The Best Croissants in Taipei

best croissants in taipei

Rise Bakery

The Best Croissants in Taipei

Rise Bakery makes the best croissants in Taipei. If you’re an avid bread enthusiast who is yearning for more western & less asian-palate refined bread, then you need to add this bakery to your bucket list!

The store is sort of tucked and hidden away like an uncut gemstone, and looks as plain as a rock. I mean that is a good thing, no? Less is more. In addition, Rise doesn’t really appear in the results on google maps, and the signage is barely visible–I don’t even think I saw one. The store literally blends in with the surroundings that you wouldn’t have noticed that this is a bakery unless you were paying special attention, especially to the smell of butter from the freshly baked bread running out of the building in the afternoon.

I haven’t tried anything, ANYTHING, like these croissants in Taipei, ever. Not even that Japanese croissant chain franchise can compare to the homey and comforting croissants from Rise Bakery. Perfectly crisp, plump, with just the right amount of butter and salt. It shines just as bright and golden as a crescent moon. I’m salivating just from reminiscing about it all over again.

Best Croissant in Taipei

There’s no point in just having the croissant when there’s also the Pain Au Chocolate. It was also puffy, flaky, and buttery, but the chocolate batons were a bit too sweet(I prefer mine dark).

pain au chocolat

Other goodies:

Milk Toast: if you put your nose close to the package, you can smell the hints of butter and milk, coupled with the pillowy soft texture. Moist, and fluffy. My colleagues devoured what was left, instantly.

Milk toast

Sourdough Bread Loaf:

I used to have an aversion to sourdough because the one I tried from Panera in the states was sooo sour. The loaf from Rose Bakery is modestly sour without being overbearingly sour. The crumb is not too moist and spongy.

sourdough slice

Sausage & Jalapeño Pizza: I would advise you to ask if they could re-heat it because it might be cold and could use a little more crispness. The sausage and jalapeño toppings were generous. The dough was thin and a bit floppy because it was cooled. Meh, I’ve had better pizza. This reminds me of costco pizza but with better quality ingredients.

sausage and jalapeño pizza

Mushroom Focaccia: perfectly spiced. There were holes where the air bubbles had formed. Not too dry and tasty with butter.

mushroom focaccia

Raisin Scone: For some reason, Taiwanese people have a recent obsession with scones. The raisin scone had generous amounts of raisins and wasn’t too doughy. Almost like a biscuit.

raisin scone

Cookies:
Double Chocolate Sea Salt Cookie

Sea Salt, Toffee, & Chocolate Chip Cookie

I wasn’t a fan of the cookies. They were too sweet for my liking.

Rise Bakery is an excellent Bakery with a wide variety of breads and other carbs. The ingredients used are high in quality, and comforting to the soul. If you’re in the area, do try the croissants, the sourdough, and the milk toast loaf, or better yet, everything else. You won’t be disappointed. Expats would most definitely appreciate Rise.

address: No. 164號, Section 4, Xinyi Road, Da’an District, Taipei City, 106

Amazing Brunch at AVENUE Fast Casual Eatery

There’s no brunch like that of AVENUE Fast Casual Eatery. After a disappointing experience with the brunch at the overhyped ACME Cafe in Ximending, I stumbled across this gem: AVENUE. It’s located right down the escalator, next to a co-working space. The way the food was presented and laid out reminded me of a picnic, minus the blanket and hot sun beating down on my hair and back.

Address: 106, Taipei City, Da’an District, Section 2, Anhe Rd, 92號B1F

Appetizer: Chili Cheese Fries
Mains: Truffle Pizza w/ Poached Egg
AVENUE Fast Casual Eatery
English Breakfast Set: smooth yogurt w/ honey syrup, tomato+feta+pesto salad, & english breakfast tea
English Breakfast(close-up)

As an avid water-drinker, I really appreciated the set of glass bottled water at the corner in the front. You could drink as many bottles as needed to satisfy your thirst.

We ordered the Chili Cheese Fries, English Breakfast Platter Set(which includes yogurt, choice of tea or coffee, and a salad), & Truffle Pizza.

Initially, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but my-oh-my were the portions huge. Big enough to share with 3 people, or depending on your appetite.

Chili Cheese Fries: Fries were a bit oily but still crisp

English Breakfast Platter Set + Combo:
Yogurt: The texture of the yogurt w/ honey was smooth without the astringency of greek yogurt and the honey was heartwarming.

Salad: Tomatoes w/ pesto, basil & feta; so simple yet so gratifying.

English Breakfast Platter: Like a deconstructed BLT. Slices of grilled toast, bacon, lettuce, grilled tomatoes, mushrooms candied potatoes w/ shredded parmesan, sausages, & delicately poached eggs. Upon spreading the whites of the egg apart, the yolk oozed like gold against the glare of the metallic spoon. The poached eggs were perfect and not overcooked!

Truffle Pizza: My boyfriend’s complaint was that the flavors weren’t strong enough… it was lacking something. I think the problem was it was mainly truffle pate with greens thrown on. The crust was thin but a bit too crisp.

If you’re looking for a filling and worthwhile brunch spot in Taipei, this is it. AVENUE should be in your bookmarks. Big portion sizes, with fresh and nourishing ingredients that aren’t sloppily thrown together. No need for lunch, because brunch. 

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