There are few establishments Taiwanese people love more than a set meal restaurant. And what’s not to love about a modern localized interpretation of teishoku culture with a balanced selection of Taiwanese flavors neatly arranged on a tray? Rice and Shine is all of this plus a family story. On the northern end of the historic Dihua Street, Rice and Shine thrives in a beautifully preserved brick building that once was a rice mill in the early 1900s. The fifth generation descendant of the original mill owners opened this restaurant to pay homage to the family history and Taipei’s culinary history, breathing new life to the space and celebrating the role of humble rice that continues to be the foundation for Taiwanese cuisine.

The Dihua Street location feels like a nostalgic embrace. Stepping in feels like stepping back into a timeless past. Original brick walls, wood and tile enclose a cozy space filled with nods to the past in old photographs. Simple wood table tops are perpetually filled with trays of perfectly plated dishes. But the star of the show is of course the rice, which patrons are directed to swirl in pork oil and soy sauce for some added umami. The set meals feature a main dish of classic Taiwanese flavors like braised pork, black date glazed chicken, sea bass with loofah squash and prawns with salted egg, alongside a daily soup, three daily vegetable side dishes and rice. It’s a lot of simple classics, cozy Taiwanese hits elevated to honor tradition while appealing to contemporary palates. But it seems no tradition is immune to modern commercialism. They also have two department store locations in Xinyi District.