燈燈庵 Tou Tou An

With the proximity to Japan, it is no wonder Taiwan get very fresh ingredients directly flown in from Japan. While I have never tried Japanese food while in Taipei during my own leisure trips, I got to try 1 pretty decent one during my business trip in February this year

Known for its kaiseki-style dining, Tou Tou An is infamous for its traditional multi-course meal, showcasing artistic presentation of its colourful dishes. The roots of the restaurant stem from Tokyo Akiruno, where they have been offering seasonal dishes since 1968. Some of the famous VIPs include former American president Ronald Wilson Reagan and former UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. Bringing the same philosophically conceptualised dining to Taipei in 2011 with their first overseas outlet in the location I visited. A 2nd outlet was opened in Hsinchu, Taiwan, subsequently

I did not manage to get many photos for the rest of the restaurant since this was a business dinner, but there were multiple private rooms, which gave guests a private and quiet environment during their meal. The style of the room was modern and not really Japanese-centric in terms of the decorations

We were shown to our private room, and the table was set up nicely with a personal serving board for each guest, and the chopsticks were placed nicely on the holder. The appetisers were all set up and ready for serving

The first few dishes were all served with the season in mind and ingredients which were befitting. Staff will explain the ingredients used and how to eat each dish served before leaving the room. For the cold dishes, the plating was exquisite, and the ingredients were fresh and full of flavour. Unlike just traditional sashimi or omakase meals, each dish here feels slightly more elaborate with a modern twist, the use of sauces or dressing to enhance the flavour depth of each dish

The next few courses were cooked dishes from grilled abalone with innards, mackerel fish, grilled pork or beef over a huge magnolia leaf, which is usually known as Hoba Miso, and a steamed seafood rice served in a traditional Ohitsu container, which is usually made of cedar wood to keep the rice soft and moist. The cooked dishes were hearty and comforting like a nice home-cooked meal. The use of miso marination was on point to bring the dish a delightful flavour, yet not overpowering the original flavour of the ingredients

Last but not least, we were served 3 types of desserts, a baked daifuku-style bun with red bean filling, a creamy fruit parfait and a frozen mango sherbet. The serving of 3 different textured desserts perfectly rounded up the course meal, which brought different surprises to the palate with otherwise common ingredients

Overall, the service was attentive and great, with private rooms perfect for official dinners or just close-door family gatherings. The food standards are also good, with many innovative flavours in dishes which look familiar but taste different

Address: No. 20號, Lane 81, Section 2, Dunhua S Rd, Da’an District, Taipei City, Taiwan 106

Opening hours: 12 pm to 2.30 pm and 6 pm to 9.30 pm