Cafe by Juicy Diary: A New Favourite Brunch Spot

New safety measures for COVID-19: Temperature checks are in place, and all tables and surfaces are regularly disinfected with alcohol spray.

Delivery information: order them on UberEats, and Oddle.

Cafe by Juicy Diary is a sleek little restaurant in Da’an that came strongly recommended by our local friends. Being on a perpetual hunt for good brunch places — and curious that this one was not on our radar — we decided to see if their menu was worth the hype. Spoiler alert: it was, and still is.

The interior is minimalist but tastefully decorated with muted grey tones, marble surfaces, and modern, gold cutlery. The atmosphere is not exactly lively, but it does have an elegant, polished feel. We probably wouldn’t come here to pound wine, but it would be a lovely setting to take a friend for a quiet catch-up.

On the few times that we have visited, we struggled to get a table inside — the first time we lucked out due to a last-minute cancellation, and the other times we had to suck it up and sit outside in the heat. There are probably certain times of the year where this isn’t much of a problem, but we would strongly recommend calling ahead in the summer and winter months.

For a starter, we chose the avocado and smoked salmon bruschetta. It was delicious, although we can’t imagine going wrong with avocado and smoked salmon. The lemon on top was a nice touch, that added just the right amount of sourness to give the flavour more depth.

We also ordered the mermaid bowl, $380, a smoothie bowl made with dragon fruit, blueberries, banana, spirulina, coconut milk, and Greek yogurt. We loved the fresh fruit and coconut flakes on top, and this dish was as photogenic as it sounded. We enjoyed the mermaid bowl a lot — any dessert that’s guilt-free is a win in our book — but we did feel $380 was pretty steep. There are probably people who could eat this and feel full. We are not those people. If it came down to it, we would probably order something more filling.

Next, we ordered the French omelette with caviar, $480. This was pricey, but delicious down to the very last bite. The egg, cheese, and mushroom omelette was fluffy and soft, and the sour cream and caviar with fresh herbs on top took it to the next level. The salad was sweet and perfectly dressed, with fresh berries and radish complementing the peppery arugula beautifully. The roasted potatoes with garlic were divine, making the dish heartier and much more filling. We appreciated the addition of the toast too — despite the price tag, we didn’t particularly feel like we had overpaid, considering how satisfied we felt afterwards.

Our absolute favourite dish that we can’t recommend enough is the roasted pork shoulder sandwich, $380, with pork, pickles, kale, and jalapeños on sourdough bread with a cucumber side salad. This. Sandwich. Is. Amazing. The dense bread, the tender, juicy pork, and the crunch of the pickles and jalapeños were an incredible combination, and we were absolutely blown away. It’s easily one of the best things we have ever eaten in Taipei, and completely worth the price. We also felt that, compared to the other items on the menu, this was great value — it was both delicious and filling, a sentiment echoed by everyone at our table. If you’re unsure about what to order, do yourself a favour and order this!

After that, we went for the California Breakfast Bagel ($380) with avocado, bacon with maple syrup, fried egg, and Swiss cheese on a Parmesan bagel with a cucumber salad on the side. This was another solid choice: the avocado, bacon and cheese were a great combination, and the bagel was legit. The cucumber salad was a nice addition too. Still, despite being very tasty, it didn’t come close to the roast pork — it’s probably an unfair comparison, but that is the only sandwich for us.

Cafe by Juice Diary also do a number of nice, interesting coffees such as a mint mojito latte and Sicilian cafe. We found their drinks to be well made and well presented.

Check out their menu, which we pulled from their Facebook page:

What’s the vibe?

A small restaurant decorated in a sleek, minimalist style. On the occasions that we have been, the crowd has been young and quiet, although there have been a few families too. Reservations are recommended, especially on weekends, but usually you can squeeze a table outside as long as you don’t mind the heat/cold.

Worth it?

It’s definitely on the more expensive side — and we don’t rate the atmosphere as highly as other brunch places — but the food is absolutely amazing. We have loved everything from their brunch menu, but the roasted pork shoulder sandwich stands out from the rest. If you do go, make sure that at least someone in your party orders it!

Would you go back?

We would go anywhere for that sandwich.

Cafe by Juicy Diary

Hours: 10am – 7pm

Phone:02 2708 0802

English Address: No. 2, Siwei Road, Lane 14, Da'an District, Taipei

Chinese Address: 106台北市大安區四維路14巷2號