FuMu: Still the Best Boozy Brunch in Taipei

We first discovered FuMu, a brunch restaurant that transforms into a bar at night, last summer when it was still relatively unheard of. Located on an unassuming street in Nanjing Fuxing, FuMu has skyrocketed in popularity over the past year, consistently attracting a fun, diverse crowd with its enviable selection of brunch classics, breakfast cocktails, and throwback beats.

FuMu is bright and airy, decorated tastefully with a colourful, eclectic mix of posters and trinkets. It exudes a  kind of tongue-in-cheek vintage charm, which is made all the more convincing with its endless playlist of epic old-school classics. FuMu has both indoor and outdoor seating, but we strongly recommend making reservations ahead of time during peak hours on the weekend if you want to sit inside. All’s not lost if you forget, but you should try to arrive immediately as they open at 10AM if you don’t want to wait.

One of our favourite things to get at FuMu has always been the “real traditional English breakfast,” ($280), and that won’t be changing any time soon. A proper fry-up isn’t easy to find in Taipei, and FuMu’s is a solid choice, the perfect stand-in for when you’re missing your heart-attack-on-a-plate from the UK. With plenty of meat and carbs, this plate isn’t for the faint-hearted and will keep you full for hours. 

To be honest, we normally order the American breakfast (an absolute steal at $180, made with pancakes, eggs, hash browns, and bacon) each time we visit FuMu, but we forced ourselves to branch out and try a selection of dishes from their new brunch menu. Our first choice was the flat iron steak ($360), made with prime chuck steak, French scrambled eggs, crispy sauteed potatoes, salad, and rye toast. Eating this dish was quite the undertaking as FuMu didn’t skimp on the meat, which was just as juicy as the menu promised. Fans of steak for breakfast should check this out, but be warned: you’ll be bursting at the seams when you’re done.

Next, we tried the slow-cooked pork collar ($340), with buttery-soft pork, gravy, apple chutney, salad, toast, and a slice of grilled pineapple. The combination of pork with apple and pineapple was surprisingly delicious, offering a medley of textures and flavours that we loved, despite not having pictured together. The pork itself was beautifully soft and fell apart in your mouth. We found that it needed a wee bit of salt to taste, but that could just be down to our own personal preferences. Paired with the toast and salad, this was a hearty dish that satisfied all round.

Since we’d gone pretty meat-heavy for our first few dishes, our next order was the grilled and stewed aubergines with fresh tomatoes ($160), which came topped with a poached egg and shavings of cheddar cheese. This was a great option for anyone wanting a slightly lighter or healthier meal and reminded us a great deal of shakshuka, a firm favourite of ours. At $160 this dish was an absolute bargain, and we’d order it again for its creamy texture and rich flavours in a heartbeat. Do consider ordering an extra side of toast ($50) to soak up the delicious sauce.

Last but not least, we got some stir-fried garlic butter button mushrooms ($150) to finish off our meal with a bang. Our friend who originally introduced us to FuMu consistently raves about these, and orders them every time he visits. Garlicky and positively smothered in butter, these mushrooms are everything you’d hope for. We like to finish them with a tiny sprinkle of salt to elevate the flavours even more, but we have to do it when our friend isn’t looking so he doesn’t get cross. We recommend tasting them first and seasoning them to your preference.

Other than the consistently good food and lively atmosphere, one of the main draws to FuMu is that it serves cocktails at brunch — and people actually order them. FuMu isn’t the only restaurant in Taipei with a brunch cocktail menu, but it is one of the few that we enjoy drinking at so early, mainly because we prefer it when other people are doing the same. The three cocktails we stuck to that day were the mimosa (left, $200), Bloody Mary (middle, $200), and Mama’s homemade plum with spicy ginger (right, $200), a surprisingly refreshingly choice even when you’re feeling poorly from a night of heavy drinking. They also serve gin & tonics ($200) and jugs of Aperol spritz ($1200), which we haven’t yet worked up the courage to order.

Check out our enviable breakfast above, and their full brunch menu below:

Overall, we can never get enough of FuMu’s boozy brunch. It’s genuinely our favourite brunch spot in the entire city, especially when you factor in the atmosphere, price (which ranges from budget-friendly to slightly fancier and costlier), great food, great music, and access to breakfast cocktails. In this day and age we feel like everyone and their mother is a regular at FuMu, and while we miss the days where we could rock up at peak brunch hour and get a table, we don’t begrudge its popularity — it’s just too good not to share with your friends. If you have yet to visit, we urge you to try it at least once: it’s a staple amongst locals and expats alike, and you wouldn’t want to miss out on the fun.

What’s the vibe?

Bright, busy brunch spot in Nanjing Fuxing with killer throwback beats and a funky interior. Staff are friendly, the atmosphere is great, and it isn’t hard to stick to a budget.

Worth it?

FuMu is always worth it.

Would you go back?

We’ve been back so many times we have lost count. You’ll probably see us there this weekend.