I can't say enough good things about TLE. If you couldn't tell from my other reviews, I'm a bit of a boba addict and upon moving to Madison, I had to tour all the options in the area. While I must say Madison has a lot of places to try, I kept finding myself going back to TLE. I have to go at least once a week now because their teas are EVERYTHING. My faves are the oolong (50% sugar) , high pouchong (50% sugar), and taiwanese (75% sugar). The decor is adorable and I love the menu of featured items right when you walk in. It would be nice to have a full menu on the wall instead of just the paper at the counter though. You can taste the quality of their tea. The boba is always so fresh, warm and chewy with a hint of sweetness, and they give a LOT in your drink. TLE also has a $0.30 discount for customers with their own cup, which I truly appreciate because I bring my boba cup everywhere. Can't say enough good things, I just love TLE read more

Taiwan Little Eats - Drink menu - Bubble Tea Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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This is a good place to grab food for the go for the sole reason being there is not enough space in and out of the store to accommodate the number of guests. The food is great with really good presentations. The downside to the food is that it's too commercial, opting for the general population rather than authentic Taiwanese taste. The chicken bowl that I had severely lack flavors you would expect from a Southeast Asian country. This is not to say the food is bad, because it is good just lack a little bit of authenticity. If you want to have a general taste of Taiwanese food then this is the place to go. It's not completely authentic but it's a good place to try a new food read more

Instagram-worthy environment, disappointing food. Maybe the chef was having a bad day when we stopped by but this one was a flop. Crispy and Salty Popcorn Chicken - 2/5 Great flavor, but dry as a bone! With a little more care and effort, could have been great. Tea Egg - 3/5 Strong tea flavor, but overcooked and dry, as these sit in a rice-cooker all day. Braised Pork Noodles - 2/5 Good until I got to the bottom of the bowl, which was basically just full of salty sauce. Did not want to finish. read more

The best thing about the place is the location. I recommend avoiding the big eats (entree size) as both things we ordered were disappointing. The beef over rice was very salty, and the chicken over rice was slimy and full of cartilage. The shrimp pineapple balls were great, as were the taro wheels. The drinks were not that good either. I'm disappointed to say the least and certainly will not go back. read more

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Very good food! A casual and welcoming place. Not a franchise! Would definitely recommend . read more

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When you first step in, the restaurant's got a clean, cafe-like vibe with some artsy decor that fits right in with the Badger college town while also retaining the Taiwanese food fragrance and pictures that make you feel like you're really in Taiwan. We got the popcorn chicken, tainan braised pork over rice, fried chicken cutlet over rice, and fried tofu. The fried tofu was REALLY good with a perfect crisp with a tasty sauce. The fried chicken cutlet and braised pork were pretty standard with good taste, though I wish the braised pork came with more meat. The popcorn chicken was a little disappointing since it wasn't that crispy and didn't have as much of the basil/spice taste that I loved in Taiwan, but all the other foods definitely made up for it. I'd come back if I'm in town again! read more

Love this little place, well decorated, ambiance is cool and with large enough portions. Great variety on menu. But dont pass up the giant chicken cutlet. That is a must buy! Juicy. Freshly cooked. Tender. Well seasoned. It's worth it. Almost brought me back to when we travelled to the streets of taipei night market. Their rice topping meals seems to be very popular item to order. Flavors are great! Exactly what you would expect and crave for. And yup they have bubble teas to wash it all down! Must try in the area. read more

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Cute and cozy place to enjoy some delicious food with friends! I've gone several times in the past, but most recently went with some of my friends for a casual Lunar New Year dinner. I've always ordered the popcorn chicken over rice in the past and enjoyed it, so ordered it again at this visit. I have always been fascinated by the coffin toast so decided to give it a try along with the special "Year of the Pig" tea. The popcorn chicken over rice has a good mix of textures and flavors with the accompaniments of broccoli, picked radish, half of a tea egg. The popcorn chicken is well-seasoned and delectably crunchy. My one complaint is that all the ingredients are a bit dry. This very well may be how the dish is supposed to be served, but personally, as a sauce lover, I've always feel like this dish could be further elevated with the option of a sauce. (Of note, they do have siracha in their condiment bar and I love siracha, but still feel it'd be nice to have a homemade sauce on this dish) The coffin toast reminds me of a Taiwanese chicken pot-pie? It's honestly quite astonishing how they seal in the soupy filling between the 2 slices of bread. The bread itself was crispy and delicious. The filling was not very memorable, it was a white-sauce with vegetables and chicken (I believe). read more

Taiwan Little Eats - Coffin Toast. Year of the Pig Milk Tea. Popcorn Chicken over Rice. - Bubble Tea Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

3.5 stars. It's a cute place located on state street and entering the store, I felt like I was in Taiwan (even though I've never been). The menu is pretty expansive and fun, and included items that you'd be hard pressed to find anywhere else around here. Tried the popcorn chicken and the sesame noodles. The popcorn chicken was excellent, one of the best that I've had: light, crispy, with delicious seasoning. Highly recommend! The braised pork bowls looked cute, albeit simple, but I didn't try it. The sesame noodles were a little strange: the flavor wasn't what I was expecting exactly, and it was very little food for the price. Overall, I noticed that the bowls are very cute and pretty, but a little overpriced for how simple and how small the portions are: this is truly "little" eats so come for a snack or a light meal, not when you're looking for something to fill you up. I might be back for more popcorn chicken and to try out their bubble teas. read more

Taiwan Little Eats - Bubble Tea Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

What a cute little spot on State Street! Love the cute decor and seating area with tables and couches for people to lounge. The Tainan braised pork was so yummy and pretty authentic. Tender and nice pickled veggies over a some warm rice - yum! Crispy Chicken Cutlet bento box was also great although I prefer the steamed fresh broccoli to be warm (steam to order) than cold. The breading on the cutlet was really good and still pretty light being fried. Definitely worth making a visit! read more

Taiwan Little Eats - Tainan Braised Pork Over Rice - Bubble Tea Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Sooooo cute. Great bubble tea and super friendly staff. Had food here for the first time today and the waitress suggested the chicken cutlet over rice and the shrimp snd pineapple balls. The only thing I would change is less of the spicy Mayo on the shrimp because it was kind of smothered in it but overall the food was great! Had bubble here to before and it's amazing, plus they have cane sugar straws so very environmentally friendly. I'll definitely be back for more. read more

Taiwan Little Eats - H1. Fried Chicken Cutlet over Rice - Bubble Tea Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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I am a fan of the chicken. It has this amazing seasoning on it that makes me not want to stop taking bites. I get the pieces of the cutlet every time I come. I do enjoy the boba milk teas, as well. The establishment is cute and cozy. The different types of seating has something for everyone in the small space. I have found the staff friendly on most occasions. This is one of the top places on State Street I look forward to eating at. read more

Dropped by here for the first time late Sunday afternoon. There are currently three tables available for outdoor seating. You can order and pay directly from your phone. The passion fruit smoothie with tapioca pearls was super satisfying in the heat. I also ordered the spicy popcorn chicken but I wasn't a big fan. I don't think I would come back here for a meal. Probably only the bubble tea. Side note: when you order online it gives you the option to receive a text when your food is ready. I selected this option but never received a text. After waiting for quite some time I checked in and my food appeared to have been ready on the counter for quite some time. Not a big deal but really glad I thought to check. read more

Taiwan Little Eats - Popcorn chicken and passion fruit tea with tapioca - Bubble Tea Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Honestly this is one of my favorite places to go with 1-2 friends. This is not ideal for large groups because of the limited seating. They offer delivery via EatStreet too. Food & Drink: I highly recommend the popcorn chicken, cutlets, toast, anything chicken. Honestly all of their food is great. I've never had a bad experience at all. Their fruit teas are delicious. I haven't had their milk tea (I'm lactose intolerant) but I see a lot of people order it with their meal. Service: None because you order at the counter and they call out your number on your receipt/your actual order. Leave a tip though! They are constantly putting out a lot of food! Awesome place to hang out with a couple of friends. On state street. Cool vibes. Good eats. read more

It was okay at best. Portions werent big, and the quality of the food was alright. I wouldn't recommend coming here hungry and happy, you'd def be pissed read more

Back again! Tried out their smoothies this time. They were excellent. They contained some sort of yogurt I think, so be careful if you are lactose intolerant. I got the pork belly this time. This was not really my favorite as the pork was not too tender. The bowl in general could have greatly benefited from some more sauce. I would still highly recommend you get either the braised pork or curry with chicken cutlet! read more

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Got the Pink Rose milk tea with some sort of creamy boba that wasn't boba, didn't taste like rose at all, just regular milk tea, and the lack of ice would have been nice (because more liquid) but it got warm after a while of walking and sort of gross. Glad I got the smallest size. But the venue is so cute, and I haven't tried to food and have heard it amazing! read more

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This place was so delicious! Try to Drive here between one and 3 PM Monday through Friday if you want free street parking and then walk over to State Street. Too bad it rained otherwise we would've eat outside. The staff was so friendly and accommodating since it's the pandemic. The dishes were so nostalgic to me. We got the taro milk tea, matcha chilled drink, Sweet potato plum fries, barbecue fried cutlet, Taro wheels, braised beef over rice, pork over rice noodles and Danzi noodles. We had the drinks while we we waiting for the food. I think I forgot to ask for red bean into the matcha slush because it would've been perfect. The grass jelly into the taro milk tea was the best combination. We devoured the chicken cutlet and plum fries when we got into our car and it was still crunchy and savory. The noodles and rice noodle dishes were packed to the top and full of flavor. I can't wait to visit them again. read more

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With our final few meals in Madison, my siblings and I wanted to try some authentic Taiwanese food to celebrate our cultural backgrounds. I ordered the seasonal pumpkin pie milk tea and was able to try my siblings' sugar maple and brown sugar milk teas at half sugar. All the teas were milky and flavorful, not too sweet or over-iced. My pumpkin pie bubble tea had a hint of pumpkin without being overpowering to corrupt the essence of the milk tea. The tapioca was both firm and chewy, partnering with the tea to create an authentic experience for my easily pleased taste buds. The popcorn chicken was not particularly great however. For the price we paid, I thought the portion size was underwhelming. Additionally, the chicken was a little dry and not quite there for me on the flavor. However, the outside was appropriately crispy with an overall appealing presentation, at times reminding me of the killer street food in Taiwan... read more

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This was just an average experience for me. The place is nicely decorated. We got the popcorn chicken, but the flavor wasn't what we are used to. It didn't feel like popcorn chicken. The tea drink was okay too, nothing to rave about. It is in a nice little area in Madison. read more

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Very delicious overall. Their food is quite pricey, but it's worth it. The pork bao is tender, flavorful, perfectly seasoned and juicy. I will definitely return for it. Their popcorn chicken is a little tough, but again super delicious and perfectly crispy. I wish they had crispy basil leaves though, as that feels like a tradition whenever I go to the Taiwan street markets. However, their Dan noodles were very subpar in comparison. The pork in the noodles are a little too dry and salty, and the flavor is accurate, but not outstanding or original. The egg itself has a dry yolk (overcooked). The noodles themselves are way too soft and taste over cooked. A nice homemade chili may have made this a bit better, but the noodle texture is what brings this dish down. Dan noodles should have a bounce, a chew to them. A nice subtle flour flavor can be present too. The noodles basically have a cheap store quality feel. As a Taiwan native, this restaurant hits home and leaves me satisfied. I still give it a 5/5 for the other two items Pork bao 5/5 Popcorn chicken 4.5/5 Dan noodles 3/5 read more

This place is so cute and satisfies my craving for some Taiwanese food, it's really not the best, but it'll do! If you're in Madison and craving some braised beef, popcorn chicken, or minced pork, you've come to the right place. Right on state street, it is conveniently located right by the Madison Museum of art and next to another Madison fun favorite, rollicious. Stop by here for some tastes of Taiwan, be it a quick snack or a full meal with some friends. I'm seriously digging the ambiance and it's great for a study date for 1 or a friend reunion for dinner. Happy snacking read more

Came here with the family. Food was great! The servers were friendly and the owner was awesome. Family enjoyed the food!

I have been here EACH time I have visited Madison. On this visit I got the Pork Rib over Rice and a Mango Iced Tea with Lychee Jellies. This place NEVER disappoints! read more

Taiwan Little Eats - H2. Fried Pork Rib over Rice Pork Belly over Rice - Bubble Tea Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

I am increasing my review of Taiwan Little Eats to a solid 5. Their food is very fresh and flavorful, their staff is friendly and their space is very inviting. My pictures are from an older visit, so keep that in mind. We have enjoyed each visit and have tried their fried chicken bowl, their pepper steak bowl, their milk teas (winter melon yum!) and their fruit fizzlers. Whether you want a bite to eat or something refreshing to drink, this is a very good choice! read more

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I'm glad this place exists. It brings a niche culture to state street. Chinese food is not the same as Taiwanese food. And it's so cool that now we have a place we can go to to experience that. I was born in Taiwan but came over to the USA when I was young so do not know of the fabulous night markets that my mom talks about. The decor here is very cute and makes it a cozy place. Moving on to what I have eaten here... Fried Squid Balls- These are salty and have a hint of ocean taste. I like them these little balls of friend goodness. Tea Flavored Egg- This tasted just like a regular egg to me, not sure if it was because it wasn't steeped long enough but I enjoyed the soy sauce eggs that come with the bento boxes more. BBQ Pork Sausages- These definitely don't taste like American sausages, they are bit sweet. I like them but I can see the flavor throwing off some others. Crispy and Salty Popcorn- Delicious snack, can't really go wrong with this. Fried Chicken Cutlet- This is a HUGE piece of chicken. Delicious but I wish they maybe cut it up into pieces for you. Tainan Braised Pork over Rice- I wish there was a little more pork in the serving but I do really enjoy the flavor of the pork. The bento boxes come with broccoli that I wish they would season with some salt or pepper! It is literally just steamed broccoli. The teas here are nice because you can adjust the sugar and ice levels. The drinks aren't overly sugary. I love the coconut jelly option, their tapioca balls are also great. Can't wait to come back to try their faerie jellies. From the times I've stopped in business seems good! While there may be better Taiwanese food out there this is the only place in Madison and pretty decent for being the only option so I am giving them 4 stars. I hope they do well and maybe even expand their menu options in the future once they get settled. read more

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Simply put, this place serves the best Taiwanese food you can get in Madison. And the bubble tea, the interior, and the friendly staff all add to an overall authentic and pleasant Taiwan experience. Highly recommend! I have been here about four times. I tried the chicken cutlet, braised pork rice, all 3 bento boxes, pig in a blanket, and various tea products. The food was pretty much exactly what you would get from a street stand in Tainan, the historic southern city of Taiwan. I would say the highlights were the braised pork rice and the chicken cutlet. The braised pork was well-marinated with a balanced blend of spice and soy sauce, giving it its irresistible aroma. The amount of fat was just right so that when combined the pork and rice felt smooth without being too greasy. I was genuinely surprised when I saw the chicken cutlet - it was huge! Easily palm-sized, if not more. With its size, it still managed to have proper coating with plenty of crispiness, and a juicy inside that was well-marinated. 10/10. As other reviews already mentioned, tea products were awesome. They make a good combo with the tapioca(bubbles) since the tapioca served are less sweet than what you usually get from elsewhere, and so your tastebuds can really savor the tea without being saturated by sugar. Aside from the food, one can see that a lot of thoughts have been put into the design and decoration of the place. It radiates with that personality and human warmth of a hidden cafe that a traveler would happily stumble upon when exploring the many nameless streets of Taipei. Worth mentioning is that they also play a good mixture of music ranging from renowned singers such as Cheer Chen to up-and-coming indie bands such as "No Party For Cao Dong". I enjoyed their selection. Overall great place. Will go back. PS: some reviews mentioned the lack of certain kinds of food and long waiting. From what I heard they are tweaking their menu and trying to figure out a way to meet the large demands. Hopefully these problems will be resolved soon. For now I suggest going there a bit early to avoid the line and get everything you want. read more

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I think I'm between a three and a four on this one. I wanted to like it a lot, but I don't think I do. I ordered popcorn chicken because that's a Taiwanese Little Eat special... (as in, what they actually have in Taiwan). It wasn't anything I would crave in the future. I don't really miss it now. I ordered a bubble tea. It was also okay. I prefer bubble teas at other locations downtown. The tables are handmade, I assume. It's a nice touch, but some can be uneven. It's interesting, for sure. read more

We went here with our 2 kids, they loved the sweet potato fries (seasoned with a spice blend that seems to include some curry and/or cumin powder), I really enjoyed the seasonal cold noodles with chicken, it had a nice refreshing sesame sauce, and we also had the pork bao and a rice bowl with fried chicken. It's a great casual spot with cute decor and tasty bites! They have indoor and outdoor seating. read more

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I live just up the street from this place and I had just moved to Madison from California when I saw signs that a Taiwanese place was opening on State. It seemed like a sign that maybe this place could become a home and I was eager to try it when it opened. I had the popcorn chicken a couple weeks after the place opened and was pretty impressed. I had made sure to keep my expectations low since my mom is Taiwanese and I've been back a couple times and had pretty delicious street food from night markets. The breading on the popcorn chicken was perfect, the meat itself was moist, and it was seasoned well. I went back about a month later with my partner, who has never tried Taiwanese food. I ordered a tea egg for us to share, he ordered the popcorn chicken bowl, and I got the braised pork bowl for myself. The tea egg was okay, not nearly as flavorful as the kind my grandma makes (but maybe that seems like an unrealistic standard to compare this to?). The bowls were really yummy -- both our meats were well-cooked and flavorful, the pickles veggies had just the right punch, the broccoli was steamed well, and the rice not too soft, not too hard. Overall, it was a really satisfying meal. I even sent a picture to my mother and she approved. My partner really enjoyed it too - he sent me a picture of him eating there without me a week after we went! I'm pleased to have a place serving Taiwanese comfort food just down the street and I'm excited to come back and try their boba milk tea. read more

Taiwan Little Eats - Braised pork bowl and popcorn chicken bowl. Sent this pic to my Taiwanese mother and she approved! - Bubble Tea Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

I'm surprised by all the Asian joints that have popped up since I've been in Madison 3+ years ago. Taiwan Little Eats is an adorable cafe to grab a quick bite, some boba, and hang out with some buddies. There's wifi, natural light, and soft Chinese music in the background, which makes for a good place to get some work or self-reflection done. I had the tainan bowl, which consists of pork belly, tea egg, and some veggies over a bowl of rice. The pork belly was flavorful and very tender. Even though it's Taiwanese fusion, the flavors are still authentic (yay!) If you're getting the milk tea, I'd recommend 50%. I got 30% and it boardered on the not sweet enough side for me. read more

Taiwan Little Eats - Tainan braised pork - Bubble Tea Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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I was a little more than excited to see an establishment offering Taiwanese food in Madison being from Chicago, but it came up as a like for me instead of a love. The fried chicken cutlet was cooked beautifully (light crispy outside - juicy inside) with a nice sauce, but I think it was maybe the veggies that didn't quite jive for me. I would've preferred chinese broccoli or bokchoy instead of the carrots & regular broccoli. The black pepper beef missed the mark as I'm accustomed to it being heavy on the black pepper and packing a flavorful punch. I would say that the fried tofu dish my mom's friend had was delicious, crispy outside, tender inside. The boba was not as chewy as I'm used to but in a pinch, I would eat here if you had a craving for Asian food. Very nice staff and cute eclectic decor. read more

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Not impressed with the food. Ordered from DoorDash, fried chicken cutlet was extremely salty, had to throw away entire piece. Pork sausages were burned, not edible either. Good thing DoorDash refunded me. Won't order from them again. read more

This is a solid place for bubble tea and Taiwanese fast eats. I tried the Taiwanese milk tea with boba and the fried chicken dish. The milk tea was pretty good and I could taste a bit of the tea. The fried chicken dish was cooked well but I felt like it could have used a little bit more seasoning. Overall, I would come back again and get some bubble tea and quick eats. Tip - if you can order ahead, I would do so especially on a Friday. When I went, there was a line out the door so plan ahead if possible. read more

I am glad that there is another asian restaurant on State St to add to the diversity in Madison food culture. The decor is pretty hip. You are greeted with the menu board on the top of the counter. Then order and pay at the counter and wait for the food. You can sit any where you want but I feel like seating is a bit limited. There are two tables by the window which are elevated and kind of weird to sit there being higher than others and being looked at by people walking down the street. We ordered the fried chicken cutlet bento box and Tainan braised pork over rice. Although the place is famous for its chicken, the braised pork appealed to me better. It was well marinated and cooked to the perfect level of softness. The chicken of course couldn't beat the deep flavor of the marinated pork but it was decent as well. The outside was very crisp and the inside was not too dry. The meal as a whole as well balanced with carb, veggie and protein. I do think that it can be a healthy lunch once a while. I also tried the matcha milk tea and it did not disappoint! read more

Taiwan Little Eats - Braised pork. Very well marinated - Bubble Tea Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Having lived in the Bay Area for the past few years and having basically made getting boba a part of my daily routine, I like to think that I have pretty high standards when it comes to boba and milk teas. The first time I walked into Taiwan Little Eats it was because its charming ambiance drew me in from outside. I wasn't expecting the food or drinks to be that great and honestly, even if they hadn't been I would've still felt quite satisfied. What I got, though, turned out to be pretty excellent and way exceeded my expectations. They don't have a lot of vegetarian options (the menu is quite short in general) but the veg noodles are tasty enough that I don't mind getting them whenever I'm there. The real highlight of the place, though, is the boba. The drinks are fine, sure, but the tapioca pearls really steal the spotlight. Every time I've visited they've been super soft and tasted fresh and sweet. The boba here beats any other place I've visited in the midwest and honestly, the majority of places that I've visited in the Bay, too. If there's one thing I wish they'd do it's expand both their food and drinks menus but they do such a good job with what they have that even if they don't, I absolutely wouldn't mind. read more

Came here for a small lunch/snack and enjoyed everything. Drinks were refreshing and had good flavor. Popcorn chicken was missing the traditional Taiwanese flavor and felt a little bland. Tainan braised pork over rice was great and the cold peanut noodles were refreshing for a warm day on the patio. Food and drinks all came out quickly and they brought it to our table outside. read more

First Taiwanese restaurant in Madison. Surprisingly it was good. The food was not Americanized. It was made to the original taste of Taiwanese food. I love their fried chicken fillet. The bubble tea was good. Their tea was not as sweet as Kong Fu tea (healthier). The black tapioca ball was chewy and it was just right. People were very friendly. They came out to chat to us. We ordered the food at the cashier and put away our dishes when we were done. Love this place. Definitely I am going back. read more

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I really enjoyed the food here! The tea egg is definitely worth a try if you haven't had one before. Great local spot.

Taiwanese food is one of my all time favorite cuisines, so I was thrilled to learn that this restaurant opened two blocks away from me! Friends and I came in to try their minced pork rice, fried chicken cutlet, popcorn chicken, Taiwanese sausage, and roasted oolong milk tea with boba. Their minced pork rice was on point, but could definitely do with more pork. As for the chicken cutlet, I was hoping it would taste similar to Hot Star Chicken in Taipei, but it's got a slightly different flavor. I'm wondering if it's because we decided to try the BBQ flavor instead of the Taiwanese spice one. Besides the flavor discrepancy, the actual chicken was very juicy and delicious! I really enjoyed the popcorn chicken and its spice and crunch! Only wish it had some fried crispy basil too! The milk tea wasn't my favorite, but I'd be willing to try other flavors or maybe mess around with the sugar ratios in the future. Overall, I am happy to support this establishment which serves some pretty authentic Taiwanese eats! I cannot wait to come here more in the future and try out their other meals. read more