3 Michelin restaurants in Taiwan that deserve a spot on your bucket list
If you're looking for modern cuisine with a twist of Taiwanese flair, these three restaurants – Haili, Le Maison de Win and YUENJI – are the places you want to be.
Taiwan’s culinary scene is an ever-evolving playground for bold flavors and boundary-pushing chefs. While Taipei has long dominated the fine-dining conversation, other cities are also making waves with inventive menus that pay homage to tradition while embracing modernity. From refined takes on street food classics to inventive fusion dishes that blend Eastern and Western influences, Taiwan’s culinary landscape is thriving like never before. Michelin-starred restaurants are popping up beyond the capital in cities like Kaohsiung and Taichung, proving that world-class dining isn’t just confined to Taipei.
Whether you're a die-hard foodie, an adventurous eater, or simply someone who appreciates a meticulously crafted meal, these three 1-Michelin-starred restaurants deliver culinary experiences worth traveling for. Each one tells a story—of regional ingredients, tradition reimagined, and chefs pushing the boundaries of what fine cuisine can be.
Fine dining aside, make sure to try these Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurants when visiting Taiwan.
HAILI AT KAOHSIUNG
A Masterclass in Regional Flavor
Kaohsiung’s dining scene has a rising star, and its name is Haili. Just three months after opening, this modern fine-dining gem snagged its first Michelin star, proving that Chef William Kang’s culinary instincts are nothing short of razor-sharp.
With a resume that includes stints at Taipei’s most celebrated restaurants—RAW, logy, and STAY—William could have played it safe. Instead, he packed up and headed south, where he found inspiration in Kaohsiung’s bold, umami-rich flavors. Haili’s menu takes classic southern Taiwanese ingredients—ShaCha sauce, preserved radish, and Kaohsiung’s Doubanjiang—and spins them into something entirely new.
Take his elevated take on hot pot noodles (one of his signature dishes) as an example, where you are welcomed with plump shrimp wontons, delicate ravioli stuffed with clam meat and sailfish paste, and a luxurious shrimp-infused broth, all topped with a touch of hollandaise. It’s comfort food, but on the Michelin-level.
Then there’s the duck, air-dried for 14 days before being slow-roasted to perfection. Served with a mulberry and beetroot sauce, smoky rice straw, and a whisper of angelica-infused whiskey bubbles, it’s a dish that proves Kaohsiung’s flavors belong on the global stage.
Haili is located at 2F, 264-1 Chenggong 1st Road, Qianjin District, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Tel No.: +88672150559.
For more information, visit the Michelin Guide website here.
YUENJI AT TAICHUNG
A Love Letter to Taiwanese Heritage
Four months. That’s all it took for YUENJI to earn a Michelin star after its grand opening in April 2024. But when you have Chef Lin Ju-Wei at the helm—a culinary maestro who previously led The Guest House to five consecutive years of two-star recognition—it’s no surprise.
Taiwanese cuisine is a fascinating tapestry of influences, from early Fujianese and Cantonese settlers to the refined elegance of Japanese colonial-era cooking. Yuenji captures this culinary evolution in a menu that reads like a tribute to home cooking, but with the precision and finesse of fine dining.
The restaurant’s six-category set menu includes deeply flavorful appetizers, signature YUENJI creations, hometown-inspired specialties, and beautifully executed rice, noodles, and pancakes – all of which are available for a one-of-a-kind tea-pairing experience.
Hugo Sheng, Vice President of POUYEUNJI, says, "We want to remind everyone that when dining, a good pot of tea should accompany your meal, allowing you to calm down and enjoy the experience. The tea should be presented cup by cup by a skilled tea master to ensure the quality and temperature are consistent from beginning to end."
Housed in a sleek two-story space with 128 seats and a stunning interior filled with art and decor masterpieces, Yuenji is more than a restaurant—it’s a statement on what Taiwanese cuisine can be.
YUENJI is located at 5 Anhe East Road, Xitun District, Taichung, Taiwan.
Tel No.: +886423586368.
For more information and reservations, visit the Michelin Guide website here.
LA MAISON DE WIN AT TAICHUNG
Where East Meets West in a Perfectly Plated Symphony
Taichung’s La Maison de Win is rewriting the rulebook on fusion fine dining. Helmed by two powerhouse chefs—John Chiang, a Cantonese cuisine expert with a five-star hotel background, and Rory Lin, a French-trained visionary—the restaurant is a meeting of minds (and flavors) that feels both timeless and avant-garde.
Their menu is built around the rhythm of the seasons, taking cues from the 24 solar terms to craft dishes that feel deeply rooted yet completely modern. A standout example? The Iberico Pork Collar served with pickled chili sauerkraut and gingered pineapple – a vibrant and well-balanced dish that brings a flavourful bomb of nuances that excites the palate.
What's brilliant about La Maison de Win is their approach on embracing the quintessential flavoursome Chinese elements in their dishes, all while maintaining and bringing a refined French sophistication to the plate, resulting in a unique dining experience that is worth every bite.
From claypot chicken to South African abalone and Hokkaido scallop, Le Maison de Win presents the finest ingredients with refined cooking techniques and innovation to enhance their flavour profile to give us, its diners, a unique dining experience unlike any other establishment.
La Maison de Win is located at 636, Section 2, Wenxin Road, Xitun District, Taichung, Taiwan.
Tel No.: +886423266655.
For more information and reservations, visit the Michelin Guide website here.
