Grandma Nitti's Kitchen (Shih Ta Road, Lane 93, #8. Phone - (02) 2369-9751) is a big draw for foreigners in the National Taiwan Normal University (or Shih Da) area. A little pricey, but well worth a visit if you are missing American or Mexican food.
On the other side of town, Jake's Country Kitchen (Chung Shan North Road, Sec. 6, #705. Phone - (02) 2871-5289) serves up Western breakfasts, Mexican food, hamburgers and other familiar items, and has a pretty sizeable foreign customer base.
For something more exotic, check out Tandoor Indian Restaurant (Ho Ching Street, Lane 73, #10. Phone - (02) 2509-9853) for superb Indian cuisine.
La Cucina (Hsin Yi Road, Sec. 2, Lane 198, No. 8-2. Phone - (02) 2397-4176) is highly recommended for their Italian dinners.
Not enough food for you? Then head right for Hollywood Underground (Tun Hua South Road, Sec. 2, #201, B1. Far Eastern Plaza Hotel Basement. Phone - (02) 2376-3219. Call (02) 2378-8888 ext. 5560 for reservations) where you can gorge yourself on their pasta buffets for lunch and dinner.
The Ploughman Inn (Tun Hua South Road, Lane 232, #8. Phone - (02) 8773-6306) also has an all-you-can-eat-deal, with their wonderful Mongolian barbecue set-up.
Got Europe on the brain? Then waddle over to Schwarzwald (Wen Chou Street, #20. Phone - (02) 2392-2447) (second location at Yong Kang Street, Lane 6, #9. Phone - (02) 2369-3785) for the best in German food.
If you prefer French cuisine, Le Bistro de L'olivier (An Ho Road, Sec. 2, #145. Phone (02) 8732-3726) is the place for you.
Roxy Jr. Cafe (Shih Ta Road, Lane 80, #1. Phone - (02) 2366-1799) is a well-known hangout for the foreign community around the university area. Good food and drink specials.
45 Pub (Hoping East Road, Sec. 1, #45, F2. Phone - (02) 2321-2140) in the same area, attracts a big crowd, foreign and Taiwanese.
Spin (Hoping East Road, Sec. 1, #91. Phone - (02) 2356-9366) is yet another is yet another place to mingle with the English teaching community.
DV8 (Jin Hua Street, #223. Phone - (02) 2393-1726) is a casual pub for drinking and chatting.
You might want to try out Worldroom.com's Guide to Dining and Leisure in Taipei for more places to go for fun in Taipei.
If you are interested in studying Chinese,
National Taiwan Normal University and National Taiwan University have the best programs in the city.
Here is a list of movie theatres in Taipei. Check Taiwan News or The China Post for a schedule of current flicks.
Ambassador (Cheng Du Road, #88. Phone - (02) 2361 - 1222)
Capital (Chang An East Road, Sec. 2, #219, 2F. Phone - (02) 2741-5991)
Carnival (E Mei Street, #52. Phone - (02) 2388-8252)
Chang Chun (Chang Chun Road, #172. Phone - (02) 2507-4149)
Great Century (Roosevelt Road, Sec. 3, #325. Phone - (02) 2363-3909)
Jin Hsiang Jiang (Chang An East Road, Sec. 2, #215, 3F. Phone - (02) 2711-8298)
Lions Cineplex (Hsi Ning South Road, #36, 4F. Phone - (02) 2314-6668)
Oscar (E Mei Street, #115. Phone - (02) 2361-1691)
President (Chong Hua Road, Sec. 1, #59, 4F. Phone - (02) 2388-5576)
Shin Shin (Lin Sen North Road, #246, 3-4F. Phone - (02) 2537-1889)
Sun (Wu Chang Street, Sec. 2, #87. Phone - (02) 2331-5256)
Scholar (Chang Chun Road, #176. Phone - (02) 2517-5522)
Warner Village (Song Shou Road, #18. Phone - (02) 2757-2345)
These bookstores offer a good selection of books for ESL teaching.
Bookman Books
Hsin Sheng South Road, Sec. 3, #88, 2F
(02) 2362-5374
Caves Books
Chung Shan North Road, Sec. 2, #107
(02) 2537-1666
Crane Publishing Co., Ltd.
He Ping East Road, Sec. 1, #109, 6F
(02) 2393-4497
This used bookstore has a good selection of books and magazines in Chinese and English at very low prices.
Gong Guan Used Bookstore
Ding Chou Road, Section 3, #130
(02) 2368-2260
....or you can save yourself a trip across town and get your ESL materials here
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