I have to say, Facebook ads are doing a great job. I’m constantly discovering interesting themed restaurants that I end up inviting my friends to try with me. Sometimes, IG Reels from content creators help too. But how do you stay ahead before more features about these places start popping up everywhere? Simple: go as soon as possible, before the content becomes too saturated and competitive for views.
So here I am at DONGQU 東區 with my bestie. This Taiwanese-style restaurant and bar aims to offer a complete dining and drinking experience like in the pulse of Taiwan nightlife. No need to fly all the way to Taiwan. As the name suggests, DONGQU direct translation to East District is one of the most cosmopolitan part of Taipei, with Taipei City Hall, Taipei City Council and Taipei 101 all located in this district. A flip through the menu, you can see the food offerings are true to Taiwanese style, like Mi Xue Gao 米血糕, Taiwan Sausage 台湾香肠, Fish Tempura 鱼天妇罗, a few to name. Also here to try out their special cocktails with quirky names.
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| DONGQU 東區 at 176 Telok Ayer Street |
They occupy all four floors of the shophouse, but since we were their first customers, we were seated on the ground floor. The ground floor and outdoor seating alone can probably accommodate 20 people or more. Unfortunately, the air-conditioning on that level wasn’t working—though it was fine on the other floors. I was okay with it, but my bestie wasn’t too pleased. Haha!
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| The Bar on the ground floor |
Anyway, we moved on to ordering our food and drinks. Naturally, we checked out the cocktail menu first—I've been watching their videos on Facebook and was really intrigued by the presentation. I had already decided it would be a top priority during our visit.
Bestie went for 千里之外 (Far Away), and it turned out to be just her kind of drink. According to the menu, it’s a blend of Roku gin, chrysanthemum tea, plum, calamansi, sweet & sour mix, and citrus. Oh... it’s bursting with citrus! What do you think of that feminine flair?
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| 千里之外 Far Away $24 |
Here comes mine. 老板的眼泪 (Boss's Tears) really stands out. It’s a blend of Bacardi Carta Blanca, lime cordial, blue curacao, elderflower, and Shiraz Cabernet. Initially, it’s pretty strong on the alcohol, but the sweetness creeps in afterward. I’m into it!
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| 老板的眼泪 Boss's Tears $26 |
Definitely recommend trying their skewers. We had the King Oyster Mushrooms (杏鲍菇) for $2.90, Rice Sausage (糯米肠) for $3.90, Beef Cube (骰子牛肉) for $5.90, Bacon with Prawn (虾子培根卷) for $8.90, Bacon with Tomato (番茄培根卷) for $5.90, and Mi Xue Gao (米血糕素) for $2.90—and everything was great. We were hoping to try the Bai Ye Tofu (百页豆腐), but it wasn't available. Oh how I miss Taiwan!
I absolutely loved their Bacon with Prawn—it had such big, juicy prawns. The King Oyster Mushrooms were packed with flavor. Bestie is a fan of skewered mushrooms, so we’re hoping they’ll add more to the menu next time. The Rice Sausage and Beef Cubes were grilled to perfection, with just a hint of char on the outside.
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| Our spread of skewers |
Next, we went for the carbs of the day and were surprised by the portion size. We expected a bigger bowl, but it turned out smaller than we thought. So, it was a bit on the pricey side. That said, the seafood (with fish roe) on top of the rice made it feel more worth it. Bestie was loving the fresh oysters and mentioned they didn’t taste powdery. The prawns were fresh and had a nice springy texture. Personally, I found the rice a little too wet, though it did have a hint of sweetness. Some braised meat for the texture. Oh not forgetting the savory soup that comes with it.
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| 三宝综合卤肉饭Oyster Scallops & Prawn Rice Bowl $35 |
Once we finished, we decided to challenge ourselves by ordering 忠孝东路走九遍 (9 East Road), which was served to us in a 3x3 grid box and oriental cups. That meant we had to down 9 cups of cocktails, and according to the staff, each batch would be mixed randomly. We had no idea which cocktail was which, but I did catch a hint of Bacardi in one, and Bestie spotted the bartender adding some Gao Liang (高粱). Haha... It also brought to mind the song of the same name by the Taiwanese band 动力火车 (Power Station).
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| 忠孝东路走九遍 9 East Road $128 |
Of course, we needed some finger food to go with those 9 cups of cocktails, so we got 椒盐鸡爆米花 (Popcorn Chicken with basil). Not sure why it tasted so much better than when we make it at home in the air fryer!"
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| 椒盐鸡爆米花 Popcorn Chicken $11.90 |
A big thanks to ALing, who took care of us and even treated us to two rounds of free Gao Liang (高梁) on separate occasions that night. Were we not drinking enough? Maybe she thought we needed more alcohol because of our stressed-out faces. Haha… Thanks again, ALing! The service there wasn't as bad like what I have read online. Or maybe we are just lucky to get great service?
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| End the night with Gao Liang 高梁 |
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| Do we look stressed-out? I doubt so. |
We'll definitely be back again, and next time, we'll try more of their drinks and maybe some finger food to go with them. We were completely stuffed by the end of the session, so we’ll need to plan smarter next time! And in case you missed it, there's a previous post about another Taiwanese-style restaurant. Click
here to check it out! Also, don't forget to tune in to my YouTube Short this Sunday, June 8, 2025. Enjoy this post for now!
176 Telok Ayer Street
Singapore 068624
Nearest MRT: Telok Ayer (Downtown Line)Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post. All expenses were personally covered by the writer. The opinions expressed are entirely her own, based on personal experience and preferences, and do not represent the views of any other individual or organization.
