One week prior to the presentation of the full restaurant selection of the MICHELIN Guide Taiwan 2024, Michelin is pleased to unveil today the food establishments which have been distinguished with a Bib Gourmand by the famously anonymous and independent MICHELIN Guide inspectors.
MICHELIN Bib Gourmand highlights restaurants that our inspectors consider to be the best value for money within our selection. At these establishments, restaurant-goers can enjoy very good food at a moderate price.
Among the four cities – Taipei, Taichung, Tainan, and Kaohsiung – which are highlighted in the MICHELIN Guide Taiwan 2024, the total number of restaurants and street food stalls offering exceptional value-for-money gourmet experiences is 126 – 43 establishments in Taipei, 27 in Taichung, 31 in Tainan, and 25 in Kaohsiung.
Of these, there are a total of 16 newly awarded Bib Gourmand establishments, with more than half of the newly awarded establishments offering Taiwanese cuisine specialties and local small eats.
“In a destination where delicacies, street food and small eats have always been a major part of the local lifestyle, we believe our Bib Gourmand selection is one of the best ways to explore Taiwan and its incredibly rich culinary scene. Our Bib Gourmand recommendations are not only made for international travellers looking to explore authentic food heritage, but also for local gourmets seeking affordable yet delicious experiences. Our team of Inspectors has been delighted to continue its exploration of Taipei, Taichung, Tainan and Kaohsiung, and to find many new spots to share. In total, they are adding no less than 16 new restaurants within their Bib Gourmand selection: a nice collection of restaurants and street food stalls that combines the most traditional eats together with some international tastes.” says Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of the MICHELIN Guide.
6 new Bib Gourmand establishments in Taipei
In Taipei, Sinchao Rice Shoppe, which already was recommended by the MICHELIN Guide’s inspectors gained the Bib Gourmand distinction this year. A spinoff of Old & New Taiwanese Cuisine in Kaohsiung, the name is a homophone for "new fried rice", which is a menu staple here. Signatures such as bottarga and seared scallop fried rice, and veggie fried rice with thick-cut pork cutlet exemplify the kitchen's creative take on tradition.
5 additional restaurants in Taipei, which have newly joined the selection this year, also received a Bib Gourmand for the very first time:
Huang Chi Lu Rou Fan is a decades-old shop which has gained the patronage of foodies through word of mouth. Its signature braised pork rice leans more towards the fatty side but doesn’t taste greasy. The pork sauce packs exceptional depth and a mild gelatinous feel. The thick soup made with bonito flakes and Sa Cha sauce, as well as its braised napa cabbage have particularly impressed the Inspectors.
Noodle House - a tiny shop tucked away in a back street that has been around since 2007. Their signature is taro rice noodle soup, a breakfast and lunch favourite for many. Instead of rice vermicelli, which are more popular in Taiwan, the owner uses thick rice noodles for their texture and flavour. The broth is redolent with fried shallots, and the starchy taro is tender and flavourful.
For the first time since the launch of the MICHELIN Guide in Taiwan, Pàng is the first and only restaurant presenting Mexican cuisine in the Bib Gourmand selection this year. An Americanophile, the owner-chef worked in a Latam fine dining restaurant before opening this casual joint to realise his culinary vision of refined Mexican fare with Taiwanese ingredients. His signature cochinita pibil taco has layers of flavours with slow-cooked pork, house-made habanero salsa and hibiscus-pickled onion.
Soft Power was founded in 2017 before moving to a quiet alley near Xingtian Temple. This hipster breakfast shop prides itself on its egg fritters in south Taiwanese style with a crisp crust and fluffy, soft centre. There are more than 10 fillings to choose from, such as Sichuan pepper sausage, or soymilk chicken. Some of the fillings are also served in the form of rice balls or sandwiched in a steamed dark brown sugar bun like a Taiwanese burger.
Xiao Ping Kitchen is a favourite spot with the locals for late-night Taiwanese supper. The menu features around 20 home-style dishes, most of which are cold appetisers. Freshly prepared daily, these find their perfect companions in plain congee or steamed rice. The signature red-braised pork trotter has a deep flavour imparted by the soy-based sauce without tasting greasy; the grilled eggplant and braised cabbage are also well made.
2 new Bib Gourmand additions in Taichung
Of the 2 new additions in Taichung, Li Xiao Lou features Taiwanese home cooking and small plates. Gourmets need to order the sorghum liquor-scented Kinmen sausages in a crisp thin casing. Salt-baked chicken leg with sweet corn is another must-try, best enjoyed with a bowl of braised pork rice.
Ajisai’s owner used to run a private kitchen specialising in Jiangzhe cooking. The menu thus revolves around noodles from Jiangzhe area, along with some Sichuanese options. The side dishes made every morning are also a reason to visit – try the bitter melon simmered with rock sugar if available.
RELATED: The Best MICHELIN-Recommended Restaurants in Taichung Perfect For Celebrations
3 new Bib Gourmand additions in Tainan
With bar stools, a show kitchen and a soundtrack of Mandarin golden oldies, BUĒ MI . LAB experiments with noodle recipes from around the world, serving up bold creations that impress with depth and layers of flavours. The menu changes with the seasons, and the same bowl can include produce from different culinary cultures – bopi chillies, red miso, sambal, green papaya and even ratatouille, to name but a few.
A devotee of the goddess Mazu, the owner-chef of Eat to Fat picked this space near the Grand Mazu Temple for his venture. Motifs of the goddess are dotted throughout the restaurant, from its sign to the shrine-inspired décor. Home-style cooking is kicked up a notch with a touch of sophistication. Leafy greens deftly meld the depth and umami of the fresh, salted and thousand-year egg trio. Try the squid and whelk soup, a classic banquet dish rarely found in Tainan.
The owner of Yeh San Duck Thick Soup used to run a duck thick soup shop in Xingang and, when he relocated to Tainan in 2021, he decided to introduce his treasured recipe to locals. The duck is stir-fried in a small pot for lovely wok hei; garlic and bamboo shoots are added for extra depth and aromas. The duck rice is another top choice.
RELATED: Must-try MICHELIN-recommended Eats Near Tainan Art Museum
5 new Bib Gourmand eateries in Kaohsiung
This year, Kaohsiung adds 5 new Bib Gourmand eateries in its selection, making it a total of 25 Bib Gourmand establishments.
Of these, 2 are newly added Taiwanese eateries: Mai Yen Shun, well-known for its list of some much-missed home-style Taiwanese classics of yesteryear. For the perfect companion to a bowl of steamed rice, order the fried chicken leg with old ginger in three-cup sauce, which delivers deep soy, basil and sesame flavours; and Simmer House, a tiny gem serving five Chinese double-boiled soups that come with a side, plus your choice of rice or noodles. Spicy food lovers shouldn't miss the oyster chicken soup with chillies – vegetables nicely complement the umami of free-range chicken legs and oysters from Yunlin.
3 Kaohsiung eateries have also been selected for their famous small eats: Chun Lan Gua Bao, famous for its oversize steamed bun sandwiches packed with tasty fillings. The must-try is the assorted gua bao stuffed with crisp pickled cabbage, half-fatty soy-braised pork, ground peanut sugar, and the secret red chilli sauce, all working miraculously together.
Hsiu Ming’s braised ground pork rice topped with a sunny-side-up egg is a must: pierce the yolk so it runs down over the rice for a mouthful of tasty goodness. Their fleshy and springy pork tongue is also a popular dish – best enjoyed with a dab of grated garlic for a kick.
Liang Chia Pig Knuckle has got locals swooning over the pork knuckle rice here for over 20 years. Ham hock braised in a marinade with spices and Chinese herbs, served with a glistening amber sauce; the peppery aftertaste is spellbinding. Steamed rice from Hualian and a julienne of crispy bamboo shoots cut through the richness.
The full Bib Gourmand selection will be updated on the MICHELIN Guide’s digital platforms on the same day as the full restaurant selection to be presented on 27 August 2024, during a physical MICHELIN Guide Ceremony event. Prior to 27 August 2024, the entire restaurant selection (including Bib Gourmand addresses) shown on the website and app are from the 2023 edition.
The MICHELIN Guide’s recommendations in Taiwan will be published only in digital format on the MICHELIN Guide’s official website and the MICHELIN Guide mobile app (iOS and Android).
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