Antigua 安地瓜 / 現做拉丁料理 / 餐酒館 — Restaurant in Taichung

Oh boy, where to begin...

I guess I'll just start simple: these guys make the best sandwiches I've had in my eight years in Taiwan.

Two guys from Guatemala who worked kitchens in Taiwan for ten years decided, "let's do it; let's start our own restaurant." With their new beginnings, they settled on sandwiches, noticing others in Taichung hadn't been too satisfied with the available options.

These aren't your A Ma's sandwiches. No, these are something very special. First off, they use focaccia bread, which while they lament not being "authentic" for a cubano, serves the sandwich and others very well.

Their meat is slow cooked to extreme tenderness, and every ingredient is selected and prepared as if it's the main ingredient in the sandwich. And yet, no ingredient steals the show. Some might even feel there's "not enough" flavor, as nothing is overpowering.

Yet, if you focus on a particular flavor, it's definitely there, and pleasing in a way that's almost indescribable. Yes, these are incredible sandwiches.

I also tried their garlic parmesan chicken wings, which were just as phenomenal (although I recommend asking to try their exremely mild, but extremely flavorful jalapeño dipping sauce).

I've only tried two of their sandwiches, but you better f-ing believe I'm going back to try every....

Their pumpkin soup is absolutely delicious. It's so good that I've not even tried their mushroom soup yet despite multiple visits because I just can't resist ordering the pumpkin soup. It's definitely the best pumpkin soup I've had in Taiwan (or anywhere in Asia... And lord knows, I've tried a few.) Good pumpkin soup is hard to find but this version is exceptional. It warms the soul and has the perfect texture. It isn't watery like Taiwanese versions but creamy, with a touch of nuttiness. It's the ultimate comfort food.

As for the sandwiches... They don't disappoint either. They may be more pricey than a Subway but they are crafted with care, have far more flavour and they are very generous with the meat. As a foreign resident in Taiwan it's really an arduous task to try and find delicious, genuine foreign food that hasn't been altered for the Taiwanese pallet. The only complaint I have is the desserts are absolutely tiny and not as flavorful as the rest of the dishes on the menu.

That aside, Antigua hits the spot every time. Very good and well...

UPDATED Addition for 2025:

I have ordered tons of great sandwiches from here, but tonight I tried the tacos and flautas for the first time. So delicious! I was craving some authentic street-style tacos (CORN tortillas!) and these HIT THE SPOT. The carnitas tacos and the chicken flautas are spot on. Also, they are very generous with the meat and 2 tacos are more filling then you'd think! I will be back soon 🙂

I've only ordered their food through UberEats, but it was DELICIOUS! We ordered El Cubano and La Llorona and my husband (from Nicaragua) remarked that, "This is how sandwiches taste back home." The bread is delicious and this has quickly become one of my favorite sandwich places. I also loved their "Furros" which are basically churros made with Focaccia...