Jing Yuan Sushi Guan Jīng Yuán Sù Shí Guǎn

I started my culinary journey at the restaurants recommended by Happy Cow, such as Plants and Vege Creek, but soon realized that they served food I was already familiar with. To truly experience the local flavors, I was advised to eat where the locals eat. However, not speaking Chinese made this a bit challenging in Taiwan. Thankfully, some locals helped me by writing signs specifying my dietary restrictions, which I could show in restaurants to ensure I received vegan food. One waitress went above and beyond, recommending a local favorite called Jīng Yuán SùShí Guǎn. She looked up the menu online and wrote down a selection for me to show to the staff. The restaurant was easy to locate using Google Maps from the Happy Cow app, and I felt at ease taking a picture of the exterior for reference. Jīng Yuán SùShí Guǎn is a family-run restaurant, with most tables seating 12 and featuring a rotating plate for sharing food. The atmosphere was warm and welcoming, with family members working together, including a grandfather watching TV on an iPad in a corner of the dining room. As a solo foreign guest, I attracted some attention upon entering, but the staff quickly accommodated me with the help of the written note. I started my meal with fried dumplings and followed it with a plate of tofu and vegetables. While not unique, finding a vegan version of these dishes was special. The taste was decent, though a bit oily as expected with fried food. The meal was satisfying and left me eager to continue my culinary adventure in Taipei.

I started my culinary journey by visiting popular vegan spots listed on Happy Cow, such as Plants and Vege Creek. However, I soon realized that these places served dishes that were already familiar to me. To truly experience local flavors, I needed to eat where the locals eat. This proved challenging, as language barriers made it difficult to communicate my dietary restrictions in Taiwan. During my stay in Taipei, some kind locals helped me by writing notes in Chinese specifying my dietary requirements (no meat, fish, eggs, or dairy) that I could show at restaurants to ensure I received vegan food. At a vegan restaurant, a waitress went above and beyond by recommending dishes from their own menu, as well as local favorites like Jīng Yuán SùShí Guŷn. She even looked up the menu online and wrote down a selection for me, which I used to order when I visited the restaurant. Jīng Yuán SùShí Guŷn was easy to locate with the help of Google Maps from the Happy Cow app. This family-run restaurant had a cozy atmosphere, with most tables accommodating 12 guests and featuring a large rotating plate for sharing dishes. The family members, including the grandfather who watched TV on an iPad, all seemed involved in running the restaurant, making it a truly local experience. When I entered the restaurant, I attracted the attention of other guests, as foreign visitors seemed to be rare. However, showing the note with Chinese writing helped me communicate my dietary preferences, and the youngest waitress, who also worked as a dishwasher, spoke some basic English to assist me. Although I was seated at a table used for storing plates due to being a solo diner, I understood and appreciated the family-oriented dining setup. I ordered fried dumplings and a vegetable dish that were delicious, albeit oily. The flavors reminded me of Chinese food served in European restaurants, and they paired well with a bowl of steamed white rice. Both dishes were satisfyingly filling, and I left the restaurant feeling content and excited to continue my culinary adventure in Taipei.

One waitress in a vegan restaurant went above and beyond, recommending some of her favorite dishes and even providing a list for me to show the staff (included in this review). For added assurance, I took a photo of the restaurant from the outside. Jing Yuan Su Shi Gu Dian is a family-run establishment that caters to families, with large tables and a rotating plate for sharing meals. The owners were actively involved in running the restaurant, even Opa who was observed using an iPad in a corner of the dining room. It felt like a scene from a movie when I entered, as the guests all seemed surprised to see a foreigner. I showed the note with Chinese writing, and everything went smoothly. It turned out that the youngest waitress, who also worked as a dishwasher, spoke some basic English. I was seated at a table usually used for storage, which was understandable given that solo diners are uncommon there. I started my meal with fried dumplings, a common dish but essential to find a vegan version. It was tasty, but fried dishes are naturally oily. My second dish was fried tofu with a slightly sweet sauce, reminiscent of Chinese food served in European Chinese restaurants. Again, it was oily but paired well with steamed white rice. Both dishes were satisfyingly filling, setting the tone for further culinary adventures.