[Originally published in TaiwanNights.com, Circa 2007]
The West 15 Diner appeared magically into my life like some kind of sleep deprived hallucination. First, my friend points it out to me one day, and next thing I know, I’m invited for a birthday dinner there. I was told that it was quite the scene, consisting mostly of Westerner-loving Taiwanese kids, and sure enough, I was greeted with a loud hello from the first table on the outside porch. As you sit down, the waiter immediately arrives with various courses, each one as “exciting” to the Western palate as the last. From pork chop quesadilla to country fried chicken knuckles, this place runs the gamut of exciting and exotic American home cooking. The soup was the most inventive – watery tomato based veggie, featuring celery and black olives? Is this part of the Mexican theme? Equally watery were the beverages, and the floor across from our table due to the leaking drink machines! The chicken wings were probably done best; one can always count on Taiwan for decent bbq food. Coupled with an all you can eat feature, the restaurant comes with ‘western’ cowboy and cowgirl waiters, sporting plaid shirts and cowboy hats, delivering your food, course by course. Some of the courses were more Down South style (fried chicken and wings) others were more Italian American (Caesar salad, pizza, spinach pasta with cream sauce) but still the most bizarre part of the meal, that didn’t quite fit in anywhere was the desert, consisting of hot, fresh out of the oven, short bread cookies!? For 298 NT plus 10% service charge, I would say that one does get their money’s worth, so arrive on an empty stomach. The full meal consists of about 7 courses, with more always on hand if desired. The restaurant also offers lunch and a reduced ‘tea time’ menu, so as not to alienate any commonwealth expats who might have gotten lost stumbling out of Carnegies (just down the street) after their noontime time bevvy.
This place is hard to miss, just look for the Saloon/Verandah looking place with the equally surreal storybook house school across the street.
No.15, Lane 11, Leli rd.
[JS]
