Bon Meingerda in Shilin is a hidden gem secluded next to a park a short walk from Jiantan MRT Station and a stone’s throw from the ever-popular Shilin Night Market. Bon Meingerda specialises in Taiwanese-style Gnocchi, which is not a particularly common thing around the island. The idea of Taiwanese-style Gnocchi perhaps began in the markets around Taiwan as a way to use up blocks of noodles that weren’t being used anymore. Shaved into a big pot of boiling water and served with the same sort of toppings as your standard noodles, this Taiwanese-style Gnocchi hit differently.
Bon Meingerda have worked hard to create a tranquil space hidden from the crowds of Shilin, and quietly work hard to continue honing their craft. You can either get your gnocchi served with or without soup here, and you can expect classic flavours such as tomato-based gnocchi, wine stir-fried clam gnocchi, or seafood gnocchi packed full of the flavours of the ocean. However, Bon Meingerda also pushes the boundaries of Taiwanese-style Gnocchi with marinated chicken and cheese gnocchi, Korean gnocchi with kimchi, and truffle gnocchi on the menu.
Bon Meingerda is certainly a Shilin restaurant to save on your list of places to go when next in the area. Shilin restaurants tend to be concentrated around the night market, but this is a Shilin restaurant hidden away from the crowds, ensuring a relaxing, yet filling meal.
Table of Contents
As you find yourself outside Bon Meingerda, you will immediately notice the secluded feel of the space, with lots of greenery around, a muted appearance, and a humbleness in how it presents itself.
The inside is similar to the outside. It’s welcoming, yet humble and relaxed.
The restaurant is quite cosy and intimate, which means that there can be a wait for a table during busy times. However, this shouldn’t deter you from visiting. The staff are efficient and work quickly, ensuring that tables become available relatively quickly. Additionally, the menu is not extensive, so the turnover of customers is quite regular, allowing for a steady flow of diners in and out.
If you aren’t sure how to order or what to do when you arrive at Bon Meingerda, then this is the post for you. See below for How to Order in Taipei Restaurants like a definitive pro!
3 Fast Tips on How to Order in Taipei Restaurants like a definitive pro!
The Menu at Bon Meingerda
While the restaurant doesn't update its menu offerings regularly, we did notice that there was a $10 price increase on the dishes from when we went to the time of writing this post. This seems to reflect a growing trend across all restaurants in Taipei. With that in mind, it's best to check out their online menu to ensure that you are getting the most up-to-date prices and dishes from the menu. You can get that by clicking this link.
What we Ordered
Starters
Gnocchi isn't synonymous with vegetables, so we figured it was probably best to get a couple of vegetable starters to balance out the meal. We went for the lotus root salad (on the left), and the pickled daikon radish (on the right). Both were very tasty. They were crunchy fresh, packed with flavour, but not overly salty in any way like some can be. We also decided to get grapefruit sparkling water, too. It was a very hot day when we went, so this went down nicely.
Clam Meingerda with Rice Wine
Clams cooked in rice wine and served with a scallop and shrimp with gnocchi. There was plenty of basil, garlic, and onion flavour throughout this dish. The gnocchi was nicely chewy yet not overly so. It had been finished with some butter and pepper in the pan, giving it a beautiful texture and fragrance. The clams were fresh and beautifully presented with a little cube of pepper to contrast the colours of the dish.
The gnocchi itself tasted great. Each bite was balanced nicely with the rice wine flavours and the light sauce in which it sat. The pan-fried onion brought an earthy sweetness to everything, and the mushrooms complemented the texture of the gnocchi throughout.
This scallop was a right fat boy. Pan-fried to perfection, allowing the outside to take on a resistant (not crunchy, of course!) skin, while the centre remained silky smooth and burst with flavours of the ocean with every bite. Well seasoned, fragrant, and hitting the spot.
Dongshan Duck with Balsamic Vinegar Cream Sauce
I thought that the clam gnocchi dish above arrived smelling wonderful, and then this duck gnocchi arrived and instantly made me drool. There's something about the smell of balsamic vinegar that just does it for me. It may have been served in a cream sauce here, but it instantly filled the air with intense smells. Once again, attention to detail has been paid with serving, which goes a long way to show that they care.
While this duck looks dry, I can assure you that it wasn't dry at all. It was succulent and went really well with that deeply rich balsamic vinegar cream sauce. I really enjoyed this. In fact, it reminded me of one of my favourite pasta dishes in Taipei at Solo Pasta - smoked duck breast in balsamic cream sauce with spaghetti.
Taipei restaurant -Solo Pasta
The Bottom Line
Is it worth it? Bon Meingerda is worth it if you're looking for a tasty Shilin restaurant that isn't right next to the Shilin night market. It's cosy, tasty, and well-priced.
What is the best dish? I enjoyed the duck and balsamic cream the most. It was tangy, rich, and the duck was tasty.
Are there other places like this? I don't often eat Taiwanese-style gnocchi. But if you want a good Italian-style gnocchi, you should check out Antico Forno, Divino Enoteca, Divino, or even Solo Pasta might have a dish or two, too.
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Taipei restaurant – Divino Italian Restaurant