Taiwan Bistro 熱炒168 — Restaurant in Phoenix

First time here and I don't speak a single word of Chinese. And the people at the restaurant speak very, very limited English. BUT, I have to say that they are extremely patient as we used google translate and later had my friend, who speaks decent Chinese, hop on the phone to help with ordering. I don't think it's a bad thing that we have some language barrier. On the other hand, I think it gives me the feeling that I'm actually travelling to Taiwan and I honestly like it haha.

The restaurant is very clean. The vibe, I can tell you the vibe is exactly what you can expect in Asia. It's giving Taiwan 1000% when the uncles at the next table start doing Karaoke. It was a bit loud, but who cares, cause it's nearly 10 p.m. already and that's the fun friendly atmosphere that I love to see. I think I saw the owner pull a chair to sit next to them uncles and enjoy the show as well haha. If you're a fine dining person then this place is not for you. But if you're a frequent traveler who loves culture like me, this should be your favorite place!

We ordered 7 dishes and 1 soup. Seasoning is perfect! Taste 100% authentic. My mom and I are very picky eaters but we could not smell anything stinky from the pork stomach soup. We cook authentic Vietnamese food at home so I can tell you, it is really really hard to get rid of the pork stomach smell, especially in any type soup. It takes not only time but also skills to master this and this place does it really well. Portions are huge and they price their dishes at a fair price. We did ask for the fried rice at first but they were honest that they don't have enough time to prepare the fried rice so no fried rice tonight. Love their honesty!

In short, thank you for your service! This place deserves way much more than the love they already had within the Taiwanese community. I drove all the way from the East valley for a family dinner and it was very well worth it!

My new favorite Taiwanese place in the Valley. The other one is Yes Cafe in Chandler. Don't forget to check them...

Updated Review:

I finally had the chance to try Taiwan Bistro 168, and it was a unique experience. This time, my friends made the reservation, which is highly recommended by the restaurant—an unusual practice compared to most spots in Arizona. While I prefer the flexibility of walk-ins, I can see the benefit of securing a table here.

We sampled six dishes and a soup, and everything was flavorful and delicious. One thing to note is that there’s no physical menu. The only menu is written in Chinese on a board, which might be tricky for non-Mandarin speakers. The seating area is spacious, and the large mirror adds a sense of openness. There’s also a smaller, more intimate section near the restroom that seems perfect for private parties. Adding to the experience, they have karaoke near the entrance, which creates a lively atmosphere.

Dining here really felt like a trip back to Taiwan. The servers and most guests spoke Mandarin, and the overall vibe was very reminiscent of Taiwan. I definitely recommend coming with someone who speaks Mandarin, as ordering might be a bit of a challenge otherwise. Overall, it was an authentic and enjoyable experience.

Previous Review: My friends and I were really excited to try out this new Taiwanese restaurant in town. We parked our car and walked in, only to find that it was pretty packed with people.

We were approached by a waiter who informed us that they only take reservations and weren't accepting walk-ins. We were a bit surprised by this as there was no sign at the door indicating that reservations were required. It was definitely a bummer to be turned away like that.

Overall, it was a disappointing experience and we ended up having to find another place to eat. Just thought I'd give you a heads up in case you were thinking of checking it out.

I may give it another shot in the future and hopefully I'll revise my review after...

I truly enjoyed the food, and so did my 8-year-old, who absolutely loved the dry sautéed salmon! The ingredients are incredibly fresh, and the dishes deliver an authentic Taiwanese flavor. You can tell the chef pours his heart into every meal—foodies will definitely appreciate the craftsmanship. One particular thing I liked about the food is that they are not high in sodium. Most restaurants these days simply put too much salt into the dishes, salt covers the original flavor and freshness of the ingredients. And of course, a healthier way of cooking.

The service team was excellent as well. I took the recommendation to order salmon instead of braised pork belly for my son, the waitress suggested as she felt pork belly might be too fat for the 8 year old, which was really considerable and my son did love the salmon!

A quick note for visitors: Be sure to make reservations ahead! Chef injured his arm from the repetitive motion of stir-frying. Stir frying is really tiresome and could cause injury on muscle if you do it for long. The restaurant currently only takes reservations and can only serve a few tables each day. Wishing the chef a speedy recovery!

One amusing moment during our visit was when the neighboring table started karaoke—it was hilarious and added to the lively atmosphere. While it’s not a quiet spot, it feels like a sweet home away from home for those far from their homeland.

Thank you for the amazing food and warm...