The MICHELIN Guide Taiwan 2023 has just been revealed, with 7 restaurants newly awarded with one MICHELIN Star — find out what impressed the inspectors in these newly-promoted restaurants.
Sunset | Uni, Squid, Salted Egg Yolk
Ban Bo (Taipei)
One MICHELIN Star, MICHELIN Guide Taiwan 2023
Cuttlefish is presented in thin noodle-like strips, adorned with delicate white flower petals and milk crisps. A touch of fragrant fried garlic crumbs is hidden within the dish, and underneath, there's a sauce made from salted egg yolks. On the left is a sauce crafted from sea urchin to mimic the appearance of a sunset.
The presentation of the dish is visually appealing, reminiscent of a sun setting on the horizon. The taste is smooth and delicious, and the combination of the white flower petals and thin crisps on top, along with the tender texture of the cuttlefish, adds various layers of tenderness, freshness, and complexity in the mouth (hero image: 劉又年/Ban Bo).
Hualien Yuli Duck Breast, Vegetable, Pistachio, Beetroot, and Duck Demi
A Cut (Taipei)
One MICHELIN Star, MICHELIN Guide Taiwan 2023
Two large slices of skillfully cooked, high-quality Taiwanese duck breast are served — they are firm, plump, pink, and tender, delivering plenty of flavor. The neatly scored golden skin is crispy on the exterior. The rich and glossy demiglace sauce offers up plenty of flavor, while the lightly pickled beetroot lends a little acidity, complementing the protein in the meat. Smooth, pistachio purée works well in the dish, an effective contrast to the meat.
Japanese Rice with Garlic and Tarragon, Basil Lemon Foam
Ad Astra (Taipei)
One MICHELIN Star, MICHELIN Guide Taiwan 2023
This Japanese-inspired dish is original and interesting; far more complex than what it appears to be on the surface. The base made of rice delivers good structure — the grains were warm, cooked just right with a little bite and combined with garlic and tarragon, which shone through. Fresh nasturtium leaves combined with finely sliced crisp radish, and a light, well-judged delicate basil and lemon foam accompany the dish, while a small serving of chili oil on the side acts as a slightly spicy condiment, working well to enhance the fresh and pure flavors present.
Ebi Shrimp/ Bell Pepper
Haili (Kaohsiung)
One MICHELIN Star, MICHELIN Guide Taiwan 2023
A refreshing and elegant starter with such a colorful, shiny presentation: fresh ebi shrimp, sea grapes, and cube jelly are served with a bright-red sauce made with bell peppers. The sauce is superb, with a smooth and silky texture that gives the dish real sophistication. The shrimp has a good, bouncy texture with excellent sweetness. The most impressive components are the small flavor-packed cubes of diced ginger combined with cubes of jelly, a final flourish of flavor to a very good dish.
Milanese con Osakan – Saffron, Doteyaki, Pineapple
INITA (Taipei)
One MICHELIN Star, MICHELIN Guide Taiwan 2023, Taipei
An inspired Japanese take on the classic Osso Bucco, the saffron risotto is given a Japanese twist. It is cooked in a lidded clay pot and presented at the table. Its texture is ultra-creamy, clearly fine, and delivers strong aromatics. The risotto is topped with a little pineapple compote that adds a hint of sweetness, as well as slow-cooked, unctuous, rich, beef tendon. The flavors from both components melt beautifully together. The risotto itself is superb — creamy, ultra-rich and cooked to perfection, with a little bite to the grains, delivering bags of comfort and flavor.
King Crab/ Hokkaido Scallop/ Chicken Broth
La Maison de Win (Taichung)
One MICHELIN Star, MICHELIN Guide Taiwan 2023
Old hen, mature duck, and ribs are simmered until their broth turns into a rich golden jelly like chicken consommé, which is poured tableside. At the bottom of the soup bowl, there's steamed egg white, thinly sliced partially cooked scallops, and snow crab meat. The taste is impeccable, with the soup having a gelatinous and silky texture, along with a pronounced flavor. The dish is further enhanced by the presence of various white-hued ingredients, such as tender and flavorful crab meat, thinly sliced fresh scallops, and silky egg whites. This dish is a culmination of visual appeal, aroma, and taste.
Al Café - Colombia Coffee, Rosy Sea Bass, White Asparagus
ZEA (Taipei)
One MICHELIN Star, MICHELIN Guide Taiwan 2023
This dish is far more complex than it first appears — a fillet of high-quality sea bass, wild-caught from Taiwan, is cooked with the skin crisp and the flesh firm — juicy and succulent. It tastes super-fresh, with a superb depth of flavor. The base comprises a few spears of trimmed and lightly cooked asparagus; the fish stock bouillon delivers clarity, and the addition of a little Colombian coffee adds a clever complexity, lifting the dish beautifully. The sea bass is not overpowered, and the result is a lovely balance of flavors.
