Golden Formosa Taiwanese Cuisine

Good above average Chinese food, I don’t know the pricing, but very filling. Them crispy pork ribs are something of dreams-unbeatably crispy, and the fried sweet taro was a good finish (before the fruit) I don’t know the pricing, but it was good. Nothing really blew me away besides the pork ribs-how is it so crispy?? Like picking it up already made such a delicate crunching noise…. Great place for a classic big family and friends meal-I don’t think I would come here unless it with a big group (because it’s just all food meant to be shared) Nice servers too-let us keep the abalone shells (shiny)

Nestled in the quiet alleys of Shilin District, Golden Formosa is more than just a restaurant — it’s a living archive of Taiwan’s culinary heritage. With a history spanning three generations, this Michelin-starred institution continues to honor the heart and soul of traditional Taiwanese cuisine with grace, precision, and heartfelt nostalgia. From the moment you step in, you’re greeted with the warmth of a family-run establishment, where hospitality feels genuine and generational knowledge flows from kitchen to table. The space is elegant yet unpretentious — much like the food itself. Signature dishes are nothing short of legendary. The deep-fried pork ribs (古早味排骨酥) are iconic — delicately marinated, expertly fried, and finished with a sweet glaze that perfectly balances crunch with tenderness. Each bite transports you to a forgotten Taipei, where flavors were bold, soulful, and made with love. Equally memorable is their crab sticky rice (蟹黃油飯), a comforting, umami-rich dish with briny crab roe and deeply fragrant glutinous rice — the kind of flavor that lingers in your mind long after the meal ends. Even the seemingly simple side dishes, like sautéed seasonal vegetables or clear soups, are executed with such finesse that you’re reminded why tradition matters. Golden Formosa is not about trend-chasing. It’s about respect — for ingredients, for tradition, and for time-honored techniques that are slowly disappearing in the modern culinary world. And yet, there’s nothing dated about the experience. It’s classic, not old-fashioned. Refined, not rigid. The service? Impeccably warm — attentive without intrusion. The staff treat you like family, and there’s a sense of pride in every dish they serve. Whether you’re a seasoned gourmet or a curious traveler looking to taste Taiwan’s roots, Golden Formosa is an unforgettable experience. It’s not just a meal — it’s a memory, a story, a legacy carried forward one exquisite dish at a time.

Apr 2025 Dinner 9 of us Try visitinng this michelin restaurant Foods are all very tasty. With few very special ones. Worth the michelin star. Most of the soup based menu are refreshing and very tasty with unique delicious flavor. Will come back for sure

This place is a great find. A Michelin-starred restaurant that's doing traditional Taiwanese cuisine. It's down to earth and straight to the point family style restaurants. They've taken classic dishes and just elevated them to another level. What Makes It Special: - Michelin-level cooking - Incredible flavor combinations - Respects traditional cooking techniques - Uses top-notch ingredients The whole experience feels like you're getting an authentic Taiwanese meal, just done at the absolute highest level. No fancy plating, no unnecessary drama - just incredible food. Pro Tip: Definitely make a reservation as dinner time gets packed. Would 100% recommend. This is Taiwanese cuisine done right. 👌

We had our lunch here for a special family gathering and this restaurant was the perfect place. Food coming out in correct orders and appropriate time between serving of each menu. Their lime juice was a big hit! As you can see from the photos they put great effort into each dish - both taste and presentation. The menu consists of authentic Taiwanese cuisine. Location-wise, it is situated in outer skirts of Taipei central, so travel via public transport may not be too straightforward. The staff kindly helped us arrange taxi after our meal.

Well deserved Michelin stars. Creative, delicious, and varied. Each dish was interesting, with a variety of flavors. The bamboo was delicate, the jellyfish spicy and the noodles ethereal. Place yourself as there are all many amazing dishes.

Outstanding Taiwanese cuisine! Very unique flavours yet delicious. Must order: 1. Fried pork ribs 2. Cabbage soup with pig skin 3. Glutinous rice with crabs 4. Fried Bee hoon with shredded pumpkin 5. Poached chicken 6. Fried taro sticks Very good service. Must make reservations. Highly recommended.

When I was a child, my parents always brought me to attend the feast held by the temples almost every month or two months. Nowadays, those dishes are hard to find. However, I found the exactly the same dishes and flavors in this restaurant. It refreshes my memory so much and I truly love it. The price maybe not be as affordable as the feast I attended before, but it’s worth if you would like to try those classical Taiwanese food. It’s so Tammy and delicious.

Saw this place on YouTube and had to try it. Without a doubt one of the best restaurants I've ever been to. I went for the uni with sea cucumber and was incredibly impressed. Also had the seafood congee and hands down it's my favorite. Any interest in going I'd suggest a reservation at least a month in advance. It's very expensive by local standards but well worth it

The food is decent, but nothing extraordinary. No Wow factors. Oyster omelette was the best out of all the dishes we ordered. Cold cut chicken was good, deep fried ribs were ok, uni noodles was disappointing and the chicken soup was salty and has MSG in it (we were told after we should have request no MSG). Everything else I don't really remember... The service was good in Taiwanese standard/Michelin 1 star standard. One thing throw us off is they put down the check without asking if we need anything else, felt being rush out. Overall ambiance was normal, family restaurant style. Tables were very close to each other. Not sure if I would go back, as you can get same or better Taiwanese food everywhere in the city.

The service here is amazing. We came in without a reservation but they squeezed in time for us and we were given an hour to eat. We also asked if they had the Buddha Jumps Over The Wall soup that you have to order in advance, and they were able to make us an extra one. The food also came out very quickly and it was delicious. Their menu is extensive so you're bound to find something that you like. There is also English on their menus so it is tourist friendly. We ordered the White Cut Chicken and it was extremely good. The chicken was juicy and fatty and every bite exploded with flavor. I usually don't like white meat because I find it dry, but the chicken breast here was still moist and flavorful. I also really liked the Oyster and Scallop Pancake. Oyster pancake is a traditional Taiwanese dish, but sometimes the oysters can leave a bad fishy taste. The oyster and scallop pancake here though had no unpleasant fishiness. It tasted fresh and had a great balance of sweetness and saltiness. Another dish I liked was the Spicy Tofu. Even though the tofu was fried, it was not oily and had a great flavor. If you're in the area and want the treat of eating Michelin Starred Taiwanese food, I highly recommend this place.

My first time eating a Michelin starred meal. Sadly a couple things we wanted, such as the chicken, were sold out. But we had the buddha jumping over the wall soup which is a broth with taro, pig stomach, mushrooms, spare ribs and just a jumble of things. Very good and popular. The spare ribs and the stir fried tofu we had were my favorite. We also had shrimp, mullet roe fried rice. These two were nothing that special to me. I enjoyed the fried taro dessert, sweet and sour fish, and the white water snowflake veggies. They brought out the food pretty fast. I came with a group of 6 and ordered 8 dishes and we were extremely full. And couldn't finish our food. Overall the dinner came out to about $160 USD which isn't bad for so many people. There is a 10% service fee too. They also take card so don't worry about carrying too much cash. Definitely a great place to bring family, business clients, or a loved one.

My dad's side of the family goes here regularly during our visits to Taiwan for the old school, legit, traditional, how-it-should-be-done type Taiwanese food that was almost lost post-WWII but saved by folks with heart, and the food shows it. Only downside is potentially much fried food, but easily avoided by attentively reading the menu. I don't read Chinese, have a poor memory of spoken food terms, my cousins always orders, and I didn't take photos so I sadly can't recall or name the many many items we've ordered, but my memories here are namely of fine highly crafted dishes, superb presentation, snappy alert service, very fresh ingredients (as is de rigeur in Taipei), and overall a great culinary experience not just a mere meal. The Chinese (not English translations in sight, even if much of Taipei is bilingual) written material adds to the story-telling that's the restaurant's real purpose. They've a large waiting area in the front before the air conditioned doors for the large crowds and tour groups to queue as the inside seats far too few for such crowds, seems like seating for 80 on the 1st floor and I believe there's a 2nd floor also. Easy to reach by walking from ShinKong Mitsukoshi Tienmu on the major TienMuE Rd. High chairs available. That's all until my next visit in a year!

Excellent service and incredible food! Make no mistake, these are definitely western prices, but still a wonderful experience. The ribs were delicious, and the chicken was so flavorful! Our group of 8 was well-accommodated and taken care of. The fried rice, the pork intestine, and the 紅燒 meat were delightful! The ambience was excellent as well, and our plates were frequently changed for clean ones. The two waitresses who took care of us did a great job, and were also hilarious! We had a wonderful time and we hope to come back before our stay is over!

This is a pretty great restaurant selection if you are looking to bring visitors from overseas to a traditional Taiwanese meal at a decent price. While Golden Formosa may be a bit out of the way since it's all the way in Tian Mu, the entire setup of the restaurant has really amazing deco: a small garden-esque area and a lot of seating inside that is divided into private dining rooms and a larger "hall." I particularly like their fried spare ribs and the oil chicken rice. Dishes tend to be rather heavily seasoned but it is really tasty. They offer fresh juices too, you can get a glass for $150 NTD or a pitcher that is about 7 cups for $400 NTD. Highly recommend this place for both a quick meal as well as a nice dinner with relatives and friends.

I was looking for a good place to have dinner in Taipei for my birthday and this place was on my list. Since it's a Michelin Star restaurant I though it would be a good idea to make reservation ahead of time by emailing them. Especially if you want Buddha Jumps the Wall then you have to preorder and prepay ahead of time. So many good dishes on the menu that it's hard to decide unless you eat dinner with more people then you can order many to try. Service and atmosphere is fantastic. They're only open four hours for dinner so be aware. The prices range from decent to expensive. If you want exquisite seafood dishes then this is the place to go

I really wanted this place to be good especially since it has a Michelin star. I was pretty underwhelmed by the food and thought the service was pretty bad. We ordered their classics which I thought was solid but not Michelin level quality in my opinion. For the hype, I would expect the food and service to make me want to come back. I can say that won't be the case here. Though I do have to say that prices are incredibly reasonable here - so don't expect to break the bank to eat here... one of the only highlights of the meal!

Super authentic Taiwanese cuisine . Need to make reservation in advance or you cannot get seats .its super popular during weekend . And most of their famous dishes cannot order in store, you need to make reservation in advance for them to prepare ingredients.

Solid aesthetic and friendly, warm service. Recommend the 三杯肥肠 and chicken oil rice. Come after 8:15pm and you are guaranteed a seat. Harder at the dinner rush.