Golden Formosa Taiwanese Cuisine — Restaurant in Shilin District

Nestled in the quiet alleys of Shilin District, Golden Formosa is more than just a restaurant — it’s a living archive of Taiwan’s culinary heritage. With a history spanning three generations, this Michelin-starred institution continues to honor the heart and soul of traditional Taiwanese cuisine with grace, precision, and heartfelt nostalgia.

From the moment you step in, you’re greeted with the warmth of a family-run establishment, where hospitality feels genuine and generational knowledge flows from kitchen to table. The space is elegant yet unpretentious — much like the food itself.

Signature dishes are nothing short of legendary. The deep-fried pork ribs (古早味排骨酥) are iconic — delicately marinated, expertly fried, and finished with a sweet glaze that perfectly balances crunch with tenderness. Each bite transports you to a forgotten Taipei, where flavors were bold, soulful, and made with love.

Equally memorable is their crab sticky rice (蟹黃油飯), a comforting, umami-rich dish with briny crab roe and deeply fragrant glutinous rice — the kind of flavor that lingers in your mind long after the meal ends. Even the seemingly simple side dishes, like sautéed seasonal vegetables or clear soups, are executed with such finesse that you’re reminded why tradition matters.

Golden Formosa is not about trend-chasing. It’s about respect — for ingredients, for tradition, and for time-honored techniques that are slowly disappearing in the modern culinary world. And yet, there’s nothing dated about the experience. It’s classic, not old-fashioned. Refined, not rigid.

The service? Impeccably warm — attentive without intrusion. The staff treat you like family, and there’s a sense of pride in every dish they serve.

Whether you’re a seasoned gourmet or a curious traveler looking to taste Taiwan’s roots, Golden Formosa is an unforgettable experience. It’s not just a meal — it’s a memory, a story, a legacy carried forward one exquisite...

Came in with very high expectations (probably not a good thing) that this was going to be a blowout meal. Heard from multiple friends this is a place you need to visit. And very thankful I managed to secure a last minute reservation for 8 people.

The food was certainly very good — some standouts were the sea urchin noodles, apple gourd stew/thick soup, spicy raw botan shrimp, century egg with minced meat sauce.

Service overall was generally ok, some were more hospitable than others. What really didn’t work for me was the amount of time you’re allocated to dine. It’s a 8-10 course meal but they are trying to squeeze 2 rounds of diners between 5.30-9.30pm. With table turnaround time, you really only have 1h45 minutes to eat. And they are not joking. Expect them to bring out dessert immediately after they bring out the final main dish (within 1 minute) because the kitchen closes at 8.45pm. You’re pretty much rushing through the first 8 courses within about an hour (and no, we arrived early so still had to wait for our table). Main dishes come around 8.45pm. And dessert comes at 8.46pm because the kitchen is wrapping up. They won’t keep it warm for you. And they will literally kick you out by 9.30pm. You wait for your cab outside.

Bottom line is extremely good food at a reasonable price. If you want to serve food at this quality and expect to turn the tables midway, then I would suggest extending the dining hours just slightly.. start at 5pm and end at 10pm. It’s not too ridiculous to ask for 2.5h of dining time when you’re trying to enjoy 10 courses. Staff are pretty much constantly rushing. That’s what prevents them from a 2nd Michelin star. Maybe they deliberately...

⭐️Book a reservation in advance⭐️

We had a great time at this Michelin one-star restaurant in 天母. The food was amazing and definitely lived up to the hype. I snapped a few photos of the menu and some of the dishes, but honestly, once the food started coming out, I stopped taking pictures because it was just too delicious to wait. That should tell you everything you need to know.

There were 11 of us, so we booked a booth in advance, and it was perfect for our group. The service was smooth, friendly, and they handled a big table like ours without any issues. Everything came out on time, and the staff was attentive without hovering.

One thing to note: you can bring your own wine or liquor, but there’s a corkage fee of 500 NT. We thought that was a pretty fair deal. Just keep in mind, outside beers aren’t allowed, but they do serve beer at the restaurant if that’s what you’re after.

The food itself really highlighted classic Taiwanese flavors but done in a way that felt elevated. Every dish we ordered had great balance and depth, and it was clear a lot of care went into the cooking. It’s the kind of place where you enjoy each bite and already start thinking about what you’ll order next time.

Highly recommend this spot if you’re in Taipei and want to try authentic Taiwanese cuisine with Michelin-level quality. Definitely...