MINIMAL — Restaurant in Taichung

Located in Taichung, Taiwan, has made culinary history as the world's first ice cream establishment to be awarded a Michelin star. This groundbreaking recognition, received in the Michelin Guide Taiwan 2024, highlights its innovative approach to frozen desserts, transforming humble ice cream into a sophisticated, multi-course gastronomic experience.

A Radical Culinary Vision At the heart of MINIMAL's success is Chef Arvin Wan, whose passion for ice cream led him to redefine its potential. Moving beyond traditional scoops, Chef Wan, previously a pastry chef at the Michelin-starred Sur-, embarked on a mission to make ice cream the star of its own show. The restaurant's philosophy is encapsulated in its name: focusing on the "minimal" number of elements in ice cream (sugars, proteins) that create its smooth texture, combined with a minimalist aesthetic style.

MINIMAL offers a seasonal, no-menu tasting experience, typically comprising seven courses. These courses are designed to explore the nuances of ice and ice cream through varying temperatures, textures, and creative flavor combinations, often utilizing unique local Taiwanese ingredients. For example, dishes have ranged from -40°C sake and wild ginger lily ice lollipops (inspired by classic Taiwanese banana ice popsicles) to -196°C frozen spheres of strawberry and roselle, and even a warm element like a rice dumpling with edamame. Reviewers consistently marvel at Chef Wan's ability to layer flavors and textures, ensuring that even at extremely low temperatures, the delicate aromas and tastes unfold beautifully. The experience is akin to a fine dining journey, but with ice cream as the protagonist, pushing boundaries and challenging perceptions of what dessert can be.

Understated Ambiance and Attentive Service MINIMAL's physical space reflects its namesake philosophy. Tucked away in a quiet alley, its exterior is a low-key, grey facade that could easily be mistaken for a boutique tea house. Inside, the design embraces a wabi-sabi aesthetic with concrete beams, restored old red brick tiles, and minimalist furnishings. This pared-down interior ensures that the focus remains entirely on the culinary creations presented on beautifully crafted, rounded tableware.

The intimate dining room typically accommodates around 20 guests, allowing for a personalized and focused experience. While there may not be an English menu, the attentive and friendly staff are often praised for their ability to explain dishes in simple English, making the experience accessible to international visitors. Despite the sophisticated nature of the tasting menu, MINIMAL also maintains a takeaway counter on the first floor, offering a rotation of unique, high-quality scoops for those who wish to experience a taste of their innovative flavors on the go.

MINIMAL is more than just an ice cream shop; it's a testament to creativity, precision, and a profound understanding of ingredients. It invites diners to embark on a fascinating journey, proving that excellence and innovation can be found in the most...

A Michelin-Starred Scoop: An Unforgettable Experience at MINIMAL 🍦✨ ​Stepping into MINIMAL, you immediately get a sense of why this place holds a Michelin star. It's not just about the ice cream; it's the entire experience. The minimalist aesthetic is clean and inviting, with a focus on letting the incredible flavors speak for themselves. The staff works with precision and care, a testament to the dedication behind every scoop. ​The menu is an adventure in itself. Forget your standard chocolate and vanilla—MINIMAL offers a curated selection of unique, sophisticated flavors. Think "Pine Noodle" with "Camellia Seed Oil" and "Herbs" or "Olive Oil" with "Oolong Tea" and "Magnolia Leaves." 🌿🍨 Each scoop is a work of art, a perfect balance of unexpected ingredients that somehow just work. The texture is incredibly smooth and creamy, unlike anything I've ever tasted. ​This is more than just a dessert stop; it's a culinary journey. The passion for quality and innovation is clear in every detail. If you're looking for an extraordinary treat and a true gastronomic experience, MINIMAL is an absolute must-visit. It's a sweet indulgence that's truly earned its place among...

I really can understand why they got a one Michelin star. What an awesome experience. The flavours are all super unique and uncommon but perfectly balanced and wonderfully paired. We arrived at opening time and there was already a lineup (on a Friday afternoon) of mostly tourists. We were in line for around 35min before we were served and since they don’t have dine in, we did have to walk to the nearby park to eat it and the ice cream was melting so quickly. My two favourite flavours were Vanilla Magnolia Caramel and Longan Flower Bergamot Green Apple. The employees are trained to put flavours that pair well together in the same cup, and these two flavours were put in the same cup and also were my favourite. When you first eat the ice cream, you get the main flavour profiles and then the next one and then an after taste as well. At 180NTD for a small cup of up to 2 flavours, I would only recommend this to real dessert enthusiasts. Anyone who is looking for a gourmet chocolate vanilla strawberry experience will probably be disappointed. One downside is there is no sit in and since Taichung gets very hot, your ice cream will melt very quickly which affects...