Hot pot may be the obvious choice to beat the winter chill, but the delicious and reasonably priced curries at Kunming Islamic Restaurant (昆明園) are another warming option.
The friendly proprietor Yacoob Mah (馬雲昌) continues to be a welcoming host to both regulars and newcomers. The decor is still plain-Jane and a bit drab, but the mix of Indian, Middle Eastern and Southeast Asian dishes will have you vowing to return.
It’s hard to go wrong with anything on the dinner menu, but standout choices include moussaka (NT$260), a combination of ground beef, diced eggplant, green pepper and a touch of yogurt sauce, coconut curry chicken (NT$250) and chana masala (NT$230), a spicy dish of made from chickpeas. The freshly made chapati (NT$50) is a must with any meal, and the biryani (NT$120) also makes a fine accompaniment.
For lunch, Kunming offers a popular set menu that includes a curry dish (choices include beef, coconut chicken, lamb and dal) served with white rice, a small portion of cooked vegetables, chapati and a cup of Indian milk tea. The meal arrives quickly and, at NT$150, is great value.
Kunming is located at 26, Ln 81, Fuxing N Rd, Taipei City (台北市復興北路81巷26號), near Nanjing East Road MRT Station (南京東路捷運站), and is open from 11:30am to 2pm and 5:30pm to 9:30pm on weekdays and from 5:30pm to 9:30pm on weekends and public holidays. On the Net: at kunming-islamic.myweb.hinet.net.
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