The Antipodean is a well-known Australian-style breakfast and brunch destination that entices visitors from all over Taipei with its elegant culinary choices. This lovely restaurant welcomes you in with a simple charm and laid-back atmosphere, while simultaneously offering you the rich tastes of Australian food in Taipei.
In the popular Minsheng area of Taipei right next to Songshan airport, The Antipodean is a popular choice for everyone and has made a position for itself in the field of breakfast and brunch. When going there, you must try the famous flat white, a genuine Australian coffee masterpiece that takes the caffeine experience to new heights. Not only do they specialize in hot food offerings for breakfast and brunch, but they also have many other selections to suit a wide range of tastes and dietary requirements throughout the day.
This is a place to come with friends, family, loved ones, or just by yourself to enjoy an indulgent breakfast in Taipei. Australian food in Taipei might not be anything that you have thought about before, but The Antipodean is about to settle that score.
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There are 2 branches, one in Neihu, and the other in the Minsheng area. The Minsheng one is bigger and more recently opened. Elegant and simple from the outside, The Antipodean really goes for that hipster vibe. In my opinion, it pulls it off pretty well, really. It doesn’t look flashy, but it does look welcoming from the outside, with the white painted walls, contrast blue kangaroo logo next to the door, and plants breaking the city feel.
The area around here is also excellent for walking around and checking out, too. There are plenty of excellent clothing stores and parks to laze around in. It’s perfect for a summer’s day with a pineapple cake from nearby Sunnyhill’s bakery. But it’s also great in winter with an indulgent box of cookies from but. we love butter.
The inside is very much the same as the outside – minimalist and elegant. Lots of whites, wood, and plants. The coffee machine had me captured, and the laid-back vibe inside had me feeling pretty perky for saying it was quite early and I hadn’t eaten my breakfast yet.
If you want to book for a large group of you ahead of time, then it’s possible but you’d need to book far enough in advance to make that happen. It’s possible to close the sliding doors here and have some more privacy if you plan to celebrate a special occasion.
A mark that The Antipodean is going well is perhaps the fact that they sell their own branded merchandise. Those tote bags look great, and there aren’t many places in Taipei where you’re going to get a Chai mix, either.
If you aren’t sure how to order or what to do when you arrive at ____, 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 The Antipodean
Printed on the menu is the statement:
Menus are subject to change based on availability and seasonality.
Therefore, providing a link for you will be more accurate if the menu is likely to fluctuate due to seasonal produce.
Link provided by The Antipodean, and is subject to change
The Big Breakfast
I'm a morning person. You will often find me walking along a riverside park path en route to a breakfast shop in Yonghe in the early morning. Early to bed, early to rise. With that being said, I take my breakfast seriously. It can make or break my day.
When I go somewhere like The Antipodean and see that their menu has an item entitled 'The Big Breakfast', it's a no-brainer. I have to get it.
This came with potato rosti (called hash brown on their menu, but it's a rosti), scrambled eggs, bacon, grilled tomato, sausage, mushrooms, beans, and some sourdough bread.
Each individual part of this dish was good, so when it all came together on a plate and was served with coffee, the result was smiles all around. What I particularly liked was the scrambled eggs, the sausage, and the beans. The scrambled eggs were fluffy and not cooked to be hard. There was a delicateness to them that encouraged a certain refined feel to the whole thing.
The sausage wasn't sweet, it was salty savoury sausagey goodness. And then, the beans - memories. I love me some baked beans. I know they're not for everyone, and I know that a bunch of people don't get it, but I'm not here for that. Stick a tin of beans on toast and that's a fine meal for any self-respecting Brit.
I didn't particularly enjoy the potato rosti, the bread, or the tomato. The rosti was a little bit too greasy, as was the bread. The tomato was grilled quickly, meaning that the outside was slightly soft, but the inside of the tomato was still hard. Perhaps this is a little bit too personal preference, but I think a tomato should be grilled slowly with some butter and plenty of salt, allowing the whole thing to become soft and rich with tomato flavour.
Avocado Breakfast Plate
A plethora of deep, rich, beautiful colours adorn this Avocado breakfast plate. It almost looks too good to eat. Almost.
Every element of this dish was wonderful. The sourdough bread topped with the avocado dressed with dried chilli flakes was delightfully decadent. The eggs were similarly delicate and refined as in the above Big Breakfast. The little side salad of rocket/arugula was a nice touch. The mushrooms were seasoned really well and added a great earthiness to the meal. The cherry tomatoes helped to balance out the earthy mushrooms with a pop of sweetness. That halloumi was also pretty good, albeit a little salty.
Smoked Salmon Avocado Toast
If you thought the Avocado Breakfast Plate was pretty, then this one is the showstopper. Thinly cut radish and other vegetables accompanied by dill and capers sit atop this generously draped smoked salmon on top of smashed avo and sourdough. That side salad accompaniment continues along the fresh vibe, and everything comes together into a lighter, yet still delicious, breakfast.
Make sure to add a squeeze of lemon on top, as we should all know by now that salmon and avocado are best friends with lemon.
Flat White
I love coffee. The flavour, the feeling, the culture, the precision. I am into everything about coffee. At this point in my life, I have narrowed down the type of beans I like from 2 specific countries for my espresso or Americano, and I enjoy flat white or cappuccino on the weekends when I have more time on my hands to truly enjoy the coffee culture that is certainly alive and kicking in Taipei.
The difference between a flat white and a latte (as they are quite similar) is that a latte is made with espresso and steamed milk, typically topped with a small amount of frothed milk. A flat white is similar but has a higher espresso-to-milk ratio and is known for its velvety microfoam texture. The flat white originated in either/or/and Australia and/or New Zealand (the jury is still out as to exactly which country it originated from), while the latte is more globally recognized.
I am here for that higher espresso-to-milk ratio, as I am not much of a fan of milk in my coffee. The different temperature and speed at which the milk is frothed allows for a slightly smoother and more textured feel as you drink it, whilst retaining that strong coffee flavour. No wishy-washy latte here. That being said, you should expect a flat white to be around 150-180ml, whereas a standard latte is around the 200-250ml volume. So if it's the volume that you want, then the latte is what you're after. But if you want a stronger, shorter drink - Flat White all the way.
This flat white delivers on all fronts with the perfect amount of coffee flavour pulling through silky smooth milk with plenty of texture. Dare I even say that I have yet to drink a better flat white in Taipei. In fact, I do dare say that I will travel for this flat white. I would come here just for the coffee.
Almond Croissant
I am usually not a huge fan of an almond croissant, as I like my croissant to be crispy, airy, and delicate. This doesn't often happen in an almond croissant. So if that's what you're looking for, then you should realign your expectations.
You'll find a flatter croissant weighed down by the nuts on top, but also crammed full of ground almonds on the inside, too. It's absolutely brilliant, and the perfect accompaniment to your flat white. In fact, I dip it right into my flat white and really enjoy my first meal of the day the right way. Fragrant, buttery, nutty, rich, and simply delicious. Don't leave here without one.
Table Spread
There's not many nicer table spreads in Taipei. This is second to none for Australian food, in my opinion. But maybe you've been to somewhere that you think is similarly delicious - comment below if this is you, as I want to know where!
The bottom line
Is it worth it? Without a doubt. Spot-on.
What is the best dish? The Avocado Breakfast Plate is exceptional value for money if you're in for a hearty first meal of the day. But the flat white and almond croissant pairing is perfect if you want a snack and a great drink.
Are there other places like this? There are, but none as good, in my opinion. Supranormal does a great hearty breakfast (but isn't quite as authentically Australian as here).