Three years ago the Yunyuan (
Now located on Anhe Road, behind the Far Eastern Hotel, the joint's proprietors couldn't have chosen a more illustrious neighborhood in which to move. In keeping with its new surroundings the Yunyuan's once drab interior has been transformed into something resembling a high-end eatery rather than a spit-and-sawdust dive.
Large glass facades allow for plenty of natural light and the interior design itself is simple yet stylish and comfortable. The only problem is the amount of space available for diners. Be it lunch or dinner the joint is hugely popular and as such the restaurant's dozen tables mean that the number of patrons who can frequent the Yunyuan at any given time is limited.
PHOTO: GAVIN PHIPPS, TAIPEI TIMES
For those clever enough to either book ahead of time or beat the rush, then they are in for a real treat, as the fare served by the cooks is certainly some of, if not the best Yunnan food to be found anywhere in Taipei. A visit to Yunyuan won't break the bank either. With the exception of the seasonally priced fish dishes, which cost roughly NT$400, individual dishes cost no more than NT$200 and an average meal for four or five people will set you back a mere NT$1,300.
Although there is no English-language menu and the staff speak no English the Yunyuan's owners have been kind enough to affix photographs of all the dishes so non-Mandarin speaking patrons can still enjoy a sumptuous meal.
The menu is packed with everything from sinus-clearing spicy vegetables to winter-warming steaming soups. Some of the joint's most popular dishes include the spicy Yunnan beef, which is deceptively fiery and not for the fainthearted, plus the fantastic and addictive Yunnan chicken with bamboo, pork and tomatoes. If you are in a quandary in regard what to order then the staff will be more than happy to point you in the right direction or, as is the case with this reviewer, simply surprise you with an array of dishes of their own choosing.
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