Maokong, a picturesque mountain village in Taipei, is best for its stunning gondola rides and lush tea plantations. But what truly sets Maokong apart is its amazing food and tea culture. Beyond the breathtaking views and tranquil atmosphere, this charming destination offers a delicious array of snacks, dishes and tea. From traditional Taiwanese delicacies like Maokong tea leaf ice cream to fresh mountain vegetables. This post will explore all the must-try dishes and hidden gems of Maokong.
Many visitors combine a trip to Taipei Zoo with a ride on the Maokong gondola. This itinerary offers a fun-filled day of adventure and exploration. To learn more about it, check out our blog post on Day Trip to Taipei Zoo and Maokong. We provide all the best tips and a detailed itinerary for you to follow. It also talks about What to Do in Maokong. If you want to learn more about other Taipei destinations, you can also check out our 20 Places You Must Visit in Taipei.
Found Your Tea 貓空找茶屋
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If you’re looking for a place to enjoy delicious food and a stunning glass house, then Found Your Tea is the perfect spot for you. With its transparent glass walls, the interior is bright and airy. A large tree that pierces through the roof makes you feel like you’re in a hidden forest. Outside, there are stone chairs and semi-outdoor sofas where you can relax and take in the breathtaking night view. Moreover, it includes a clear sight of Taipei 101.
Source: Found Your Tea Facebook
Found Your Tea offers set meals with unique dishes like tea oil chicken, tea-infused tofu, and tea oil noodles, all infused with the fragrant aroma of tea. Visitors rave about the delicious food, making it hard to choose just one dish! If you simply want to enjoy a cup of tea and the night view, there are also a variety of teas and tea snacks available.
Four Brother’s Restaurant 四哥的店
Source: Klook
If you’ve been to Maokong, you’ve probably heard of the legendary Four Brother’s Restaurant. This popular spot is beloved by locals and tourists alike for its affordable prices, generous portions, and friendly service. What sets Four Brother apart is its creative tea-infused cuisine. They offer a wide variety of unique dishes that you won’t find at other restaurants. From tea-fried rice and tea-braised pork to tea-battered sweet potato and tea-infused tofu, there’s something for everyone.
Source: Four Brother’s Restaurant Facebook
Four Brothers also grows its own vegetables like sweet potato leaves, fernbrake, and bracken, and they offer homemade steamed buns and braised bamboo shoots, which are also customer favorites. With so many delicious tea-infused dishes to choose from, you might need to make multiple visits to try them all! They also have bottled Maokong Tea for you to buy, don’t remember to grab one before you go.
Sun moon lake and Alishan are also a great destinations in Taiwan for beautiful nature as well as tea culture, if you have the luxury to venture out of Taipei, be sure to check them out.
Maolan Tea House 貓懶
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Maolan offers an open-air dining experience with breathtaking panoramic views of Taipei 101. The relaxed ambiance and unique cocktails make it a perfect spot for a romantic date night. Owned by the group as Four Brothers, Maolan maintains a high standard of quality while offering a distinct atmosphere.
Source: Maolan Tea House Facebook
With plenty of indoor and outdoor seatings, diners can fully immerse themselves in nature and enjoy the unobstructed city skyline. Almost every seat in the house provides a clear view of Taipei 101. The menu shares similarities with Si Ge’s, but Maolan stands out with its selection of alcoholic beverages, perfect for those seeking a nightcap. Recommended dishes include the Pyramid Tea Fried Rice, Matcha Bracken Fern Salad, and Iron Goddess of Mercy Tea Chicken Soup.
Sih Ye’s Restaurant 貓空四爺
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Sih Ye’s restaurant has been featured in numerous media outlets for its beautiful Chinese-style decor, complete with bridges, flowing water, and koi ponds. The dining area offers a high degree of privacy, with individual private rooms with curtains.
Source: Sih Ye Facebook, Klook
Sih Ye’s menu features both a la carte dishes and drinks. You can come to enjoy a meal or simply have a cup of tea. Some must-try tea-infused dishes include: pyramid tea fried rice, tea-smoked chicken, honey tea pork ribs, beauty tea river shrimp, cinnamon tea large shrimp, package tea soft-shell crab, Tieguanyin tea chicken soup, and osmanthus fragrant Q tea jelly. While the mountain vegetables only include bracken fern, they are available year-round.
Big Tea Pot 阿義師的大茶壺茶餐廳
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Source: Big Teapot Facebook
If you thought the Four Brothers Group’s creative tea-infused dishes were impressive, wait until you hear about Big Tea Pot. With over 30 years of history, Big Tea Pot is the only restaurant in Maokong to be featured on the Discovery Channel. Big Tea Pot’s tea-inspired cuisine is incredibly diverse. They offer dishes like Wuyi rock tea smoked chicken leg, Four Seasons Spring tea braised tofu, Oolong tea crispy pork ribs, green tea shrimp balls, Oolong garlic squid, tea-baked turbot, and much more. The possibilities seem endless! It is truly amazing to see all the creative ways to incorporate tea into these dishes.
LAX Maokong 慵懶
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LAX慵懶, often referred to as Taipei’s little Bali, is the newest addition to Maokong’s dining scene. This chic bar, a new venture from the Fu Baba F&B Group, offers a laid-back atmosphere with a distinct Balinese vibe. The restaurant’s architecture is divided into distinct zones, each designed to create a relaxed ambiance. Large plants adorn the surroundings to transport diners to a tropical paradise without ever leaving Taipei.
Source: LAX Maokong Facebook
Unlike many other Maokong restaurants that focus on set meals, LAX慵懶 offers a diverse menu of international cuisine, with pizza being a particular highlight. The bar also serves a variety of cocktails. LAX creates a perfect atmosphere for enjoying the stunning night view while sipping on a drink.
If you like more upscale scenic restaurants like LAX, you might also enjoy dining at Yangminshan.
光羽塩 Lytea
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Source: Lytea Facebook
Perched on a hillside, 光羽塩 Lytea is a three-story standalone restaurant offering stunning views. Many of the seats have unobstructed windows, providing diners with a panoramic vista. While the menu offers a wide variety of dishes, the restaurant is particularly renowned for its tea-infused cuisine. The smoked tea goose is a signature dish that comes highly recommended. The generous portion features a whole goose, delicately smoked to perfection. The meat is tender, juicy,and well-seasoned, making it a must-try for first-time visitors.
Elsewhere Café 生活在他方-夜貓店
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Source: verse.com.tw
Escape the hustle and bustle of the city at Elsewhere Café, a literary, forest-themed restaurant. With outdoor and indoor seating, as well as a spacious lawn perfect for photo opportunities, this animal-friendly establishment is the ideal place to unwind and de-stress. As night falls, you can enjoy breathtaking views of Taipei’s cityscape and a starry sky, making it a popular spot for romantic evenings.
The restaurant also features a dedicated children’s book area, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in a literary world. The menu is a favorite among many, with the signature “He Fang Old-Fashioned Noodles” being a must-try. The dessert selection, particularly the mille-feuille cakes, is also highly recommended, offering a decadent and layered treat.
Longmen Restaurant 貓空龍門客棧
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Longmen Restaurant is one of the most popular spots in Maokong. Though it’s not quite the martial arts-themed establishment you might imagine. The restaurant offers a diverse menu with a strong focus on traditional Taiwanese set meals and tea-infused dishes.
Source: Longmen Restaurant Facebook
Here is a list of six highly recommended tea-based dishes, including Iron Goddess of Mercy tea shrimp, package tea codfish, Longmen’s signature braised pork with Iron Goddess of Mercy-flavored baozi, Iron Goddess of Mercy small buns. Finally the must-try tea-fried rice, and the classic Iron Goddess of Mercy tea chicken soup to finish off your meal. For those who enjoy mountain vegetables, mountain lettuce, bracken fern, chives, and green bamboo shoots are available, though they are seasonal. If you’re unsure what to order, the pineapple shrimp and golden tofu are also popular choices and a safe bet.
Yao Yue Tea House 邀月茶坊
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Source: EToday
Yao Yue Tea House is arguably the most iconic Maokong teahouse. It has witnessed the evolution of Maokong from a major tea-producing region to a popular leisure destination for Taipei residents. Starting as a simple thatched hut, Yao Yue Tea House has grown into a bustling teahouse where people can savor a variety of teas. Spanning a vast area with serene surroundings, the teahouse operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. With over 20 types of tea to choose from and a menu that includes everything from light snacks to full-course meals, you could easily spend an entire day here.
Ice Climber 雪敲
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Source: Ice Climber Facebook
Ice Climber is a hidden gem in Maokong that’s beloved by food connoisseurs. This charming cafe is famous for its delightful array of mille-feuille cakes that will satisfy any sweet tooth. During the warmer months, their refreshing and visually appealing fruit shaved ice is a must-try. With a high rating of 4.6 stars on Google, many customers rave about the shaved ice made with fresh, natural fruits.
If you’re visiting Maokong in the summer, this is a treat you won’t want to miss. For those who visit during the winter, the limited-edition strawberry mille-feuille is a comforting and satisfying dessert that’s said to bring happiness with every bite.
Maokong Shiao Mu Teahouse 貓空小木屋
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Source: Shiao Mu Teahouse Facebook
Maokong Shiao Mu Teahouse offers numerous outdoor seating areas with stunning views of Taipei 101 on clear days.It’s a perfect spot for capturing Instagram-worthy photos. To ensure you get a table with a view, it’s recommended to make a reservation in advance. The teahouse is also car-friendly, with dedicated parking spaces.
The menu is quite diverse, offering a wide range of dishes including risotto, pizza, hotpot, pancakes, steak, and coffee. A popular choice among patrons is the Margherita pizza. It’s a generously sized pizza topped with plenty of cheese and large tomato slices. The crispy crust and hearty ingredients make it a great option for sharing with friends.
Maokong’s diverse culinary scene offers something for everyone, from traditional Taiwanese delicacies to international flavors. Whether you’re seeking a cup of aromatic tea, a savory meal, or a sweet treat, you’re sure to find something to satisfy your cravings. So, the next time you visit this picturesque mountain village, be sure to explore its vibrant food scene and discover the unique flavors that Maokong has to offer.