Fantastic Gourmet Burgers at Man Cave
We discovered Man Cave Gourmet Burgers quite by accident a few years ago, and it quickly became one of our go-to spots for tasty Western-style burgers. Unfortunately, its first location was tiny and hidden in an alley near Zhongshan Elementary School, which made it less than ideal for groups or last-minute dining. Despite this, we were heartbroken to see that it had closed down one day, and mourned the loss of one of Taipei’s greatest burger spots (although we’re also fans of Burger & Co, KGB, and sheep + pony). Luckily for us, however, it turns out Man Cave actually hadn’t closed down, but was merely moving to a bigger and better location.
The new location is only a five minute walk from Xingtian Temple, and is larger, sleeker, and much easier to find than its predecessor. We walked in on a Sunday evening and were immediately able to get seats, and although it did get a little busier later on, we were happy to see that there was plenty of space to go around. The service was friendly and attentive, and the menu came in both English and Chinese.
Other than burgers, Man Cave is known for making some pretty awesome milkshakes. We’ve enjoyed the chocolate banana peanut butter milkshake in the past, and this time we tried the ultimate salted caramel apple milkshake (pictured top right, $180 by itself or $160 if you get it as part of a set). It was great: decadent and heavy on the caramel, a tad on the sweet side but not too heavy. We’d certainly get this again, though you may consider enjoying it as a dessert, as it can be quite rich when paired with a burger. We also got the lemonade (pictured top left, $60 or free if part of a set), which was enjoyable but slightly too sweet for us. We had a few sips and then topped the rest off with water, which made it easier to drink.
The first thing we got was the candied bacon cheeseburger ($260, +$90 for drinks and fries), made with a U.S. choice beef patty, house blend burger sauce, American cheese, pickled red onion, tomato and lettuce on a brioche bun. We had ordered this before at the previous location, and it didn’t disappoint in the least. It felt like a normal bacon cheeseburger with a bit of added sweetness and crunch, and we relished every bite. The fries on the side were crispy and well-seasoned, and we were happy to have paid the extra $90 for them, especially as it came with a drink (note: only drinks priced at $60 are included in the combo). If you’re new to Man Cave and don’t know what to order, we recommend starting here. Don’t forget the fries!
Next, we got the Elvis Burger ($280, +$90 for a drink and fries), a limited time offer which came with U.S. choice beef patty, candied bacon, peanut butter sauce, plantain and American cheese on a brioche bun. This was a bit of a gamble due to the unusual ingredients, but we ended up enjoying it all the same. The peanut butter and plantain (which we would have thought was banana if we hadn’t seen otherwise on the menu) was a unique choice that may not appeal to all, but it added lots of sweetness and was an interesting texture. We recommend adding the pickles (served on the side) for a bit more crunch. We’re not sure we would order it again, but it was definitely fun to try.
After that, we got the chilli con carne burger ($260, +$90 for a drink and fries), which came with U.S. choice beef patty, chilli con carne, jalapeño, American cheese, pickled red onion, tomato, and lettuce on a brioche bun. This was very tasty, with just a little kick of spice. You could tell the chilli was there, but it complemented the other ingredients well. We especially enjoyed the addition of the pickled red onion.
Last, we got the mushroom burger ($260, +$90 for a drink and fries), a limited time offer made with a U.S. choice beef patty, homemade mushroom sauce, Emmental cheese, caramelized onions and Boston lettuce on a brioche bun. This was probably our second favourite after the candied bacon cheeseburger: the mushroom sauce was delicious and packed with flavour, pairing very nicely with the Swiss cheese. It had less of a crunch than the other burgers we had had, but we were pleasantly surprised to find that did nothing to detract from the overall eating experience. We’d definitely get this again if it was still on the menu.
Check out their menu down below:
Overall, we were absolutely delighted to find that Man Cave had re-opened, and in a much better location with more space to boot. The burgers were just as good as we remembered — if not even better — and it was hard to write about the milkshake without salivating. $370 for a burger, drink and fries is not cheap, but also pretty standard in Taipei for a truly Western option, and we left feeling full and extremely satisfied. We will most definitely be returning to Man Cave in the foreseeable future, and are excited to try even more of their menu next time!
What’s the vibe?
Modern burger joint with a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. This new location is much bigger and nicer than the last, and is an upgrade in every way we can think of. Customers were a mix of locals and foreigners.
Worth it?
Extremely worth it. The burgers are fantastic and now it’s easier than ever before to visit on a whim and actually get a table. Hurrah!
Would you go back?
Count on it.
Last updated: March 2021
| Man Cave Gourmet Burgers |
| Hours: Wed-Sun 5pm - 9pm Closed Mondays & Tuesdays |
| Phone: 0225424905 |
| English Address: 1st Floor, No. 85, Lane 362, Songjiang Road, Zhongshan District, Taipei City |
| Chinese Address: 台北市中山區松江路362巷85號1樓 |
