Taipei is a definite haven for food lovers. But where else can you go after you’ve exhausted the night markets and other food districts? Located in Breeze Nanjing, one of Taipei’s nicest shopping malls in the Songshan District, is Sanhoyan.
Sanhoyan is not your ordinary Taiwanese restaurant. It serves traditional Taiwanese food with a twist. We went in the midst of a heavy lunch crowd, straight from the airport after a short delay from Taitung. To say we were hungry was an understatement.
Here’s what we had at Sanhoyan:
Sanhoyan Breeze Nanjing
105, Taiwan, Taipei City, Songshan District, Section 3, Nanjing East Road, 337號
Operating Hours:
Sunday – Wednesday: 11am – 930pm
Thursday – Saturday: 11am – 10pm
Contact #: +886 2 2731 3833
Facebook: 叁和院 台灣風格飲食 參和院
Instagram: @sanhoyantw
Website: http://www.sanhoyan.com.tw/
Sanhoyan is located on the ground floor of Breeze Nanjing. It’s in a food court so expect a lot of people especially at peak dining times.
Their menu is overwhelming. 16 pages for the food alone, at least 8 for drinks, and 2 more for desserts. But it’s designed in such a way that it included a lot of visuals, which is great if you know nothing about the cuisine, and it had English translations as well.
Food: Chef’s Specialties / Appetizers / Main Course 1 / Main Course 2 / Main Course 3 / Main Course 4 / Rice and Noodles + Soup
Drinks: Cocktails / Smoothies & Fresh Juice 1 / Smoothies & Fresh Juice 2 / Whisky, Wine, and Beers
Desserts: Desserts 1 / Desserts 2
THE FOOD
Five-Flavor Abalone (NT$ 87/2 pcs) • Abalone grazed in five-flavor sauce (soy sauce, black vinegar, tomato sauce, lemon, and sesame oil), served with mashed potato in a minuscule ice cream cone.
The restaurant’s best-seller and highly recommended by our server. The few times I’ve had abalone, I wasn’t impressed. This one, however, is prepared in such a unique way that I can’t help but rave about it. Definitely a must-try!
Fermented Bean Curd with Spinach (NT$167)
Always a must-have when eating Taiwanese food.
Gua Bao with Tiger/Zebra Pattern (NT$ 17/2 pcs.)
The taste is no different from the usual Gua Bao. The black stripes are achieved by adding charcoal powder to the dough. Best eaten together with the Dongpo Pork.
Dongpo Pork (NT$ 287)
Melt-in-your-mouth soy-stewed pork belly perfect with rice or with the Gua Bao. The sauce is not too thick or overly sweet.
Three-Cup Squid (NT$ 337)
The three-cup cooking method is classic in Taiwanese cuisine and is named so after the three main ingredients – a cup each of soy sauce, rice wine, and sesame oil.
This is served on a heated pot so it’s best to eat this right away to make sure the squid doesn’t get too rubbery.
Pan Fried Buckler with Curry (NT$ 387)
This isn’t very Taiwanese, in fact, it’s more of a Thai item. Buckler is soft-shell crab fried in a light batter and topped with a strong, flavorful curry. You can have this with rice or as filling for the Gua Bao.
Dessert Buns • (Red) Sweet Potato, Cheese, and Macadamia Bun (NT$ 67), (Black) Peanut Butter Paste Bun (NT$ 47), (Green) Sweet Green Bean, Salty Duck Egg Yolk, and Rice Cake Bun (NT$ 67)
How cute are these dessert buns? We knew we were having this the moment we saw it on the menu. We didn’t even check what the filling was, we just knew we wanted it. The Sweet Potato, Cheese, and Macadamia Bun was my favorite!
Bartender’s Secret Signature Milk Tea (NT$ 227)
I tried this signature milk tea out of curiosity, and also because Milk Tea is a must when you’re in Taiwan. This tastes just like your ordinary milk tea. The roasted marshmallows are a nice touch though.
The Roselle with Rose Green Tea (NT$ 227) or the Banana and Berries Smoothie (NT$ 257) are better options for a drink.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Overall, I had a wonderful time at Sanhoyan. I was full and satisfied by the end of our meal. If you’re looking for high-quality food but in a relaxed setting, Sanhoyan is a good choice.
Food is reasonably priced but drinks are a bit on the higher end. Order the Five-Flavor Abalone, Dong Po Pork, Gua Bao, and dessert buns. Budget at NT$ 400/head for two.
Sanhoyan Breeze Nanjing
105, Taiwan, Taipei City, Songshan District, Section 3, Nanjing East Road, 337號
Operating Hours:
Sunday – Wednesday: 11am – 930pm
Thursday – Saturday: 11am – 10pm
Contact #: +886 2 2731 3833
Facebook: 叁和院 台灣風格飲食 參和院
Instagram: @sanhoyantw
Website: http://www.sanhoyan.com.tw/
Live an Awesome Life,
Monique of Team Our Awesome Planet
Disclosure: Our dining experience was courtesy of Taiwan Tourism KL Bureau as part of their tourism initiative. I wrote this article with my biases, opinions, and insights.
P.S. They have reasonably-priced set menus in case you get overwhelmed in choosing what to order.
