Korean Barbecue and roast chicken

This is an old family favorite we've been going to for more than 40 years, a korean barbecue restaurant which is among the first ones existing in Taipei. Back then, during some period of time there were a lot of them here, just like beer houses 20 years ago, Japanese style barbecue nowadays and so on, sort of a Taiwanese fashion, everything's hot for a while and then it's finished, unlike in Europe, you can find the same things you like even centuries later, food, drinks, clothings, etc,......

This was considered a chic place to go when we were little, and ladies who served there were always pretty and elegant, probably this was one of the reasons my dad loved to take us there, so he could have the pleasure to chat with them.

When we were older, my siblings and classmates went all over the world to study and work, some of them even settled down outside of the country, but this restaurant remained a "must go" for all of us when we were back here visiting, although it was never an authentique Korean style.

Today it's changed a bit, no more beauties to flirt with, service became a little careless, and the price remained almost the same as several decades ago, but food here is still very good, along with so many year's memories during the time when we were growing up.

This small charcuterie which sells meat products makes our favorite roast chicken,

the home made sausages are also excellent.

Right next to 中山市場(Zhong Shan Market)

Their chicken is the must for every single one of our important festivals,

just like Thanksgiving turkeys.

Outside view of the restaurant

Our favorite corner

view across street

A Japanese restaurant just moved here not long ago.

二條通(Er Tiao Tong, It's the name. Means the 2nd lane under the bridge.)

Every old time Taipei residence knows that this is a symbol of a chic area back then,

the Zhong Shan North Road area(中山北路)

and the lanes under the bridge.

(There used to be a bridge.) 

just like 信義區(Xin Yi area)today.

It was a cold afternoon,

but the sun started showing a little bit of warmth and light,

the antique restaurant building made a nice view for us.

Copper pot

Pepper, vinegar and soy sauce.

Beef and pork. The lamb here is OK but not as good.

Some sort of Taiwanese lettuce(茼蒿 Tong Hao).

Extremely good with the Steam pot(火鍋Huo Guo)because it absorbs the oil and juice of the meat,

so the vegetable will be very flavorful with the meat juice and at the same time the soup won't be too

 oily, either.

Leek, garlic and pepper.

Mix them with a raw egg and soy sauce to make the dipping for meats and vegetables.

The egg white will prevent you from getting burned by the food.

Meat on top to grill, the rest cooking in the soup.

Not too healthy kind of fake cider.

But this is our traditional drink with this meal.

We don't usually drink much though,

it mainly works for cooling down a bit.

Taiwanese style "Japanese steamed rice",

which means you sprinkle some sesame seeds on top of it.

Ingredients of the sauce.

Deep fried squid balls, very good with some mixture of Taiwanese white pepper and salt. 

Kimchi

There's 2 kinds of meat.

Some of our friends still don't eat beef because it is the animal that used to help us in the field.

They serve 柳丁(Liow Ding) in the winter time, 

 it is a kind of orange you can only find in Taiwan,

which has a very pleasant aroma.

In the summer they replace it with water melon.

Chewing gum after the meal to protect people who might speak to you.