The neighborhood around Tienchin Street between Changan Road and Nanking Road is chock full of Japanese restaurants that are visible reminders that this area was previously home to much of the Japanese colonial administration. Now the narrow alleys are a favorite haunt of Japanese businessmen and tourists, as well as hip young Taiwanese.
Fei Qian Wu is not the oldest restaurant in the neighborhood, but it is easily the busiest, due mainly to its low prices and delicious roasted eel. As soon as its doors open crowds begin to converge so that about 20 minutes into its business hours there is already a line out the door and down the alley. With this kind of meal-time crunch, space is at a premium and it's common to share a table with strangers.
The cafeteria feel of the restaurant's seating arrangement extends to its service as well. A small legion of servers scurries about filling orders while others clear tables using clackety pushcarts. Food arrives at the table in no longer than five minutes from the time of ordering.
PHOTO: MAX WOODWORTH, TAIPEI TIMES
Despite the clear emphasis on turning high numbers of tables, not many shortcuts appear to be taken in the kitchen.
Most diners will make a special trip to Fei Chien Wu to eat its roasted eel, which is several cuts above the usual fare at similarly priced Japanese restaurants. A single portion of eel on rice with miso soup costs NT$140, while a double portion comes in at NT$240.
The double portion of eel would be plenty for one person, but it is well worth it to flesh out a meal with some of the smaller dishes on offer. Try the grilled squid, which is sufficient for up to four people or the shrimp and vegetable tempura. The best value must be the chicken kebabs, which cost only NT$20 a piece. The grilled and marinated mushrooms and seaweed are also refreshing choices for summer that cost NT$40 each.
This restaurant does not score high marks in the atmosphere category, but then it's the food and not the ambiance that has kept the store running for over 20 years. First-time visitors to Fei Chien Wu need not be dismayed if there is a line outside the restaurant. The owners see to it that the line moves quickly and the food will make the wait worthwhile.
Cheng Ching-hsiang (鄭青祥) turned a small triangle of concrete jammed between two old shops into a cool little bar called 9dimension. In front of the shop, a steampunk-like structure was welded by himself to serve as a booth where he prepares cocktails. “Yancheng used to be just old people,” he says, “but now young people are coming and creating the New Yancheng.” Around the corner, Yu Hsiu-jao (饒毓琇), opened Tiny Cafe. True to its name, it is the size of a cupboard and serves cold-brewed coffee. “Small shops are so special and have personality,” she says, “people come to Yancheng to find such treasures.” She
Late last month Philippines Foreign Affairs Secretary Theresa Lazaro told the Philippine Senate that the nation has sufficient funds to evacuate the nearly 170,000 Filipino residents in Taiwan, 84 percent of whom are migrant workers, in the event of war. Agencies have been exploring evacuation scenarios since early this year, she said. She also observed that since the Philippines has only limited ships, the government is consulting security agencies for alternatives. Filipinos are a distant third in overall migrant worker population. Indonesia has over 248,000 workers, followed by roughly 240,000 Vietnamese. It should be noted that there are another 170,000
Hannah Liao (廖宸萱) recalls the harassment she experienced on dating apps, an experience that left her frightened and disgusted. “I’ve tried some voice-based dating apps,” the 30-year-old says. “Right away, some guys would say things like, ‘Wanna talk dirty?’ or ‘Wanna suck my d**k?’” she says. Liao’s story is not unique. Ministry of Health and Welfare statistics show a more than 50 percent rise in sexual assault cases related to online encounters over the past five years. In 2023 alone, women comprised 7,698 of the 9,413 reported victims. Faced with a dating landscape that can feel more predatory than promising, many in
“This is one of those rare bits of TikTok fitness advice with a lot of truth behind it,” says Bethan Crouse, performance nutritionist at Loughborough University. “Sometimes it’s taken a bit too literally, though! You see people chugging protein drinks as they’re scanning out of their gym.” Crouse recommends the athletes she works with consume 20-30g of protein within 30-60 minutes of finishing a resistance training session. “The act of exercising our muscles increases the breakdown of muscle proteins,” she says. “In order to restore, or hopefully improve them — and get gains such as increased muscle mass or strength —
RSS