'Alawang'—Aboriginal Stone Grill Coohing 67, GuoJi Street, Donghai, Taichung; (04)2350-1282 Hours: 4:00 pm to 2:00 am(Mon to Fri); 12:00 to 2 am(Sat and Sunday) No credit cards, parking available.

ADD YOUR RATING & REVIEW | VIEW VISITSR RATINGS & REVIEWS

     '"Alawang" means "gathering place" in the the Taiwanese Amis aboriginal language. Not surprisingly, this restaurant specializes in aboriginal dishes. With an all-wood design and an outdoor drinking area, the building itself is tall enough to allow you to appreciate the scenery of Taichung at night. The establishment gets busy around 8 p.m. and the atmosphere is especially lively because of the dancers, dressed in traditional aboriginal clothing, who gather on the stage to perform traditional song and dance. You can't just simply go there to eat--everybody joins hands and participates in the dancing. All of the food is authentic and surprisingly unique aboriginal fare, including the Pig Head Skin Cold Plate. The thinly-sliced ingredients of this dish leave a memory that is unforgettable. You can also find Stone Grilled Pork, Flying Fish, the surprising Bee Larvae, and even Bamboo Grubs. A favorite is "Barrel Chicken", with the chicken placed inside a steel drum and charcoal cooked, producing an extremely tender and delicious meat (NT$400/whole chicken, NT$250/half-chicken). Also don't miss out trying the Paiwan Aborigine cake, "Ka Fay". Prices for other dishes range between NT$150 and NT$280. If you want to try aboriginal food, this is the place to go.