The Taiwanese food scene is typically reserved. Not at Fujin Tree.(Photos: Sean Marc Lee/ VSCO)
The menu at Fujin Tree lists classic Taiwanese dishes like dong-po rou, an intensely fatty pork belly stewed in soy sauce and sugar, alongside something a little less traditional — champagne. It might not sound like a big deal, but on the relatively restrained Taipei food scene, it’s a move that might even be seen as downright rebellious. This is, after all, a food that is usually seen at tables in faded banquet halls, not something to be enjoyed with a glass of bubbly.
But this speaks to the creative tension at the heart of present-day Taipei. Unafraid and open to questioning established ideas, young people here are shaping the future of the city using shops, cafes and restaurants. Taiwanese food paired with champagne? Why not.
At Fujin Tree–or Fujin Tree Taiwanese Cuisine & Champagne, to give its full title–there are no garish brocade tablecloths nor grimy beer glasses. The interior is stripped down, almost Spartan. Its warm, polished woods subtly glow as afternoon light streams in from glass windows and a collection of massive sculptures made of dried flora line the walls. Who would think to make such a collection of dried twigs? And who would be even crazier to hang it in a restaurant in Taipei? Only at Fujin Tree.
Where to Find Fujin Tree
Address: 17 Lane 199, Dun Hua South Road, Taipei
Marriott Hotels explored Fujin Tree as part of a collaboration with VSCO’s photographers to create city guides for Paris; Berlin; Cairo; Taipei; and Portland, Ore. Check out: A Full Guide on How to Travel Brilliantly in Taipei.
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