Huan Hsi Tang 2, Ming Hsien Street, Tsaotun Town, Nantou County Tel: (049) 2305758 Hours: 9 am-11 pm

By Rachel Chiou Translated by Cheryl Robbins

Visitors to Nantou county frequently pass through the town of Tsaotun on their way to one of the nearby scenic areas, or to visit attractions around the town itself. My friends and I had just finished up a visit to the National Taiwan Craft Research Institute (see July "Culture Corner" feature) and headed to Tsaotun's downtown, looking for a place to have lunch. It was there that we discovered Huan Hsi Tang, a unique vegetarian restaurant.
The quaint outdoor seating area attracted us to the restaurant and, inside, the atmosphere was as pleasant as the exterior. Although there were a lot of diners at lunch time, there was a quiet, leisurely feeling to the place. The interior was decorated in an ancient Chinese style with lots of dark wood, soft glowing lamps and antiques and the artwork reflected the owner's deep devotion to Buddhism.
Looking through the menu, we were pleasantly surprised by the variety of dishes. When most people think of vegetarian food, they think of a main dish with rice or noodles. However, Huan Hsi Tang serves a wide range of innovative and nutritious foods. Set meals range in price from NT$140 to NT$220 and include vegetarian "meat" choices, like crispy duck--which really tastes like duck although it is completely vegetarian--and a casserole dish, made with wild yam, potatoes and hazelnuts covered in cheese and baked in an oven. A drink and dessert come with all these specials.
There is also an extensive vegetarian snack menu including wild yam cake, wild yam jelly and whole wheat steamed dumplings (NT$40 to NT$50). Drinks include a variety of shakes and smoothies such as the South Pacific Smoothie (NT$90), Wild Yam and Yogurt Shake (NT$80) and Sweet Vermont (NT$80).
Huan Hsi Tang has a wide range of loyal customers, including office workers, families and students. We were fortunate enough to dine there during the week, as the owner, Ms. Hung Jui-hung, told us that on weekends and holidays people are lined up out the door.
We were curious as to how Ms. Hung came to run such a unique, thriving restaurant. She told us that she previously worked in a brewery. However, as Buddhism teaches that people should work to achieve something good and positive, she decided to open up a vegetarian restaurant. Although she had no restaurant management experience, she was determined to learn. She humbly acknowledged the many friends who offered the help and support which enabled her to fulfill her dream.
Her success is probably in large part due to her determination and devotion to serve nutritious food, as well as her friendly, bubbly personality. The staff of this restaurant all agree that this is a great place to work. And, for Huan Hsi Tang's customers, it is a great place to eat.
On our way out, we noticed that, next to a row of books and magazines, there were some messages left by various customers including poems devoted to Huan Hsi Tang. Huan Hsi Tang is a small place with a big heart and food that is obviously made with care and devotion. One can only hope that Ms. Hung will open a branch of Huan Hsi Tang in Taichung someday soon.