Top 10 Restaurants

Chiou Hwa Seafood Restaurant (九華樓)

at the Gloria Prince Hotel (華泰王子大飯店)

Address: 369 Linsen North Road, Taipei (台北市林森北路號)

Telephone: (02) 2581 8111

Hours: 11:30am to 3:30pm and 5:30pm to 9:30pm, every day

Average meal: NT$2,000

Details: All major credit cards accepted. Menu in Chinese and English

For a fruity meal fit for a king take a ride up Linsen North Road to the Gloria Prince Hotel and enjoy a combination of sweet pulps, savory meats and fish -- including some rare and unusual items even the most experienced gourmand may not have tried before. Once you are seated in the elegantly appointed dining room, with its gilded furniture and brightly polished chandeliers, settle down for what could be a two-hour plus gastronomic experience.

Club 75

Address: B1, 22, Songshou Rd, Xinyi District, Taipei (台北市松壽路22號B1)

Telephone: (02) 8786 1591

Open: Daily 6pm to 2am (3am on weekends)

Average meal: NT$500 to NT$100

Details: Menu in English and Chinese. Credit cards accepted

Whether it's a chicken salsa appetizer, vegetarian pasta or late-night craving, Club 75 offers a tasty selection of light and full-course meals. The reasonable prices and quality food make it worth going just for a meal, but with live Latin and jazz music nightly and a wide selection of alcoholic beverages, it's the kind of place that can easily turn dinner into a night out.

Sweet Dynasty (糖朝)

Address: 160 Zhongxiao E Rd, Sec 4, Taipei (台北市忠孝東路四段160號)

Telephone: (02) 2772 2889

Open: 11:30am to 10pm Average meal: NT$200

Details: Chinese menu, English menu coming next month. Credit cards

The Taipei branch of well-known Hong Kong restaurant, emphasizing refined taste which turns an ordinary dim-sum item into a delicacy. All-natural ingredients that emphasize a long cooking process and health-oriented sweets are the keys to good tastes of the restaurant. There are more than 300 items on the menu, including noodles, rice, congee, stir-fried dishes and sweet soups. Large prawn congee, wonton noodles and tofu pudding in a wooden mini-pot are must-try items.

Oma Ursel Cafe-Restaurant

Address: 292 Fuxing N Rd, Taipei (台北市永康街6巷9號)

Telephone: (02) 2392 2447

Open: 11:30am to 10pm

Average Meal: NT$500 Details: English menu available, Credit cards not accepted

In March, Taipei's two German restaurants called Schwarzwald -- one on Wenzhou Street, one on Yongkang Street -- parted ways and the Yongkang branch changed its name to Oma Ursel Cafe Restaurant, but retained its manager Chiu Dai-yu (邱岱玉) as well as the cooking staff, who have made it one of the few authentic German eateries in town over the past four years. The new name is a tribute to Chiu's German mother-in-law, whom she credits for teaching her everything she knows about German cuisine -- and one look at the menu will show that she's learned a huge amount. Great food at great prices in a cozy atmosphere make Oma Ursel a top choice.

Qiong Fang Ju (瓊芳居)

Address: Stall 25, B1, 70 Xining S Rd, Taipei (台北市西寧南路70號B1-25)

Telephone: (02) 2381 6519

Open: 11:30am to 9pm Average meal: NT$100

Details: No credit cards accepted. No English menu

Mention noodles and Ximending in the same sentence and most people will think of A-Chung Noodles (阿宗麵線). Qiong Fang Ju (瓊芳居) specializes in noodles of a completely different variety that draws its own throng of hungry fans to the basement of Wan-nian Department Store. Normally cold noodles are nothing to shout about, but Qiong Fang Ju has hit upon an especially delectable mix of vinegar, soy and subtle spices for its sauce, while adding color, texture and flavor with healthy portions of grated cucumber and carrots. Similarly, the dumplings are a delight for the senses, with a soy-and-vinegar sauce that is given some extra kick with additional spices and a fine pastry wrapping that is sturdy and perfectly chewy.