Kooks 2 Mountain Kitchen 異嗑堂二店
☆☆☆GOLDEN☆☆☆
Taipei restaurant offering: Ribs / Steak / Pizza / Cajun Jumbo Shrimp / White Wine Butter Clams / Mussels in Roasted Tomato Sauce / Indian Butter Chicken / Burgers / Salad / Pasta / Dessert / Milkshakes / Smoothies / Juice / Soda / Tea / Beer / Wine / Cocktails / Coffee / Appetizers / Tacos / Nachos / Falafels / Hummus & Pita / Fries
Address:
No. 32-1, Nanshipu, Tamsui Dist., New Taipei City 251
新台北市淡水區水源里南勢埔32-1號
Phone: (02) 2625-6610
Hours: Thu - Sun: 12pm - 10pm, Mon - Wed: Closed
Last Reviewed: 25 June 2017
Kooks 2 Mountain Kitchen has the same tried-and-true favorites from the first Kooks, some of the best gourmet food at fair prices, excellent cocktails, a relaxing mountain vibe with indoor and outdoor seating, and is very close to one of the best temples in Taiwan: Tian Yuan Gong (無極真元天壇, The Temple of Heaven). A visit to Kooks 2 Mountain Kitchen and Tian Yuan Gong makes for a great day excursion. To add to this day excursion, you can throw in a walk along Tamsui Old Street (Zhongzheng Rd.) and a nice river walk along Huanhe Road right by it.
Kooks 2 Mountain Kitchen has most of the same delicious food as their first location, Kooks, that's about a 10-minute walk from Tamsui MRT, but Kooks 2 also has gourmet food, such as, ribs, steak, pizza, Cajun jumbo shrimp, white wine butter clams, and mussels in roasted tomato sauce. The decoration and atmosphere is also very different at Kooks 2: It's nestled in the mountains with scenic outdoor seating and a nice, cozy indoor cabin feel for the interior seating. The quality, gourmet food that is served at Kooks 2 is just as delicious as exuberantly priced fine-dining restaurants in Taipei, but at fair prices. I tried some of their gourmet items: Thai special ribs, pepperoni and margarita pizza, Cajun jumbo shrimp, and the mussels in roasted tomato sauce. They were all easily some of the best, if not the best, dishes in Taiwan for their own respected food categories. Their pizza was probably the best gourmet North American-style pizza I've had in Taiwan. The ribs were slow-cooked nicely, juicy, full of flavor, had meat that melted off the bone, and the two sauces were very tasty -- one of the most delicious and unique ribs I've ever had. The Cajun sauce/seasoning on the jumbo shrimp took me back to the Bayous of Louisiana. The mussels in roasted tomato sauce were exquisite, and were akin to something that would be found at an upscale, wallet-emptying establishment.
Besides the gourmet food and the regular tried-and-true Kooks' dishes, Kooks 2 has a relaxed mountain atmosphere to release all the city-living stress that can build up. The great thing is that it's only a free 17-minute bus ride away from Tamsui MRT Station on bus F103. After you exit the Tamsui MRT Station, turn right and go to the end of the bus stop location where you'll see F103 on a sign. It's a short bus, so it will stick out when it arrives from the other normal-sized buses. Kooks 2 is by the 3rd bus stop (Nan Shi Pu, 南勢埔) after the bus stop at the Hi-Life convenience store. I've included pictures below that will make sure you have no trouble taking the bus from Tamsui MRT Station to Kooks 2.
The alcohol served at Kooks 2 will also ensure a relaxing time away from the city. All the cocktails that my friends and I had at Kooks 2 were made from quality liquor and were delicious. Most notably, was the Long Island, my favorite cocktail. Before visiting Kooks 2, I thought my Long Island sipping days were over because every Long Island that I tried at bars or restaurants in Taiwan was expensive, gross, and nowhere near legit. If you've been missing a good Long Island, Kooks 2 will be your savor (it's also available at the first Kooks), and at a fair price of NT$250. It's a legit Long Island: It's served in a tall glass, mixed well so it tastes great, and will leave you happily buzzed all on its own.
The great thing about Kooks 2 is that it can be paired with a temple, making for a nice day excursion. Tian Yuan Gong (無極真元天壇, The Temple of Heaven) is one of the best and unique temples in Taiwan, in my opinion. Unlike most temples in Taiwan, it isn't tacky. It has five circular floors with shrines at each story dedicated to different Taoist gods, and climbs to 200 meters tall. It's beautiful to visit year-round, but is especially beautiful during sakura season, where it's considered one of the best places for viewing cherry blossoms. I'll refer you to my friend Josh's website where you can see pictures of the temple and cherry blossoms and a write-up on the temple: Josh Ellis Photography. Be sure to check out Josh's other photography and articles about Taiwanese temples and culture.
Luckily, some of my closest friends in Taiwan happen to be professional photographers, and they beautifully captured the excursion for this review. Brian Wiemer Photography covered Kooks 2 Mountain Kitchen's decor, food, and drinks. Master Shifu covered Tian Yuan Gong (Taoist) and the little Buddhist temple below it. Thanks guys.
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Click pictures for prices and critiques
Kooks 2 Mountain Kitchen Facebook page
Kooks 2 異嗑堂二店 Instagram photos
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Address:
No. 32-1, Nanshipu, Tamsui Dist., New Taipei City 251 新台北市淡水區水源里南勢埔32-1號 Phone: (02) 2625-6610 Hours: Thu - Sun: 12pm - 10pm Mon - Wed: Closed Free Bus at Tamsui MRT Station (17-minute bus ride on bus F103) Chinese & English Menu 10% Service Charge Minimum Charge of NT$300 Cash Only Reservations Accepted Free Wi-Fi Click on the link below for their Google Map page for the street view and/or other visitor's photos. Afterwards, you can click the dedicated back button on Google Maps to view the destination on a full-screened Google Map for directions. Kooks 2 Mountain Kitchen |
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Kooks 2 is close to Tian Yuan Gong
(無極真元天壇, The Temple of Heaven). A Taoist temple that is one of the most unique temples in Taiwan. It's circular with five stories and is 200 meters tall. You can take bus F103 (free) back down the hill and on its return, it'll take a right at the Hi-Life convenience store instead of going left. Tian Yuan Gong is the first bus stop after Hi-Life. Or you can just walk there from Kooks 2 in about 18 minutes. |
A video by King Yang that displays Kooks 2's decor and some of their dishes.
How to make Kooks' Pineapple Upside Down Cake 鳳梨翻轉蛋糕.
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