Kuaichao Dinner

Post by Chiefeater Luke Soon

Kuaichao literally means quick stir fry in Chinese. This is NOT the cheapest stir fry in Taipei- I still reminisce the best egg omellete with preserved vegetable (choy poh) I’ve ever had here 3 decades ago with my wife. However, in Xinyi district (CBD), after a few heavy meat laden meals – I was looking for a simpler stir fry with Taiwanese flavours.

What’s Taiwanese flavours – when it comes to stir fries? I guess the closest analogy would be our taichows in ASEAN. And this Kuai Chao is an up market one.

The dishes came out good though-
1. Clams with hairy gourd soup
2. Stir fried pork in sesame oil
3. Black bean oysters
4. Stir fried lotus fern with pork slices

The flavours are delicate here. Definitely not as bold as ASEAN chilli and spices. The most pronounced taste profile was that of the sesame oil, a refreshing change to my palate.

The clams were fresh and juice, cooked to perfection. The ginger balanced the sea-ness. This was 7/10

The best dishes are the stir fried pork in sesame oil- never had this combo tbh but it came out good. There was cabbage and shimeiji mushrooms thrown in- definitely not something we’d get in ASEAN. This came in 7.5/10 for me.

The fresh, plump oysters (as you’d imagine in mee sua soup at the nearest night market), but here in a black bean and spicy concoction. Definitely thumbs up. The black bean oysters were also 7.5/10.

The lotus fern dish – the stalks – reminds me of a childhood fav of mine – Chinese kao choy fa (Chinese flowing chives). Refreshing and definitely unique. Scored 7/10

Overall, a solid 7/10 for Kuaichao on a rainy Taipei night.

Total damage NT$1,490

Business Hours
Opens Daily
11:00 am to 02:30 pm
05:00 pm to 10:00 pm