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Restaurants: Jake's Country Kitchen

By Gavin Phipps
STAFF REPORTER
Friday, Sep 19, 2003, Page 19

Jake's Mexican-style stuffed streak is just one of the tasty offerings available at Taipei's longest running Western-style diner. PHOTO: GAVIN PHIPPS, TAIPEI TIMES

Since Jake Lo opened his aptly named Jake's Country Kitchen in 1979, the diner has become one of the capital's most popular Western-style eateries, catering to both Taipei's expatriate community as well locals looking to chow down on good Western-style grub.

Originally from Chiayi, Lo came to Taipei aged 17 and took a job working as a houseboy for an American officer who was stationed in Taiwan. After a brief stint scrubbing floors Lo landed a job in the kitchens cooking for his American hosts.

Finding himself unemployed following the withdrawal of US troops in 1979, Lo decided to put his years as a Western chef to good use and opened Jake's, a restaurant that is has long since become a Tienmu institution.

Serving copious forms of Western, albeit predominantly US and Mexican fare, it's hard not to find something to satisfy within the pages of Jake's extensive menu.

If it's a hearty breakfast to settle the stomach after a heavy night on the town, then Jake's hits the spot with a wide choice of inexpensive and filling breakfasts. These include the behemoth English breakfast (NT$295), that includes veal sausages, bacon, eggs, baked beans, hashbrowns, English muffins; and the Grand Slam (NT$220 before 11am and NT$280 after 11am), which gives diners a choice of meats served with pancakes, hashbrowns and eggs. All Jake's breakfasts come with juice and the choice of tea of coffee.

For lunch Jake's doesn't disappoint either. Offering the ravenous a good choice of Western staples like burgers, sandwiches, pizza, fried chicken and pasta. None of which are expensive, costing anywhere from NT$90 to NT$450, but all of which are guaranteed to satisfy the most voracious of diners.

The centerpieces of Jake's culinary delights, however, are the numerous Mexican dishes to be found within the pages of the joint's menu. Ranging from NT$350 to NT$260, Jake's many Mexican treats include fajitas, tacos, burritos and enchiladas. Servings are large and vegetarian versions of nearly all of Jake's Mexican dishes are available.

Two recent additions to Jake's Mexican menu are the mole podlano a Mexican dish that sees a fillet of chicken covered in savory spicy chocolate sauce (NT$380) and the stuffed steak, a fillet steak stuffed with cheddar cheese and chili (NT$450), the latter of which makes for a truly scrumptious eat be it for brunch, lunch or diner.

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