and the taste makes up for the difference. Get to “The yellow soup dumpling restaurant” for some delicious xiaolongbao. It will be an experience that you’ll remember your whole time in Tainan.
Closeup of the sign
Xiaolongbao (soup dumplings)
Other Reviews:
Tainan City Guide
iPeen (Chinese)
View Larger Map
うたまろ (Uta Maro)
Posted: February 17, 2011 Filed under: District, Japanese, Late night, Mid, Price, West-Central | Tags: となつ、japanese hamburger, Food, Japanese, Restaurant, Tainan, Taiwan， tainan food, west-central district, 台南， foodie Leave a comment »Japanese Diner Food for Dinner
|
Style: Japanese
Single Sets: 150~250NTD
Combo Sets: 260~350NTD
Beverages: 100NTD
Ice Cold Beer: 120NTD
Hours: 6pm-11:30pm Mon-Saturday English Menu: No Pros: completely different from normal, ice-cold beer |
Opened in Tainan to cater to the Japanese ex-pat community, Uta Maro is a restaurant that embodies all things Japanese. Everything is Japanese - the menu (with minimalistic Chinese), the signs on the wall, the draft beer and food is completely Japanese. Even the Taiwanese staff that works there are fluent in Japanese. It feels like a diner that okasan (mom) and otasan (pop) would be proud of.
Located on Mincyuan Rd. between Jhongyi Rd. and Youngfu Rd., this restaurant is not located close to major hot spots – almost by design. It was the only building with lights on in the street when we first arrived. Walking into the restaurant We received stares from Japanese workers still wearing their coveralls from the long working day. We sat at the Japanese style seating sitting crossed-legged in front of a small table. I quickly ordered a pint of Asahi draft beer which was served the only way beer should be served- ice cold.
Navigating the menu was challenging, but there were some pictures to look which helped in the ordering process. Don’t look for sushi here. Only homestyle Japanese dishes – sweet meat on rice (Domburi), noodles (soba, ramen, and udon), fried pork cutlet (tonkatsu), grilled fish and tempura are just a few of these items. These main dishes include side dishes of vegetable, miso soup and fruit.
Tina settled on a traditionally Chinese dish called “mapo dofu” or spicy tofu in English. I decided to go with the super set meal which included two main dishes – a fried pork cutlet with curry sauce and a Japanese hamburger. The Japanese hamburger was something I was looking forward to but it was overcooked. The pork with curry sauce was enough to make up for it though. Trying Tina’s spicy tofu I felt like the spicy was left out. It made me wonder if this is what the Japanese like. In short, the food wasn’t spectacular, but more regular everyday food – diner food.
If you’re looking for a late night dinner or up for trying something completely different for a night, Uta Maro may be the place to go.
The storefront with some pictures from the menu.
Two types of seating available – Japanese or western.
Direct TV from Japan, magazines as well as authentic decor
Other reviews:
BoyLondon (Chinese) (He has some nice pics)
View Larger Map
