Taipei - Bongos Restaurant - Jaysun Eats Taipei

Bongos
(Some of the menu items have moved to the owners other store, Coda.)

CLOSED
I Recommend ☆☆☆☆

Taipei restaurant offering: Western Food / Mexican Food / Tex-Mex / Burgers / Pasta / Sandwiches / Salad / Poutine / Sausages & Hotdogs

Bongos is a low-lit, relaxed restaurant with cool art work and a down to earth decor that reminds me of a lot of the hostels that I stayed at while traveling through Australia and Southeast Asia. There is even a large section of used books that you can buy; I don't think you can swap them like in hostels, though. You will find a lot of expats here as well as local Taiwanese who are looking for something different and unique (for them).

I tried the Chicken Quesadilla, Turkey Torpedo (sandwich), Chicken Fingers, Gouda Cheese Burger, Nachos, and Poutine. I enjoyed everything. The Chicken Quesadilla came in three large pieces with a sour cream and a salsa dipping sauce on the side. It could've had a more cheesy taste to it, as the other ingredients sort of drowned it out, but the other ingredients were good and I still enjoyed it. The Chicken Fingers came with dipping sauces too, and were complete pieces of tender chicken with no bones inside; how pleasant and delicious. It is hard to get good nachos in Taipei for sure, and Bongos I can say, is one of the exceptions; great corn chips with the perfect amount of quality cheese and other toppings with three dipping sauces: sour cream, salsa, and guacamole.

The Gouda Cheese Burger had quality Gouda cheese and the beef pattie was pretty tasty. Another good burger find in Taipei. The Poutine (fries covered in melted cheese and gravy), a Canadian creation, had quality cheese and gravy, making it a proper poutine. The Turkey Torpedo could've had more honey mustard, mayo, or more sauce of any kind on it, but it did have loads of turkey deli slices which was great, and is something that you can't get at other restaurants anywhere in Taipei, it seems.

Bongos is a good place for Tex-Mex and Burgers. They have a lot of other delicious looking items that I wanted to try, but will have to wait until next time. Some of these items are: Chimichanga, Burrito, Mushroom Alfredo, Spinach and Artichoke Dip, Falafel, and the Hummus and Tziki. The latter three are very hard to find good versions of in Taipei, and by judging Bongos other menu items I tasted, I would say there is a good chance that they would be worthwhile at the least.

Vegetarian options: Veggie Burrito, Veggie Huevos Benedictos, Veggie Quesadilla, Veggie Burger, Grilled Veggie Sandwich, Nachos, Poutine, Spinach and Artichoke Dip, and Hummus and Tziki.