From time to time, I still think of that amazing lobster roll I had at Ed’s Lobster Bar by the New York City waterfront on my last visit.
So I was pleasantly surprised when I passed by the Lobster Bar in Taipei. However, the restaurant’s higher-end, atmospheric interior, had always deterred me from just popping in for a quick seafood fix.
Eventually, I brought a date. But as soon as we sat down it became apparent that, due to portions and pricing, we should have brought a group so that we could sample the restaurant’s intriguing and diverse menu, which includes far more than its namesake suggests. For example, we didn’t order the seafood paella because there was a minimum order of two portions (NT$420 per portion), and who wants to fill up on rice when there’s lobster?
Photo: Han Cheung, Taipei Times
Also, visit early if you want to try the surf and turf burger (NT$680), featuring prime shoulder meat, foie gras and lobster. Alas, they only make 10 of these per day.
For appetizers, we ordered the deviled eggs (NT$280) and the crab cakes (NT$380 for two). The crab cakes were excellent, as each bite contained copious amounts of juicy crab meat with little filler. The abundance of meat, though, caused the bottom of the crab cake to become slightly soggy — but I’m not complaining. They were flavorful yet not greasy, and I didn’t need the lemon or tartar sauce that it was served with.
The deviled eggs were tart and rich, with faint sweet bacon highlights from the slivers on top. This appetizer would be better shared in a group, as with four eggs per order, the savoriness became overwhelming after the first two halves.
Photo: Han Cheung, Taipei Times
Since we had been talking about sandwiches, the mini rolls (NT$380 for three) were an obvious choice. The bite-sized rolls form all three of the restaurant’s signature seafood: lobster, crab and shrimp. This is where this restaurant really shines.
The generously-portioned lobster salad with a slight dollop of mayo was served in a soft roll and was a harmonious match that melted in my mouth. The crab roll was also in salad form, but with less mayo and not as sweet. The crab didn’t come in chunks like the lobster, constituting a finer texture. With this sandwich, the bread had a firmer texture, making an enjoyable contrast from the previous roll.
The shrimp roll was saltier, which balanced out the other two rolls. This one was my least favorite, as the shrimp was grilled and a bit chewy.
Since we were at a lobster restaurant, we splurged and ordered another entree. This was a mistake. Although filled with the sweet crustacean, the lobster ravioli (NT$620) in lobster sauce somehow felt more like a Chinese wonton than its Italian counterpart. The pasta was unevenly cooked — too firm in some places, overly soft in others and it fell apart quite easily.
The lobster sauce had appealing nutty overtones, but erred on the salty side and, like the noodles, carried more of an Asian than Italian consistency. Abundant garlic slices provided a kick, but as a whole it overpowered the main ingredient.
Later, I surfed the Internet to see what others were saying about Lobster Bar and the anecdotal consensus is that the uni pasta (NT$520) or duck truffle risotto (NT$480) would be a better entree choice despite their lack of, ah, lobster.
Although we didn’t try any alcohol, the menu has a small selection of beers, including the green tea-infused Iki and Hitachino Nest. It also features standard classic cocktails, hot cocktails as well as originals such as Alice in Lobsterland (NT$400, mango puree, cream, eggnog, soda water).
When I left, I wish I had just stuck to what I originally craved. Next time I come, I’m just going to sit by the bar and order a full-sized lobster roll with a beer.
The Lee (李) family migrated to Taiwan in trickles many decades ago. Born in Myanmar, they are ethnically Chinese and their first language is Yunnanese, from China’s Yunnan Province. Today, they run a cozy little restaurant in Taipei’s student stomping ground, near National Taiwan University (NTU), serving up a daily pre-selected menu that pays homage to their blended Yunnan-Burmese heritage, where lemongrass and curry leaves sit beside century egg and pickled woodear mushrooms. Wu Yun (巫雲) is more akin to a family home that has set up tables and chairs and welcomed strangers to cozy up and share a meal
Dec. 8 to Dec. 14 Chang-Lee Te-ho (張李德和) had her father’s words etched into stone as her personal motto: “Even as a woman, you should master at least one art.” She went on to excel in seven — classical poetry, lyrical poetry, calligraphy, painting, music, chess and embroidery — and was also a respected educator, charity organizer and provincial assemblywoman. Among her many monikers was “Poetry Mother” (詩媽). While her father Lee Chao-yuan’s (李昭元) phrasing reflected the social norms of the 1890s, it was relatively progressive for the time. He personally taught Chang-Lee the Chinese classics until she entered public
Last week writer Wei Lingling (魏玲靈) unloaded a remarkably conventional pro-China column in the Wall Street Journal (“From Bush’s Rebuke to Trump’s Whisper: Navigating a Geopolitical Flashpoint,” Dec 2, 2025). Wei alleged that in a phone call, US President Donald Trump advised Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi not to provoke the People’s Republic of China (PRC) over Taiwan. Wei’s claim was categorically denied by Japanese government sources. Trump’s call to Takaichi, Wei said, was just like the moment in 2003 when former US president George Bush stood next to former Chinese premier Wen Jia-bao (溫家寶) and criticized former president Chen
President William Lai (賴清德) has proposed a NT$1.25 trillion (US$40 billion) special eight-year budget that intends to bolster Taiwan’s national defense, with a “T-Dome” plan to create “an unassailable Taiwan, safeguarded by innovation and technology” as its centerpiece. This is an interesting test for the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), and how they handle it will likely provide some answers as to where the party currently stands. Naturally, the Lai administration and his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) are for it, as are the Americans. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is not. The interests and agendas of those three are clear, but
RSS