Not Just Homesick, Real Down Home Taiwanese

Taiwan Café

About Pittsburgh

Taiwan Café is not just a name. It doesn't merely define where the cuisine comes from. It represents, according to local connoisseurs, the best authentic Taiwanese cuisine in the city. Probably the only one in all of Pittsburgh that can claim this compliment. “It has a real taste of Taiwan”, according to real true blue Taiwanese who have been transplanted here, one of the greenest cities in America.

It wasn't always that green. In fact Pittsburgh used to be one of the major industry cities in America. It was historically known for its steel industry and industrial blue collar town whose workers came from Eastern Europe, Germany and Russia. This was a beer guzzling city whose inhabitants were used to eating fatty pork sausages and meats with potatoes. Not so any longer! Palettes have changed drastically as has the physical landscape. It is now one of the prettiest cities on the east coast and considered to have one of the best views in all of America from the point where the three rivers meet. It has also diversified, gentrified and glamorized its eateries moving away from the heavy eastern European fare to the international hotpot of culinary choice from Chinese and Asian fusion to Mediterranean.

Taiwan Café is a place to come and get some good eats for a great price when you are on the go. One customer commented, “I ordered Shredded Pork Fried Rice with pickled cabbage.”

“It is not on the menu, but the chef made it for me anyway. It was so delicious and just like my mom's cooking. I so enjoyed it. I'll be coming back for more of this.”

One of the partners in the restaurant told ARN that the Taiwan Café is a place to reminisce about the old days for many customers missing their home towns. Once, we were informed, a customer took photos of the dishes served him to send them home to his mother to convince her that he was living happily abroad. He wanted to persuade her that even in Pittsburgh he could enjoy home-made dishes that tasted just like the ones he was used to.

Location & Background

Taiwan Café is in a superb location close to the Pittsburgh University area, contemporary art museum and various hospitals. It is a hub of student life and commercial activity. The restaurant is not that noticeable from the main thoroughfare, as it is on the ground floor of a building. First time customers come to know this restaurant by its bright signage, from there it is, as with all good news, word of mouth. The customers come from various backgrounds: students of the universities, doctors and nurses, etc.

The owners, Sam and Michelle Peng, had been searching for the right place to start their restaurant for almost five years. There were no empty buildings in the area the Pengs were looking at, until a Korean couple retired and sold the business.

What are the Specialties of Taiwan Café?

Taiwanese cooking is a simple rustic cuisine which makes the most of the abundant ingredients influenced by its geographic surroundings. Quintessential Taiwanese cooking features less oil and salt and a lightness of flavor. Bowls of Asian noodle soups and scallion pancakes are well-known by Asian students. “Our Ho Fun or Beef flavored noodles vary from other restaurants due to the soup” says Michelle. She explains further, “we simmer the beef bone for a long time which results in a richer flavored soup.”

A mystery diner appointed by AboutFace, a company provides clients with a realistic look at how their sales and service teams are performing by secret shopping, once commented: “The minced pork over noodles was served warm and in a generous portion. It was attractively presented and tasted good. The won ton soup was served warm. It was fresh and tasted good. The pork egg roll was served warm and was attractively presented. It tasted great.”

The most celebrated dishes here are the Mapo Spicy Bean Curd, Curry Chicken, General Tso's Tofu, and Eggplant with Basil and Sautéed Meat with Bamboo Shoots.

According to the owner, customers from all backgrounds enjoy the Mapo spicy bean curd because of how it's cooked with minced pork atop the tofu. It is simmered over the flame combining the two flavors. The customers also appreciate good flavorings. Sam insists, “We only work with high quality Kikkoman soy sauce and Lee Kum Kee oyster sauce”, to give one the idea of the products used.

“Korean and Japanese like this dish as well as those Americans who are fluent in using chopsticks”, adds Michelle. The curry chicken sauce is simmered to perfection while the Eggplant and basil dish (literally “nine storey pagodas”) has an exotic flavor offsetting the eggplant which can be rather spineless and watery. Americanized Chinese dishes such as General Tso's Tofu are hits as tofu is quite popular. The tofu has a crunch when matched with General Tso's Chicken sauce.

On the health front Taiwan Café will serve less or no oil dishes. They prepare food the way a customer requests it, be it steamed, boiled, without MSG etc. Sauces can be served alongside the main courses. Brown rice is available upon request as well. As to new innovations, the chefs are busy working on new dishes to please new and existing customers who are familiar with the menu. She seeks inspiration from customers, sometimes by reading cookbooks. Taiwanese bubble teas are big hits with students. Milk tea with tapioca, milkshake smoothies are available.

Service

This small 40 seater dine-in and take-away requires prompt and proactive service. The staff talks with the customers and knows their likes and dislikes. They take customer suggestions for improvement of the dishes. They remember customer's names. Making their customers feel at home is one of their top priorities. Whatever it takes to create this feeling is fine by Michelle because “my customers must be satisfied in every shape and form.” She pursues this philosophy in her daily life religiously.

Since it is an open kitchen customers see the kitchen and this places an extra requirement on maintaining a super clean environment. The establishment looks new and tidy. The ceiling vent is brushed clean for example.

Future Musings

The grim economy has little influence on this tiny restaurant. Because the owners worked tirelessly to build a good reputation through word of mouth the fruits of her labors are now evident. People know of the locale, customers come back and new ones will hear about it through friends or family members. She is not worried. Besides, Pittsburgh is blooming as a city.

Taiwan Café has recently been awarded “Top100 Healthy Dishes” and “Top 100 Overall Excellence” in the 5^th Top100 Chinese Restaurants in the USA competition, organized by Chinese Restaurant News. This award is setting the standard for excellence, aiming to present the very best of Chinese cuisine, which has become a part of America's daily dining scene.