Michelin Guide announces 144 local Bib Gourmand selections
The Michelin Guide recently announced that 144 restaurants in Taiwan have received its Bib Gourmand distinction, adding 37 establishments from last year. It’s also the first time New Taipei, Hsinchu County, and Hsinchu City have been included. A rare vegetarian restaurant from Taipei made the cut, offering plant-based Asian dishes like homemade green curry and a walnut and bell pepper dip. Pork rice and vermicelli noodle eateries from Hsinchu were also featured, busting the myth that Hsinchu is a “food desert.”
They may look just like scallops, but these are actually king oyster mushrooms with vegetarian “fish” roe made from carrot and goat’s milk cheese. They’re all different flavors, but each one is crispy on the outside while staying moist inside. Even this risotto is entirely vegetarian, immersed in a flavorful green curry. This restaurant is one of the establishments to make it onto this year’s Michelin Bib Gourmand list.
A panful of mushrooms sizzles over high heat. To bring out the curry flavor even more, the chef adds curry leaves and Thai basil.
The rice absorbs the soup stock and green curry. When each grain becomes nice and plump, it’s ready to serve. The owner said that the hardest part of serving vegetarian Asian food is getting the sauce right.
Lee I-ming
Owner
In our garden we have all kinds of herbs. We’ll sometimes take from it, like when we need to add a bit of bitterness, or some sweetness, or the phytochemicals. From that, we’ll make our sauces.
Hsinchu has also washed away its reputation as a food desert by welcoming dishes like this braised pork rice with egg, bursting with salty goodness.
This healthy chicken soup with fleeceflower root also made the cut. The broth has over 30 kinds of medicinal herbs, completed by traditional dumpling noodles made from the chef’s mother’s old recipe.
Cheng Ming-hsuan
Owner
I’m very happy. Our hard work has been recognized. For the braised pork rice, we use hand-cut pork neck, so the pieces are bigger.
Liao Chiu-hua
Owner
It has over 30 kinds of Chinese medicinal herbs, mainly fleeceflower root. The herbs in the soup need to be boiled for seven hours.
There are 144 restaurants on the list this year in total, after welcoming 37 new additions. It’s also the first time that eateries from New Taipei and Hsinchu were included, in what are sure to be hot new destinations for Taiwan’s foodies.
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2025-08-26
