Toasteria Cafe has become a beloved staple for travellers and regulars living here seeking the comfort of Mediterranean food in Taipei. With multiple locations across the city, including the popular Yong Kang and Dunnan branches, the vibrant atmosphere and nod to Mediterranean culture offer a diverse menu that spans breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner. Touted by some as the best brunch in Taipei, from savoury paninis to fresh salads and hearty portions of pasta, Toasteria Cafe caters to a wide array of palates, ensuring that everyone finds something to delight in.
Toasteria Cafe is committed to creating a warm and inviting atmosphere in both of its branches, yet each location is thoughtfully designed to provide a comfortable and relaxing space where everyone can enjoy their meals. The menu is a testament to the rich culinary traditions of the Mediterranean, featuring flavours from Israel, Morocco, Egypt, Greece, Spain, France, and Italy. Ultimately, Mediterranean lines are blurred when it comes to the food at Toasteria Cafe. Dishes such as the apple brie panini and Moroccan lamb Bolognese are just as popular as many staples such as the shuk market plate, hummus basta, and shakshuka.
Whether you’re in the mood for a leisurely Taipei brunch or a late-night feast, Toasteria Cafe is sure to deliver a taste of the Mediterranean lifestyle, and being right in the heart of Taipei you’re probably running out of reasons to not go here this weekend…
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The focus of this article will be Toasteria Cafe’s Dunnan Branch. While both branches serve the same food, the vibes are entirely different. The Dunnan Branch here brings warm, dark, cosy vibes, yet the Xinyi branch next to the Yongkang Street Dongmen area brings light, modern, classy vibes.
If you aren’t sure how to order or what to do when you arrive at Toasteria Cafe, 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 Toasteria Cafe
Toasteria Cafe put their menu online. Therefore, for the most up-to-date version, you should check out their website using this link: https://www.toasteriacafe.com/menus.
Greek Salad
Constantly on the hunt for a fresh, reasonably priced salad in Taipei, I was intrigued to see what Toasteria was going to present. Especially as Toasteria specialises in Mediterranean food in Taipei, where salads are considered a staple of Mediterranean cuisine.
The salad itself was packed full of a generous variety of deliciously juicy olives, cubes of sweet red pepper, salty feta cheese, and plenty of mixed salad leaves. Served alongside some crunchy breadstick-style flatbreads smothered with olive tapenade (spread), the salad went down nicely. It was nicely dressed and balanced, and I would order it again.
Shakshuka
Shakshuka is a North African and Middle Eastern dish where the base is a spiced tomato and pepper sauce, and usually contains a couple of poached eggs that burst with yolk when you pop them open, adding texture and decadence. Traditionally made with cumin, paprika, and chilli, modern variations include additions like feta cheese, spinach, or merguez sausage, reflecting regional and contemporary tastes.
This classic version of Shakshuka at Toasteria Cafe followed the more traditional flavours of tomato, paprika, cumin, and chilli, with some spinach, feta, and 2 poached eggs thrown in there for good measure. Seasoned nicely and bringing punches of tomato and paprika, I was excited to pop those poached eggs. But, alas, no such fun happened. The eggs were hard by the time they made it to the table... After the mild crying subsided and everything was mixed up together, the flavours came together as they were spread onto the bread.
I'd hesitate to order this again, as the soft poached yolks of the egg are one of the main reasons why I order Shakshuka. It adds a layer of flavour and texture that compliment the dish, and without those, the dish falls a little flat as you just stir hard-poched egg around.
Would I get this if I am on the hunt for the best brunch in Taipei? Probably not. But, would I get this to scratch a Shakshuka itch? Perhaps.
Putanesca
Continuing with the theme of olives and feta, we opted for the pasta Putanesca. Dotted with mushrooms, capers, and a mildly rich tomato sauce, this putanese was pretty good. The sauce and accompaniments were the winner, but the pasta left me feeling a little deflated, perhaps due to my own preference of an al dente pasta.
The pasta served here disintigrated quite quickly as I ate it, but the flavour of it was good, especially when compared to some of the other Mediterranean restaurant Taipei offerings out there.
Tiramisu
Sat atop a couple of brush strokes of a milk chocolate sauce, this tiramisu was well-flavoured and heavy on the chocolate. I always appreciate tiramisu because there are lots of variations. Whether you want it crunchy, soft, chocolatey, boozey, creamy, or even super light and airy, there's always one there for you.
This one fits the bill more of a light cakey texture that comes in more chocolatey than most. I didn't mind it, but it felt more like an interpretation of tiramisu, rather than an explicit tiramisu. Think - Pasta & Co's Tiramisu.
While it's not my favourite tiramisu in the city so far (that spot goes to the restaurant linked here), I enjoyed it for a tiramisu variation, and would get it again to be washed down with a coffee at the end of my next meal at Toasteria Cafe.
The Bottom Line
Is it worth it? Toasteria Cafe is a Taipei brunch spot, in my opinion. I would prioritize the Xinyi branch next to Dongmen MRT station, and pair it with a wander around Da'an park or the Yongkang Street area of the city. Get a draft beer (they have Stella Artois on draft!), and enjoy a grilled cheese sandwich with some hummus or other side dishes.
What is the best dish? The best dish we had here may well have been the salad. The Putanesca comes in a close 2nd but misses out on top spot simply down to my preference for an al dente pasta.
Are there other places like this? When looking for Mediterranean food in Taipei it can be quite hit and miss. Taipei tends to offer more specialty restaurants that serve country-specific Mediterannean food. Think places such as Antico Forno for Italian, Ephernite for French, or La Caja de Musica for Spanish.