08/11/2026
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08/11/2026
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Lakeshore Restaurant: Where Tradition Meets Contemporary Dining
Our journey to explore Taiwan's exquisite cuisine began on a delightful note with an eight-course lunch at Lakeshore Restaurant in Hsinchu. More than just a meal, it was a wonderful introduction to Taiwan's rich culinary heritage, where traditional Hakka flavours meet contemporary fine dining.
Led by Executive Chef Tsai Jui-Lang, the restaurant celebrates the Hakka philosophy of respecting nature, cherishing ingredients and bringing out the best in seasonal produce.
Our culinary experience featured an interesting selection of dishes, including Oriental Beauty Tea-Smoked Abalone, Salt-Baked Chicken, Flying Fish Roe with Egg Yolk, Braised Pork with Dried Preserved Mustard, Five Willow Branch Fish, Sakura Shrimp Bibimbap and traditional Hakka Rice Vermicelli. The meal concluded with MAN YUE Grass Jelly, a refreshing seasonal dessert.
Complementing the food is the restaurant's elegant, warm ambience, with large windows overlooking greenery, creating a peaceful setting for a relaxed dining experience.
With its thoughtful presentation, distinctive flavours and respect for culinary traditions, Lakeshore Restaurant offers visitors a memorable taste of Taiwan. If you are exploring Hsinchu, this is certainly a dining experience worth adding to your itinerary.
Dining Like Royalty at Taipei's Grand Hotel
A visit to Taiwan would hardly be complete without experiencing the grandeur of The Grand Hotel Taipei, one of the island's most iconic landmarks. Standing majestically on Yuanshan since 1952, this magnificent palace-like building, with its striking red pillars, golden roof tiles and traditional Chinese architecture, offers a glimpse into Taiwan's rich history and cultural heritage.
Established by Madam Chiang Kai-shek (Soong Mei-ling), The Grand Hotel was Taiwan's first five-star hotel and has welcomed numerous world leaders, royalty, diplomats and distinguished personalities over the decades. Its magnificent architecture and breathtaking setting, overlooking the Keelung River and surrounded by lush greenery, make it a destination in itself.
Our visit included a memorable lunch at Yuan Yuan Restaurant, located beside the hotel's main lobby, where authentic Jiangzhe cuisine, traditional North Chinese delicacies and noodles take centre stage.
The elaborate banquet menu offered a delightful variety of flavours, beginning with the Four Delights selection of braised gluten, chicken with orange sauce, vegetarian goose, osmanthus taro and confit mushrooms, followed by an appetizing platter and seafood soup with scallops.
The highlights continued with golden sand oatmeal prawn balls, crispy oat-crusted prawns with salted egg yolk, pan-fried chicken cutlet with premium sauce and crispy soybean-crusted halibut. Braised noodles with preserved mustard greens added a traditional touch, while steamed red bean rice cake and fresh seasonal Taiwanese fruits brought the meal to a pleasant conclusion.
What makes dining at The Grand Hotel special is the combination of culinary tradition, elegant surroundings and the experience of being part of a place steeped in history.
The Grand Hotel is more than a luxury hotel; it is a symbol of Taiwan's heritage, hospitality and grandeur. And enjoying a traditional Chinese banquet within its magnificent walls makes the visit all the more memorable.
by John C Fernandes - Online Media Manager
