Ximending

Jarring lights, bustle and a massive concentration of shops characterise Taiwan’s Ximending area, so it is probably apt this restaurant of the same name is housed in VivoCity. Instead of street bites, this eatery dishes up hit-and-miss formulaic fare that emulates homely Taiwanese dishes.

A standard order should include the sweet and clingy grilled fish roe starter served with slices of spicy leek and radish. We’d give the soggy strands of the Taiwan-style soup noodle and ketchup-based pan-fried pork liver a miss however, if only because the latter’s ease of cooking means it usually arrives at the table ahead of everything else.

Regardless, this pedestrian food-stop sees a full house of families on a Thursday night. So whether you like it or not, our money’s on quick successive expansion. Celine Asril