February 2011 saw a new player emerge in the luxury hotel and fine dining scene in Taiwan. Starwood Hotels officially opened the doors to their newest property - the W Hotel in Taipei's XinYi district. The W Hotel in Taipei is also home to one of the brand's first Chinese restaurants in the world. Perched atop the 31st floor and offering expansive views of the Taipei skyline, YEN features fine Cantonese cuisine in a modern, stylish atmosphere.
Jereme Leung Consults on YEN Cantonese Restaurant
One of Asia's leading and most respected chefs and restaurateurs lent his expertise in creating the menu for Yen. Jereme Leung is the mastermind behind Shanghai and Beijing's Whampoa Club and spent some time in Taiwan last year to consult and develop a "modern Cantonese" menu for the W Hotel.
After literally eating his way through Taiwan night markets and local restaurants during 2010, Leung utilized elements important in Taiwanese cuisine to help create an innovative and modern take on Chinese cuisine that appeals to both locals and tourists alike.
Focus on Labor Intensive Chinese Dishes
A new trend in many higher-end Chinese restaurants is to go back to their roots - taking dishes that have long been abandoned by many restaurants and bringing them back to a whole new generation of food lovers. Many traditional Chinese dishes are labor intensive - some requiring multiple days of preparation - and have since disappeared from most menus. Some long-established Michelin starred restaurants and "up-and-comers" in Asia are taking the time to include these dishes on their menus again, ensuring these important dishes in Chinese culture will not be forgotten.
Signature Menu Items at W Hotel's YEN
While the entire menu is worth sampling, YEN offers some signature dishes that should not be missed. One caveat: the menu is designed with traditional Chinese style dining in mind - meaning portions are large and designed to feed four to five people. This means you may not be able to sample many different dishes if you are a party of one or two so make some new friends or grab some co-workers for dinner.
One item to try is the Roast Fortune Suckling Pig (per portion $800 NT). One of the best suckling pig offerings in Taipei, the skin is crispy and flavorful, and the layer of pork is not greasy or overly fat like many other Cantonese restaurants.
The House Specialty of Rock Salt Baked Chicken ($1,200 NT) is worth trying - even if you only have two people. It's an entire chicken, but one of the best dishes in Yen. Be advised that they only have a certain number of these available and it is possible to find it is sold out as early as 7:30pm - including weeknights.
YEN's Duo of Rice Cakes ($200 NT) is a fine dining spin on a local Taiwanese classic. Known as Wagui rice cakes, these are a popular snack food item in the southern city of Tainan. YEN has taken this and combined it with a Southeast Asian rice cake variety to create the "duo of rice cakes" featuring white and dark rice cakes.
Directions and Location of YEN
YEN is located on the 31st floor of the W Hotel, which is located in the XinYi district of Taipei. The restaurant is open for lunch (11:30am - 2:30pm) and again for dinner at 6pm (service runs until 10pm). It is a fine dining atmosphere and the dress code is smart casual. Reservations are highly recommended and truly a necessity during weekends and holiday periods.
The W Hotel is located at 10 ZhongXiao East Road, Section 5 in Taipei. The W Taipei sits atop the Taipei City Hall MRT station, or it is easily reached by an inexpensive cab ride, making it easily accessible from anywhere else in Taipei County. To make reservations, contact the W Taipei at +886 2 7703 8888 or visit the main Starwood Hotels website.
Erin De Santiago - Erin is a freelance travel, food/wine, & Disney writer in Taipei, Taiwan, who has traveled within 40+ different countries to date.
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