It might be an hour's bus ride out of Taipei, but Dave and Buster's located at TaiMall in Taoyuan County does have things that Taipei doesn't offer -- most notably what might well be the best equipped arcade gaming rooms in Taiwan. It also has a solid restaurant and a well-stocked bar, pool tables and lots of big-screen sports. It is the perfect retreat from frenetic shopping at the Tesco's hypermart in the basement or a way of getting into the mood after a movie at the Cineplex upstairs
The first thing that strikes you about Dave and Buster's is its size. The look is like an upmarket version of TGI Fridays -- lots of stained glass and dark wood -- but at least the staff don't sport hip-hop fashions and abundant badges. Service is a mixture of burger-in-a-basket and fashionable designer crockery, which can be mildly disconcerting.
PHOTO COURTESY OF DAVE AND BUSTER'S
The menu is extensive with lots of the usual favorites: buffalo wings, pizza, cheese burgers and wrappers, ribs et al. While the whole concept from interior design to menu of Dave and Buster's has been imported complete from the US, the food has undergone some changes to meet local tastes. This is particularly evident in the Philly cheese steak sandwich that is wrapped in the rather soft bun favored by locals. On the other hand, in dishes where there are no preconceived expectations, such as the honey mustard and spinach salad, the quality and taste are outstanding. This innovative dish is highly recommended, a blessed departure from the inevitable Caesar, which is, of course, also available.
The massive game room is well-stocked with racing, sport and shoot 'em up machines. Power up with a NT$100 power card that gives you access to most of the games. Feeling a bit weary? Then get yourself a drink at the game room bar (only open on weekends). There are not too many places where you can suck on a martini while killing aliens. In an over-18section, Dave and Buster give you a chance to play poker or blackjack machines, though it's for points rather than money. Still, points can be redeemed for prizes.
While no way will ever be discovered to make arcade games high-brow, Dave and Buster's have tried their best not to make it seedy. On the whole, they have been successful, and ultimately, the novelty of such an establishment makes it worth the trip
In addition, D&B's has a classy function room and more than enough space for parties. It is currently getting set up for the World Cup, which will really bring its big-screen facilities into play.
Taiwan’s English education system is being pulled apart by three opposing forces. Bilingual Nation 2030 pulls students toward English and global communication. Artificial Intelligence (AI) readiness pulls them toward digital judgment, verification and AI-mediated work. But Taiwan’s old exam culture pulls them back toward memorization, grammar drills, timed reading and correct answers. If the education system keeps using old exams to define success, it risks producing graduates who are neither genuinely bilingual nor genuinely AI-ready, but trained for tasks machines can already perform. The first force is Bilingual Nation 2030. Launched in 2018, the policy aimed to “help Taiwan’s workforce connect
It seems every few days one bumps into one of those “real man” comments in which Taiwan is urged to “face reality” or similar, and “make a deal,” with the speaker implying that soon it will be too late. “Deal” advocates always present themselves as having a superior grip on reality, and the manly ability to make the “hard choice.” Their testosterone-laden language often echoes that of Taiwan sellout advocates. Note that such commentary always specifies a process (“make a deal, work with, make progress”), never the end state of what occupation by a violent authoritarian colonialist state will entail. In
There are shadowy cabals plotting to sell out Taiwan to be annexed by China, by invasion if necessary. Fortunately, they are buffoons. In 2019, former Bamboo Union gangster and founder of the China Unification Promotion Party (CUPP), Chang An-le (張安樂, colorfully known as “White Wolf”), led a protest at the Legislative Yuan against comments made by then-premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) that in the event of an attack by China, he would never surrender, but would protect the nation by fighting to the end, even if he only had a broom. Chang had party members bring a wooden casket that they
June 1 to June 7 "If all Taiwanese were as afraid of dying as you, then what would happen?” Physician Shih Chiang-nan (施江南) reportedly said this to his wife Chen Chiao-tung (陳焦桐) after she urged him to stop intervening on behalf of Taiwanese soldiers stranded overseas after serving in the Japanese Army during World War II. Shih had clashed with high-ranking officials over the issue, engaged in several heated arguments with Taiwan governor-general Chen Yi (陳儀) and allegedly shouted at general Ko Yuan-fen (柯遠芬), chief of staff of the Taiwan Garrison Command, over
RSS