Zhongshan District, Taipei City｜Ad Lib Kitchen

This is a friendly chill little place which is perfect for a Friday night. The food is good, and the chef uses a lot if local ingredients with creativity. According to the chef, it’s a true Omakase place where you won’t get the same food every time. Definitely worth another visit.

Great Food, Atmosphere~ Food Ingredients are very very interesting and tasty~ Have to reserved in advance. Definitely worth it~

The universe works in mysterious ways to bring people together... When I walked into Ad Lib Kitchen for "date night" a few weeks ago, my wife cheerfully said: "Chef Paul is (relocating) from Danville" (coincidentally, the small town in the East Bay of San Francisco where I grew up). After exchanging a few words, I could tell the experience was going to be wonderful. We enjoyed the night as much for the food as we did the conversation with Chef Paul. Much of how Chef Paul approaches his cooking is done in a way that resembles what we miss most about the SF Bay Area: a focus on thoughtfully sourced ingredients, leveraging techniques that let the food speak for itself, and presentation that is elevated but not overly done. Highlights for me have been the dry-age duck (skin is crisp to perfection!), no cream clam chowder, uni toast, homemade ravioli, and any fish dish. We enjoyed our first meal so much that we quickly set a date to do a double birthday celebration for my mother-in-law and wife. Chef Paul and his wife Jessie also kindly incorporated my wish to serve desserts that were favorites of my wife and MIL: tiramisu and a chocolate chip cookie. Hope to be back soon. Wishing Chef Paul and Jessie much success as they return to Taiwan!