Old Sichuan — Restaurant in Zhongshan District

I recently had a wonderful dining experience at Old Sichuan in Taipei, which I have visited many times with friends and sisters. Every time I visit, I feel the warmth and unique flavor of Sichuan cuisine.

The restaurant is famous for its mandarin duck hotpot, and indeed, this is the dish I always look forward to. The hotpot broth is very rich, with many traditional spices, making the flavor really rich and attractive. The seafood here is always fresh, and the beef is sweet and tender, making every bite very delicious. I often spend 2-3 hours here, enjoying the food while chatting with friends, creating memorable memories.

One of the highlights of the restaurant is the sour plum juice, the perfect drink to balance the spicy taste of the hotpot. This sour and sweet flavor is easy to drink and is an ideal thirst quencher for the cold winter.

The restaurant is often very crowded, so if you intend to visit, remember to book a table in advance. The cozy and friendly atmosphere of Old Sichuan is truly an ideal place to enjoy delicious food and spend time...

There's something about a steaming pot of spiciness and a selection of fresh protein that makes my belly smile ... the assortment of seafood - all the condiments and sauces you could want - leveled up the experience of my first night in Taipei and set the bar fairly high for future foodie stops. The buffet of rice, veggies, pickles, and desserts catered for even the pickiest of eaters. Thankfully, I had promised myself that, on this trip, any pickiness I may have will be put aside to make room for everything Taiwan had to offer. This was the closest to fine dining I would get on this trip. The rest of my time was spent visiting indigenous villages and eating traditional foods. So, DO try this but make time to meet and talk with the indigenous people because that kind of food and hospitality...

Overall food quality was good. Taste was not as special as I thought it would be given the difficulty booking the reservation. We were given 1.5hrs but had a hard time finding our server after the initial order. The ordering process was a bit odd as he recommended something that was out of order, and suggested us to bite way more than we could chew. The portion size was out of portion. None of the food were the right size for a table less than 4, no wonder the price list seems a bit high. We ended up eating only about 2/3 of what we ordered after we turned down the server’s suggestion to order 2 more dishes. The service attitude is very nice though. The environment and ambience was very loud and noisy, not great...