Unexpected Culinary Discovery in Taipei - Social Place

It’s been a few years since I was last in Taipei, and this trip came about quite spontaneously—we had a lot of vacation days left, and Scoot had fantastic deals! Everything's been great, except for the weather; it’s been pouring non-stop, which has left many night markets nearly empty. To escape the rain, we decided to hit the mall. Not the most exciting choice, but it turned out to be a blessing in disguise when we found a restaurant called The Social Place, known for its creative Hong Kong dishes. We ordered some of the most interesting items on the menu, which might not be what you’d expect just by looking at them. First up was their signature turnip cake with laksa sauce. It’s one of my favourites! The outside is perfectly crispy, while the inside is soft and fluffy. The laksa sauce adds a fantastic spicy kick that really makes it special. Next, we tried the shrimp rice soup. The natural sweetness from the shrimp infused the broth beautifully, and the rice was packed with flavour—it was such a comforting dish. Lastly, we couldn’t resist the Flamin-ple, a seafood dish served in a pineapple. The pineapple gives the sauce a unique sweetness, and it has just the right amount of spice to keep you coming back for more. It was both inventive and incredibly tasty! Overall, despite the rainy weather, stumbling upon The Social Place turned out to be a highlight of our trip. The creative dishes not only warmed us up but also added a unique flavour to our Taipei adventure. It’s moments like these that remind you to embrace the unexpected. I can't wait to see what else this city has in store!